Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, November 10, 2021 -- THREE
2021 OSAA football state championships,
Caution – Be Prepared round one results
Spiritually Speaking
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph
During the course of a single week, we hear a lot of
words, but how many of them are worth remembering?
Every Sunday during the liturgical cel-
ebrations we hear the words of Christ,
words that were written down by the
people who knew him and were preserved
for us over the centuries by the Church.
Thus, Christ’s promise has come true;
“All things will pass, but my words will
remain.” How well do we listen to His Fr. Thankachan
words, and how hard do we try to practice Joseph
them in our lives? Today the readings
direct our attention to the end of time. We are promised
that if we are faithful and loyal to the commandments and
teaching of Christ, we shall not be destroyed. We are told
that the one great sacrifice for sins has been made and
we must cling to the Lord. God will gather His elect and
we must be ready.
This month we have commemorated the departed
souls of our families, as November, is dedicated to the
departed souls. Many people live in fear of the end of
the world, the end of time, the great gathering of people
by the Lord. The fear comes because there is always the
possibility that we may not be counted among those who
are chosen. “Then the King will say to those on his right
hand, ‘Come you whom my Father has blessed, take as
your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the
foundation of the world’” (Mt 25:34).
The Book of Daniel (12:1-3), describes a vision of
the prophet about the end of time. It introduces the belief
in a resurrection of the dead and the notion of retribution
after death. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the
earth shall awake; some shall live forever; others shall
be an everlasting horror and disgrace” (12:2). This is the
kind of statement that causes us a bit of fear. We hope
that we will be among those who shall live forever. If we
look at Scripture as a whole, this possibility of hell, of
being rejected, is always there. On the other hand, it is
never the great focus of Scripture. The focus is, rather,
to emphasize God’s everlasting love for us, God’s desire
that all be saved, God’s walking with us to lead us into
the kingdom of heaven. While we should always be aware
of our capacity to reject God and His ways, we should be
more aware of God’s love for us and should try to respond
to that love. God invites us to know His love, His saving
power, His delight in us.
The Letter to the Hebrews (10:11-14), depicts that
a high priest cannot make a complete alteration for our
sins. Neither you nor I can atone completely for our sins.
It takes Jesus, who is God and man, to make the one
sacrifice for sins that never needs to be repeated. Sin is
overwhelmed in Christ Jesus. Sin is only overcome when
we become one with Christ Jesus.
The Gospel of Saint Mark (13:24-32) deals with the
eschatological dimensions of the kingdom of God. It is
all about the final coming of the Lord and that no one
knows the day or the hour. How often we hear predictions
based on Scripture about when the end of the world will
happen; however, in the words of the Lord: “But of that
day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven,
nor the Son, but only the Father” (13:32). The challenge
is not to know when the end is coming but to live today
as if the end will be right now. There is no sense in pre-
tending with God. God knows our hearts and our minds,
even more than we do. We must simply get on with living
now as if this is our last moment—with no fear and no
upset, completely trusting in the love of the Lord.
I was reminded of a beautiful quote of Mother Theresa
of Calcutta, printed and kept in the sacristy of all the con-
vents of Missionaries of Charity: “Priests, offer this Holy
Eucharist as if your First Mass, your last Mass, and your
only Mass.” Reminds everyone about the shortness of life
and to be prepared to reach the destination. Observing
the commandments of God and Love of neighbor are the
easiest way to reach our destination. God doesn’t ask for
100 percent success, only our best efforts.
Philip Doran Mullins
Philip Doran Mullins,
66, of Heppner, died Thurs-
day, November 4, 2021, at
his home. A memorial ser-
vice will be held at 2 p.m.
on Saturday, November
13, 2021, at the Heppner
Christian Church.
He was born at Port-
land, OR on December 17,
1954, the son of Robert D.
and Francis M. Anderson
Mullins. Philip was raised
and attended school at On-
tario, OR where he enjoyed
playing outside, playing
pranks on his brothers and
friends and buying cows at
the local auction because
“he could.”
He graduated from high
school in 1973. Philip loved
playing the drums, and
By Blake Carter
As the calendar shifts
from October to Novem-
ber, and the weather turns
cold, local football teams’
season only heats up. The
2021 regular season fin-
ished up on Saturday, Oc-
tober 30, and with that
the brackets were quickly
released. Many local teams
saw their season extend an
extra week and had the op-
portunity to go battle some
of their classification’s best
teams. But how did these
teams fare?
Ione/Arlington finished
number three in their league
at 5-4 and earned their
way into the bracket as an
automatic qualifier. Ione/
Arlington earned an im-
pressive win over Dufur,
while losing to quality com-
petition such as Perrydale,
Enterprise, and Powder
Valley. Unfortunately, their
competition didn’t get any
easier. Ione/Arlington was
tasked with a road game at
the number three seeded St.
Paul Buckaroos, where they
saw their season come to an
end with a 44-8 defeat from
St. Paul.
Heppner entered the
postseason as the num-
ber one overall seed, and
nabbed five impressive
victories, as they fought
their way to victory. They
earned this seed by winning
their league championship
while holding wins over
the number five seed in
3A, Warrenton, and the
number two seed in 2A,
Kennedy. Heppner drew the
16 th seeded Regis Rams in
their first-round matchup.
Heppner advanced into the
quarterfinals with a 43-8
victory over Regis.
We s t o n M c E w e n
fought their way to the
number nine seed in 2A,
they sat at 7-1, with their
only loss to the top seeded
Heppner Mustangs. They
were sent all the way across
the state to the number eight
seeded Toledo Boomers.
The TigerScots came away
with a grueling victory,
20-14, and earned another
shot at Heppner in the quar-
terfinals.
Grant Union held the
tiebreaker over league op-
ponents Umatilla and Stan-
field, which gave them the
last automatic bid in special
district five. Finishing the
season at 3-4, they were
seeded number 14 and sent
to Lakeview to take on
the three seeded Honkers.
Grant Union couldn’t keep
up as Lakeview ran away
with a 59-6 victory over the
Prospectors.
La Grande saw their
season extended as they
earned the number six seed
in the 4A bracket. The Ti-
gers suffered only one loss
on the season to the three
seeded Estacada Rang-
ers. With a 6-1 record, La
Grande drew the eleven
seed Gladstone, where they
earned a 34-12 victory. The
Tigers will now get another
shot at the Estacada Rang-
ers in the second round.
The Pendleton, Gris-
wold and Nixyaawii co-op
found themselves at num-
ber six as a one loss team.
Their only defeat was to
the number one seeded
Wilsonville Wildcats. They
earned the right to host
their playoff game with the
visiting Dallas Dragons.
The Buckaroos lost a heart-
breaker 7-6.
Second round action
will take place November
12 th and 13 th . To see updated
brackets and scores, visit
osaa.org.
Obituaries
Beverly M. Wright
Marjorie Gorham
Beverly M. Wright, 90, until their three children
longtime Heppner resident, graduated from high school.
died Sunday, November Beverly lived at their home
7, 2021, at Pendleton. A in Heppner until 2019
graveside service will be when she moved to Wil-
held at 11 a.m., Sat-
low Creek Terrace
urday, November 13,
Assisted Living in
2021, at the Heppner
Heppner and then
Masonic Cemetery.
on to Sun Terrace in
She was born De-
Pendleton in 2020.
cember 8, 1930, in Beverly M.
She lived at McK-
Minneapolis, Minne- Wright
ay Creek Estate in
sota, to Ethel Marie
Pendleton until her
Simacek, Ethel mar-
death.
ried William Maness and
Survivors include sons,
they lived in St. Paul, Min- Larry Welte and his wife
nesota until Beverly was ten Stephanie, Dean Wright;
years old. They then moved daughter, Dianna Hoeft and
to Oregon, living in Port- her husband, Gerald; grand-
land, Hardman, Lena and children, Becca Jazmine,
Rhea Creek. She attended Angie Wright, AJ Wright,
school at Hardman and Jeremy Wright, Stepha-
Heppner. After high school nie Moody, Bryan Wright,
she moved to Pendleton to Grant Wright, Derek Hoeft,
live with her mother and Amy Osmin and 16 great
stepdad, Jack Perkins.
grandchildren.
Beverly worked for a
She was preceded in
time at the telephone com- death by her husband, Al-
pany before cleaning hous- bert Wright and a son, Da-
es to make a living. She met vid Wright.
and married the love of her
Memorial contributions
life, Albert Wright from may be made to Willow
Rhea Creek when he was Creek Terrace, 400 Frank
home after his discharge Gilliam Drive, Heppner,
from the Navy. The couple OR 97836 or to Pioneer
was married in Portland on Memorial Hospice, PO Box
September 19, 1953.
9, Heppner, OR 97836.
They started their mar-
Sweeney Mortuary of
ried life at Hardman, but Heppner is in care of ar-
also lived on Rhea Creek, rangements. The online
Lebanon, OR and Sweet condolence book is avail-
Home, OR before the ranch able at www.sweeneymor-
on Rhea Creek needed them tuary.com.
back. The lived at the ranch
Marjorie Gorham of attended Eastern Oregon
Heppner passed away Oc- College (EOC now EOU)
tober 31, 2021, at the age and earned her Master’s in
of 98 at Pioneer Memorial Education. Computers were
new at this time, and she
Hospital in Heppner.
Marjorie Eleanor Shea enjoyed working on those
“huge machines.”
was born October
She continued to use
3, 1923, in Wibaux,
computers, including
MT to James ‘Mike’
still using her cell
Shea and Marie Cas-
phone to call fami-
sidy Shea and grew
ly. After retirement,
up on their wheat
Marjorie and Roland
and cattle ranch.
moved to Salem, OR
She attended coun- Marjorie
to be close to family
try school outside Gorham
and spent their win-
of Wibaux and then
attended school in Wibaux ters in Apache Junction,
where her cousin Agnes AZ. Marjorie later moved
was the teacher. She lived to Heppner to be near her
in town with Agnes during daughter, Karen, and her
the winter when daily travel family.
Marjorie enjoyed play-
was too treacherous. She
then attended Sacred Heart ing golf and bridge, often
High School in Miles City, both on the same day. Later
in life she spent more time
MT graduating in 1941.
After graduating from playing bridge, sometimes
Great Falls College in Great every day of the week. She
Falls, MT, she taught high also truly enjoyed spending
school math in several time with her children and
schools in Montana. Her their families. She was an
first teaching job in Oregon active member of Catho-
was in Condon, OR. Later, lic parishes wherever she
while teaching in North lived.
Marjorie is survived by
Powder, OR, she met Ro-
land Gorham. They were her children, Jim (Kiera)
married November 3, 1951, Gorham of Middleton, DE
in Walla Walla, WA. They and Karen (Tom) Wolff of
settled in La Grande and Heppner; and many grand-
children and great-grand-
raised their family there.
Marjorie was an ac- children.
Marjorie was preceded
tive partner with Roland in
their State Farm Insurance in death by her husband,
business in La Grande. She Roland Gorham; her par-
ents, Mike and Marie Shea;
and her sisters Patricia ‘Ma-
rie’ Shea and Catherine
Menghini.
Funeral services will be
sentence with the Oregon
Department of Corrections November 12, 2021, at St.
and one year post-prison Patrick Catholic Church in
Heppner at 11 a.m. Rosary
supervisions.
-Jace Allan Hendren will be at 10:30 a.m. A
was convicted of burglary lunch will be provided fol-
in the second degree and lowing the services by St.
sentenced to 18 months Patrick Alter Society. If you
formal probation, 160 hours are not feeling well, please
of community service work, join us in spirit rather than
mental health evaluation in person.
Sweeney Mortuary of
and treatment, alcohol and
drug evaluation and treat- Heppner is in care of ar-
ment, no use of alcohol, rangements. The online
no possession of weapons condolence book is avail-
and trespassed from Irrigon able at www.sweeneymor-
tuary.com.
Shell gas station.
he played in the Ontario Rose and Kennedy. He
High School band as well loved and adored his many
as a few bands later in nieces and nephews. Philip
life. Philip joined
didn’t have friends…
the United States
only family.
Army in 1973 after
He was preceded
graduation. Collec-
in death by his par-
tively he received
ents, a brother Curt
36 years of military
Mullins, a sister and
credit at the time
brother-in-law Kathy
of his retirement in Philip Doran and Butch Boss.
Mullins
2007.
Contributions
Philip enjoyed
may be made to the
camping and spending time Heppner Christian Church,
with his family.
PO Box 158, Heppner, OR
Survivors include his 97836.
wife, Carolyn of 37 years; a
Sweeney Mortuary of
brother, Patrick (Julianne); Heppner is in care of ar-
daughter, Vanessa (Ben); rangements. The online
sons, Kelly (Jolene) and condolence book is avail-
Cory (Brianna); grand- able at www.sweeneymor-
children, Peace Ariel, Dal- tuary.com.
las, Logan, Lawson, Xanni
DA’s Report
Morrow County Dis-
trict Attorney Justin Nelson
has released the following
report:
-Vincente Eljarde Leon
Jr. was convicted of robbery
in the third degree and sen-
tenced to 12 months prison
with the Oregon Depart-
ment of Corrections and
one year post-prison super-
visions. He was also con-
victed of unauthorized use
of a vehicle and sentenced
to 18 months prison with
the Oregon Department of
Corrections and one year
post-prison supervisions.
-Jeremy James Combes
was convicted of unautho-
rized use of a vehicle with
a sentence of 18 months
prison sentence with the
Oregon Department of
Corrections and one year
post-prison supervisions.
He was convicted of fleeing
or attempting to elude a
police officer and received
a discharge sentence. Also,
he was convicted of bur-
glary in the second degree
with an 18 month prison
Service Notices
Laurie Harrison Bowman – Services for Laurie
Harrison Bowman will be held November 13 at 2:30 p.m.
at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 223 S Hallet St., Medical
Lake, WA.
Lonnie W. Rill – Lonnie W. Rill, 42, of Heppner, died
Monday, October 4, 2021, at his home. A celebration of
life will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, November 14,
2021, at the Gilliam Bisbee Building. Memorial contri-
butions may be made to Pioneer Memorial Home Health
and Hospice, PO Box 9, Heppner, OR 97836.
Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner is in care of arrange-
ments.
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