A2
NEWS
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Rodeo queen is double-crowned
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
ELGIN — In addition to
being named queen of the Ore-
gon High School Rodeo Associ-
ation in June, Dayville’s Rowdy
Israel was crowned queen of the
Elgin Stampede last month.
Israel, 16, who was already
busy making appearances at
rodeos across the state High
School Rodeo Association, now
carries two titles and all of the
commitments that come with
being double-crowned.
For instance, on Friday,
Aug. 19, Israel represented
the Elgin Stampede in Ken-
newick, Washington, then had
to be in Cottage Grove for a
rodeo on Saturday and Sunday
to on behalf of the Oregon High
School Rodeo Association.
Rowdy’s mother, Nicole
Israel, said Friday that mak-
ing the appearances is a defi nite
“parent commitment” because
Rowdy has to be at certain
places at certain times and she
has to make sure she is there.
“Whether I have to drive
all night to make it happen
or whether I don’t,” she said,
“that’s just a commitment you
have to make.”
It’s a commitment on Row-
dy’s part as well. A typical
William C. Railey
August 14, 2022
January 12, 1932-August 9, 2022
Imagine living a full and generous life of 90 years! Christi Jean
Sproul, age 90 passed away peacefully August 9, 2022 in St. Hel-
ens, Oregon.
Jean was born January 12, 1932 to Ruby & Oscar Hoverson of
John Day….Jean married her high school sweetheart, Jim Sproul
on December 17, 1950.
Jean is survived by her son, Guy Sproul, daughters, Sally
Stuerhoff, Mary Branstetter , Nancy Lee, their families, Stepson,
Lewis Lowery, Sister, Marlene Warren.
Preceded in death by her husband, Niles Arnold Sproul (Jim)
Jerry Lowery, whom Jean married after the passing of Jim Sproul
in 1998, son, James T Sproul.
Our family would like to give Thanks to Legacy Hospice of
Portland.
We invite all to join as we celebrate Christi Jeans’ Life on Oc-
tober 8, 2022, 1PM at the John Day Golf Course. Paid for by the
family of Christi Sproul.
William C. Railey, more com-
monly known as Billy, Bobcat Bil-
ly, Uncle Bill and of course Dad,
passed away peacefully at his home
in Mount Vernon August, 14, 2022.
A celebration of Life was held at the
Monument Senior Center, Sunday
August 21, 2022.
Bill was always the hardest
worker on any job he held. He al-
ways supported and provided for
his family and instilled an unparal-
leled work ethic in his children. Bill
loved a good practical joke and has
left his fair share of lifelong stories that have been passed down
through the generations, especially by his older sisters.
Bill had the biggest heart, he was someone you could turn
to for advice and would be the first to offer up his help if it was
needed. Bill proved time and time again how strong willed and
stubborn he was.
He fought for life and never quit. Life may have knocked him
down from time to time, but he was a Railey, and nothing keeps
a Railey down.
To sum up a man in a few words feels unfair and unjust. The
true summation of a man can be seen in the love of the ones he
left behind, the ones that are left to carry on and honor the man
he was. Raise a glass for Bill, honor him by working hard for your
family, by loving them fiercely, by enjoying the fresh air and a
good fishing hole.
Bill leaves behind his wife Lisa Railey of 22 years and four
children.
For those who would like to make a memorial donation in hon-
or of Bill the family suggests Healing Reins (therapeutic horse
therapy program) through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home &
Cremation Services, PO BOX 543, Halfway, Oregon 97834. Online
condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.
com. Paid for by the family of Bill Railey.
Tom McCornack (Mac) Kerns
October 31, 1934 ~ July 5, 2022
Mac’s Story
Mac Kerns passed away, peacefully, at
his home outside of Haines, Oregon July
5, 2022, with his loving family at his side.
Tom McCornack (Mac) Kerns was born
in Sheridan, Wyoming on October 31, 1934
to Tom and Janet (McCornack) Kerns. In
1936 the little family moved to Eugene and
then Lorane, Oregon. Soon, Mac’s father
researched a desirable location (out of the
Willamette Valley because of hay fever and
allergies) for the family to settle and farm.
The beautiful Baker Valley reminded Tom
of the Sheridan area he’d grown up in and
it had a railway which he knew was very
important for transporting crops and farm
animals. In 1939 Mac and his family moved
to a ranch in Haines. He and his older sis-
ter Jean attended grade school in the Rock
Creek, then Muddy Creek, riding horse-
back to and from. His freshman year of
high school was in North Powder. Because
his older sister Jean was attending high
school in Baker Mac’s folks determined
it would be best if he attended there also.
Lucky thing because it was there he met his
future bride Joyce (Cole).
Joyce and Mac were married June 21, 1953 and began 57 years
of marriage and adventure. The newlyweds resided on the ranch
in Haines until that fall when Mac resumed his studies at Oregon
State University in Corvallis. Mac completed his college career with
a degree in Agricultural Engineering which he used thoroughly
throughout the rest of his life. In 1959 the ranch had a rough year
and Mac’s brother-in-law Tom suggested he seek employment
with the U.S. Forest Service. Mac signed on for what was going
to be a temporary job but the Forest Service offered him many
ways to use and expand his knowledge so he stayed with them
until 1984. He obtained his professional license as a Civil Engineer
in 1962. In 1978 he became a licensed land surveyor and in
1991 he added Certified Water Rights Examiner to his resume’.
The family had expanded with the birth of Lorance Brent in
1954, Wesley Allen in 1958 and Janet Irene in 1960. Mac’s career
with the Forest Service took them to many postings throughout the
Northwest, then Missouri and finally Washington DC. They often
purchased a home that benefited from remodeling or later on con-
structed their homes. Mac included the children in all aspects of the
building projects and they learned many valuable skills in the pro-
cess. Each move was considered an adventure by Mac and Joyce
and he not only made a difference with his engineering skills in
building roads and reservoirs, but became active in community af-
fairs and their church. Locally, while working in the Malheur Forest
out of John Day, Oregon, Mac was the chief engineer in the project
creating the Tipton Cutoff highway. He was awarded “Best Road Job
In the Nation” for that project. He also served on the John Day city
council while living there.
Upon retirement in 1984, Mac and Joyce moved back to Haines
to ranch with their family. There, Mac was active in several aspects
of agriculture, especially as a Water Rights Examiner and even
served as chairman of the Oregon Wheat Growers Commission. In
that position he was able to visit China on a
marketing trip.
Mac remained active and positive all
through his life, by participating in com-
munity activities. The 4th of July Haines
Fun Run was rarely missed by him and as
a member of the Haines Methodist Church,
he assisted with the construction of that
Community Hall. Mac was a proponent
of water and stream enhancement and
use, while also especially a champion in
advocating for better forest management
to prevent fires. The children of Haines
Elementary School (many of which were
great-grandchildren and great-nieces and
nephews, he loved to point out)
benefited from his volunteering in the
classroom. He served on a board for the
rural fire district as an activist for getting
support through tax rolls for better fire
protection. His inter-est in local history
led him to involvement with the Baker
County Historical Society and Eastern
Oregon Museum at Haines, OR, where
his own memories of early years
have helped inspire people.
Mac had a way of linking the past to the present, learning from
experiences not only of his own, but also of others, to aptly apply
them in solving problems. In his last days he still displayed an
inter-est in what each of his children, grandchildren and great-
grandchildren were working on, learning or simply interested in.
In 2021 Mac, with assistance of his youngest brother James,
penned a “Christmas letter" that eventually grew into a book entitled “Our
Oregon Heritage.” These writings document and celebrate the lives of
Thomas and Cornelia Condon (Mac’s great, great-grandparents) and
Herbert McCornack’s family. (Herbert being Ellen Condon’s husband
and grandfather and Mac’s great-grandparents).
Mac was proceeded in death by his wife of 57 years Joyce Avon
(Cole), daughter Diane, parents Tom and Janet, and sister Jean
(Tom) Griffith.
Mac is survived by his children Brent (Mary), Wes (Mary Da-
vies), Janni (John) Eggers, grandchildren Jacque(Josh)Cobb, Lo-
gan(Holly) Kerns, John(Catie) Kerns, Jeff (Kim) Kerns, Mark (Sa-
vannah) Kerns, Zach (Savannah) Eggers, 1st Class Petty Officer
Eli Eggers, and Andy (Chelsey) Johnson, great-grandchildren Colt
and Orin Cobb, Weston Kerns, Lance and Joy Kerns, and Bridger
and Briar Johnson. Brothers Tim (Jan) Kerns, James (Margery),
sister Ellen (Philip)Stevenson and brother –in-law Tom (Jean)
Griffith plus numerous nieces and nephews. Also Mac’s special
friend Mary Boyer.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 3,
2022 at the Haines United Methodist Church. Memorial contribu-tions in
Mac’s memory may be sent to the Eastern Oregon Museum or the Haines
United Methodist Church via Cole’s Tribute Center.
Paid for by the family of Mac Kerns.
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appearance consists of a parade
in the morning, then later a grand
entry at a rodeo. After that, she
puts her horse away and signs
autographs into the night.
She also competes in Oregon
high school rodeos, as she did at
the rodeo in Cottage Grove over
the weekend and at the Grant
County Junior Rodeo before
that.
The appearances, she said,
keep her “super-busy in a com-
pacted day.”
Nonetheless, Rowdy said,
she is grateful for the dual honor
of being a double rodeo queen.
She thanked her sponsors and
those who supported her in and
around Grant County.
Contributed Photo
Dayville’s Rowdy Israel is crowned
the 75th annual Elgin Stampede
queen last month by outgoing
queen Sarah Baker. Israel was also
named Oregon High School’s Ro-
deo Queen in June.
Dump truck hits
power line, fl ips
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
CANYON CITY — A
dump truck driver who fl ipped
his truck Monday, Aug. 22, on
Adams Road in Canyon City
suff ered minor injuries.
According to a press release
from the Grant County Sheriff ’s
Offi ce, Timothy Hueckman, 66,
of John Day left the dump box
raised as he drove down Adams
Road and caught a power line
that snapped into multiple
pieces and ultimately fl ipped
the truck onto its side.
McKinley said the wreck
closed through traffi c on Adams
Road and West Bench Road for
three hours on Monday. Oregon
Trail Electric Cooperative and
CenturyLink worked to restore
services in the aff ected areas.
Firefi ghters respond to
blaze near Greenhorn
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
GREENHORN — The
Grant County Emergency
Management
Offi ce
is
watching a number of fi res
started by multiple light-
ing strikes in and around
Grant County, including a
15-acre blaze dubbed the
Crocket’s Knob Fire burn-
ing near Greenhorn, an unin-
corporated community on
the Grant-Baker County line
north of Austin.
According to a Facebook
post from the Grant County
Emergency
Management
Offi ce, fi refi ghters were on the
scene Tuesday, Aug. 23.
Emergency manager Eric
Bush said the blaze was not
near any structures, build-
ings or towns and that the
Forest Service is committing
resources to keep the fi re from
spreading.
Latrona Joyce Winegar
February 24, 1942 ~ August 14, 2022
Latrona Joyce Winegar was
born on February 24, 1942 in
Prairie City, Oregon to Charles
Raymond “Todd” Winegar and
Thelma Viola (Garner) Wine-
gar. She was the sixth child in
a family of eight. They moved to
Redmond before Latrona start-
ed school.
When she was a first grad-
er in Redmond she developed
Rheumatic Fever and very near-
ly had to take first grade over,
but her dedicated teacher came
to their house and tutored her
so that she could advance with her classmates to 2nd grade.
Latrona graduated from Redmond Union High School in 1960.
After graduation she attended Merritt Davis School of Business in
Salem, Oregon. After that graduation she worked in Redmond at
U.S. National Bank for a few years. After marriage and moving to
many towns she always had employment in banks. Adding num-
bers and counting money came easy to her.
Latrona married Eddie Bryan Smith from Sweet Home, Ore-
gon, on June 5, 1965. After 55 years of marriage he preceded
her in death.
They are survived by their children: Son – Bryan, daughters –
Kristi and Mary, and granddaughter Kaitlyn.
Latrona developed a love for sewing and cooking at an early
age. Many years of 4-H helped her hone these talents to perfec-
tion so that when she moved back to Prairie City in later years and
her sister, Viola, approached her to open a quilt shop, she was
willing to begin a new adventure. Thus came Quilts and Beyond.
Latrona really enjoyed being in Prairie City and making new
friends. She especially loved the smaller town atmosphere and
viewing Strawberry Mountain. The friends that she made during
this period of her life were very precious to her and they will all
miss her dearly.
One of Latrona’s favorite pastimes was playing cards – her
family accused her of “counting cards.” She was usually the win-
ner. In fact, she’s probably up there in heaven right now with her
mom, sister and brothers, and her husband, counting those cards
and having lots of laughs. Most importantly Latrona had a very
loving relationship with her Lord and Savior.
Her siblings are: (Deceased) Margaret Jean Winegar Watson,
Franklin Winegar, Raymond Winegar, Charles Henry Winegar,
(Survining) Ella Mae Winegar McMullen, Viola Winegar Rose and
Vanda Winegar Recek. A service was held on Sat. 8-20-22.
Paid for by the family of Latrona Winegar.
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