A2
Family
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
O BITUARIES
L AST SKI BUS HITS SLOPES S ATURDAY
Edward A. ‘Bud’ Ball
Dec. 2, 1936 - Jan. 25, 2018
Edward A. “Bud” Ball, 81, passed away Thursday, Jan. 25.
Ball worked as a range conservationist for the U.S. Forest Ser-
vice and lived in Prairie City and John Day. Services will be
held at a later date. Assisting the family is Virgil T. Golden Fu-
neral Service, Salem.
Contributed photo
Eagle file photo
From Jan. 30, 2008: Brandon Cross catches a ride up
Dixie Mountain on Sunday.
O UT OF THE P AST
75 years ago
Jan. 29, 1943
50 years ago
Feb. 1, 1968
Lieutenant
A.
H.
Wright graduates from
officers’ candidate school
with high honors
Albert Harvey Wright,
formerly superintendent of
Grant Union High School
here, graduated on Jan. 9
from the Officers’ Train-
ing School at Ft. Benning,
Georgia, and was commis-
sioned as second lieutenant
in the Army of the United
States.
Lt. Wright enlisted as
a private in May 1942 and
came up through the ranks.
He served in the ranks as
private, corporal and ser-
geant before being appoint-
ed a lieutenant upon his
graduation at Ft. Benning.
He graduated with honors
finishing at the top of his
class.
He was outstanding
in marksmanship, having
qualified as expert with the
03 rifle, light machine gun
and heavy machine gun,
and as first-class gunner
with the automatic rifle and
37-mm anti-tank gun.
There is quite a military
background for Lt. Wright
to draw from. He served
three years in the Marines –
from 1920 to 1923 – being
discharged as a sergeant. He
also had a year in the Na-
tional Guard, four years of
R.O.T.C. holding a univer-
sity appointment as major,
and to top that off was a fly-
ing cadet in the Marines af-
ter graduation from college.
Lt. Wright is assigned to
the Infantry Replacement
Training Center at Camp
Wheeler near Macon, Geor-
gia, to instruct recruits.
Mountain snowpack low
Water content of moun-
tain snowpacks continues to
fall short of last year’s read-
ings and well below the av-
erage figures, according to a
snow survey of the Soil Con-
servation Service.
However, in some areas
snow depth was equal or
nearly equal to last year’s re-
cordings.
Snow depth at Lake Creek
as of Tuesday was 24 inches,
the same as last year at this
time. Water content was 4.4
inches as compared to 7.0
for a year ago and 5.8 for the
average.
Blue Mountain Springs
snow course showed a snow
depth of 32 inches, four inch-
es less than last year. Water
content was 7.3 inches as
compared to 10.8 for last
year, which is also the aver-
age.
At Beech Creek, snow
depth was seven inches with a
water content of 1.7 inches. A
year ago it was 13 inches deep
with 3.4 inches of water. The
average water content is 4.3
inches.
Izee had a snow depth of
13 inches with a water content
of 2.9 inches as compared to
24 inches and 6.5 inches of
water last year. The average
water content is 6.2 inches.
One of the lowest mea-
surements was recorded at
Starr Ridge with 9 inches of
snow with a water content
of 1.9 inches. A year ago the
snow depth was 16 inches
with a water content of 3.6
inches. The average water
content for Starr Ridge at
this time of the year is 4.6
inches.
Ski bus riders enjoy the slopes Jan. 27. The John
Day-Canyon City Parks and Recreation ski and
snowboard bus program will offer one more ride
this season to the Anthony Lakes Ski Area on
Saturday, Feb. 3. Register at local schools or online at
jdccparksandrec.weebly.com. For more information,
call Julie Larson at 541-620-0039 or Bobbee
Hueckman or Kimberly Ward at 541-575-0110.
Richard ‘Dick’ Jones
Nov. 23, 1933 - Jan. 21, 2018
Richard “Dick” Jones of John Day passed away Jan. 21 at
his home. No services are scheduled at this time.
Jones was born on Nov. 23, 1933, in Logan, Iowa, to Vester
T. and Olive (Witt) Jones. In 1965, he married June Appleton.
He worked as a bricklayer, retiring after 45 years of service. He
enjoyed gold mining, fishing and hunting.
Jones is survived by his wife, June; four children; seven
grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial contributions can be made to a
local charity of one’s choice. To offer condolences to his family,
visit driskillmemorialchapel.com.
Berton Ralph White
Oct. 28, 1938 - Jan. 28, 2018
Berton Ralph White, 79, a longtime resident of John Day,
passed away on Sunday, Jan. 28. He was born Oct. 28, 1938.
Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements. Sign
the online condolence book at burnsmortuary.com.
R EADY FOR THE GAME ?
Contributed photo/Keith Nichols
Keith Nichols’ dog Brady, named after New England
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, is ready for the big
game. Nichols said the dog gets excited watching the
games.
B IRTHS
E WINGS
Gracie Silver Ewings, 7 pounds, 2
ounces, 20 inches in length, was born
at 9:42 p.m. Jan. 10 at Blue Moun-
tain Hospital in John Day to parents
Josh and Carly Ewings of Dayville.
Maternal grandparents are Terisa
and Terry Clawson of Bend. Pater-
nal grandparents are Karl and Susan
Goetsch of Houlton, Maine, original-
ly of Dayville.
Donn Willey
Aug. 24, 1953 - Jan. 25, 2018
Timothy Donn Willey, 64, peace-
fully passed away Thursday, Jan. 25,
at Blue Mountain Hospital in John
Day. He had been courageously bat-
tling metastasized melanoma for over
two years. A memorial service will
be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3,
at the Grant County Fairgrounds
pavilion.
Willey was born Aug. 24, 1953,
at Blue Mountain Hospital in Prairie
City. He was the second of five sons
born to Robert and Jean Willey of John Day. He attended local
schools, graduating from Grant Union High School in 1971.
On March 4, 1972, he married Michelle Houpt. Together
they raised four children. He was a loving husband and father,
and was always eager to spend time with his grandchildren
and great-granddaughter. He was known as “Papa Donn” by
many.
He enjoyed mushrooming, fishing, hunting, camping and
picnicking. After dark he loved to watch the night sky. Mo-
torcycling was a favorite activity, logging many miles on two
wheels.
From his early teen years, Willey played in numerous
bands, from rock and roll to worship music and, most recently,
a local jazz combo. He was a gifted musician playing guitar or
bass guitar and enjoyed the camaraderie of the band. He loved
playing music as an offering to God and encouraged others to
join in an attitude of praise and worship.
With support from local church groups and individuals,
Willey built and managed KGNR “Good News” radio station,
where he worked for over 30 years. In addition, he served on
the John Day City Council for nine years, and was an elder at
Cornerstone Christian Fellowship. He loved to serve and was
passionate about using his gifts for good, especially in matters
important to him.
He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Dawn
Willey.
He is survived by his mother, Jean Willey; wife, Michelle,
and daughter Melissa Delgado of John Day; daughters Laura
Scott (Kenny) and Hannah Willey of Prescott, Arizona; son
Tim Willey (Ashley) of La Grande; five grandchildren; and
one great-granddaughter.
Memorial contributions may be made to Cornerstone
Christian Fellowship, 139 NE Dayton St., John Day.
About Obituaries
T HE L AW O FFICE OF
D ONALD J. M OLNAR
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541-575-0710.
A General Practice Law Firm
• Wills, Trusts, and Estates
• Divorce and Family Law
• Contracts, Real Estate, Business
• Personal Injury
• Criminal Defense
Born and raised in John Day, Attorney Donald Molnar is
honored to return home and serve the residents of Grant
County. Mr. Molnar is a graduate of Grant Union High School,
Lewis and Clark College, and Lewis and Clark Law School.
He has been an attorney in private practice since 2005.
The Law Office of Donald J. Molnar
118 S. Washington Street, Canyon City, OR 97820
Telephone: (541) 620-5127 • ww.molnarlawoffice.com
36437
37459
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W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF J AN . 31 - F EB . 6
Wednesday
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cloudy
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cloudy
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cloudy
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