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.
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1990
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Wednesday
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Slight chance
of showers
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F ORECAST A UTOMATED : 541-575-1122 R OAD CONDITIONS : 511; TRIPCHECK . COM ; NOAA W EATHER R ADIO :162.500 MHz