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Family
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
John Day author releases
eclipse edition of novel
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
As John Day author Craige
McMillan prepares to witness
the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse,
he has released an eclipse edi-
tion of his book “Reconnais-
sance: The Creator Returns”
— the fi rst volume in his
“Armegeddon Story” series.
Among the characters
in the supernatural novel is
Achiel, a Yupik tribe native,
who feels a light cut through
him as he paddles an Alaskan
river.
He can’t help wondering
if the eclipse he saw foretells
something momentous for
him and his Native American
tribe.
McMillan, who’s lived in
John Day for 14 years, fi rst
released “Reconnaissance” in
2014.
The newer edition includes
a modifi ed 2017 eclipse cover,
an author prologue, a table of
contents and updated format-
ting.
The “Armegeddon Story”
series includes three volumes
with another on the way.
The author said he relies
heavily on conversation and
action to move his stories for-
ward.
“Character development is
key,” he said. “Tight, strong
descriptive settings let the
reader fi ll in their own de-
tails.”
McMillan also said he’s
light on introspection, allow-
ing the characters to change
and move the story from be-
ginning to end.
He said he works to cre-
ate believable characters and
a realistic depiction of the
supernatural with a sense of
mystery throughout.
It’s “unlike anything else
available,” he said.
McMillan said he demon-
strates with clarity why an
“end times” in one form or
another is likely.
He said he felt re-releas-
ing “Reconnaissance” would
offer a memento for eclipse
visitors, which they can read
as they travel home.
The book takes the reader
from Alaska to Rome and Bra-
zil and, the author says, “both
sides of the veil of eternity.”
Eagle file photo
John Day author Craige McMillan holds his book
“Reconnaissance: The Creator Returns.” He recently
released a special 2017 eclipse edition of the novel.
O BITUARIES
Marjorie Grace Porfi ly
Aug. 4, 2017
Marjorie Grace Porfily of John Day passed away
Friday, Aug. 4, at Wildflower Lodge in La Grande. A
graveside service, directed by Driskill Memorial Chapel
in John Day, was held Aug. 11.
Porfily was the second-born daughter to Kathern and
Melton Arnold in Centralia, Washington.
Marjorie married Ivan Porfily, and their partnership
and life together began. They moved to a ranch and
started a family. She was a rancher’s wife and partner in
every sense and enjoyed the role very much. She kept
detailed baby books and recorded who attended, what
was served for dinner and gifts for every one of her chil-
dren’s birthday celebrations.
In the 1970s, Porfily was one of the top Tupperware
salespeople in the Northwest. Her Tupperware inven-
tory was endless, and she always had the correct lid or
replacement container to completely satisfy every cus-
tomer in Grant County.
Porfily had many hobbies over the years that demon-
strated her artistic side, including craft projects from
ceramics, mushroom footstools, rock tables to Kleen-
ex box covers and bird string puppets. She was a gift-
ed cook who was never afraid to try a new recipe. Her
homemade ice cream brought the family together many
times over the years.
Her traditions and family routine are very present in
her children and grandchildren’s lives today.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan W.
Porfily.
She is survived by her son William “Bill” Porfily and
wife, Shirley, of Stanfield; son Lenard Porfily and wife,
Teresia, of Summerville; siblings Melvin Klaus, Robert
Klaus and wife, Roberta, and Edith Cross; five grand-
children; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist
Church of John Day or the John Day Senior Center.
Coral Gay Schmitt
Sept. 1, 1930 - Aug. 9, 2017
Coral Gay Schmitt passed
away Wednesday, Aug. 9. She
was just 23 days short of her
87th birthday.
Schmitt was born at home to
Hiram Jackson and Viola Estel-
la (Hensley) Brown on Sept. 1,
1930, in Pleasant Valley, Kansas,
10 miles north of Bucklin. She
was ninth of 13 brothers and sis-
ters. She graduated from Bucklin
High School. On July 7, 1948,
she married Harold J. Schmitt in Kinsley, Kansas, and
they honeymooned on their way to moving to Ontario,
where they lived the rest of their lives. Harold and Cor-
al had seven children, Harold (Neb), Kenneth, Teresa,
Duane, Vernon, Charles and Gary. Coral’s children were
her reason for living, and she loved them all tremen-
dously.
Schmitt is survived by her sister Joyce; brother
George (Billy); her children Neb (Linda), Ken (Tam-
my), Teresa, Duane, Vern (Rindy) and Gary (Doris);
14 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. She was
preceded in death by 10 of her siblings; son Charles;
and husband, Harold. She is also survived by the caring,
loving and devoted nurses and staff at Blue Mountain
Care Center in Prairie City.
Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, at
Lienkaemper Chapel in Ontario with graveside services
at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, at Sunset Cemetery in On-
tario. Condolences may be sent to the family at lienkae-
mper-thomason.com.
E AGLE ON V ACATION — H OLLIDAY
Contributed photo
About Obituaries
Chad and Erica Holliday took the Eagle on vacation
in June while hiking up the Skógá River in South
Iceland along the Fimmvorduhals trail, above, and the
Ballyportry Castle in County Clare, Ireland, at right.
The Eagle wants to see your vacation photos. Take a
picture with the Eagle, print or mobile editions, while on
vacation and send them to editor@bmeagle.com.
News obituaries are a free service of the Blue Mountain Eagle. The paper
accepts obituaries from the family or funeral home. Information submitted is
subject to editing. Obituaries submitted to the Eagle with incorrect information
may be corrected and republished as paid notices. Send obituaries by email,
editorl@bmeagle.com; fax, 541-575-1244; or mail, 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John
Day, OR 97845. For more information, or to inquire about a paid memorial, call
541-575-0710.
Larry James Burnam
Larry James Burnam passed away August 1, 2017, in Challis, Idaho at age 73. The family will be having private services.
Larry born November 23, 1943, in Berea, Kentucky was the son of Allie and Kathleen McWhorter Burnam. Shortly after the
war his family moved to Yakima, Washington where they owned an apple orchard. He and his brother and sisters all helped on
the farm raising food for a growing world.
He played baseball and basketball while attending school but longed for adventure away from the farm.
After convincing his parents, he joined the Army in 1961. Shortly after arriving in Germany the Cold War came to a head at
Check Point Charlie. He described The Berlin Crisis with little emotion. As a Combat Engineer he built air bases and missile
silos for a world on the brink. His memories of the time however are filled with the joy of meeting new people, trying new
things, and traveling around Europe as only a young man could.
He had reenlisted and came home on leave before reassignment to see family. His sister set him up on a date with a friend.
Seven days later he and Lori Bales were married and headed to Fort Polk, Louisiana for deployment to Vietnam. He left stateside in the fall of 1965. He
landed by beach craft at Long Binh where they immediately built a runway and a brig for a war that was just about to escalate. Just as he had in Europe
he focused on the good things in Vietnam. He loved the people he was with, the country, and actually met Ann Margret on the street in Saigon.
After he left the military he settled in Portland, Oregon where he supervised a ground crew for Braniff Airlines. In 1975 Larry wanted to raise his
children out of the city and moved to John Day, Oregon. He built his own home in the mountains and owned a business as a chimney sweep. In 1990
he relocated to Vancouver, Washington for a startup company that specialized in chimney repair. He helped the state write building codes and
managed several projects including the historical restoration of the Tilly Jane Cabin on Mt. Hood. This project for the USFS was a first of its kind.
Larry moved to Darby, Montana in the late 1990’s to be near his grand children. He worked until his retirement in 2008 at Triple Creek Resort doing
facility maintenance.
After retirement Larry traveled for the next several years helping his son with his home remodeling business in Portland, Oregon and visiting his
daughter, grandchildren and other family along the way. He settled in Challis in 2016 to be with his family until his passing.
Larry was enthusiastic about several activities including music concerts, motor racing, hiking, and camping adventures. He could fix anything, build
you a house and prepare a gourmet dinner. Described as a renaissance man he didn’t dabble in things. He immersed himself until he was fluent and
then shared that knowledge.
He is survived by his beloved children: September Moore, Challis, Idaho and Trevor (Angie Coates) Burnam, Challis, Idaho; grandchildren: Zachariah
(Ashley) Burnam, Hamilton, Montana and Emma Whisenant, Hamilton, Montana; brother: Leon (Marilyn) Burnam, Yakima, Washington; sisters: Charlene
West, Zigzag, Oregon and Darlene (Jim) Kleweno of Yakima, Washington.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents Allie and Kathleen Burnam and his adoring wife Lori Burnam.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Jones & Casey Funeral Home of Salmon, Idaho. www.jonesandcaseyfh.com
Paid for by the family of Larry Burnam.
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FACEBOOK . COM /M Y E AGLE N EWS
YOU ARE APPRECIATED!!!
The family of Constance C. Jaynes wishes
to thank The Blue Mountain Hospice Team,
truly caring people who work hard every
day. Thank you for treating Connie as if
she was part of your family.
Sincerely,
Keith & Annetta Huffman
Joe & Michele Rubrecht
06025
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