COMMUNITY/RECORDS
Thursday, May 26, 2022
East Oregonian
MEMORIAL DAY
UPCOMING SERVICES
Wall of Honor comes to Hermiston
THURSDAY, MAY 26
American Legion
hosts Memorial Day
weekend events
By TAMMY
MALGESINI
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — A trio of
events in Hermiston during
Memorial Day weekend
off ers the public an opportu-
nity to salute those who died
in service for our country.
American Legion Post and
Auxiliary Unit No. 37 is host-
ing “The Wall of Honor: A
Tribute to Those We Lost in
Iraq and Afghanistan.” The
comprehensive exhibit opens
Saturday, May 28, with a
9 a.m. ceremony at the Herm-
iston Community Center, 415
S. Highway 395.
Featuring the names and
photos of those who were
killed in action, the display
will be available for view
from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through
Monday, May 30. It includes
more than 6,100 service
members who fought in
Desert Storm, Desert Shield,
Operation Iraqi Freedom,
Operation New Dawn, Oper-
ation Enduring Freedom and
more.
The exhibit will be deliv-
ered and erected Friday
afternoon, May 27, by Vets
Helping Vets, a nonprofit
group based in Albany. A
motorcycle honor guard
escorts The Wall’s trailer to
Eastern Oregon. Cathy Stolz,
auxiliary president, said area
bikers are invited to help usher
ADDITIONAL LOCAL MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
PENDLETON
Veterans of Foreign Wars Let ‘er Buck Post
No. 922 erects the Avenue of Flags on the
evening of Thursday, May 26, at Olney Ceme-
tery, 865 Tutuilla Creek Road, Pendleton. The
display honors those that served in the United
States Armed Forces and will continue to fl y
through Memorial Day — Monday, May 30.
A ceremony is planned at the cemetery
May 30 at 11 a.m. It includes the posting of
colors and an invocation by Pastor Chris Clem-
ons. The guest speaker is Richard Halverson,
past VFW commander.
Also, the presentation of the memorial wreath
will be placed by the VFW Auxiliary at the
cemetery’s Veterans Memorial Stone. Dave
Chorazy will perform “Taps.”
For more information, call 541-276-8100. To
view a short video about the purpose of the
the display into town. Those
interested can meet the group
May 27 at noon in Biggs and
ride the fi nal 80 miles into
Hermiston, she said.
The Wall was initially
created as part of a 2005
senior project by a Milwaukie
High School student at the
suggestion of Ken Buckles,
who was on staff at the school.
Stolz said after the project
was complete, the student
turned it over to Vets Help-
ing Vets, who have upgraded
and updated it over the years.
The group transports and
displays it throughout the
year. This Memorial Day
weekend, Stolz said, will be
its fi rst appearance in Eastern
Oregon.
A retired teacher, author
and speaker, Buckles is
Avenue of Flags, visit www.facebook.com/
OlneyCemetery/videos/2654679321497111.
WALLA WALLA
The Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA
Medical Center is holding a virtual service
ahead of Memorial Day. The event is Thurs-
day, May 26, at noon via livestream at
www.facebook.com/vawallawalla.
The special guest speaker is Trina Parrish, a
U.S. Army Gulf War veteran. She is the com-
mander of VFW Post No. 992 in Walla Walla.
Also, former Chaplain Benjamin “Ben” Vegors,
who served as the Walla Walla VA’s chaplain
for more than 40 years before retiring in
2014, is a guest at the event.
For more information, contact Linda Wondra,
VA public aff airs offi cer, at 509-386-1117 or
linda.wondra@va.gov.
the executive director of
Remembering America’s
Heroes. Based in Milwaukie,
the nonprofit organization
provides education to youths
and the community.
“Their goal is to teach high
school students and others
how important it is to honor
the U.S. fl ag and appreciate
our veterans and freedoms,”
Stolz said.
Buckles arranged for a
group of veterans to present
an assembly Friday morning
at Hermiston High School.
Because of limited seating,
the event isn’t open to the
general public. However, the
patriotic and inspirational
presentation will be repeated
that day at 7 p.m. at New Hope
Community Church, 1350 S.
Highway 395, Hermiston.
And finally, a Memo-
rial Day ceremony will be
Monday, May 30, 10 a.m. at
the Hermiston Cemetery. It
featurea the reading of local
veterans’ names. Umatilla
High School is providing
music. In addition, a special
performance will feature
“Echo Taps,” Stolz said.
“That always gives me
goosebumps,” she said. “It’s
such a moving tribute.”
Those planning to attend
the ceremony at the ceme-
tery are encouraged to bring
chairs. Gold Star family
members, Stolz said, can
arrange seating for the cere-
mony by calling 541-720-1815.
For additional information
about any of the Memorial
Day weekend events, call
Stolz at 541-571-5816.
Hermiston event features Christian rapper
HHS grad John
Kopta provides
powerful message
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
H ER M ISTON — A
faith-based event in Herm-
iston will include a pair of
familiar faces performing
music, demonstrating feats
of strength and presenting
an inspirational message.
Rap artist George Moss
and motivational speaker
John Kopta are featured
Friday, May 27, 8 p.m.
at Campus Life, 595 S.
First St., Hermiston. Rod
Bragato, local director of
the Fellowship of Christian
Athletes, said the event is
open to all ages and is free.
A 1983 Hermiston High
School graduate, Bragato
said Kopta is a staff member
with the Fellowship of
Christian Athletes at the
University of Arkansas. He
has been affi liated with The
Power Team for more than
two dozen years.
Kopt a , who played
football a nd w restled
for Hermiston, said the
st reng t h-ba sed m i n is-
try opens the door to grab
people’s attention. He got
involved with the Fellow-
ship of Christian Athletes
nearly a decade ago through
his affiliation with USA
Youth Outreach.
“John is an amazing
speaker,” Bragato said. “He
will perform a few feats of
strength … but his focus is
spreading an inspirational
message.”
A Michigan native, Moss
has opened for Grammy
Award-winning groups such
as Toby Mac, The News-
boys, Skillet and others. In
addition to making music,
Moss is the founder of
Oxen Apparel. However,
he said what he most enjoys
most about the platform
his success has provided
is being able to spread the
The most valuable and
respected source of
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and information for
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good news of Jesus.
“ G e o r ge h a s go n e
big-time in Christian music
but he still likes perform-
ing at school assemblies and
youth groups,” Bragato said.
“He’s really energetic and
gets everyone engaged.”
Moss and Kopta are in the
region for a Fellowship of
Christian Athletes weekend
gathering at Camp Elkanah,
Bragato said. The Hermis-
ton event, he said, will both
entertain and enlighten those
in attendance.
For more information,
search www.facebook.com/
hermistoncampuslife. For
questions, contact Bragato
at 541-720-8104 or braga-
torod@hotmail.com.
Correa, Cecilia — Graveside burial service, 11 a.m. at
Echo Memorial Cemetery.
FRIDAY, MAY 27
Franke, Jerry — Funeral service, 1 p.m. at Burns
Mortuary Chapel, 685 W. Hermiston Ave., Hermiston.
Burial with military honors will follow at Desert Lawn
Memorial Cemetery, Irrigon.
SATURDAY, MAY 28
King, Raymond — Graveside memorial, 1 p.m. at
Pleasant View Cemetery, Stanfi eld. A gathering follows
at the Stanfi eld Moose Lodge, 615 W. Coe. Ave.
Kinsch, Bruce — Memorial Mass, 10 a.m. at St.
Andrews Catholic Church, 48022 St. Andrews Road,
Mission. A reception follows at 12 p.m. in the Let ’er Buck
Room, 1205 S.W. Court Ave., Pendleton.
Newton, Fay — Celebration of life and potluck,1 p.m. at
the Pilot Rock Community Center, 285 N.W. Cedar Place.
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Susan B. ‘Susy’ Dewald
December 22, 1958 - May 18, 2022
Susan B. “Susy” Dewald passed
away peacefully surrounded by her
family in Richland, Washington,
on May 18, 2022. Susy was born
on Dec. 22, 1958, in Bozeman,
Montana. At the time of her passing
she resided in Hermiston, Oregon.
Susy is survived by her
husband, Tim Dewald, her sons,
Steve Dewald and Brian Dewald,
her daughter-in-law, Mallory
Dewald, her granddaughter, Landyn Dewald, her sister,
Anna Hoffman, her brother, Ted Olin, her niece, Hilary
Hoffman, and her nephews, Nathan, Paul and Russ
Olin.
Susy is preceded in death by her mother, Sally Olin,
and her father, Stuart Olin.
Susy was a loving wife and mother. Outside of her
family, Susy, dedicated herself to enriching the life of
others. She achieved that goal by serving as a preschool
teacher and art instructor. Susy was known throughout
the community for her baking, craftiness, and generous
attitude.
The family is hosting a private celebration of life. In
lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the
Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Please share memories of Suzy with her family
at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary, of Hermiston, Oregon, is in care of
arrangements.
Cason Jack Cahill
May 23, 1931 - May 19, 2022
East Oregonian, File
Rapper George Moss performs Aug. 28, 2021, at the Great-
er Hermiston CityFest with Andrew Palau at Butte Park. The
Christian musician will present an all-ages concert Friday,
May 27, 8 p.m. at Campus Life in Hermiston.
Cecilia Jennie (Bergin) Correa
January 09, 1920 – May 19, 2022
Cecilia Jane (Jennie) Correa of Echo,
Oregon, was born on Jan. 9, 1920, in
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, to par-
ents Lewis and Alma (Nevendorf) Bergin.
She died on May 19, 2022,
in St. Anthony Hospital,
Pendleton, Oregon.
Jennie was the ninth out
of 11 children in her family.
At the age of 4, her family
moved to Spokane, Wash-
ington. Jennie attended Lew-
is & Clark grade school and
middle school. As a young
girl, Jennie’s father thought
she was musically talented
so he bought her a violin in
which she learned to play.
In 1935, Jennie’s fam-
ily moved to the Stanfield area. This is
where Jenny met her future husband, Jess
A. Correa Jr,. in Stanfield, Oregon. They
were united in marriage on Jan. 30, 1936.
They made their home on the family farm
in Echo, Oregon, where they raised their
four boys, David, Richard (Skeeter), Ran-
dy and Rocky.
Jennie’s life was her family and the
family farm on the Echo Meadows. Jen-
nie and Jess raised many different crops
and livestock. After Jess’s passing, Jennie
turned the farming/cattle operations over
to her second son Richard (Skeeter). She
continued to be an active part of the farm
until her death. Jennie lived on the family
farm for 86 years.
Jennie went to work for Inland Empire
Bank in Umatilla and Hermiston, Oregon,
where she was the bank bookkeeper for 18
years. In 1977, Jennie and her son Rocky
purchased and operated a grocery store
(Main Street Market) in Stanfield, Oregon,
where she worked until her retirement in
1980.
Jennie enjoyed gardening, baking,
sewing and was a very talented artist. She
painted countless oil paintings as gifts for
her family and friends. Her favorite pas-
time was watching the daily activities on
the farm through the big picture window in
her living room. You would find her in her
favorite chair with her faithful companion
Tilly (kitty) watching her world outside
and always ready for a visitor.
Jennie was a very loving
wife, mother, grandmother
(both great and great-great)
to her family. In 102 years,
Jennie had experienced more
in life than any of us will ever
know. She touched so many
lives and has truly left a leg-
acy amongst her family. The
words that would describe
Jennie would be intelligent,
independent, loving, funny,
talented and a great story-
teller. The one word that
best describes Jennie, and so
many people will agree, is AMAZING.
Jennie is survived by her children,
David L. Correa, Richard J. (Skeeter)
Correa; grandchildren, Kari Kennedy,
Jeff (Kathi) Correa, Shelli Correa, Shane
(Jodi) Correa, Devin (Melanie) Correa,
Neal Correa, Kevin Correa, Lindsay (Jake)
Markgraf; great-grandchildren, Nicole
(Shaun) Dominguez, Garrett and Gage
Correa, Qwinn Correa, Gabe, Grayson
and Briar Markgraf, Aeliana Correa;
great-great-granddaughter, Payton Avery
Dominguez; niece, Darlene Justice; neph-
ew, Allen Bergin; and several nephews and
nieces.
She was preceded in death by her hus-
band of 40 years, Jess A. Correa, Jr.; sons,
Randy and Rocky Correa; her parents,
siblings, daughters-in-law, Carol Correa,
Cathey Correa; and her great-grandson,
Cody Correa; along with several other
family members and special friends.
Burns Mortuary, Hermiston, Oregon,
is in charge of the services. A graveside
burial service will be held at 11 a.m. on
Thursday, May 26 at the Echo Memorial
Cemetery, Echo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations
in Jennie’s honor may be made to St. Ju-
de’s Children’s Research Hospital or to a
charity of your choice.
A5
Cason Jack Cahill, 90, an
1847 Oregon Trail Pioneer family
descendant of John James Crenshaw
Jack and Mary Elizabeth Cason,
passed away on the evening of May
19, 2022, at his son Scott’s Rio
Senda home in Umatilla surrounded
by his family and his beloved wife
of 70 years, Jean Cahill.
Cason was born to Merle Ann
(Jack) Cahill and Charles Martin Cahill at St. Anthony
Hospital, Pendleton, Oregon, on May 23, 1931. He was
raised on his parents Umatilla River family farm near
Thornhollow and at the Barnett Ranch near Athena.
As a boy, Cason loved swimming in the Umatilla
River, riding horses bareback and working on the farm.
Until junior high, he and his brother rode their horses, Star
and Pinky, to attend the one-mile distant Thornhollow
school. At 13, Cason was given permission by the state to
drive himself and his brother, James Cahill, the 20 miles
to Pendleton each day. Cason attended Pendleton High
School where he excelled in basketball and baseball and
was president of his class.
Cason joined the U.S. Navy after the wheat harvest
of 1950 and served as an aviation firefighter at Naval Air
Station Agana Guam during the Korean War and then
as a Gunners Mate 3rd Class on the U.S.S. Kankakee in
the Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean. While home on
leave in 1952, Cason married his Pendleton High School
sweetheart, Jean Francis Clouston, daughter of Alma
(Devin of Heppner) and John Clouston. While home
on leave, they were wed at the Episcopal Church of the
Redeemer in Pendleton, where both had attended since
childhood.
After nearly four years of Naval service, two at sea,
Cason returned and attended Portland State University
for one year taking engineering courses. Cason and Jean
returned home to Athena working at Pendleton Grain
Growers and for the next 31 years serving as a manger in
Athena, Milton-Freewater and Hermiston.
After retirement from PGG, Cason and Jean then
worked in the senior retirement industry, managing
retirement facilities in Utah and Oregon for 15 years.
While on vacation, they discovered how much they like
the desert heat and spent their remaining winters at their
Yuma home in the Foothills, golfing and socializing.
Cason is survived by his wife, Jean; daughter,
Nancy Ross, of Florence, Oregon; sons, Michael (wife,
Candy) of Junction City; Patrick (wife, Michelle) of
Murietta Hot Springs, California; Scott (wife, Mary) of
Umatilla, Oregon; and many grandchildren and great-
grandchildren, which Cason dearly loved and will be
remembered for his calm yet positive demeanor, easy
to make friends with and a terrific listener and a hard
worker.
Cason was preceded in death by his mother, Merle
(Jack) Cahill; father, Charles Martin Cahill; and brother,
James Cahill.
A Navy honors graveside service is planned at Olney
Cemetery in Pendleton, Oregon, at 11 a.m. on June 4,
2022. A gathering location of those interested will be
announced at the graveside service where we can all get
together and tell our stories about Cason.
Cason served as a volunteer basketball referee and
Little League umpire for many years in Hermiston and in
lieu of flowers contributions to Hermiston Little League
are suggested (www.hermistonlittleleague.org).