A2
FAMILY
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
OBITUARIES
David Sandersfeld
David Sandersfeld, 67, of Canyon City passed away at
his residence on Feb. 22. Arrangements have been entrusted
to Driskill Memorial Chapel of John Day and service details
will be announced soon. To leave an online condolence, visit
driskillmemorialchapel.com.
Robert Dean Burnett
Robert Dean Burnett, 74, of Winston, formerly of John
Day, passed away Monday, Feb. 18, at Oregon Health & Sci-
ence University in Portland. Arrangements are pending with
Taylor’s Family Chapel, 541-679-6983.
Oaklee ‘Lee’ Hyder
Contributed photo
Eighteen fi refi ghters from Mt. Vernon, John Day, Long Creek, Prairie City and Monument fi re departments recently
completed the Grant-Harney Training Association fi refi ghter academy, including, from left, front row, instructor Chad
LaVallee, Gabe McKinley, Chase Workman, Ron Phillips and Joy Brown; middle row, Denise Porter, Jennifer Garinger, Tyler
Stout, Peter Case, Don Porter and Andy Hutsell; and back row, Shea Pogne, Quade Day, Andy Watkins, Kevin Mitchell, Dan
Pogue, Peter Mohnen and instructor Don Willis.
Eighteen fi refi ghters
complete academy training
Blue Mountain Eagle
In January and Feb-
ruary, the Grant-Harney
Training Association held
its annual fi refi ghter train-
ing academy.
Eighteen
fi refi ghters
from the Grant County
communities of John Day,
Prairie City, Mt. Ver-
non, Monument and Long
Creek devoted 63 hours
of their time over three
weekends to train as fi re-
fi ghters. Some of the fi re-
fi ghters were training for
the fi rst time. Others were
reviewing the knowledge
they have gained over a
period of years. The fi re-
fi ghters ranged in age
from 16 to 67. Sixteen is
the youngest you can be
to fi ght fi re with a depart-
ment, but the maximum
age is open as long as you
can do the job.
This year the annual fi re
academy was held in Long
Creek. Ten Classes were
taught at the Grant-Harney
Training Academy. Some
of the classes included fi re
behavior, fi refi ghter safety
and survival, ventilation,
salvage and overhaul,
building construction and
communications.
Instructors for the acad-
emy were Don Willis,
Chad LaVallee and Hayden
BIRTH
CORRECTION
The Jan. 30 article “Coordinating ‘coordination’”
attributed an explanation of the role of coordination
between the Forest Service and county governments to
John Hagengruber, the state liaison for the Forest Ser-
vice’s Region 1 offi ce.
The remarks actually came from a document
written by the Forest Service’s Directorate of Eco-
system Management and Coordination in Wash-
ington, D.C., that the Agriculture Secretary sent to
elected offi cials at the congressional and county
level.
Jones from the Department
of Public Safety Stan-
dards and Training; Don
Porter, Denise Porter, Ed
Studtmann and Peter Case
from the Long Creek Fire
Department; and Dave
Riess from the Hines Fire
Department.
In March, these fi re-
fi ghters and others will
participate in a hazardous
materials class, a 16-hour
class over two days.
Arntz
William Davis Arntz was born on
Wednesday, Feb. 6, at Blue Moun-
tain Hospital in John Day. He was 7
pounds, 12 ounces, and 20.5 inches
long. His parents are Werner and
Lisa Arntz of Mt. Vernon. Grandpar-
ents are Deborah and David Arntz of
Burns and Don Freeman of Darda-
nelle, Arkansas, and Diana Freeman
of Fayetteville, Arkansas.
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Mary Ellen Groen
Mary Ellen Groen, 97, of John Day passed away at
her residence in Valley View Assisted Living on Feb. 23.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Driskill Memorial
Chapel. A funeral service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Satur-
day, March 9, at Driskill Memorial Chapel. Vault interment
will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Baker City at 1 p.m.
Memorial contributions can be made to the John Day Elks
Lodge 1824 through Driskill Memorial Chapel. To leave a
condolence for the family, visit driskillmemorialchapel.com.
Wilma Jane Averill
Michael Anthony Duckett, age 29, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 16 in Boca Raton, Florida.
He was born on July 9, 1989 in Pendleton, Oregon to parents Stacey Moore and Richard Dean
Pedro. He grew up in John Day, Oregon and graduated from Pendleton High School in 2008.
Michael received a track scholarship to attend George Fox University and studied business
entrepreneurship.
Michael lived a fuller life in 29 years than a lot of people have in their entire life. He had
the uncanny ability to reach people in a deep way. He touched everyone positively and
always left a big impression wherever he went. To say that Michael had a beautiful soul, is an
understatement; he had a huge heart of gold and saw the good in every single person.
Michael had the best dimpled smile and most genuine hearty hugs that made your soul feel
warm inside and, in that moment, you knew everything was going to be okay. His laugh lit up the whole room with the
way his eyes crinkled, his hand would grab at his stomach, and he would bend over with an uncontrollable chuckle. If
you wanted to find Michael, you could find him living it up with friends and family, working in the hospitality industry,
making all the girls blush with his infectious personality, freestyle rapping, writing poetry, or playing sports, because boy,
was he athletic at everything.
Michael wouldn’t want his loved ones to mourn his death, but instead celebrate his life. He would want us to pull the
ones we love closer and live every moment to its fullest potential like it were our last. Michael lived his life by uplifting
others, opening his heart, making the time to reach out to friends and family, lending an extra hand, and not letting
negativity consume him. For Michael’s memory to live on through each of us, we should follow his example and strive to
be the best version of ourselves. As Michael would say, MAD love.
Michael is survived by his parents, Stacey Moore and Richard Dean Pedro (Rik); stepfather Erik Moore; siblings,
Brandi Jo Moore, Ashley Moore, and Jay Moore; maternal grandma, Linda Duckett; paternal grandma, Angie Pedro;
aunts and uncles, Casey and Jimilly Pedro, Lee Duckett, Grant and Michelle, Brandon, Jaime, David; cousins and many
family friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be donated to Pioneer Chapel or directly to www.gofundme.com, search keywords
“Michael Duckett’s Memorial Services.” Paid for by the family of Michael Anthony Duckett
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Tuesday ........................................................... 33/26
Wednesday ..................................................... 33/18
Thursday .......................................................... 30/21
Friday ............................................................... 36/19
Saturday .......................................................... 36/29
Sunday ............................................................. 39/29
Monday............................................................ 30/20
Jan. 10, 1926 — Feb. 16, 2019
Oaklee “Lee” Hyder, age 93, of
John Day passed away on Saturday,
Feb. 16. Lee was born on Jan. 10, 1926,
in Carter County, Tennessee, to John
and Melissa Hayes. She married her
childhood friend and neighbor, Wil-
liam “Bill” Hyder, on Aug. 17, 1942.
Together, they had a son, William Jr.,
and a daughter, Connie. During Bill’s
career in the Navy, they traveled exten-
sively and lived in San Diego, Washing-
ton, Japan and Hawaii. In 1961 they bought a ranch in Mt.
Vernon, Oregon, where they lived happily raising their chil-
dren and grandchildren until Bill’s death in 2000.
Lee was known for being a hard worker from the age of
4 up into her 70s. She loved gardening and cooking and was
famous for her pies and baked goods. She possessed a deep
faith in the Lord and loved her church community dearly;
above all, she loved spending time with her family. She loved
holidays and get-togethers, cooking for everyone and visiting
with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She
will always be remembered for her gentle heart and unfail-
ing kindness.
Lee is survived by her two children, William Hyder of
Surprise, Arizona, and Connie Maddox of Wasilla, Alaska;
four grandchildren, Vicki Kirchnavy of Boise, Idaho, Russell
McIntosh of Bend, Oregon, Ryan McIntosh of Nampa, Idaho,
and Will Hyder of Bellingham, Washington; six great-grand-
children, Brandon and Brittany Bartron, Todd Snyder, Tris-
tyn McIntosh, Alora Hansen and Brenner McIntosh; and two
great-great-grandchildren, Lily and Lexie Bartron.
Join us in celebrating Lee’s life on Saturday, March 16, at
2 p.m. at Living Word Christian Center, 59357 Highway 26,
Mt. Vernon, OR 97865. She is well known for her beautiful
purple outfi ts; therefore we encourage attendees to wear the
color purple in her memory.
To leave an online condolence in honor of Oaklee, visit
driskillmemorialchapel.com.
Wilma Jane Averill, 87, of Mt. Ver-
non passed away at the Blue Moun-
tain Hospital in John Day on Feb. 21.
Arrangements have been entrusted to
Driskill Memorial Chapel of John Day.
A graveside service will be held Feb.
27 at 2 p.m. at Willamette Memorial,
Albany. To leave an online condolence,
visit driskillmemorialchapel.com.
Thaddeus Cowan Thompson
Thaddeus Cowan Thompson, 39, of John Day passed
away at his residence Feb. 26. Arrangements have been
entrusted to Driskill Memorial Chapel of John Day. To leave
an online condolence, visit driskillmemorialchapel.com.
I would like to thank the staff from Blue Mountain
Care Center in Prairie City and the staff from Kim
Chesley’s Elderberry House for the loving care of my
mother, Virginia Moore, for so many years. I would
also like to thank Troy and Amber from Driskill
Memorial Chapel for all their help and the senior
center for providing the refreshments at her service.
A very special thanks goes to Myla and Mike Corley,
and family, who were always there for our family
over the last 50 years. Thank you for all the cards and
donations, which will go to the Long Creek EMT.
Sincerely,
Bill Moore.
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