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 ..................................................................... HI/LO
T UESDAY ....................................................................... 65/42
W EDNESDAY ................................................................... 54/35
T HURSDAY ..................................................................... 46/34
F RIDAY .......................................................................... 43/32
S ATURDAY ...................................................................... 51/28
S UNDAY ......................................................................... 61/32
M ONDAY ........................................................................ 71/36
24/7 F ORECAST
A UTOMATED : 541-575-1122
R OAD CONDITIONS : 511; TRIPCHECK . COM
WWW . BLUEMOUNTAINEAGLE . COM / INFO
NOAA W EATHER R ADIO FOR J OHN D AY
162.500 MHz
W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF O CT . 18-24
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Partly
sunny
Slight chance
of rain
Rain
likely
Rain
likely
Slight chance
of rain
Partly
sunny
Plenty of
sunshine
70
70
51
50
57
58
68
44
42
34
42
42
31
36