A2
FAMILY
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
OUT OF THE PAST
OBITUARIES
75 YEARS AGO
Jerry Warren Cowger
Aug. 17, 1943 — July 11, 2019
Jerry Warren Cowger, from Kimberly, Oregon, passed
away in his home with family by his side on July 11.
Jerry was born in Nampa, Idaho
on Aug. 17, 1943 to Warren and
Elsie Cowger. Jerry met his wife,
Dinah Cowger, in Portland, Ore-
gon in 1960 before he went into
the Navy in 1961. Jerry spent three
years in the Navy and then returned
to Portland and went to work at the
foundry. Jerry and Dinah had three
boys, Michael, Rodney and Scott.
In 1973, Jerry and the family
moved to Bend, Oregon, when he
began work with Central Oregon Welding Supply which
later became Norco. Jerry worked as a driver and later
became a store manager before retiring after 30 years of
service.
After retiring, Jerry and Dinah bought a beautiful ranch
on the North Fork John Day River in Kimberly, Oregon.
Jerry became very involved in the community and had
valuable friends.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Warren and
Elsie Cowger. He is survived by his, wife Dinah Cowger;
their three sons and their wives, Michael and Lisa, Rod-
ney and Cori, and Scott and Kathy; nine grandchildren;
and twelve great-grandchildren.
Funeral service to be held at the Monument Cemetery
on Saturday, July 27, at 11 a.m. Directly following the
funeral there will be a Celebration of Life gathering at the
Monument Senior Center. All are welcome!
Dan Clifford
Dan Clifford, 76, of Monument, Oregon, died on
Thursday, July 18 at the Blue Mountain Hospital in John
Day, Oregon. Arrangements are under the direction of
Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Online condolences may be shared at tamispinevalleyfu-
neralhome.com.
BIRTHS
Dallan William Hall
A boy, Dallan William Hall,
7 pounds, 8 ounces, was born on
July 1 at Blue Mountain Hospital
in John Day to parents Dave and
Alicia Hall of John Day.
Cosgrove. He was stabilized
and taken by helicopter out of
the area.
Rawlins left his ranch about
8 a.m. and was scheduled to
return about 2 p.m. When he
failed to return his wife, Wendi,
notified the sheriff’s office.
The response from the commu-
nity was overwhelming.
Little boy hit by car,
miraculously escapes
serious injury
Little Tommy Wilson, 2 ½
year old son of Mr. and Mrs.
L.D. Wilson miraculously
escaped fatal or serious injury,
when he was hit by a pickup
on East Main Street, Tues-
day at about 7:30 p.m. He was
with his mother walking down
the hill towards town, when,
quick as a flash he darted from
the sidewalk out into the street
directly in the path of a pickup
driven by Paul Scott and which
was headed up the hill. As the
little fellow was hidden from
view of the driver of the pickup
by cars parked along the street,
it was only by quick thinking
and expert handling of the car
by Scott and the fact that the
car was moving at a moder-
ate speed that the little boy was
not run over and crushed. As
it was, he was only struck by
the front bumper and fender,
but it was quite a jolt, knocking
him to the ground. He received
a bad cut on the head, but no
bones were broken.
The accident occurred
directly in front of the T. E.
Knox residence. Mr. Wil-
son had just left his store and
had just started to walk up the
hill. It is believed that Tommy
saw his father coming which
accounts for him running out
onto the highway. His mother’s
frantic screams probably aided
in saving him from a more
serious accident as it served as
a warning to the driver who,
upon seeing the little tot right
in front of his car, swerved it
to the left and stopped it within
it’s own length. Dr. Pehr was
called and administered emer-
gency treatment at the Knox
home. The little boy had a
rather restless night, but was
much better the following day,
suffering no ill effects from the
10 YEARS AGO
Ready for takeoff
Eagle File Photo: July 21 1994
The second Hooked Up & Fast Truckin’ off-road races and
mud bogs will shift into action this Saturday and Sunday at
the Grant County Fairgrounds. The event features obstacle
faces for 4x4 vehicles, buggies, ATV’s and motorcycles
plus a team relay race Sunday and drag races both days.
Area drivers may enter at a cost of $10 per event with races
starting both days at 9:30 a.m. Admission is $3 per person
and concessions and door prizes will be available. The races
are sponsored by S.T.D. Construction of Prairie City and Tom
Chandler Construction of Baker City.
incident. It might have been a
different story, however, had
there not been a careful driver
at the wheel.
50 YEARS AGO
Cars stolen; one found
A new car stolen from a
John Day car lot Tuesday night
was apparently abandoned in
Mt. Vernon where another car
was taken, reports the Oregon
State Police.
A 1969 Plymouth, taken
from the Trahern Motors, Inc.,
and left in Mt. Vernon, was
recovered by the State Police
Wednesday morning. The keys
for the vehicle were taken from
the garage.
Stolen in Mt. Vernon was a
1966 Chevrolet Caprice, white
with a black vinyl top, belong-
ing to Jesse Cates. Keys had
been left in the vehicle.
Investigation of the car
thefts is being continued by the
Oregon State Police.
Charles B. Corwin
Police telephone
number given
Grant County citizens
are asked to call 575-1131
or 575-0030 for police assis-
tance during after hours and
on weekends, according to a
joint announcement by the city
police of John Day and Prairie
City, the Sheriff’s office and
the Oregon State Police.
Telephone answering ser-
vice will be provided at the
Sheriff’s office and the John
Day police office from 5 p.m.
to 2 a.m. Monday through
Thursday, from 5 p.m. Fri-
day to 6 a.m. Sunday, and
from 10 a.m. Sunday to 2 a.m.
Monday.
Calls for any police agency
during the above hours can be
made through the radio dis-
patch service in John Day. The
Sheriff’s office has an exten-
sion line with the police radio
dispatcher in John Day.
During daytime hours
Monday through Friday, calls
should be made to the individ-
ual police offices.
March 31, 1924 – June 26, 2019
25 YEARS AGO
Charles (Chuck) B. Corwin, 95, of John Day passed away June 26 at Valley View Assisted Living in John Day. A graveside service
will be announced later.
Chuck was born March 31, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York. His family lived in Rowayton, Connecticut on the Long Island sound
until Chuck was 12 years old. When Chuck’s father passed away, his mother moved him and his sister to Burlingame, California to
live with his grandmother and two aunts. While in primary school, Chuck peddled newspapers to earn money. In high school, he was part of the marching
band and part of the band that walked across the Golden Gate Bridge the day it opened. He liked to say “I made it across the new Golden Gate Bridge
before the governor did.”
After high school, Chuck joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 in San Francisco and did his basic training in
A Soldier Died Today
Farragut, Idaho. He served as a radioman on a fleet oil tanker called the “Cache 8067”. He was the first man on
He was getting old and paunchy
his ship to copy and decipher the code saying the Atomic Bomb had been dropped. He remembered the date well:
and his hair was falling fast,
August 9, 1945. After the war, Chuck went home to California and went to college on his GI bill. After college,
And he sat around at Valley View
he moved to June Lake, California where he fought fires in the summer and worked plowing snow for the State
telling stories of the past.
Highway Department in the winter along Highway 395 from Death Valley north to the Nevada state line.
Of a war that he had fought in
In 1962, while relaxing in the Keogh Hot Springs he met, and later married, Betty Jane Patterson who had
and the deeds that he had done,
a daughter, Lynda, who was five at the time. Together they lived in Bishop, California and settled in Fortuna, California
In his exploits with his buddies;
where Chuck retired from the California State Highway Dept. in 1979. He then spent 25 years working as a night
they were heroes, every one.
watchman for Mills Logging, as well as washing dishes at the senior center, where he was honored for his services.
Chuck loved the High Sierra and Mammoth Mountains, camping, skiing and riding his old triumph
And tho’ sometimes, to his
motorcycle. He also enjoyed history, politics and was once a reserve sheriff for the Inyo and Mono Counties. He
neighbors, his tales became a joke,
enjoyed volunteering everywhere he went and always did so with a smile. He loved dancing and could often be
All his Valley View friends listened,
seen dancing with his daughter at Valley View Assisted Living, where he was the resident council president and
for they knew whereof he spoke.
had spent the last five years.
But we’ll hear his tales no longer
He is survived by his daughter, Lynda (Larry) Christensen of Canyon City; one granddaughter; and
for old Charlie C. passed away,
three great-grandchildren, all of the Seattle area.
And the world’s a little poorer,
To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit driskillmemorialchapel.com.
for a soldier died today.
Paid for by the family of Charles Corwin
Edith Mae Fusselman
Dec. 9, 1934 - July 20, 2019
Rancher found by
searchers
A full scale search was
launched Monday to try and
locate a rancher who was
reported missing late Sun-
day afternoon after he failed
to return home from a horse-
back trip into the mountains to
retrieve some ranch equipment.
The search centered on Pete
Rawlins, a rancher who lives
up Canyon Creek approxi-
mately 15 miles south of John
Day.
The search continued all
day Monday without success
and picked up again Tuesday
morning. It was coordinated
by the Grant County Sheriff’s
Office Search and Rescue Unit
with help from Forest Service
personnel and other private
citizens.
Rawlins was found early
Tuesday afternoon by Mike
Edith Mae Fusselman, of Milton-Freewater, passed away on July 20 at Milton-Freewater Health and Rehabilitation at the
age of 84 years. A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 26 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bethel Assembly of God Church, 342 S.
Wilbur in Walla Walla, WA. Interment will follow at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery in Milton-Freewater, OR. A potluck
reception will be held at the church following the services. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, July 25
from 7–9 p.m. at Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home, 902 S Main, Milton-Freewater. Memorial contributions may be made to
St. Jude Children’s Hospital in care of the funeral home.
Edith Mae Billings was born in Antlers, Pushmataha County, Oklahoma on Dec. 9, 1934 to Paul Daniel and Edith Irene
Billings, followed by two brothers, Paul Melvin and James Monroe.
Edith’s first few years were spent in Oklahoma until they moved to Southern California for a short time. They then
moved to Spray, Oregon, where she attended school from the eighth grade, graduating from Spray High School.
In 1953, Edith married Jacob Peabody to whom three children were born: Beverly Elaine, Eddie Lee and Lisa Renee.
That marriage ended in 1963. Feb. 8, 1964, Edith married Victor Fusselman, who had two children, Victor Jr., and Evelyn
Cheryl. The following year a son, Jeffrey Wayne, was born to this couple.
Edith worked at various jobs including a branch of agriculture for the federal government. She was an avid bowler going
to state tournaments and was a bowling instructor. Edith owned and operated John Day Music Store and later was operator
of the John Day Sea Food Market. Edith spent many years as a baby sitter.
Edith taught Sunday school in the Assembly of God Church where she was a faithful member most of her life. Edith
loved music and learned guitar, mandolin and accordion. Edith and Victor sang specials at church and funerals, and
ministered at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington.
Edith entered Cascade Assisted Living in July 2017. Later that year she transferred to Milton- Freewater Health and
Rehabilitation where she passed away on July 20.
Edith was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Edith; and grandson, Byron Fusselman. She is survived by her
husband, Victor; six children; two brothers; 16 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
To leave a condolence online visit, munsellerhodes.com.
Paid for by the family of Edith Mae Fusselman
Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Tuesday ........................................................... 82/57
Wednesday ..................................................... 83/52
Thursday .......................................................... 82/56
Friday ............................................................... 77/46
Saturday .......................................................... 83/47
Sunday ............................................................. 96/51
Monday............................................................ 94/65
24/7 F ORECAST
A UTOMATED : 541-575-1122
R OAD CONDITIONS : 511; TRIPCHECK . COM
NOAA W EATHER R ADIO FOR J OHN D AY
162.500 MHz
The new Grant County
Regional Airport terminal proj-
ect is ready for takeoff.
The project goes out to bid
Thursday, July 23, and a pre-
bid conference and tour for
contractors is set to start at
1 p.m. Thursday, July 30, in
the Airbase Conference room
at the airport.
The 18,762-square-foot,
joint-use terminal will house
the general aviation offices
for the county’s airport termi-
nal and a Forest Service Fire
Airbase. It will be built next
to the existing airport terminal,
an older, converted one-story
residence.
Airport manager Colin
English expects strong interest
in the project from contractors
from across the Northwest.
“These guys have been
chomping at the bit for a cou-
ple of months,” he said.
The engineer’s base bid
estimate for the building is
$3.2 million to $3.5 million.
Bids are due Aug. 20, with the
bid opening set for 2 p.m. at
the airport.
English said the project
should have a positive ripple
effect on the local economy.
Planners included a stipula-
tion that “to the greatest extent
possible,” the contractor will
use local materials, appliances
and labor, he said.
Boise-based architectural
firm CSHQA designed the
building, which will have a
wood frame and metal roof
– materials chosen to reflect
the styles and resources of the
local area.
The building also was
designed to be energy efficient,
with an aim of meeting the “sil-
ver” certification level of Lead-
ership in Energy and Envi-
ronmental Design (LEED)
standards.
The general aviation por-
tion of the building will feature
an administrative office, main-
tenance shop, support space
and a pilot lounge.
The Forest Service portion
will replace the agency’s cur-
rent facility, now located in a
collection of trailers. The proj-
ect entails a regional training
academy for helicopter rap-
pellers, helibase administration
offices, a ready room, training
room and a separate entrance.
There will be a third-level
observation deck for both
county and Forest Service use.
Meeting rooms also will be
available for community use,
English said.
The family of Dorothy McKrola Howard
expresses their heartfelt thanks for the
lovely cards, flowers, gifts of food, and
beautiful reception made so special by
her many friends attending. Special
thanks to the Methodist Church lay
pastors for the beautiful service.
Thank you to Dr. Keith Thomas, Shawna
Clark NP, the Blue Mountain Hospital
staff, Home Health & Hospice staff,
Valley View staff, and the DHS Senior
Programs for all the wonderful care and
support you gave Dorothy.
With grateful hearts,
Paul & Kathy Smith
Kathryn & Jim Sheets
W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF J ULY 24-30
Wednesday
Thursday
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Saturday
Sunday
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sunny
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Partly
sunny
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53
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