A2
NEWS
LOCAL BRIEFING
Blue Mountain Eagle
Thadd’s Place golf tourney set
JOHN DAY — The second annual Thadd’s Place Golf Tour-
nament will be held June 25 at the John Day Golf Club, 27631
Golf Club Road.
Sign-in begins at 7 a.m., with an opening program at 7:45
and tee-off at 8. A dinner and silent auction follow the tourna-
ment at 5 p.m.
Individual registration is $125, team registration is $500 and
hole sponsorships are available for $100. Dinner is by donation
and is open to anyone.
Participants can also enter a golf ball drop with a top prize of
$500, and anyone who hits a hole in one can win a Polaris ATV.
Proceeds from the event benefi t Thadd’s Place, the grief
counseling center in John Day.
Linda K. Malloroy Woolfolk
June 28, 1937 ~ May 6, 2022
Linda K. Malloroy Woolfolk passed
away Friday, May 6th, surrounded by
family at her home in Little Valley. She
was born June 28, 1937, in Eugene,
OR, to Spike and Dorothy Malloroy
of Roseburg. Linda spent most of her
childhood in White City, OR, on their
family’s small farm with her younger
sister, JoAnna.  She enjoyed berry pick-
ing, hunting and fishing, and had a love
of animals.
Linda attended Eagle Point High
School where she participated in band
and honor society. During her 10 years
in 4-H, she was able to travel to State Fair, PI and Cow Palace
in San Francisco.  She won numerous awards in showing, style
revue and leadership, including a trip to National 4-H Congress
in Chicago. It was during these years that she got to know Dave,
who she would later marry on November 15, 1958.
Dave and Linda began their life in Brownsboro, OR, on the
family ranch. In 1969, they moved to Winnemucca, NV, with their
three daughters, Sheri, Carman and Mary Jo. Later they had oth-
er ranches around Eastern Oregon and Northern Nevada. They
semi-retired in 2008 in Little Valley. Linda loved being a rancher’s
wife. Her highest honor was being a faithful, loving wife and part-
ner to Dave and working hard alongside him. She cherished her
family and loved the Lord Jesus. 
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Dave Woolfolk;
her sister JoAnna (Dean) Crechriou of Dixon, CA; her daughters
Sheri (Lyn) Akers of Richland, OR, Carman Lovell of Little Val-
ley and Mary Jo (Mike) Barraza of Adrian, OR; her grandchildren
Kelly (Marissa) Akers, Amanda (Jory) Hearne, Sam (Lena) Akers,
Joe (Bri) Akers, Mariana (Wyatt) Warnock, Wyatt Akers, Brady
(Kinzee) Lovell, Vanessa Lovell, Nathan (Kristi) Barraza, Megan
(Zac) Lowder, Kellie (Chris) Lamkins, Lauren (Andrew) Stevens
and 31 great grandchildren. 
A memorial service will be held at Butte Baptist Church on
Thursday, June 16, 2022. In lieu of flowers, donations may be
made to Shiloh Bible Camp, PO Box 654, Donnelly, ID 83615 in
her honor. Paid for by the family of Linda Woolfolk.
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
To register, call 541-620-2572 or email thaddsplace@blue-
mountainhospital.org.
Local student makes dean’s list
MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — Jason Leighton of
John Day has been named to the winter term dean’s list at South-
ern New Hampshire University.
The academic recognition is accorded to full-time students
who earn a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.7.
ODFW: Leave young wildlife alone
SALEM — This is the time of year when many wild animals
give birth — and many humans try to “rescue” young animals
they think have been abandoned but most likely are doing just
fi ne, thank you.
Removing an animal from the wild is a violation of wildlife
laws, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife noted in a
news release, and can result in a warning or citation.
Despite that fact, springtime brings a fl ood of calls to ODFW,
wildlife rehabilitation centers and the Oregon State Police from
people who have picked up a deer fawn, elk calf or fl edgling bird
in the mistaken belief that the animal has been abandoned, the
news release said.
More likely the animal’s mother had gone off to feed or was
waiting nearby for humans or pets to leave so it could come back
and care for its young.
ODFW urges people to keep pets away from wildlife this time
of year and keep dogs on a leash when recreating outdoors. Pets
can stress wildlife, especially if there are young in the vicinity.
If you are certain a young animal has been orphaned because
you saw its parents die, call ODFW, OSP or a licensed wildlife
rehabilitator for advice.
With the recent detection of avian fl u in Oregon, ODFW also
warns people to avoid close contact with waterfowl this spring
and summer and not to feed ducks and geese. Feeding wildfowl
causes susceptible animals to congregate, making it easier for
the disease to spread.
United Way hosts golf tourney
PENDLETON — The United Way of the Blue Mountains will
host the 13th annual United Way Charity Golf Tournament on July
22 at the Wildhorse Resort Golf Course in Pendleton.
The event kicks off at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start and wraps up
with a post-tournament luncheon.
Sponsored by Pepsi, the event will include tournament prizes, a
raffl e drawing, contests throughout the course and an online auction.
Registration is $100 for individuals or $400 per team. Register
online at https://www.uwbluemt.org/uwgolf.
— Blue Mountain Eagle
Monument students visit Texas
DEATH NOTICES
Mary Ellen Brooks
By JUSTIN DAVIS
Blue Mountain Eagle
Mary Ellen Brooks, 84, of Mt. Vernon passed away on Friday,
May 20, at her residence. A visitation will take place on Thurs-
day, June 2, at Driskill Memorial Chapel from noon until 4 p.m.
A graveside ceremony, with vault interment, will be held on Fri-
day, June 3, at 1 p.m., followed by a memorial service at the
Grant County Fairgrounds Pavilion beginning at 2:30 p.m. with
Mitch Mund offi ciating. Memorial contributions may be made
to the Keerins Hall Renovation Fund through Driskill Memorial
Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. To light a
candle in Mary Ellen’s honor or to off er online condolences to
her family, please visit www.driskillmemorialchapel.com.
SAN ANTONIO —
High school students typi-
cally have one destination
in mind when choosing a
school trip.
Monument High School
students bucked that trend,
opting for San Antonio,
Texas, over Washington,
D.C., as this year’s des-
tination. The trip took
place between Saturday,
April 23, and Saturday,
April 30.
Monument Superinten-
dent Laura Thomas said the
reason for opting not to go
to D.C. was the political
climate in the town, which
Monument students didn’t
think was appropriate for
high school students.
Monument
students
began brainstorming fol-
lowing the realization that
D.C. wouldn’t be a good fi t
for a trip this year. The stu-
dents considered Pearl Har-
bor and a road trip to a num-
ber of national parks, but
A graveside service
and celebration of
life for
Al Cummings
will take place
Saturday, May 28 at
1:30 p.m. at the
Canyon City Cemetery.
Reception to follow at
the Canyon City Park,
Highway 395 and
Park Street.
Robert “Bob” Pollock
ultimately chose San Anto-
nio as their destination.
The trip provided a host
of fi rsts for the 14 Monu-
ment students who made the
trip. “Probably half of our
students had never fl own
before,” Thomas said. “We
took them to Corpus Christi
and saw the Gulf Coast. I
would say the majority of
the students had never been
to the Gulf Coast. They just
came back in awe.”
Students also spent a
day at Six Flags and toured
the Holocaust Memorial
Museum of San Antonio,
the USS Lexington, San
Antonio Mission National
Park and the Alamo.
“It was interesting ask-
ing them, what was your
favorite part? I don’t know
that there was one student
that could say this was the
favorite. I had one par-
ent say their student would
call and say today was their
favorite day and then they’d
call the next day and say
that was their favorite day,”
Thomas said.
May 17, 1934 ~ May 17, 2022
Robert “Bob” Pollock, 88, died
at his home in Halfway on May 17,
2022.  A Celebration of Bob’s life will
be held June 11th at Pine Valley Fair-
grounds in Halfway, OR at 11:00 am.
Please come and join us as we share
good food and stories.
Robert L. Pollock was born in
Shelton, WA on May 17, 1934 to par-
ents Milton and Ellen Pollock. Raised
in Pierce, Idaho, he spent a lot of his
time with Albert and Mabel Frazier
and his lifelong friends Bob Richel,
Jim Dundas and Darrol Frazier. He
graduated from Pierce High School in
1952. After serving a tour as a medic in the Army in the Korean
War, he returned home to the woods.
Logging was the bond of all. He started his logging years at
the age of six, assisting his father in skidding logs with horses.
His childhood friendship turned to a business partnership with
Bob Richel and family. The company flourished and operated in
the Pierce area until 1969 then they relocated to Cambridge, Ida-
ho. Bob went his own way in the 1980s and then took up a for-
estry contracting business for the Forest Service for a number of
years. He finally settled in as a timber manager for Widows Creek
Ranch in the Mt. Vernon area.
His fondest memories included a time of outfitting guided
hunts and flying for Moose Creek in the Bitterroot Mountains.
There was never any place to be but in the woods for Bob. Hunt-
ing, fishing and work all happened in the same place... If he was
working, he was watching big game; if he was fishing he was
studying the trees. If he was hunting, he was spotting fishing
holes...
One of his favorite sayings was “Anything over 24 hours is
too far to plan!”
After 70-plus years in the woods he finally retired to Halfway,
Oregon where he enjoyed his family and friends.
He married his soul mate Sharon Carpenter in 2005 and was
able to share many wonderful adventures traveling throughout
the country.
Bob is survived by his loving wife Sharon, daughters Susan
and Peggy and son Dan; stepchildren Ron, Damon, Stuart and
Carrie, as well as a long list of grandchildren, great-grandchildren,
in-laws and outlaws. His list of “family” and friends is too long for
print but one of his most prized possessions.
A long full life ended quietly at his home in Halfway, Oregon
on his 88th birthday. He was preceded in death by his parents and
sister Jean Fisher.
Those who would like to make a memorial donation in mem-
ory of Bob may do so to the charity of your choice through Ta-
mi’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, PO Box
543, Halfway, Oregon 97834. Online condolences may be shared
at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com. Paid for by the family
of Bob Pollock.
Vern S. Mecham
September 17, 1931 ~ February 21, 2022
Long time Mt. Vernon resident, Vern S. Mecham
passed away suddenly on February 21, 2022, in Red-
ding, California. A graveside service will be held June
4th, 2022, at the Canyon City Cemetery at 10:00AM.
Vern was born at home in Moreland to Alma & Car-
oline (Schiess) Mecham on September 17, 1931. He
was the fifth of eight children.
Vern’s early years were working with his family
on farms in Idaho and eventually in Adrian, Oregon.
Some of his early stories about farming dealt with
working the fields with workhorses.
Vern graduated from Adrian High School in 1950.
While in high school, he participated in sports which
he claimed kept him in school which was why he was adamant that
kids be able to be involved in sports or other school activities.
After graduation, Vern enlisted in the United States Air Force
with thoughts of seeing the world. Although putting in for overseas
duty, Vern’s “overseas” duty found him stationed at Luke Air Force
Base in Arizona. Vern wanted to fly but due to being color blind, he
was grounded and instead became a hydraulics mechanic working
on the “birds” he would have loved to have flown. Vern swears that
having to always wear a cap while working in the Arizona heat on
the tarmac caused him to lose the hair on top of his head.
Vern finished his four-year stint and was deciding whether to
re-enlist when he came to Mt. Vernon to visit his family. This is
where he met the love of his life, a young lady by the name of Mary
Marie Hall. He asked her to marry him, and on July 29, 1956, their
love story officially began for the next 49 years.
Vern worked a variety of jobs throughout his life. Early in their
marriage, he was offered a position working on jets in San Diego,
California. While living there, their daughter, Carolyn, was born.
The ill health of his father brought the young family back to Oregon
and eventually Vern went to work in the sawmill in Mt. Vernon and
worked there until the late ’60s. He went to work for Dean and Betty
Elliot at the Union 76 Oil Bulk Plant in John Day and drove fuel truck
for them until early 1970 when a position with the U.S. Forest Ser-
vice on the road crew was accepted. He would tell the story of how
he was hired as a laborer but on his first day he was promoted to
backhoe operator, a position he loved doing until he retired in 1996.
Vern and Mary were very family/kid-oriented. Although they
wanted more children, they were only blessed with Carolyn. How-
ever, when it came to kids, Vern and Mary never said no to giving
of their time or finding an extra dollar for any kid in Mt. Vernon
throughout their lives.
A firm supporter of sports, Vern and family faithfully attended
Mt. Vernon games at home and on the road. Vern was asked to run
the basketball score clock in the 60s and you saw him sitting calmly
behind the score table for many years. He even helped out at other
schools or at the District and State tournaments he loved to attend.
Vern served on the Mt. Vernon School Board for 25+ years.
When the sports team bus needed a driver and no one applied for
the position, Vern volunteered to drive the bus as long as Mary and
Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Wednesday ..................................................... 65/37
Thursday .......................................................... 48/33
Friday ............................................................... 60/37
Saturday .......................................................... 65/44
Sunday ............................................................. 67/46
Monday............................................................ 66/38
Tuesday ........................................................... 70/47
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Carolyn were allowed to travel with him. Many mem-
ories were made on those trips.
Vern served as the Boy Scout leader for several
years in the 60s sharing his love of the outdoors.
There were many fun trips in Vern’s old blue pickup to
the mountains for a weekend campout.
Vern also served as fire chief of the Mt. Vernon
Volunteer Fire Department for several years. One
thing he was very proud of was the young men who
had been Boy Scouts who volunteered as high school
firefighters and worked hard to learn the proper tech-
nique of firefighting.
Vern helped Mary (who was the school librarian)
after retiring. You would also find him helping with the kids in any
capacity he could, whether sitting and listening to their reading, or
helping with math.
When Mary retired in 2003, the plan was for them to travel but
due to health issues, Vern became Mary’s healthcare provider which
he lovingly did until her death in July 2005. Before she had passed,
Mary knew Vern needed to get back into the world outside their
home. She urged him to go to a basketball game at Grant Union one
night. The rest as they say is history. After her death, Vern watched
Grant Union play football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and soft-
ball. One basketball night he was asked to fill in on the ticket table,
which led him to volunteer to take tickets at G.U.’s sporting events
for several years so that parents could watch their kids play because
he knew it was important for them to do so. When he needed to live
with Carolyn, this was one of many things he missed doing.
Vern was a SUPER and loving dad and grandpa. He taught his
grandchildren how to camp, fish and handle guns safely like he had
with so many other kids throughout his life. When he helped Car-
olyn with projects at her home, he always had two little helpers
(and older ones as they grew up) right at his side. He never tired of
answering questions or showing them how to do things.
Vern spent the last four years living with Carolyn. Although he
missed life in Mt. Vernon, he did love being with his daughter and
Bill and being around his grandchildren. When his great-grand-
daughter joined the family, he was totally smitten with her, holding
her every chance he got.
Vern is survived by his daughter Carolyn (Bill), two grandchil-
dren, Tim Winship and Kristina (Tim) Schell and great-granddaugh-
ter Elleri Schell, as well as 21 nieces and nephews who loved their
Uncle Vern and rubbing his bald spot. He is preceded in death by
the love of his life, Mary, parents Alma and Caroline Mecham, broth-
ers, sisters and their spouses, Rone & Norma Mecham, Elden & Iris
Mecham, Alice & Dick Ashcraft, Roy & Arlene Mecham, Audrey &
Jessie Stoker, Ethel & Charlie Cauthron, and Eva & Dale Osborn, as
well as three nephews.
In lieu of flowers, his family urges you to give what you can to
any Veteran organization, charity, or youth program of your choice
through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day,
OR 97845. Paid for by the family of Vern Mecham.
W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF M AY 25-31
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