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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 2020)
2A — BAKER CITY HERALD SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2020 O BITUARIES Garland Wright years in the service, seeing action in WWII and Korea, Garland Earl Wright, 96, he finally decided it was of Baker City, died on July time to come home to Baker 29, 2020, at his home. and settle down. At his request, no services Gar and his wife adopted a will be held. A boy, Larry, and a girl, Ginny. private inurn- The children were educated ment in the here in Baker. Gar worked Veterans Sec- for The Oregon Lumber Co. tion at Mount and then started working Hope Cemetery for the Post Offi ce as a mail will take place carrier. A Post Offi ce clerk Garland soon. position came open, so he Wright Gar, as he gave up the letter carrier is known, was position. He began in the old born on May 25, 1924, at Post Offi ce and then moved home on Orchard Street in over to the new Post Offi ce Baker City to Earl and Julia in the federal building. Gar Wright. Earl and Julia had worked for the Post Offi ce for moved from Ione to Baker; 23 years. He also worked for Earl worked in the offi ce of the Baker Fire Department. the Sumpter Valley Railroad. Gar lived in many places, Gar remembers his father including Irrigon, Klamath and an uncle getting wood Falls and Pendleton, but he up at Tipton. They would considers Baker City home. bring it home and split and Fishing was his passion, stack it in the basement. and the only thing that will The only problem with stop him from fishing is the that was that come spring, wind! water would often flood that Gar is proud of his four basement, and the firewood grandchildren scattered would end up getting soaked. from Nevada to Oregon and Gar grew up in Baker, Seattle — Todd Wright and attending South Baker his wife, Tiffany, Stepha- Elementary and was in the nie Wright and her fiance, second class to graduate Philip, Jodi Hall and her from the new Baker Middle husband, Jeremy, and Seth School. He attended Baker Bennett. He has numerous High School, graduating in great-grandchildren. 1942. Gar is also survived by his Soon, Gar received a let- daughter, Ginny. ter from “Uncle Sam.” He Gar was preceded in death decided that rather than by his parents, Earl and waiting to be called up, he Julia Wright; his brothers, would enlist in the Army. Wendel, Guy and Kenneth; Gar spent the next three his son, Larry Dean Wright; years serving all over the and his great-granddaugh- South Pacific, New Guinea, ter, Kendrick Wright. Philippines, and Japan. He A special thanks to Rich- was in Tokyo Bay during ard and Cheryl Gushman the signing of the Japanese and Jeff Young for the love Instrument of Surrender and support for Dad. on the USS Missouri. The The family requests no Missouri left the next day, flowers or cards, but if you but Gar and the remaining want to donate, support liberating forces stayed as a your local friends and family part of the occupying forces. during this country’s current One of their tasks was to crisis. clear the Bay and open it up To light a candle in for ship traffi c. memory of Gar or to leave a Gar was able to be home condolence for his family, go in Baker for Christmas in to www.colestributecenter. 1946 and joined the Navy in com April of 1947. He was stationed in Asto- Matthew Coote ria but then was able to sail La Grande, 1989-2020 Matthew Carter Coote, 31, the world. He visited many countries around the Medi- of La Grande, died on July 10, 2020. terranean and the South It is anticipated that a cel- Pacific. Gar recalls the whole ebration of life service will ship being quarantined in take place on April 10, 2021, Gibraltar. They were close at the Becker Family Sale enough to Gibraltar that Barn at the Eastern Oregon he could see it was overrun Livestock Show Grounds in with monkeys. After eight Baker City, 1924-2020 T URNING B ACK THE P AGES 50 YEARS AGO from the Democrat-Herald August 8, 1970 Work crews have been preparing classrooms at the vacant St. Francis Academy this week for occupancy by public school third grade students this fall. J.R. Evans, 5-J School District superintendent, said today he expects nearly 220 students to occupy the eight classrooms being prepared. 25 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald August 8, 1995 Monday morning’s rain storm cooled, but didn’t extin- guish, the Crawfi sh prescribed natural fi re. Fire experts expect the 295-acre fi re to be quiet for the next week to 10 days, but say it could reawaken if hot, dry weather returns this month and persists into September. 10 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald August 9, 2010 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new mer- cury emissions limits could force Ash Grove Cement Co., one of Baker County’s larger private employers, to close the plant near Durkee that employs 116 people. The EPA’s new rules, announced this morning, do not include the subcategory that Ash Grove offi cials had asked for. The subcategory, which Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., had also endorsed, acknowledges that the limestone Ash Grove processes at the Durkee factory contains higher- than-average amounts of mercury. ONE YEAR AGO from the Baker City Herald August 9, 2019 Firefi ghters had an assist from the weather Thursday as they battled four lightning-sparked blazes in Baker City’s watershed. The coolest temperatures in more than two weeks, along with higher humidities and occasional rain, helped crews stifl e fi res in the section of the Elkhorn Mountains, about 10 miles west of town, where the city obtains its drinking water. A potent lightning storm Wednesday night ignited the fi res. The largest, in the headwaters of Elk Creek near the southern boundary of the 10,000-acre watershed, burned about 5 acres. The three other fi res were all about one-tenth of an acre. Two started near Marble Point, at the watershed’s western edge, and the third was near the eastern bound- ary of the watershed above Washington Gulch. Firefi ghters were assisted Thursday by helicopters that dropped water on the Elk Creek fi re, said Michelle Owen, the city’s public works director. “The Forest Service responded with resources and got on it right away,” Owen said. “It’s a little bit scary, but they spent a lot of hours on it. And yes, the weather cooper- ated. We couldn’t have had better weather.” City offi cials have for decades feared that a major fi re in the watershed would foul the streams and springs with ash and mud, forcing the city to build a fi ltration plant that likely would cost more than $10 million. The city adds chlorine to disinfect its water, and since 2014, the year after cryptosporidium in the water sickened hundreds of people, the city has also bombarded the wa- ter with UV light to inactivate the microscopic parasite. O REGON L OTTERY MEGABUCKS, Aug. 5 3 — 7 — 14 — 27 — 32 — 41 Next jackpot: $5 million POWERBALL, Aug. 5 7 — 14 — 17 — 57 — 65 PB 24 Next jackpot: $158 million MEGA MILLIONS, Aug. 4 2 — 22 — 30 — 42 — 62 Mega 20 Next jackpot: $22 million WIN FOR LIFE, Aug. 5 20 — 36 — 43 — 77 PICK 4, Aug. 6 • 1 p.m.: 4 — 6 — 1 — 6 • 4 p.m.: 7 — 2 — 4 — 8 • 7 p.m.: 4 — 5 — 7 — 7 • 10 p.m.: 0 — 2 — 4 — 8 LUCKY LINES, Aug. 6 2-8-11-14-19-24-27-30 Next jackpot: $31,000 S ENIOR M ENUS ■ MONDAY (Aug. 10): Beef pot roast, parslied red potatoes, carrots, biscuit, pea-and-onion salad, peach crisp ■ TUESDAY (Aug. 11): Swedish meatballs over fettuccine, mixed vegetables, bread, gelatin with fruit, bread pudding ■ WEDNESDAY ( Aug. 12): Boneless chicken breast with cream gravy, rice pilaf, green beans, bread, carrot-raisin salad, cinnamon rolls ■ THURSDAY (Aug. 13): Meatloaf, potatoes and gravy, broccoli-blend vegetables, roll, fruit ambrosia, sherbet ■ FRIDAY (AUG. 14): Baked cod, cup of clam chowder, roll, coleslaw, lemon bar Luncheon at the Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; $4.50 donation (60 and older), $6.75, under 60. Meals must be picked up; there is no dining on site. C ONTACT THE H ERALD 1668 Resort St. Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Telephone: 541-523-3673 Fax: 541-833-6414 Publisher Karrine Brogoitti kbrogoitti@lagrandeobserver. com Jayson Jacoby, editor jjacoby@bakercityherald.com Advertising email ads@bakercityherald.com Classifi ed email classified@bakercityherald.com Circulation email circ@bakercityherald.com ISSN-8756-6419 Serving Baker County since 1870 Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays except Christmas Day by the Baker Publishing Co., a part of EO Media Group, at 1668 Resort St. (P.O. Box 807), Baker City, OR 97814. Subscription rates per month are: Baker City (97814), $10.80; all others, $12.50. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Baker City Herald, P.O. Box 807, Baker City, OR 97814. Periodicals Postage Paid at Pendleton, Oregon 97801 Copyright © 2020 Union to allow Matthew’s friends and family to all share memories and celebrate Matthew his life. Coote Matthew was born on March 17, 1989, at La Grande. A native of the Grande Ronde Valley, Matthew lived all of his short but full life in the same home. From the day he was brought home from the hospital by his parents, John Edward Coote and Anne C. (Verbout) Coote, he was blessed to be raised in a place he truly loved. Wheth- er it was pursuing his pas- sion of farming or playing in the hills and streams that bountifully surround us, Matthew loved the Eastern Oregon way of life. All who knew Matthew at any stage of his life were met with a kindhearted, gentle soul. Even as a youngster at Island City Elementary, Matthew was always considerate of and a good friend to others. As a youth he participated in all types of sports. Matthew enjoyed the camaraderie sports provided. He cher- ished his friendships. His early years found him developing a love for animals. In addition to owning many different pets throughout his life, Matthew enjoyed raising sheep and Registered Angus cattle. He excelled in preparing his animals for 4-H competi- tions at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show and Union County Fair, as well as other junior show competitions. Whether it was friends or animals, Matthew always put the needs of others ahead of himself. He was a loyal and loving young man. Matthew embraced his new blended family at the age of 11 when his father married his second mother, Joni Lequerica. Matthew felt blessed to have two new siblings, Cale and Cali Wetstein. Matthew relished the opportunities to share life with new friends. He was reared in love by all of his family. After graduating from La Grande High School in 2007, Matthew worked the land he loved making hay and planting crops. He started with Tony Hamann at a young age and worked most of his adult life at Hamann Farms. His passion to farm embodied many of the things that brought him joy. He loved the outdoors and the satisfaction of nurturing the growth of crops. He was skilled at welding and had a good working knowledge of mechanics. He could fi x anything at any time. When work gave way for a moment to play, Matthew could be found enjoying another passion his father had introduced him to in fi shing. He became skilled at fl y-fi shing with encour- agement from his mother. Along with friends and his dogs Murphy or Boss by his side, he would hit the riv- ers, streams and lakes that are abundant in our area. He enjoyed cooking — par- ticularly ribs, brisket and anything that required grill- ing and smoking. Matthew’s good nature was always fun to be around or with. Matthew will be remem- bered as always smiling. He always put others at ease with his caring and compassionate nature. At every stage of life he demon- strated an innate ability to connect with others and be a friend. Matthew is survived by his parents: his father, John Edward Coote and stepmother, Joni Lequerica of La Grande; his mother, Anne (Verbout) Coote of La Grande; his stepsiblings, Cale Wetstein of Orlando, Florida, and Cali Wetstein of Vancouver, Washington; his grandmother, Marilyn Friedrich of Portland; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his three grandparents, Edward and Francis Coote and Alphonso Verbout. The Coote family would welcome and appreciate any memories or re-telling of Matthew’s stories. Those may be posted online at www.lovelandfuneralchapel. com. Additionally, the family is pursuing the establishment of a memorial scholarship fund through the Union 4-H association. In lieu of fl ow- ers, tax-deductible memorial donations can be made to Union County 4-H Associa- tion, Memo: Matthew Coote Memorial, 10507 N. McAli- ster Road, La Grande, OR 97850. N EWS OF R ECORD FUNERALS PENDING Walt Saunders: There will be traditional funeral, with military honors, at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hilary Bonn Benevolent Fund through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. Online con- dolences may be made at www. tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com Mary Morin: There will be a graveside service/dedication at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City. Arrangements are under the direc- tion of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services. On- line condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome .com Ken Grafham Sr.: His memo- rial service initially scheduled for August has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In place of a memorial service, family and friends may watch a video memo- rial service by going to www. grayswestco.com Raelene Florene Maddox: Her memorial service will take place Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., with Pastor Lennie Spooner of the Baker City Naza- rene Church offi ciating. To light a candle for Raelene, or to leave a condolence for her family, go to www.grayswestco.com Baker City Police AGGRAVATED FIRST-DEGREE THEFT, SECOND-DEGREE BUR- GLARY (three counts), SECOND- DEGREE CRIMINAL MISCHIEF and POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS: Christopher Alan Griffi th, 27, of Baker City, 2:24 p.m. Wednesday, at jailed. SECOND-DEGREE DISOR- DERLY CONDUCT: Loren Dean Alexander Prevo, 27, of Baker City, 10:38 p.m. Wednesday, at East Street and Auburn Avenue; cited and released. SECOND-DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASSING: Matthew Wayne Frost, 33, of Baker City, 2:32 a.m. Thursday, on Campbell Street; cited and released. FAILURE TO APPEAR (Baker County Justice Court warrant and out-of-county warrant): Andrew Jay Culley, 30, of Baker City, 12:17 p.m. Tuesday, on Cedar Street; cited and released. Baker County Sheriff SECOND-DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASSING (Baker County Justice Court warrant): Adam Troy Shelton, 47, of 2609 14th St., 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, at 14th and A streets; cited and released. “You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR 225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com Mobile Service Outstanding Computer Repair Fast & Reliable Call or Text 24/7 Dale Bogardus 541-297-5831 If your computer is in despair call Outstanding Computer Repair! www.outstandingcomputerrepair.com Refurbished Desktop & Laptops For Sale House calls (let me come to you!) Drop Offs & Remote Services are Available All credit cards accepted POLICE LOG Joan Bates #90 From your family Josie and Frank Hermann, Frank and Riza Bates, Erin and Dan Justus and Bill Hermann.
