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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2017)
A2 Family Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, October 18, 2017 O BITUARIES Melva Marie Butler Dec. 31, 1958 - Oct. 12, 2017 Loretta Doreen (Dillon) Casselman Oct. 19, 1953 - Sept. 10, 2017 Melva Marie Butler, 58, a longtime Baker City resident, died Thursday, Oct. 12, at St. Alphonsus Medical Cen- ter in Baker City. A celebration of life will be held at noon Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Veterans Memorial Club, 2005 Valley St., Baker City. Butler was born Dec. 31, 1958, to par- ents Jerry and Hazel Lovell at the Wal- lowa Memorial Hospital in Enterprise. She attended Emmett High School and later graduated from Capitol High School in Boise, Idaho, in 1976. She married Dan Lees in 1978, and they became the proud par- ents of two wonderful and loving children, Jennifer and Michael Lees, both of whom graduated from Boise State University with Bachelor of Science degrees in civil engineering. The couple shared 28 years together and later divorced. While living in Emmett, Idaho, they competed in dirt bike racing. Few people know that she was the statewide motocross champion of Idaho for two years. She took home many trophies and was an inspiration to all female riders. The family moved to Prairie City in 1988 where she worked for the U.S. Forest Service fi ghting wildfi res. She also coached the high school girls volleyball and basketball teams. In 1990, they moved to the Sumpter Valley, and she worked in Baker City at Safeway, and later at Marvin Wood Products. She was best known for her business Melva’s Upholstery, which she opened full time in Baker City in 2010. With limited knowledge and massive determination, she became extremely competent in her profession, gaining a huge following and an outstanding rep- utation. She not only met customers, but easily developed friend- ships with many of them due to her smile and personality. She was very proud of the business that she started from scratch. She met her true love in Sumpter. He swept her off her feet, and on Sept. 27, 2014, she married the love of her life and best friend, Ryan Butler. They were inseparable, and their commitment to each other was truly visible to all that knew them. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining her friends and family. Everyone cherished an invitation to spend time and have a meal at the Butlers. She was also a member of the local VFW. She was dedicated to her children and grandchildren. She loved gardening, home canning, laughing and smiling. She loved going to work, producing beautiful workmanship with her upholstery work. She was preceded in death by her father, Jerry; and brothers Danny and David Lovell. She is survived by her loving husband, Ryan Butler, of Baker City; mother, Hazel Emery, of Baker City; daughter Jennifer Long and her husband, Justin, of Baker City; son Michael Lees and his wife, Angela, of La Grande; six grandchildren; brother Darell Howard of Baker City; sister Sherry Given of Baker City; and nu- merous nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to help with expenses in- curred through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, PO Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences may be shared at tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com. Loretta Doreen (Dillon) “Lulu” Cas- selman, 63, passed away Sept. 10 at her Middleton, Idaho, home after a three- year courageous journey with cancer. During a portion of this period she be- came primary caregiver to her mother, Margie Gengler Baughman, who pre- ceded her in death Feb. 9, 2017. Casselman is survived by her two daughters Shelly Hallos of Middleton and Stephanie Hallos Gorham of Pay- ette, Idaho; her spouse of 17 years, Earnie; four grandchildren; and four sisters, Rosetta Riley, Vernetta Stewart, Barbara Jones, and Marley Bratcher, all of whom reside in the Pacifi c Northwest. Casselman attended Prairie City High School, graduating in 1973 with honors, and later from Treasure Valley Communi- ty College with a certifi cate in nursing. During her early years, she attended the Prairie City Assembly of God church where her grandparents, Nick and Nettie Gengler, were also members. As a nurse she worked primarily in long-term care at Presbyterian Care Center in Ontario, and a shorter duration in acute care at Holy Rosary hospital (currently St. Alphonsus) in Ontario. She worked for approximately 30 years, full time. Hobbies and interests included vegetable and fl ower gar- dening, cooking and baking, sewing, reading and, most of all, spending time with her beloved family toward whom she gave selfl essly. Casselman’s life was infused with her love of God, and guided by Christian principles. She was generous and gentle with endurance. A memorial with be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at the John Day Assembly of God Church, with the Rev. Lee Teague of- fi ciating. A dinner will follow, and later a brief graveside service in Prairie City will be recognized. Family and friends are invited. About Obituaries 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 submit- ted to the Eagle with incorrect information may be corrected and republished as paid notices. Send obituaries by email, editor@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. Ernie Gipson Nov. 19, 1955 - Oct. 6, 2017 David R. Furgerson April 17, 1939 - Oct. 11, 2017 David R. Furgerson, 78, of Canyon City passed away Wednesday, Oct. 11, at his home. On April 17, 1939, Furgerson was born to James T. Furger- son and Mary Ilene Haley, in Dorena, Missouri. He joined the United States Army on Sept. 7, 1956, and served for three years. He then went on to become a truck driv- er, retiring in 2004 after 35 years of driving. He married Shirley (Huffman) Furgerson in Winnemucca, Nevada, in 1971. Furgerson enjoyed trains and spending time grading. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his brothers John Thomas and James Furgerson. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Furgerson, of Canyon City; daughter Deborah Quant of Burns; son Richard Furger- son of Myrtle Creek; sister Virginia Sexton of Bend; sister Veda Byassee of Maricopa, Arizona; brother Robert Furgerson of On- tario; stepchildren Brenda Church, Esther Majors, Linda Kend- all, Carol Claughton and Jack Wilson; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and Sydney and Sophie Brockway, who were both very special to him. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. To leave a condolence for the family, visit driskillmemori- alchapel.com. C ORRECTION Debbie Ausmus 245 South Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845 OPEN WED. & THUR. 9 am - 5 pm A Monument/Dayville foot- ball player was misidentifi ed in a caption in last week’s issue. The athlete was Mark Thomas who wears the No. 22 jersey. The Eagle regrets the error. A TTENTION G RANT 541-575-1113 24 hrs/7 days wk C OUNTY debbie.ausmus@ countryfinancial.com V ETERANS : Did you know a service-connected disabled veteran is entitled to FREE use of Oregon State Parks? Ernie Gipson, 61, of John Day passed away from complications during a trans- plant surgery on Friday, Oct. 6, in Port- land. A celebration of life will be held from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at the New Castle Community Center in New Cas- tle, Colorado. Gipson was born on Nov. 19, 1955, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He spent most of his childhood and teenage years in Grand Junction, Colorado, where he attended Central High School. In his earlier years, he competed at a high level in professional rodeo circuits, and placed in the “Final 15” in 1979 for single steer roping. His fi nal years were spent living and working as a rangeland manager for the U.S. Forest Service for over 20 years, including jobs on the Tonto National Forest, the Allegheny National For- est, the Thunder Basin Grassland and, most recently, the Malheur National Forest. While in Arizona, Gipson was very active in the Society for Range Management. One of his career specialties was working with correctional inmates and allowing them to have pro- ductive work experiences on public lands. He proved to be suc- cessful at whatever he did, and often volunteered for the Cinnabar Mountain Playday’s youth rodeo association in John Day, and was known as “Ernie the Gate Man” by some. Gipson was an amazing father and friend. He was loved by everyone he met, and was known for his jokes, his dry sense of humor and his kindness towards others. He is survived by his father, Tom; his stepmother Carol; his sister Nickey; and his three children, Amanda, Chris and Sam. Toni Goodwin June 6, 1946 - Oct. 12, 2017 Toni Goodwin (Taylor), 71, of John Day passed away Thursday, Oct. 12, at Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day. A memorial service was held Oct. 17 at Driskill Memorial Chapel in John Day, with Robert Waltenburg of Dayville Community Church offi - ciating. An additional service will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 29 at Little Creek Casino in Kamilche, Washington. Goodwin was born to Fredrick “Blair” Taylor and Lenore Taylor (Rasmussen) on June 6, 1946, in Tacoma, Washington. She graduated from Lakes High School in Lakewood, Washington, in 1964. She attend- ed Washington State University, graduating in 1967, and then went on to Western Oregon State College, graduating with a master’s in education. Goodwin also received a superinten- dent certifi cate from the University of Oregon. She was mar- ried to Ralph Goodwin on Sept. 14, 2002, in Baker City. She worked as school district superintendent for Mt. Angel, Umatilla and Baker City school districts from 1987 to 2007. She enjoyed reading, being at the beach and ocean fishing. She was also a member of the Dayville Community Church and Umatilla and Baker City Rotary. Goodwin accomplished many things in her life, such as being the first woman to be president of the Oregon State School Administrator’s As- sociation, serving on the board of directors of Marion Polk Schools Credit Union and winning the Rotary’s Paul Harris award. Goodwin is survived by her husband, Ralph Goodwin, of John Day; sister Karan Vanderwarker of Des Moines, Wash- ington; daughter Marla Taylor of Kent, Washington; son Mikel Hardman of Kent; stepchildren Michelle DesJardin, Marguerite Powell, Ralph Goodwin Jr., James Goodwin and Mathew Goodwin; 18 grandchildren; and nine great-grand- children. Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Moun- tain Healthcare Foundation through Driskill Memorial Chap- el, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. To leave a condolence for the family, visit driskillmemo- rialchapel.com. See your Grant County Veteran Services Officer today for more information, Katee located at Grant County Courthouse. Hoffman • Veteran Owned Call 541-620-8057 for an appointment • Competitive Pricing 18301 • Serving Central & Eastern Oregon A man wakes up in the morning after sleeping on an ADVERTISED BED, in ADVERTISED PAJAMAS. 541-620-1405 Burklevi@yahoo.com 14812 He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR, have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE. Then it’s too late. Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Friday 8am - 5pm Mendy Sharpe FNP Apppointments available AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK? DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it! Blue Mountain Eagle MyEagleNews.com Every other Monday in John Day at Blue Mountain Hospital 170 Ford Rd. • 541-575-1311 Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710 L AST W EEK ’ S T EMPS J OHN D AY ..................................................................... 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