A2
FAMILY
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
February the fourth coldest on record
Blue Mountain Eagle
February was the fourth coldest
on record.
Temperatures in John Day
averaged much colder than nor-
mal during the month, according
to preliminary data received by
the National Weather Service in
Pendleton.
The average temperature was
28 degrees, which was 8.1 degrees
below normal. High temperatures
averaged 35.9 degrees, which was
11.5 degrees below normal.
The highest was 55 degrees on
Feb. 1. Low temperatures aver-
aged 20.2 degrees, which was 4.6
degrees below normal.
The lowest was 6 degrees on
Feb. 7.
There were 27 days with the
low temperature below 32 degrees.
There were seven days when the
high temperature stayed below 32
degrees.
Precipitation totaled 1.48 inches
during February, which was 0.73
inches above normal.
Measurable precipitation was
received on 14 days with the heavi-
est, 0.59 inches, reported on Feb.
25.
Precipitation this year has
reached 2.41 inches, which is 0.68
inches above normal. Since Octo-
ber, the water year precipitation
in John Day has been 5.48 inches,
OBITUARIES
which is 0.17 inches above normal.
Snowfall totaled 13.8 inches with
at least 1 inch of snow reported on
six days.
The heaviest snowfall was 5
inches reported on Feb. 25. The
greatest depth of snow on the
ground was 8 inches on Feb. 27.
The outlook for March from
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Cen-
ter calls for below-normal tempera-
tures and near-normal precipitation.
Normal highs for John Day
rise from 51 degrees at the start
of March to 57 degrees at the end
of March. Normal lows rise from
27 degrees to 31 degrees. The
30-year normal precipitation is 1.27
inches.
Patrick William Lee was born Aug. 5, 1947 to George P. Lee and Leslie A. Lee (Warren) in The
Dalles, Oregon; he passed away Feb. 8 in Reno, Nevada. He was raised in Fossil, Oregon until 1963.
His parents moved Patrick and his siblings to Goldendale, WA where he graduated from high
school in 1965. Patrick went to Yakima Community College for a year and worked for Frank Beard.
He then enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1968. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, Patrick got
interested in saddle making from his great Uncle Wade Warren, a saddle maker for Visalia Saddlery,
this would shape his life from here on out.
After Patrick’s service in the Marines, he returned to Oregon where he worked on several ranches,
learning to braid reins and headstalls in the evenings. It was while he was working on a ranch in Mt. Vernon that he met
the love of his life, Shirley Nagel; they were married on June 25, 1976.
He was given the opportunity to apprentice under Red Oster to learn the art of saddle making. Patrick would then
spend the remainder of his life furthering his art with working knowledge of what a cowboy and horseman needed, also
what a horse needed, and took great pride in it. Patrick rode good horses and liked to raise and train nice colts especially if
they were from his beloved stud Rocky. Patrick was a cowboy, schooled in the old cowboy ways and happiest when he was
on horseback. He was a friend to many and a family man. He loved to pass his knowledge on to others, as he knew a horse
would greatly appreciate the effort.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley R (Nagel) Lee of Susanville, CA; his daughter, Jennifer Lee Hickel of Vancouver,
WA; granddaughter Iris Hickel; brother Robert Lee (Glenda); sisters Sandra Pitcher (Randy) and Kathleen Lee (Chuck
Coffman); nieces and nephew Deena Pitcher, JaiDee Taruscio (B.J.), Carrie Markham (Ryan), Cady Lee, Brian Lee; and
several great nephews and niece. A memorial will be held at a later date. Paid for by the family of Patrick Lee
Bobetta Ann Baker
Bobetta Ann Baker, 83, of John Day passed away Tues-
day, Feb. 26, at Blue Mountain Care Center in Prairie City.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Driskill Memorial
Chapel of John Day. A graveside service is scheduled for
noon Friday, March 22, at the Canyon City Cemetery. To
leave an online condolence, visit driskillmemorialchapel.
com.
Gary Wayne Domeniconi
May 19, 1943 — Feb. 23, 2019
Gary Domeniconi, 75, formerly of
Canyon City, Oregon, and Napa, Cal-
ifornia, passed away from congestive
heart failure on Feb. 23 in Vancouver,
Washington. Gary was born in Napa,
California, to Florence and Adolph
Domeniconi on May 19, 1943, and
considered John Day their home-
town. A lifelong jack-of-all-trades,
he was loved and admired by all of
his friends and large extended family.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; daughters, Tracey
(Mike) Domeniconi, Gina (Don) Gasser, Mandy (Rob)
Olmsted; stepsons, Rob, Tom, David and Jason Olmsted;
grandchildren, Aleigha, Haley, Jason, Becca and Nathan;
stepgrandchildren, Kyle, Justin, Reilly, Ty, Aleena, Mad-
die, Aiden, Jordan and Scout; and one great-grandson and
one on the way.
Gary was the owner and operator of Commercial Auto
Electric for many years in John Day where he was well
known for his fair business ethics, great personality and
ready laughter. While living in John Day, he raised cows,
goats and pumpkins. He was also known for his bright
yellow Willy’s pickup that he built himself and his dog,
Shadow, that went everywhere with him.
Gary was a loyal friend, a kind and loving husband and
father. He was a humble man so requested a small memo-
rial. His fi nal resting place will be John Day, the place he
loved and called home; he will be greatly missed by all.
Cascadia Cremation and Burial is in charge of arrange-
ments, 6303 E. 18th St., Site A, Vancouver, WA 98661,
360-213-2060, cascadiacremation.com or info@cascadia-
cremation.com.
David Eugene Sandersfeld
Thaddeus Gean Cowan Thompson was born Easter Sunday, April 15, 1979 to Bob and Kay Cowan
Thompson in Albany, Oregon. He was joined two years later by his sister, Tirza. In February 1985, the
family moved to John Day where Thadd would spend the majority of his youth participating in 4-H, golf
soccer, science club, National Honor Society, and hanging out with his friends. He graduated from Grant
Union High School in 1997, then attended Pacific Lutheran University and graduated from the University
of Oregon with a Bachelor in Computer Science, with honors, with a special interest in wearable
computers in 2001.
After college Thadd worked at Hello Network in Las Vegas as a computer programmer until he
started his own computer company, TGCT.net; he then moved to Florida to be near Mike and Tirza. In
2004, Thadd moved back to John Day to become part of the family business where he became the Vice
President of Chester’s Market Inc. and, under Thadd’s direction, began to grow and expand the company
and developed platforms for multi store operations. He worked alongside his father, Bob, who was his business partner and best
friend.
In August 2011 he welcomed his son Nathanial Aaron Cowan Thompson. Thadd loved to be outside and being with his family;
he loved to hike, snowshoe, camp, to fish in Alaska with his dad, being at the coast, watching sunsets, and spending time with his
son. Thadd’s values were honesty, hard work and dedication to family. He had a great sense of humor, loved being uncle goat, and was
a loving father. He had a great smile, could always make you laugh with a witty one-liner, was always up for an adventure, enjoyed
teaching and leading others, and had a great love for God. Thadd was a wonderful man and father who deeply loved his son and his
family; his kindness and humor were unmatched. His last six months were filled with joy and happiness that he shared with Sylvia,
Nathanial, Cooper and Jordan.
Rosary at St. Elizabeth Church will be March 8th at 6:30 p.m., mass will be held at St. Elizabeth Church the following day,
March 9th , at 10 a.m. with a private burial to follow. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Trowbridge Pavilion March 9th at
11:30 a.m. with a lunch to follow. Paid for by the family of Thaddeus Gean Cowan Thompson.
Mary Ellen Groen, 97, of John Day passed away Saturday, Feb. 23 at Valley View Assisted Living in John Day. A
funeral service is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 9 at Driskill Memorial Chapel. Vault interment will
follow at 1 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City.
Mary Ellen was born on Jan. 3, 1922 in Baker City, Oregon to Warren B. and Vera (Storie) Powell. She had two older
sisters and they lived on a ranch near Rye Valley in Baker County, Oregon. Her first year of school was at Dixie,
Oregon. The family was in Ludwig, Nevada at the beginning of the second year of school and she attended school there
until Thanksgiving of that year, when they returned to Oregon. The remainder of her grade school years were at Rye
Valley until the last six weeks of the eighth grade. The family moved to Vale, Oregon where she finished the eighth
grade, four years of high school and a post graduate course. Upon completion of the post graduate school, and in the
fall of 1940, she started to work for the law firm of Lytle & Swan in Vale as a legal secretary for the sum of $25.00 per
month. In 1942 she had an opportunity for a better job with John Caldwell at the Malheur Abstract Co. (later Land Title
Insurance Co.) for $60.00 per month, a career that lasted for 40 years.
She was a member of the Vale Womens Club and served as their secretary/treasurer for several years. She served as chairman of the 1945
Christmas Seals for the Vale area and chairman of Oregon Chest Drive for Malheur County in 1949. Also, she performed as a dancer in five
Home Talent Shows presented by the Vale Womens Club.
In the fall of 1949, L. A. (Vern) Groen was hired as a draftsman for the title company and he convinced Mary Ellen that he was the one for her.
They were married on Aug. 4, 1951. They both continued to work for the title company. Vern had a son by a former marriage and Mary Ellen
formally adopted him in 1956. In 1952 they moved to Baker City to manage the Baker Title Company for the McCallum family. They were
there until the fall of 1957 when they again joined John Caldwell to build a new title plant for Grant County, a project that took six months.
When it was completed, they moved to John Day to manage the new business. Mary Ellen didn’t work full time when they first opened the new
business and, in the fall of 1958, Grace Williams, Grant County’s District Attorney, asked her to work for her, a job that lasted about four years.
By that time, the Land Title Company of Grant County had purchased the Grant County Abstract Co. and Vern needed her help in the business.
Vern died in 1987 and Mary Ellen continued to operate the business for six years. A couple of years after Vern’s death, the Agent’s Section of
the Oregon Land Title Assn. appointed her as Sec.-Treas. for a one-year term. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the
Can-Day Garden club, serving as the treasurer for the Auxiliary and secretary for the Legion Hall Board, and secretary for the Can-Day Garden
Club, as well as working in her business. She sold the title company to Bend Title Co. in August of 1984.
She loved to travel and, after she sold the business, thought she would have time to enjoy traveling. However, Roy Kilpatrick, an attorney in
Mt. Vernon, Oregon asked her to work for him. She accepted his offer and started another legal secretary job in Nov. 1985, thinking she would
probably work for one or two more years - it turned out to be a total of 12 years. Her son was planning a three-month trip to Alaska in his motor
home and said he would like to have her join him. Roy had died in Dec. of 1992, and his son, Mike, had the law office and she continued to
work for him. When she told him of her plans, he said “Mary Ellen, are you sure you want to do that?” She said, “Yes”. It was a wonderful trip.
She also traveled to Europe four times, Hawaii three times, Mexico once, and visited almost all of the United States. She went on three cruises -
one to Hawaii, one to Mexico and one on the Inland Passage to Alaska. Also, a river boat trip on the ‘Delta Queen’ up the Mississippi River.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vern Groen; her parents, Warren and Vera Powell; her two sisters, Eleanor VanWinkle and Dorothy
Cameron; and daughter-in-law, Sue Kay Groen.
She is survived by her son, Gary Groen of Lakeside, Oregon; nieces, Janis (John) Hart of Indianola, Iowa, Virginia (Monty) Thompson of
LaGrande, Oregon, Lea Ann Shipman of La Grande, Oregon, Jerri (Bob) Bronson of Prineville, Oregon and Leslie (Carl) Naake of Loomis,
California.
Memorial contributions may be made to the John Day Elks Lodge #1824 through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day,
Oregon 97845.
To offer an online condolence to the family, visit: www.driskillmemorialchapel.com. Paid for by the family of Mary Ellen Groen
Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Tuesday ........................................................... 21/15
Wednesday ..................................................... 48/19
Thursday .......................................................... 36/22
Friday ............................................................... 37/23
Saturday .......................................................... 34/16
Sunday ............................................................. 28/18
Monday............................................................ 27/16
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NOAA W EATHER R ADIO FOR J OHN D AY
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May 10, 1951 — Feb. 22, 2019
David “Dave” Eugene Sandersfeld
passed away peacefully in his home on
Feb. 22 after a long battle with colon
cancer. An interpreter position with
the John Day Fossil Beds brought him
to the area in the summer of 2008. He
was familiar with the area, as he had
worked with the Ochoco National For-
est Service in the late 1970s. When he
left the park service, he retired in Can-
yon City where he took up the study of
rocks found in the area, gems he called them. He also was an
accomplished writer with seven published books on Amazon.
He is survived by his wife, Debbie, of Canyon City, Ore-
gon; brother, Brian Sandersfeld, of Dayville, Oregon; daugh-
ter, Diana Sandersfeld; granddaughter, Samantha Sandersfeld,
of Mt. Vernon, Oregon; niece Dawnya (Brian) Keary of Pay-
ette, Idaho; nephews, Riley, Nathan and Garrett, of Payette,
Idaho; and one niece living in Caldwell, Idaho.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Estelle; father,
Robert; brother, Eric; and sister, Gayle.
A celebration of life will be held on May 10 at the Dayville
Community Church at 11 a.m. in Dayville, Oregon. It will be
potluck with ham provided; bring your stories, as there will be
a time to share.
Contributions to the American Cancer Society may be
made through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon
Blvd., John Day, Oregon. To light a candle in David’s mem-
ory or to offer condolences to his family, please visit driskill-
memorialchapel.com.
CORRECTION
Thomas Smith from John Day Fire Department was not included
in last week’s story about those who completed the Grant-Har-
ney Training Association’s annual fi refi ghter training academy. His
name was not provided to the Eagle. We regret the error.
CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND PASSING OF
Bob Boethin &
Mickey Boethin
SATURDAY, MARCH 16TH 2019
THE GRAVESIDE SERVICE IS LOCATED AT
CANYON CITY CEMETERY 1:00PM
RECEPTION FOLLOWING AT THE
JOHN DAY ELKS LODGE 2:00PM
W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF M ARCH 6-12
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Rain
and drizzle
Light
drizzle
Mostly
cloudy
Partly
sunny
Rather
cloudy
Clouds
and sun
Cloudy
47
38
34
38
42
48
45
28
23
19
22
26
23
22