A2
FAMILY
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Passport to Fun returns
Fun, educational events
for children planned
during spring break
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Children 7-12 can return for
another round of educational
excitement during spring break at
this year’s Passport to Fun.
The event, held Monday-Fri-
day, March 25-29, allows kids to
visit fi ve spots for fun learning
activities.
There will also be a sixth place
to visit, Mabel’s Restaurant and
the Canyon City Community Hall
and park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on
Thursday, March 28. This event
will include arts and crafts, fos-
sil activities, magnetic building
blocks, STEM activities and more.
A “passport,” available at the
Grant County Chamber of Com-
merce, is required for all the activ-
ities. Passports are $5 each for
the fi rst two, or $12 per family.
Children who are 5 and under are
admitted for free, and no passport
is necessary.
It’s the second year Peggy Mur-
phy, curator of the Grant County
Historical Museum in Canyon
City, has spearheaded the event.
The fi ve sites children can
Joyce Atchley teaches Shasta
Ackerman knitting during the
Passport to Fun event last spring.
Contributed photos/Ashley Stevick
Elise Delgado, right, assists Passport to Fun participants in candlemaking at the Canyon City park during last
year’s activity.
visit this year are John Day Fos-
sil Beds National Monument
between Dayville and Kimberly,
Kam Wah Chung & Co. Museum
in John Day, DeWitt Museum in
Prairie City, Grant County His-
torical Museum in Canyon City
and the Chamber of Commerce
in John Day.
One museum will be offering
little pouches of “gold,” and chil-
dren who complete their passport,
visiting the six sites, will receive
prizes and will be entered to win
bigger prizes in random drawings.
All the details will be available
GRANT UNION STUDENTS OF THE MONTH — FEBRUARY
in a packet with the passport.
Families purchasing a passport
will have day care available for
the activities on Thursday, March
28, if they sign a waiver and per-
mission slip at registration. Mur-
phy stressed the importance this
year of parents signing their chil-
Juniper Arts Council accepting
scholarship applications
Grant County high school seniors and
those who have completed high school
within the last three years may apply.
Applications are available at each
county high school. They can also be
picked up from Karin Barntish at 131 W.
Main in John Day, and are due by 5 p.m.
May 3.
Blue Mountain Eagle
Ali
Chobo
Grade 12
Parent: Dezirae
Chobo
Samantha
Buckhaults
Grade 11
Parents: Chris
Buckhaults
Abby
Lusco
Grade 10
Parents: Andy
and Angie Lusco
Billy
Radinovich
Grade 9
Parents: Tonna
Holliday and Jo-
seph Radinovich
Diya Vyas
Grade 8
Parents: Dhar-
mendrakumar
and Manishaben
Vyas
Sarah
Clark
Grade 7
Parents: Farrell
and Kahli Clark
dren in and out, and leaving con-
tact information. Day care regis-
tration begins at 9:30 a.m. March
28.
Several volunteers and com-
munity partners are helping make
the event possible. Other event
organizers include Bobbee Huec-
kman, Linda Gingrich and Katee
Withee.
“We want to give kids enjoy-
able educational activities during
spring break,” Murphy said.
For more information, call the
Grant County Historical Museum
at 541-575-0362 and leave a
message.
The Juniper Arts Council is offering
one $500 scholarship for 2019.
The scholarship will be given to a Grant
County student interested in pursuing a
major or minor in the arts, which includes
visual arts, performing arts or literary arts.
LaVera Celia Clark, of Prairie City, passed away at her home with her granddaughter by her side on March 7. A traditional
funeral service was held at Grace Chapel in Prairie City, Friday, March 15 followed by an interment ceremony at the Prairie
City Cemetery. Vera was born on Oct. 18, 1929. She was one of four children to Luther and Zena Fritts. She was raised and
attended school in Malheur County, Oregon. At the age of 16 she met her first husband, Fred L. Sheppard; they were married
in February of 1946. Together they had four children, Carl, Leona, Roy and Randy. After her first marriage ended, and while
working as a waitress at the family owned Palomino restaurant in Ontario, Oregon, she met her second husband, Walter J.
Clark; Walt and Vera were married in 1966. A few years later they moved to Prairie City to be close to Carl’s family and for
Walt to start work at the Ricco Ranch.
Vera was a homemaker, but also had various other jobs, including working at Wish Poultry for many years to help support
her family. She was active in her community serving as the manager of the Strawberry Mountain Grange Hall as well as being
the curator of the Dewitt Museum at Depot Park in Prairie City. Walt and Vera were both honored as grand marshals for the
Prairie City 4th of July celebration in 2006. Vera enjoyed everything that life had to offer her. She and Walt were always present at dances and any social
event that might be going on at the time. They loved going out dancing
and would own the floor. Vera’s main hobby was gardening; she was always out watering and tending to her lawn and flowers or out weeding her
flowerbeds. But what brought Vera the most joy was family. She loved when she got visitors as well as hosting family parties and holiday dinners. If she knew
you were coming there would always be your favorite meal and dessert prepared. She always had her home ready for friends and family to visit. Vera had a
heart of gold and she will be greatly missed by those same family and friends.
Vera was preceded in death by husbands, Walter J. Clark and Fred L. Sheppard; son, Carl Sheppard; grandson, Jason Lester Sheppard; brothers, Walter
(Red) Fritts and Gerald Fritts; sister, Erma Belisle; and parents Luther and Zena Fritts.Vera is survived by her daughter, Leona Dotson of Oakville,
Washington; sons, Roy Sheppard of Nyssa, Oregon and Randy Sheppard of Elma, Washington; numerous grand children, great grand children and great,
great grand children.
For those who would like to make a donation in memory of Vera, the family suggests either Blue Mountain Hospice or the Carrie Young Memorial
through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834. Online Condolences can be shared at www.
tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com
Paid for by the family of LaVera Celia Clark.
OBITUARIES
Aletha Pfeifer
Aletha Pfeifer, 67, of Ontario, formerly of Prairie City,
passed away Tuesday, March 12. Arrangements are pend-
ing under the direction of the Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel,
Ontario.
People want to know if I’m still in business;
well yes I am, obdiously I can’t compete on a
regular basis with any godernment funded
transportation system, but as a serdice to the
community I am making myself adailable 24/7
on a fare basis which is below the national
aderage for taxis and for free for hospital
related emergencies.
Thank you for your support.
Richie, John Day Taxi
$$$
541-620-4255
110117
A man wakes up in
the morning after
sleeping on an
ADVERTISED BED,
in ADVERTISED
PAJAMAS.
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.
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
110391
Valerie Joan Wilson passed away peacefully surrounded by her husband and children on Feb. 27. Valerie was born in
Baker City, Oregon on April 19, 1956 to Chet and Myrnie Koontz of Hereford, Oregon; she was one of nine children born
into the Koontz Family. She spent her childhood on the family ranch in Hereford, riding horses, milking cows and helping
her Dad out in the field. She loved playing cards with her family, which turned into a lifelong pastime.
In 1982, Valerie met the love of her life, Rodney Wilson. It didn’t take long for them to make a lifelong commitment;
they did everything together. Taking long drives in the country, playing cards with Chet and Myrnie, and helping brand
calves was how they spent their time together. Rod and Val tied the knot on January 10, 1986 and, quickly, their family grew.
By 1990, they had four children: Randi, Jocee, CJ and Titus. She always felt like Oregon was her home and they lived in
many different cities. Rod and Val finally settled down in Unity, Oregon to raise their family.
Valerie loved volunteering at her children’s school, riding the bus to swim lessons, and helping plan class parties. Valerie was
also very involved in Burnt River Community Church, which she faithfully attended for 35 years. Her greatest passion about
church was singing and she loved to sing to the congregation. Valerie loved playing her guitar and recently learned how to play
the piano. In 2001, Valerie and Rod adopted their grandson Andrew, who proved to be a perfect addition to the family. Valerie
loved attending all her kids sporting events and you could always find her in the bleachers, yelling words of encouragement to everyone. She herself loved to play
volleyball and played in the city league. She also loved to crochet and craft. She made several afghans and rugs. Many can attest to her dedication and handiwork
when it came to her rugs! She was always quick to make a rug for a wedding or birthday. She loved making them and giving them away.
In 2017, Valerie and Rod moved to Tooele, Utah for a job opportunity and to start a new chapter in their life together. While in Tooele, they enjoyed
dining out, taking in the sites and watching their grandkids play softball. In October of 2018, Valerie received the devastating diagnosis of lung cancer. She
fought until the very end. We love our mother and her fun-loving spirit. We can all see her dancing around the kitchen, singing her heart out. She will always
be our cheerleader.
Valerie is survived by her husband of 37 years, Rodney Wilson; her daughters, Randi Wilson and Jocee Arriola (Zac); her sons CJ Wilson (Destiny),
Titus Wilson ( Jessica) and Andrew Wilson ( Josette); eight grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Davelle Baker
(Dale), Kristi Ping (Denny), Gwynneth Anderson (Quinton), Richelle Brown (Loren), Kimala Hoskins (Tim) and Shauna Andrews (Corey); and her only
brother Chip Koontz (Cathleen). She was preceded in death by her father, Chester Koontz, mother, Myrnie Koontz; loving sister, Jonda Myers, her in-laws,
Lowell and Charlotte Wilson, and brother in-law, Richard Wilson. Following her passing, she was cremated at her request. There will be a memorial service
on June 23 at the Burnt River Community Church in Unity, Oregon.
We would love to say a special thanks to her team at Intermountain Medical Center. Dr. Lowe and his team of nurses took great care of her till the end.
We would also like to thank CNS in Tooele, UT for providing the care and comfort she needed.
Paid for by the family of Valerie Joan Wilson.
Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710
Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Tuesday ........................................................... 41/31
Wednesday ..................................................... 40/24
Thursday .......................................................... 47/19
Friday ............................................................... 56/28
Saturday .......................................................... 59/30
Sunday ............................................................. 62/33
Monday............................................................ 62/29
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NOAA W EATHER R ADIO FOR J OHN D AY
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W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF M ARCH 20-26
Wednesday
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Clouds
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Partly
sunny
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and sun
Rain
and drizzle
Clouds
and sun
Mostly
cloudy
Cloudy
59
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47
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36
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