A2
NEWS
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
FOURTH OF JULY, DAYVILLE STYLE
By JUSTIN DAVIS
Blue Mountain Eagle
DAYVILLE — Residents
of Dayville celebrated the
reopening of their community
hall on Friday, July 1, and spent
the following three days cele-
brating the independence of our
nation. Festivities started on Sat-
urday, July 2, and continued on
to Independence Day on Mon-
day, July 4.
Highlights of the celebration
include a parade and a car show
that included 13 entries (see
accompanying story). Dayville
Cafe owners Greg and Deanne
Van Tassel were the grand mar-
shals of this year’s Indepen-
dence Day Parade.
Other notable events included
goat roping for both kids and
adults, a treasure hunt and a
horseshoe tournament. The city
also held various contests in cate-
gories such as sidewalk chalk art,
patriotic lamppost decoration
and home decorating.
The Dayville Community
Church handed out over 200
servings of free strawberry
shortcake, and the city pro-
vided free cookies to anybody
who wanted them.
Contributed Photo
Six-year-old Evie Schmadeka
carries the fl ag while riding
her pony, Cocoa, in the Day-
ville Fourth of July Parade on
July 4, 2022.
The Best of Parade Award
went to the Wyllie Clowns. Best
of Parade in the kids division
went to Mckenzie Thompson
of Dayville. The nonmotorized
division fi rst place honors went
to the Jake Streeter Memorial Car
Show. And the Wyllie Clowns
picked up a second award at the
parade, walking away with fi rst
place in the motorized division.
Winners of the horseshoe
tournament were Jeff and Justin
Larson of Dayville, who nabbed
fi rst-place honors in the opening
round of the tournament. Fellow
Dayville residents Larry Powell
and Casey Fretwell emerged the
winners in the second round of
the tournament.
Dayville City Recorder
Ruthie Moore said this year’s
Fourth of July celebration was
about giving back to the commu-
nity in gratitude for all the fund-
raising that had been done in the
past for the community hall.
“For many years our Fourth
of July celebration was a time
to raise money for renovating
our community hall. This year,
in honor of our newly renovated
community hall, we chose to
give back: Strawberry shortcake
was given away by the Commu-
nity Church, cookies from the
town, and the best pie in the state
from the grand marshals. There
was much to celebrate this Inde-
pendence Day, and that’s exactly
what we did,” she said.
“From start to fi nish, our
town was fi lled with a lot of fun
moments. Music, food, contests,
classic cars, a beautiful new gath-
ering place, and fl ags fl ying, all
while enjoying those who trav-
eled from near and far to cele-
brate with us,” Moore added.
Car show gets strong turnout
By JUSTIN DAVIS
Blue Mountain Eagle
DAYVILLE — The annual
classic car show to honor late
Dayville Fire Chief Jake Streeter
had a larger-than-average turn-
out as 13 vehicles, including
the contest’s fi rst motorcycle,
participated in the event as part
of Dayville’s annual Fourth of
July celebrations. The car show
has run every year since 2016
save for two years due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The city of Dayville put on the
fi rst Jake Streeter Memorial Car
Show following the passing of
Streeter. After that show, the city
asked Streeter’s family if they’d
like to take the event over in the
future. Now Streeter’s widow,
Cindy Streeter, puts on the
event along with the couple’s
daughters, Jessie and Janna,
and Cindy’s grandchildren.
Cindy Streeter said the city
of Dayville wanted to honor her
late husband due to his impact
on the community.
“They just wanted to honor
Jake because he did a lot of stuff
Robert James Berecz
Melvin John Saunders
Aug. 12, 1940 – June 7, 2022
January 4, 1943 ~ July 5, 2022
Robert (Bob) James Berecz, M.D., 81, was born in Chicago, IL
August 12, 1940 and passed away June 7, 2022 in McMinnville,
OR after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Bob attended Wisconsin Academy for his high school years
and graduated from Andrews University in Michigan in 1962.
He completed his medical training at Loma Linda University in
California in 1966. Bob served a surgical internship, a four-year
surgery residency, and a fellowship in vascular surgery. He was
drafted, served in the U.S. Navy, and was deployed to Vietnam. He
was separated from active duty in 1969 and received an Honor-
able Discharge as a Lt. Commander. His career as a surgeon was
spent in several hospitals in Oregon and Washington, including
Portland, OR; Chehalis, WA; John Day and Enterprise, OR. He re-
tired in from his 50-year career in Hermiston, OR in December
2016 and moved to Medford and Lincoln City, OR.
Bob is survived by his wife Carol (Roesel Peterlin); brother
John (Deborah); daughters, Kari (Todd) Schroeder, Diane Berecz,
and Michelle Berecz; stepsons Paul (Martha) Peterlin and Mar-
cus (Jayne) Peterlin; grandchildren Chase and Cooper Schroeder,
Alona Berecz, and Isaac and Cloey Plumlee; step grandsons Brock
and Alek Peterlin; great grandchildren Jaidyn and Braelyn Berecz-
Franks; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He
was preceded in death by his parents William and Helen Berecz,
brothers Bill and Joe, sisters Helen and Judy, and grandson Fisher
Schroeder.
A private memorial service will be heled at a date to be deter-
mined. In lieu of flowers, donations to favorite charity are request-
ed: International Children’s Care, 2711 NE 134th Way, Vancouver,
WA 98686. To leave online condolences, visit www.macyandson.
com.
Melvin John Saunders of
Prairie City, OR passed away in
Portland, OR on July 5, 2022.
Melvin was born in 1943
and was placed in foster care at
age 11, along with his siblings
ages 8-6-4-2. He led a life of
his own. His rules. His passions.
His motorcycles. His guns. His
4-wheeler. His crazy T-shirts.
He bravely served his coun-
try at age 17. He worked at
Portland Wire and Iron for 30
years after returning from the
military.
He met his wife, Mae Saun-
ders (Cowan), a schoolteacher
,and together they traveled and worked and partied. And after
several years they moved to Prairie City for another whole new
life. New friends. New excitement and new adventures. He even
built a house.
He took the road less traveled. It was his road. He measured
it out. He dug the dirt, paved it and ran it. He was admired for his
easy peasy grin. He was very loved by his friends and family and
will be greatly missed.
Melvin is survived by his wife, Lillie Mae, son Chad Gibbs,
daughter Christina Jannsen and sister Patsy Saunders Lake.
Services at Willamette National Cemetery with Veterans Hon-
ors will be held in the near future. Paid for by the family of Melvin
Saunders.
Cindy Streeter/Contributed Photo
Entrants in the 2022 Jake Streeter Memorial Car Show on July 4,
2022, from left: 1936 Ford pickup, 1965 Ford Mustang, 1969 Ford
Mustang, 1956 Chevy dump truck, 1931 Model A Roadster, and
1965 Oldsmobile.
for the city,” Streeter said. “He
wasn’t a city employee, but he
knew where all the sewer lines
and water lines and everything
were. If anybody ever had a ques-
tion, they always came to Jake. He
lived here most of his life, practi-
cally on the same street. We’ve
lived on this street for 41 years.”
The Streeter family gets a lot
of help with the car show every
year from City Recorder Ruthie
Moore, whom Cindy Streeter
called her best friend.
“She does a lot of the sched-
uling and that sort of thing,”
Streeter said. “They always
advertise that we’re having it,
and I put up fl yers, too, in dif-
ferent places about it.”
The car show doesn’t have
formal judges. Instead, members
of the public vote for their favor-
ite cars and Jake’s fi ve grandchil-
dren also select their favorites.
Selection as a favorite of one of
Streeter’s grandchildren is a sep-
DEATH NOTICES
Michael D. Powell
Michael D. Powell, 82, of John Day passed away on Oct.
20, 2021. A memorial service with military honors will be held
on Monday, July 18, at 1 p.m. at the Canyon City Cemetery. To
leave online condolences for the family, visit www.driskillme-
morialchapel.com.
Sarah Jane Hamsher
Sarah Jane Hamsher, 88, of Prairie City passed away on July
2 at her residence. A celebration of her life will be announced
in the near future. Memorial contributions may be made to the
Carrie Young Memorial through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241
S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. To off er online condo-
lences to Sarah’s family, visit www.driskillmemorialchapel.com.
Tina Bossuot
September 14, 1966 ~ June 13, 2022
Tina Bossuot, age 55, passed away at
her home in Silvies Valley, Oregon on June
13, 2022. Our dear Tina left behind her
loving husband, Dave, and her daughter,
Tiffany Robarge, in addition to many oth-
er family members and friends who loved
Tina very much.
Tina was born in Burns, Oregon on
September 14, 1966, to Louise and Mel-
vin Shepherd. Growing up Tina loved
spending time at the family ranch where
she played with cousins, learned to
cook, crochet and many other skills that
she used throughout her life. When Tina
was  6  years old, Louise married Gale
Prince. Tina never thought of him as a
‘stepdad.’ She had not only gained a dad,
but 4 siblings as well. Tina kept that same
philosophy throughout her  life. It didn’t
matter how you were related; whether by
marriage or blood- you were family.
She graduated from Burns High School
in 1984. She loved music and dancing;
whether it was cruising around jamming to her favorite album at the
time or going to concerts with friends and family. She participated
in dance team in high school and has been known to have dance
parties in the living room with her daughter and granddaughter.
In 1988 Tina married Scott Robarge and gained a son, Josh. In
December of 1989 they welcomed their daughter, Tiffany Robarge
into the world. From that day on, Tiff has been her #1. In October
of 1999, Tina married her rock and best friend, Dave Bossuot. In
doing so, she gained a daughter and son- Darbie and Bret. Over the
last 21 years Dave and Tina have spent their time being together.
Sundays were Tina’s favorite day of the week because she knew
she got to spend the whole day with Dave, even if that just meant
staying home and hanging out. She loved spending as much time
with him as she could. They loved being together, going up to the
cabin, going on drives, and of course watching their grandkids play
sports. They traveled to as many games as they could and Tina
always loved bragging about how good they were. Nothing made
her happier than celebrating Tiffany’s success and Tiana’s incredible
athletic accomplishments.
Tina worked at a variety of places in the community, but her
favorite job was babysitting. She loved each kid she took care of like
they were her own. Some still today call her “Mama Tina.” The kids
still talk about listening to her favorite
music and dancing alongside her.
Tina was kind and loving to all. She
touched many lives without even realiz-
ing it. She never did anything halfway,
which included buying food. Dave said
he will be set with cheerios and oatmeal
for life. Tina always wanted the best for
those that she loved and that meant lov-
ing them with her whole heart.
Tiff said, “My mom knew how to
make the simplest things in life a cele-
bration. She never needed anything fan-
cy. The things she loved were so sim-
ple, like driving to the cabin with Dave,
having dance parties in my living room
with Tiana and me, drinking iced tea in
the sun, seeing all her grandkids play in
a game and going out for ice cream with
Daniel and me, just to name a few. She
loved music, dancing, and cooking. She
would always tell me: ‘Tiffany, it’s the
simple things’. She is also the only grandma I know who would try
to ride a skateboard, jump on a trampoline, go down a waterslide,
do TikTok dances and try to ride a hoverboard. She may have bro-
ken her wrist a time or two doing it, but nothing was going to stop
her. She had the biggest heart of anyone I know. I hope to be half
the mom that she was to me.”
Tina is survived by husband Dave Bossuot, daughter Tiffany Ro-
barge (Dan Tooke) and granddaughter Tiana, bonus kids and grand-
kids Josh Robarge, Darbie Kemper (Adam) and Hunter, Easton,
Cannon, Ledger, Bret Bossuot (Lydia) and Reid and Patrick, father
Gale Prince and stepmother Rozann Hoffman, sister Serita Barnes
(Tom) and Steven and Twyla, half-sister Melanie Shepherd, bonus
sister Tanna Prince, bonus parents Alan and Ethel and many other
beloved nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Tina was preceded in death by her mother Louise Prince, father
Melvin Shepherd, half-brother little Melvin Shepherd, step-siblings
Terryhl Prince, Tandi Ludvicsen, Todd Prince and grandparents.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Avalanche  Soft-
ball-Tiana Robarge, 61126 Brookhollow Dr., Bend, OR or Hi-Desert
Mat Club, P.O. Box 1031, Burns, OR.
Arrangements under the direction of LaFollette’s Chapel. Paid
for by the family of Tina Bossuot.
Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Wednesday ..................................................... 83/53
Thursday .......................................................... 84/54
Friday ............................................................... 85/54
Saturday .......................................................... 83/52
Sunday ............................................................. 82/51
Monday ........................................................... 90/56
Tuesday ........................................................... 99/61
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arate honor from the overall peo-
ple’s choice winners.
“It’s all people’s choice —
we don’t really judge them
except for the kids pick what
they like,” Streeter said. “Other
than that, we have a voting
place where people vote for
their favorite car. It’s a very low-
key thing. It’s not professional,
if you want to call it that.”
Turnout for the car show was
as high as it has ever been this
year, according to Streeter.
“It’s never been higher,” she
said. “I think another year we
had 13. It’s been lower. I think
one year we only had three or
four, but that was in the middle
of the week.”
Streeter said the one thing
she wants people to remem-
ber about her husband is that he
always helped people.
“He was just a good per-
son and he helped anybody that
needed help,” she said.
Eugene Clifford Freshour
July 7, 1928 ~ May 10, 2022
Eugene Clifford Freshour,
93, was born July 7, 1928 to
George and Zulema Freshour
on their beautiful ranch in St.
Ignatius, Montana.  He passed
away on May 10, 2022 at home
in Denver, Colorado.  Gene was
a rancher, farmer, loan officer,
missionary, husband, foster
parent, father, grandfather, and
great grandfather many times
over. He was married to his
beloved wife and best friend,
Jeanne Freshour, for 62 years.
Gene grew to manhood on
the ranch and graduated from
St. Ignatius High School in
1946, then attended Montana State University and graduated in
1950.  He returned home to the ranch and was married to Jeanne
Cordis on November 25, 1956.  In 1969, Gene and Jeanne sold
the ranch forming the Pinehaven Christian Children’s Ranch. 
They moved from Colorado to Montana to Oregon following his
careers in ranching, farming, and working as a loan officer with
the Production Credit Association.
Gene accepted the Lord as his savior together with Jeanne
on Easter day in 1964 and dedicated his life to His work ever
since. They had a variety of roles working with Frontier Missions
in places such Belize, Venezuela, and England before returning
to the states and moving to Canyon City, Oregon for the rest of
their days.  Gene was very active in the John Day Church of the
Nazarene until his recent medical difficulties. Gene was steadfast
in his daily prayer for those he knew, and even those he did not.
His kindness, patience, love, and soft-spoken nature are unfor-
gettable to his family. His gift for giving wise, Godly advice was
appreciated by everyone who knew him.
Gene is preceded in death by his father George and his mother
Zulema; his wife Jeanne Freshour, his brothers, Elmer and Walter
Freshour, his sister Helen Smith, and two infant daughters.  Gene
is survived by his sister Lois Delaney of Moise and his broth-
er Donald of Helena; his son Dane Freshour of Denver, CO; his
daughter Ann Spies of Twin Falls, ID; his son Joel Freshour of
Golden Valley, AZ; and his daughter Jennifer Sherebernikoff of
Dutch Harbor, AK.  Gene leaves behind nine grandchildren and
twenty-one great-grandchildren, as well as a lasting legacy of love
and devotion to Jesus. He will be deeply missed.
A memorial service will be held at the Christian Church on
Saturday, August 6, 2022 at 10:00 am in St. Ignatius, Montana. A
celebration of life and lunch will follow.
Paid for by the family of Gene Freshour.
W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF J ULY 13-19
Wednesday
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cloudy
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