TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon
Wednesday, May 29,2013
Obituaries
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Rita H. Sumner
Heppner
Rita H. Sumner, 77, a state representative, The
o f Heppner passed from couple later divorced.
R ita was a school-
this life on May 15, 2013
in Ashland, OR. A memo bus driver and at one time
rial service will be held at owned and operated a fabric
3 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at store in Heppner.
She was a talented
the Willow Creek Branch
seamstress, a very
o f The Church of
good cook, and also
Latter Day Saints,
enjoyed baking and
Highway 74, Lex
gardening.
ington.
In addition to
She was bom
all these things, she
December 9, 1935
was also a pilot,
in Pendleton, OR,
often flying small
the daughter of Ivan
planes to get ur
and H elen Cox. Rita H.
gently needed parts
Rita was raised and Sumner
for farm machin
attended school in
Pendleton for a time before ery.
S u rv iv o rs in clu d e:
her family moved to Hep
pner, where she graduated sons, Charlie Sumner and
from high school. She spent w ife C indy o f L exing
much of her youth on horse ton, Jeff Sumner and wife
back, helping her family Kathleen of Hillsboro, OR;
with their cattle ranch. She daughters, Sally Runyan of
had a great love for animals Vancouver, WA, and Jaci
and often adopted them as Jones and husband Kevin
of Medford, OR; her sister,
pets.
A fte r g ra d u a tio n , Mary Banks of Pendleton;
Rita married John “Jack” 10 grandchildren; and six
Sumner and they had five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in
children. Together, they
ranched and farmed the death by; a son, John Sum
family property. Rita was ner, and ex-husband Jack
recognized as the force be Sumner, both in 1995.
Memorial contributions
hind her husband’s efforts
in conservation farming may be made to Pioneer
and later supported him Memorial Hospital, PO box
as he served in Salem as 9, Heppner, OR 97836.
GAZETTE-TIMES
U.S.P.S. 240-420
M orrow C ounty’s H om e-O w ned Weekly Newspaper
Published weekly by Sykes Publishing. LLC and entered as periodical matter at the
Post Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1179 Periodical postage
paid at Heppner, Oregon Office at 188 W Willow Street. Telephone (541) 676-
9228. Fax (541) 676-9211. E-mail editorujrapidserve net or davidtorapidserve
net Web site: www heppner net Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner
Gazette-Times, PO Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $29 in
Morrow County; $23 senior rate (in Morrow County only; 65 years or older); $35
elsewhere; $29 student subscriptions.
David Sykes...................................................................... .........................Publisher
Andrea Di Salvo.................................... .........................................................Editor
All News and Advertising Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m.
For Advertising advertising deadline is Monday at 5 p m Cost for a display ad is $5 per
column inch Cost lor classified ad is 50< per word Cost lor Card of Thanks is $10 up to
100 words Cost for a classified display ad is $5 75 per column inch
For Public/legal Notices public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m Dates for pub
lication must be specified Affidavits must be required at the time of submission Affidavits
require three weeks to process alter last date ol publication (a sooner return date must be
specified if required)
For Obituaries Obituaries are published in the Heppner G T at no charge and are edited to
meet news guidelines Families wishing to include information not included in the guidelines
or who wish to have the obituary written in a certan way must purchase advertising space
for the obituary
For Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor M U S T be signed by the author The Heppner
GT will not publish unsigned letters All letters M U S T include the author s address and phone
number for use by the GT office The GT reserves the right to edit letters The G T is not
responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters Any letters expressing thanks wiH
be placed in the classifieds under "Card of Thanks’ at a cost of $10
Birth Announcement
Pearl Kathleen
M iller— Corey and
Jill Miller o f Hep
pner announce the
birth o f a daughter,
Pearl Kathleen Mill
er. Pearl was bom at
St. Anthony’s Hos
pital in Pendleton,
OR on M arch 22,
2013, at 12:25 a.m.
At birth, she weighed Pearl Kathleen Miller
five pounds, seven
ounces and measured 18.5 inches in length.
She joins big sister, Paige, who is two.
Grandparents are Mark and Shanny Miller o f Hep
pner, and Bob and Tricia Sorey of Helix, OR.
Virginia L. Wilkinson, had two daughters, Judith
She is the second great-grandchild of Tad and Melba
91, o f Heppner died Sat and Pamela, after returning
Miller of Heppner.
urday, May 25, 2013 at to B ill’s hometown. Bill
Pioneer Memorial Hospital Cochell died of cancer in
in Heppner. A funeral Mass 1949. Virginia and the girls
will be held 11 a.m. Mon lived in Heppner with her
day, June 3, at St. Patrick’s in-laws, and she worked
Catholic Church in Hep at the Production Market
On May 30,2013, Mar there, she participated in pner, with vault interment ing A ssociation for Bill
garet (Maggie) Elizabeth a Spanish immersion pro to follow at the Heppner Padberg.
Armato will gradu
gram and worked Masonic Cemetery. Reci
On October 31, 1950
ate from Harvard
at an archeological tation of the Rosary will be she married Dick Wilkin
U n iv e rsity w ith
site, the pyramid held at 7 p.m. Sunday, June son, a local rancher and
E n g lis h h o n o rs
Huaca Pucllana, 2, at St. Patrick’s Catholic native of Heppner. She was
from the D epart
where she helped Church.
happily married to Dick
ment o f Econom
diagram artifacts.
She was bom August for over 62 years; she kept
ics, where she has
She spent her 20th 3, 1921 in Portsmouth, VA, the books and managed
earned a Bachelor
birth d ay w atch the daughter of Herman and finances at the Wilkinson
o f Arts degree. She Maggie
ing the sunrise at Mary Caprio Dean;
Ranch while rais
will also graduate Armato
Machu Pichu. Last she was the eldest
ing her girls.
with a secondary in
summer, she in of the three Dean
She enjoyed
environmental science and terned for an investment children. Her father
painting, crochet
public policy and language banking firm in New York, was a musician in
ing, bowling, sew
citations in Spanish and NY. She was the president the United States
ing, and playing
of the Harvard Taekwondo Navy, so the fam
Italian.
bridge with friends.
Maggie graduated from Club and on the Executive ily moved several
Virginia was very
V irgin ia
Heppner High School in Board for Harvard Women tim es, including Wilkinson
active in the East
2009. She is the daughter of in Business. For the last Pensacola, FL, San
ern Star, serving as
Kim Cutsforth and the late one and a half years during Pedro, CA, Honolulu, HI Worthy Matron. She was
Mike Armato, and sister of school she volunteered for and Long Beach, CA.
honored when chosen as
Joe Armato.
Escuela Amigos, a bilingual
Her father was called Worthy Grand Matron for
While studying at Har elementary school, and she to duty in American Sa the state of Oregon.
vard, Maggie took advan interned for an energy con moa when Virginia was
Survivors include: her
tage o f their summer study- sulting group, MyEnergy. 16 years of age; the family husband, Dick Wilkinson;
abroad programs. She spent After graduation, she will lived there for 18 months. daughters, Judith Shannon
her freshman summer in work for Pinterest in San Virginia learned to play the and Pam Wunderlich; son-
Venice atten d in g en v i Francisco.
ukulele, dance the hula, and in-law, Mark Wunderlich;
ronmental science classes
The Armatos will be sing island songs. While sister, Olive Suarez; sister-
and traveling Italy. Her holding a celebration at in Samoa, she was taught in-law, Shirley Rugg; four
sophomore summer was their home June 22 at 5 bookkeeping basics and grandchildren; seven great
spent in Lima, Peru. While p.m.; no gifts, please.
grandchildren; and several
earned $7.50 a week.
For his 20-year d is nieces and nephews.
charge, her father was sent
She was preceded in
back to Pensacola, after death by: her parents, and
which the family moved her brother, Herman Jr.
to Marianna, FL. Virginia
M em orial co n trib u
graduated
from
high
school
tions
may be made to Pio
The eighth annual youth Park, 58430 Willow Creek
neer
Memorial Hospital
in
Marianna
and
started
an
fishing derby, sponsored by Rd., Heppner. The derby is
Long-Term
Care, PO Box
other
bookkeeping
job,
with
Oregon Department of Fish for children 14 years old
9,
Heppner,
OR 97836 or
more
extensive
on-the-job
and Wildlife and Morrow and younger.
to
Willow
Creek
Terrace
training.
County Parks, will take
For more information,
Assisted
Living,
400
Frank
World
War
II
began,
place Saturday, June 1 from contact Betty Gray at 541-
Gilman
Drive,
Heppner,
and
her
father
was
recalled
8:30-11 a.m. at Cutsforth 989-8214.
to Norfolk, VA. It was there OR 97836.
Sweeney Mortuary of
that Virginia met and mar
ried Bill Cochell, a Hep Heppner is in charge of ar
pner native who was in her rangements.
father’s band. Together they
Virginia L.
Wilkinson
Armato to graduate
from Harvard
Fishing derby
planned
Hunter Education
Courses to be held June 11th, 13th, 18th and 20th
6 :0 0 - 9 :0 0 p .m . at
H ep p n er H ig h S ch ool
Park district to meet
Robert Peter
Fitzsimmons
Robert Peter Fitzsim
mons, 67, o f Goldendale,
WA departed on the ulti
mate hunting and fishing
trip Saturday, May 18,2013
at Oregon Health & Science
University in Portland, OR.
A memorial service will
be held Friday, May 31, at
1:30 p.m. at the Goldendale
Country Club, 1901 N. Co
lumbus Ave. in Goldendale.
It will be followed by a
potluck celebration o f his
life, so everyone is encour
aged to bring favorite “Fitz”
stories.
He was bom January
6, 1946 to June and Ken
neth (Pete) Fitzsimmons of
Oroville, CA. The family
moved to Prineville, OR
in 1957, when he was in
the seventh grade. Bob
completed his education in
Prineville and was a mem
ber of the graduating class
of 1963 from Crook County
High School.
Following in his fa
th er’s footsteps, in 1964
he started his journey to
become a lineman with
the Pacific Gas & Electric
Company o f Fresno, CA.
Upon com pletion o f his
apprenticeship, he moved
back to Oregon and began
working for the Condon
office of Columbia Basin
Electric Co-op in January
of 1970, and spent over 30
years dedicated to keeping
the power on for the resi
dents Gilliam and Wheeler
Counties.
He m arried Roberta
Bruce in 1965 and they
were blessed with two chil
dren, Aaron and Jeanine,
whom they raised together
in Condon. They later di
vorced.
On May 14, 1996 he
married the love of his life,
his wife Sharon Coleman,
in Shaniko, OR. They made
their home in Fossil, OR
for several years before
relocating to Goldendale in
2001 following his retire
ment from the Columbia
Basin Electric Co-op.
On July 1, 2001, he be
gan working at the Klickitat
County PUD and held the
position of Line Superin
tendent at the time of his
death. He loved his job
and the people he worked
with immensely, and made
many close friends during
his years there. It was said
that “Ror a guy that gives
the impression of having
a rough exterior, Fitz has a
Over the Tee Cup
Rain, rain and more
rain didn’t deter the ladies
of Willow Creek Country
Club from turning out for
play on Tuesday, May 21.
Despite the weather, 12
participated.
Virginia Grant had low
gross o f the field, Laura
Rogers had low net and
Jackie Allstott had least
putts.
For flight A, Corol
Mitchell had low gross,
Eva Kilkenny had low net
and Judy Harris and Loa
Heideman tied for least
Any person under 18 who wishes to
pass this course in order to acquire a hunting license
in the State of Oregon. Any person wishing to hunt
out of state must also hold a valid Hunter Education
Card. The course is being taught by Jim and Darlene
Marquardt. Questions, call Jim at 541-969-4845.
P
lea se h a v e yo ur
DECORATIONS REMOVED
To register for the class go to
FROM THE CEMETERY BY
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/education/hunter/
and follow registration instructions.
T
)
sjhe fee for the course is $10 and is set by ODFW |
h u r sd a y
J
une
6
th
Heppner M asonic Cemetery
putts. Eva Kilkenny had the
long drive.
For flight B, Pat Dough
erty had low gross and long
drive, and Betty Bums low
net.
On flight C, Beverly
Steagall had low gross, and
Lorrene Montgomery had
low net and long drive.
Jackie Allstott had chip-
in and longest putt #2.
The 18-hole in v ita
tional will take place June
4. All ladies playing from
Heppner are asked to sign
up at the club house.
Farmer’s market to
open in June
Willow Creek Farmer’s
Willow Creek Park District will have a regular board Market will open for the
meeting, along with a budget meeting, on June 11 at 5 season June 21 at Heppner
City Park. Market hours
p.m. at Heppner City Hall.
will be Fridays from 10
With a field day Saturday June 15th
at Lexington Gun Club 8am -12 noon
heart of gold.”
Bob sp en t his life
outdoors and was an avid
sportsman. His happiest
times were spent hunting,
fishing, and spending time
with family and friends.
He also enjoyed guiding
fishing trips, meeting new
people and following his
beloved Notre Dame Fight
ing Irish. He was an ex
tremely gifted woodworker
and spent countless hours in
his shop creating treasures
that will long be cherished
by family and friends.
Always ready to lend a
helping hand to neighbors
and friends, Bob was very
involved in the community
and particularly enjoyed
working with kids. He was
a devoted father and was
always there for his family,
whether coaching his sons’
baseball team, teaching
hunter safety courses to the
kids of the area, or simply
lending an ear and extend
ing much needed advice.
His children and grand
children were the pride of
his life.
He became a Master
Mason in May of 1984, was
a member of the Condon
Elks Lodge #1869 where
he served as Exalted Ruler
in 1976 and 1977, and was
also a member o f the In
ternational Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers Local
#125, Oregon Hunters As
sociation, National Rifle
Association and Northwest
Steelheaders Association.
He was preceded in
death by: his father and his
brother, Richard Dunn.
He is survived by:
his wife, Sharon; mother,
June Dunn G uim ont o f
Woodbum, OR; son, Aaron
(Chris) Fitzsim m ons o f
Condon; daughters, Jeanine
(Rob) Conlee of The Dalles,
OR, and Shannon (Vince)
Vanoss o f Leonardtown,
MD; grandchildren, Mar-
nie, Derek, Coby, Aleks
and Stefan; sister-in-law,
Carolyn Reeves of Prinev
ille; sister, Debra Bowar of
Woodbum; brother, Rich
ard Fitzsimmons of Mad
era, CA; and niece, Lindsey
Dunn of Portland.
In lieu of flowers, the
fam ily requests m em o
rial contributions be made
through IBEW Local #125
to the Oregon Bum Center.
Columbia Hills Memorial
Chapel handled cremation
arrangements.
a.m. till 2 p.m.; anyone in
terested in being a vendor,
contact Margaret Flaherty
at 541-676-5972.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem,
help is available and that help Is FREE of charge.
If Y O U have a family member who suffers from
gambling addiction. Y O U can also receive F R E E treat
ment even if the gambler is not receiving treatment.
If you are a resident of Morrow County and you wish
to taka advantage of the services above or desire more
information, Please call any of the following numbers
to set up a LO C A L appointment or just to talk:
Bobby Harris ® 541-676-9925 or 541-256-0175
Community Counseling Solutions (CCS) Q 541-676-9161
O R 1-677-695-4646 (1-688-MYLIMIT)
I