FAMILY
Blue Mountain Eagle
ENGAGEMENTS
Stailing-Bennett
The family of Kristi Sue Bennett announces her
engagement to Michael Jarred
Stailing of Damariscotta, Maine.
Bennett is a 2002 graduate of
Grant Union High School in John
Day. She worked at a horse ranch
in Texas, an airline in Idaho and
an insurance company in Wash-
ington, and she met Stailing
during her eight years as a wild-
land fi refi ghter in Oregon and
Montana. Bennett now works at
the Pacifi c Northwest Incident Support Cache in Red-
mond, providing logistical support to emergency inci-
dents. Stailing is a 2006 graduate of Lincoln Academy
and a 2008 graduate of Southern Maine Community Col-
lege. He volunteered at Damariscotta Fire Department
while completing his fi re science degree before moving
to the Pacifi c Northwest. Both Stailing and Bennett are
employed by the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon. Stail-
ing works as a fi refi ghter on the Deschutes National For-
est. Stailing is the son of Karen Fossett and Michael
Stailing of Newcastle and Damariscotta, Maine. Ben-
nett is the daughter of Penny Bennett of Terrebonne and
Ed Bennett of Mt. Vernon. The wedding will be held
on Dec. 29 in Terrebonne, where the couple currently
resides.
The Chester’s Elves give
back to local youths
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
OBITUARIES
Kenneth Alvin Hensley
Colleen Page, 88, of Boise, Idaho, passed away
Thursday, Dec. 13, at St. Alphonsus Medical Center
in Boise. A graveside service will be held on Friday,
Dec. 21, at 10 a.m. at Fox Cemetery. Memorial con-
tributions may be made to the Fox Cemetery through
Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John
Day, OR 97845.
Kenneth Alvin Hensley went home to be with the Lord
on Sunday, Dec. 9, at the age of
81. His gentle spirit and kind soul
will be greatly missed.
Ken had big hands and a big-
ger heart. His extraordinary work
ethic was shown from his younger
years on his family’s ranch, to his
service in the Navy Reserves, his
dairies in Bodega Bay, California,
Windsor, California, and Mt. Ver-
non, Oregon, then the years with Les Schwab in John Day
and E.O.F.F.
He was a man of integrity who worked hard and was
always quick to smile and laugh. He loved people, and his
genuine kindness and enthusiasm for life made him easy
to love back.
Ken was born Sept. 19, 1937, in Santa Rosa, Califor-
nia, to Ann and Alvin Hensley and was the oldest of three
children. He attended Petaluma High School where he
met and fell in love with Dottie Malley. The two were
married for 58 years when she passed in July of 2017; he
was a devoted husband and an amazing father.
In 1969 Ken discovered his dream dairy with a river
for fi shing and hunting in the hills and moved the family
to Mt. Vernon and then to John Day. He loved the com-
munity, the hunting and fi shing.
In 2004, Ken and Dottie moved to Prineville, and for
the last few months he has been cared for in Culver, Ore-
gon, where he passed.
Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Dottie Hensley;
son Ken Hensley; and parents Ann and Alvin Hensley.
He is survived by his sister Diane Taylor; brother Den-
nis (Jan) Hensley; daughter Nadine McCarty; son Tom
(Melanie) Hensley; daughter Janet (Wayne) Johnston; 10
grandchildren, and fi ve great-grandchildren.
The family is grateful for the loving care of his care-
givers at L.L. Owen Home Care and Partners in Care
Hospice. In lieu of fl owers, please make a gift of kind-
ness in his memory to someone who is alone, sick or just
needs a helping hand.
A celebration of life will be held in the spring of 2019
in John Day.
Melva Jane Heckman
Melva Jane Heckman, 80, of Canyon City died
Friday, Dec. 14, at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in
Boise, Idaho. A visitation will be held on Thursday,
Dec. 20, from 3-6 p.m. at Driskill Memorial Chapel.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, Dec. 21, at
1 p.m. at Driskill Memorial Chapel. Memorial contri-
butions may be made to the charity of one’s choice
through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon
Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.
Chester ‘Chet’ Harry Willis Jr.
Chester “Chet” Harry Willis Jr. died Nov. 25 at the
age of 72 in Bend, Oregon.
Chester was born Sept. 14,
1946, in Eugene, Oregon, and
considered Prairie City his
hometown. Chester passed
away peacefully after fi ght-
ing like Superman against can-
cer. He was born to Chester
Harry Willis and Jesse LaVerne
Counts.
Nobody loved old Fords and
classic country music more than Chet. He spent a lot
of time fi shing and loved baseball. He worked more
than 30 years for the state of Oregon in Eugene and
Salem.
He met his wife when he accidentally sat on her in
the movie theater she worked at. Love was in the air!
They married Nov. 15, 1968, in Seattle, Washington.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Aletha Wil-
lis, of Prairie City; a son Jonathan Willis of Lenexa,
Kansas; a son Denis Willis of Portland, Oregon; four
grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a huge
extended family.
Funeral arrangements will be at a later date. Dona-
tions in his name may be made to the American Cancer
Society. Baird Funeral Home is in charge of arrange-
ments, 2425 NE Tweet Place, Bend, OR 97701.
Mt. Vernon to host Christmas
tree decorating contest
By Blue Mountain Eagle
Contributed photo
The Chester’s Elves, an employee-operated fund at
Chester’s Thriftway, donated $3,000 collected from
change drops at check stands to Families First, the
Department of Human Services and the Grant County
Extension. The money benefi ts local children.
The city of Mt. Vernon
is hosting a Christmas tree
judging contest.
Trees will be judged
Dec. 21 and will be on
display through Dec. 29.
Prizes will be awarded.
Colleen Page
Only shatterproof orna-
ments will be allowed.
Trees will be available
for decoration on Main
Street, and the limited
number can be reserved by
contacting Courtney Mon-
tague, 541-932-4777 or
courtney@frontierinc.org.
CORRECTION
In last week’s Cops and Courts, an entry stated an
agency received a report of sexual abuse at Grant Union
High School. This was incorrect. A report of sexual
abuse was received from Grant Union High School,
according to Principal Ryan Gerry. The Eagle regrets
the error.
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Clayton Lewis
BARGAIN MATINEE IN ( ) Adults $7
ALL FILMS $6 ON TIGHTWAD TUESDAY
The family of Dave Gray would
like to thank the ambulance
crew, Blue Mountain
Hospital, doctors and
nurses, life flight, the doctors and
nurses at St. Charles in Bend, Pastor
Dave and all members of Prairie Baptist
Church and all the community members for
their cards, kind words and food during this
very difficult time. Dave will be greatly
missed.
Winner, Winner, Christmas Dinner!
Congratulations from CCS
MOVIE SCHEDULE DEC 21- DEC 27
AQUAMAN (PG-13)
Jason Momoa. Arthur Curry learns that
he is the heir to the underwater kingdom
of Atlantis.
FRI - THURS (3:30) 6:30 9:30
MARY POPPINS RETURNS (PG)
Decades after her original visit, the
magical nanny returns to help the Banks
siblings and Michael’s children through a
difficult time in their lives.
FRI - THURS (3:45) 6:45 9:35
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE
SPIDER-VERSE (PG)
Miles Morales comes across the long-
dead Peter Parker. With Parker’s guid-
ance, Miles will become Spider-Man:
and through that he will become part of
the ever-expanding ‘Spider-Verse’
FRI - THURS (4:00) 7:00 9:40
Thank you,
Rose, Jenny and Family.
93928
$9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth
95389
I think of you and miss you every day,
Clayton. You will never be forgotten.
Love, Mom
Wishing you the Peace and Joy of
the Christmas Season. Best
wishes for 2019 from your friends
at Eastern Oregon Realty.
Jerry, Michal, Lindsey, Traci,
Deann and Jo.
Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Tuesday ........................................................... 43/27
Wednesday ..................................................... 39/28
Thursdsay ........................................................ 44/26
Friday ............................................................... 48/31
Saturday .......................................................... 47/32
Sunday ............................................................. 54/42
Monday............................................................ 48/36
24/7 Forecast
Automated: 541-575-1122
Road conditions: 511; tripcheck.com
NOAA Weather Radio for John Day
162.500 MHz
Weather Forecast for the week of Dec. 19-25
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Mostly
cloudy
Mostly
cloudy
Mostly
cloudy
Periods
of sun
A little
snow
Snow
possible
Chance of
snow fl urries
44
46
37
39
41
38
36
38
30
25
34
37
22
19
95983
A2