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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 22, 2016)
A2 Family Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, June 22, 2016 O BITUARIES 60 TH A NNIVERSARY Thomas James Decker Aug. 24, 1933 — June 10, 2016 Benjamin ‘Benny’ Dodds May 29, 1929 — June 12, 2016 Thomas James Decker, 82, a longtime Mt. Vernon resident, died June 10 at Valley View Assisted Liv- ing in John Day. Decker was born Aug. 24, 1933, in Phelps, Wisc., to Thomas M. Decker and Hazel (Kranke) Deck- er. He was raised by his mother and grandparents on their farm in Phelps. He recalled with fondness the free- dom and beauty of the farm and the Wisconsin woods. It was there that his love of nature first took root. As a young man, he lifeguarded on the beaches of Flor- ida. Later, he saw much of the West while working as a locomotive fireman for the railroad. He fished in Alaska, prospected in Nevada and worked in the woods of Oregon. His greatest joy in life was raising his son, John, who preceded him in death in 1990. He was an avid fisherman and hunter, but most of all enjoyed mushrooming. He often returned from camp with a truckload of morels, boletus and even puffballs, too big to fit in a five-gallon bucket. In the woods, he not only found mushrooms but friends. He held lifelong friendships with the friends he made mushrooming. The trees, hills and streams he loved remain. Arrangements are under the care of Driskill Me- morial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. For condolences, visit driskillmemorialchapel.com. Benjamin “Benny” Dodds, 87, died June 12 at Mothers Creek Ranch Adult Foster Home in Bear Valley. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 3, at Mothers Creek Ranch. Dodds was born May 29, 1929, in Scottsbluff, Neb. He attended school in Union and graduated from Union High School in 1947. He enjoyed family, hunting, fi sh- ing and trap shooting. He had many good stories on himself and on others. He worked for many sawmills in Union and Grant coun- ties. He was a member of several shooting clubs and was still active in shooting trap. The shooters were part of his family. He loved to watch wildlife and be outdoors. He was watching a baby fawn with its mother playing in the fi eld below the adult foster home when he died. He was known for teaching youth in Grant County shoot- ing skills and safety. In 1964, he married Zouva Sharp and became a stepfather to Johnny and Art Meisner and Cecil Sharp. He loved to do work on his home on Harper Creek in Mt. Vernon, and loved being a grandfather. He came to live at Mothers Creek Ranch in April 2013. He became a part of a very large family. Survivors include stepsons, Art and Cecil; daughter-in- law, Liz; sister-in-law, Mary Dodds; grandchildren; and his many friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Zouva; brothers, Bob and Bill; sisters, Beth Jones and Berdine Sanders; and stepson, Johnny. Robert ‘Bob’ Skiens Dec. 6, 1940 — June 4, 2016 Robert “Bob” Skiens, 75, died June 4 at his John Day home. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at the Prairie City Senior Center, 204 N. McHaley Ave., followed by a potluck at noon. Skiens was born Dec. 6, 1940, in Burns, to Robert Lee and Madge (Gearhart) Skiens. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1963. He spent his career working as an elec- trician, retiring in 2000. He loved to read. He enjoyed cookbooks and had a large collection of them. He enjoyed golfing, gold mining and making jewelry from stones. He was also a pilot. Survivors include his brothers, Richard Skiens of Yaki- ma, Wash., and Tom Skiens of John Day; sisters, Bonnie (Darrell) Cochran of Vale, Linda Skiens Maladonado of John Day and Beverly (Clayton) Curtis of Prairie City. He was preceded in death by his brother, Dennis R. Skiens. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grant Coun- ty Library or Families First Parent Resource Center of John Day through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. For condolences, visit driskillmemorialchapel.com. Paul Dean ‘Pete’ Fortenberry A memorial service for Paul Dean “Pete” Fortenberry will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 25, at the Mt. Vernon Grange Hall, about one mile east of Mt. Vernon on Highway 26. A potluck lunch, with meat provided, will follow the ser- vice. Fortenberry, of John Day, died Nov. 5, 2015, at age 77. Seth Logan Blakeslee Seth Logan Blakeslee, 19, of Monument, died June 18. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 25, in the Monument School gymnasium. Arrangements are under the care of Driskill Memorial Chap- el, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. Let our family of Pharmacists serve you! Gary and LoLieta Gregg Gary and LoLieta Gregg of John Day will celebrate 60 years of marriage at a party given by their children on Saturday, July 2, in Kimberly. The Greggs were married on July 1, 1956, in Dayville. Gary works as a newspaper delivery driver for the Blue Mountain Eagle. S TUDENTS OF THE M ONTH A PRIL , M AY — L ONG C REEK S CHOOL Charles Kreamier, grade 4 Long Creek student of the month for May. Jaynee Davis, freshman Long Creek student of the month for April. Near Bunning, junior Long Creek student of the month for May. Raquel Melo Silva, senior Long Creek student of the month for April. Alberta Carrie Phillips Nov. 23, 1959 — June 13, 2016 AMBOY, Wash. — Alberta Carrie Phillips, 56, former- ly of Mt. Vernon, died June 13, with family at her side, at her home in Amboy, Washington. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 22, at the Elgin Cemetery. Phillips was born Nov. 23, 1959, the sixth and youngest child to Ralph and Jane Thompson. She grew up in Elgin with her mother, father and fi ve older siblings. She was a jack-of-all-trades and could do anything she set her mind to, from bartending to bookkeeping. She had and raised four daughters, whom she believed in putting fi rst. She lived by the motto “everything happens for a reason.” She was a very social and family-focused person, spending most of her time with friends and family, going on road trips, playing card games, beach combing, volunteering at local food banks and just “being there” when she was needed. She was also an avid fan of “true crime” books and media. The theme song to the TV show “Law and Order” will forever remind us of her love and laughter. Survivors include her brothers, Steve (Roberta “Bob- bie”) Thompson, Harold Thompson, Ralph Thompson, Neil (Deborah “Debbie) Thompson; sister, Charlotte Doughar- ity; daughters, Amanda, Charlotte Thompson, Jessica (Ja- cob) Strickler and Carrie (Jeremy) Layton; son-in-law, Ben; granddaughters, Casandra and Helen Goble; and many niec- es, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews She was preceded in death by her father, Ralph Thomp- son; grandmother, Alberta Burke; sister-in-law, Lillian (Dar- lene) Thompson; mother, Jane Thompson; and brother-in- law, Keith (Mick) Dougharity. Condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 54, Amboy, WA 98601. Arrangements are under the care of Layne’s Battle Ground Funeral Home, Northeast 1st & Northeast Clark, Battle Ground, WA 98604. S TUDENTS OF THE M ONTH D AYVILLE S CHOOL Dayville School students of the month for March: from left, Sophia Pinkal, grades 4-6; Kendall Hettinga, high school; and Preston Fretwell, grades K-3. Terry Lee Yokum Terry Lee Yokum, 61, of Canyon City died June 15 at Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day. No public services will be held. Arrangements are under the care of Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. For condolences, visit driskillmemorialchapel.com. Dayville School students of the month for April: from left, Cody Kluser, high school; Cash Moore, grades 4-6; and Dawson Jenks, grades K-3. A TTENTION G RANT C OUNTY V ETERANS : Did you know a service-connected disabled veteran is entitled to FREE use of Oregon State Parks? See your Grant County Veteran Services Officer today for more information, located at Grant County Courthouse. Give us a call today 541-676-9158 - Heppner 541-384-2801 - Condon D E W ITT M USEUM ’ S DIRECTOR We welcome the opportunity to visit with you about our services! K athy S m ith IS MOVING ON ! J OIN US IN SAYING GOODBYE ! C AKE & REFRESHMENTS AT D E W ITT M USEUM IN P RAIRIE C ITY L AST W EEK ’ S T EMPS W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 22-28 J OHN D AY ..................................................................... HI/LO T UESDAY ....................................................................... 60/43 W EDNESDAY ................................................................... 55/42 T HURSDAY ..................................................................... 59/40 F RIDAY .......................................................................... 73/46 S ATURDAY ...................................................................... 61/47 S UNDAY ......................................................................... 76/39 M ONDAY ........................................................................ 83/49 R IVER F LOWS ON J UNE 20 Last year 56 51 275 370 351 New 22 Dayville School students of the month for June: from left, Ravyn Walker, high school; Dally Moore, grades K-3; and Ethan Thompson, grades 4-6. June 24, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Heppner & & Condon Heppner Condon Discharge JD River near John Day 111 Middle Fork @ Ritter 107 North Fork @ Monument 528 JD River @ Service Creek 883 JD River @ McDonald Ferry 799 Canyon Crk@Thissells Ranch Bridge 23 Canyon Creek @ Adams Drive Bridge 23 Dayville School students of the month for May: from left, Lillianne Walczyk, grades 4-6; Kellen Fretwell, grades K-3; and Faith Brown, high school. Open Mon, Wed, & Fri, 10 am - 4 pm, by appointment. Call 541-575-1631 Avg. 275 279 1350 1990 2220 25 25 % of Avg. 40 38 39 44 36 92 92 Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Sunny Mostly sunny Slight chance of showers Sunny Sunny Sunny Sunny 84 77 71 80 87 87 85 50 47 42 46 48 49 52 F ORECAST A UTOMATED : 541-575-1122 R OAD CONDITIONS : 511; TRIPCHECK . COM ; NOAA W EATHER R ADIO :162.500 MHz
