TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 15, 2021
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Obituaries
Russell J. “Rusty” Estes
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
U.S.P.S. 240-420
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
SEARCH OLD COPIES OF THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES ON-LINE:
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/
Published weekly by Sykes Publishing and entered as periodical matter at the Post
Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Periodical postage paid
at Heppner, Oregon. Office at 188 W. Willow Street. Telephone (541) 676-9228. Fax
(541) 676-9211. E-mail: editor@rapidserve.net or david@rapidserve.net. Web site:
www.heppner.net. Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times,
P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $31 in Morrow County; $25
senior rate (in Morrow County only; 65 years or older); $37 elsewhere; $31 student
subscriptions.
David Sykes ..............................................................................................Publisher
Bobbi Gordon................................................................................................ Editor
Giselle Moses.........................................................................................Advertising
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 $5.25 per
column inch. Cost for classified ad is 50¢ per word. Cost for Card of Thanks is $10 up to
100 words. Cost for a classified display ad is $6.05 per column inch.
For Public/Legal Notices: public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Dates for publi-
cation must be specified. Affidavits must be requested at the time of submission. Affidavits
require three weeks to process after last date of publication (a sooner return date must be
specified if required).
For Obituaries: Obituaries are published in the Heppner GT 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 certain way must purchase advertising space
for the obituary.
For Letters to the Editor: Letters to the Editor MUST be signed by the author. The Heppner
GT will not publish unsigned letters. All letters MUST include the author’s address and phone
number for use by the GT office. The GT reserves the right to edit letters. The GT is not
responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will
be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10.
Russell J. Estes (Rusty) for Hutches’ Printing and
died at the age of 63 at his learned to be a master
home in Heppner, OR on printer. He subsequently
December 9, 2021.
worked for Heppner
He was born to Sar-
Gazette-Times and
ah Jane Sannar and
American Printing
James Franklin Estes
before being hired
on August 12, 1958,
by Morrow County
in Enterprise, OR.
Health District in
He was the first born
maintenance and
of five children, “the Russell J.
as an ambulance
big brother.” Rusty Estes
driver. He worked
was raised in Hep-
in maintenance for
pner, attending elementary several years before taking
school and graduating from his dream job of emergency
Heppner High school.
services coordinator for the
He became a junior health district.
fireman as a freshman in
Rusty received his First
high school, which began Responders Certification
his lifelong service to the and Ambulance Driving
Heppner Volunteer Fire Trainer Certificate in 1987,
Service of which he retired volunteering for the South
as chief in 2019.
Morrow County EMT As-
Rusty studied mechan- sociation. He continued
ics at Mt. Hood Community on to receive his Emergen-
College. Upon returning cy Medical Technician 1
home, he went to work (EMT) license in 1989.
Good News Only
By Doris Brosnan
We still have another
day for taking canned-food
goods to Wheatland Insur-
ance, to then be taken to the
Neighborhood Center for
distribution.
One good feature of our
early-dark afternoons/eve-
nings: A great time to take
a drive around town to view
the holiday decorations on
the homes. (And still have
time for at least one more
Hallmark Christmas movie
before bedtime.)
And the drive from
Lexington to Heppner of-
fers a welcomed view: snow
in the mountains. Surely,
more to come.
Sunday’s scavengers’
hunt proved an enjoyable
and meaningful activity for
the many participants who
were searching for “the true
meaning of Christmas” as
they visited five churches
that contributed to the Mor-
row County Hospice-spon-
sored event. A ten-minute
activity awaited the players
at each of the churches: St.
Patrick Catholic, Heppner
Christian, Hopeful Saints,
Seventh-Day Adventist and
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints. Enacting
the nativity was one such
activity, and Muki the dog
is said to have been a great
hit with his camel’s hump.
Yesterday, the Ione
Community Church held
its monthly luncheon for se-
nior citizens. Approximate-
ly 40 to 50 attendees enjoy
the delicious meals created
by Linda Halverson. The
event oftentimes includes
speakers, but yesterday’s
gathering was simply one
for enjoying the season’s
music, visiting and the great
food. On Mondays at the
church, several people get
together at 1:30 to play
Mexican train dominoes.
Last Thursday, Nancy
Anderson hosted the Ione
Topic Club in her home
decked out for Christmas.
The members took this op-
portunity to present Susan
Crum an arrangement of
flowers in appreciation of
her years of work on the
school’s November book
fair.
Such good news com-
ing all the way from Bruce
Moyer (HHS Class of ‘62)
in Montana, “I have been
working on the Cunning-
ham family history for the
past several years. Recently,
I came across the question
of when the Cunninghams
left their homestead on Lit-
tle Butter Creek and bought
the house on 175 Quaid St.
in Heppner, where my sister
and I were raised by my
grandparents, William and
Katie Cunningham. I called
the county clerk’s office to
inquire about property re-
cords, without much hope
that I would find records
from the 1920’s. I was con-
nected to Mike Gorman in
the assessor’s office, who
said he would research the
records. I expected days, if
not weeks, to pass before
I would hear back, which
I have experienced with
other agencies in doing
research. The next day, I
received a call from Mike,
who said he had some re-
cords. He read them over
the phone, and they were
exactly what I was looking
for and confirmed that 175
Quaid St. was purchased in
1929 and sold in 1973 when
Cunninghams both died.
He referred me to Kandy
Boyd in the clerk’s office
to get copies. Again, I was
ready for a delay before
receiving the records. They
were mailed out the same
day as my request reached
Kandy’s desk. I am very
thankful for their time and
quick effort in fulfilling my
request. Thank you, Mike
and Kandy for your work.”
One source of informa-
tion reports that about 43
facial muscles are required
to make a smile. What a
great way to exercise our
faces. Contribute to our
exercise regimen by send-
ing your good-news tidbits
before Monday afternoon
to dbrosnan123@gmail.
com or call 541-676-5382
or 541-223-1490.
Here’s hoping that
some good news comes to
everyone reading this.
Wheat growers to
host annual meeting
The wheat growers of
both Morrow and Gilliam
counties, along with the
Morrow County Livestock
Growers are hosting a joint
annual meeting on Wednes-
day, January 5, 2022, from
7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the
Gilliam-Bisbee building
in Heppner. Topics include
industry news on animal
health, crop production in
our region, federal program
requirements and saluta-
tions from the state leaders
of the Oregon Wheat Grow-
ers League and Oregon
Cattleman’s Association.
Breakfast will be host-
ed by Breaking Grounds
and lunch by Gateway Café.
For those wishing to par-
ticipate via ZOOM, please
email blownawayranch@
gmail.com. More infor-
mation can be found at the
Morrow County Extension
website at https://extension.
oregonstate.edu/morrow or
by calling, 541-676-9642.
YOUR AD
COULD
BE
HERE!
Call
541-676-9228
Or Email
graphics@rapidserve.net
We also offer
The Heppner Gazette-Times wants to
share the holiday spirit!
Please send us photos of Christmas
lights and decorations.
We want to share the wondrous beauty
of the season with our readers and
spread some Christmas cheer.
design and
printing services
With permission from
Cyde’s two sons, Chad
and Eric, Rusty married
Cyde Allstott Skroch on
November 19, 1988, in
Heppner and they became a
family. Rusty was a 40-year
member of Heppner Lions
Club, receiving the District
Governor’s Award in 2006.
He was also a member of
Heppner Elks Lodge #358,
I.O.O.F Lodge #66 in Hep-
pner, Willow Creek Coun-
try Club and District 9 Fire
Chiefs Association, serving
his community through
these organizations.
In the early 1980’s
Rusty was in a 4-wheel
Jeep club and participated
in competitions, adding to
his love of speed. Lights
and sirens were his pas-
sion, with safety first. Rusty
loved his occasional trips
to the casino for a night
of gambling and was well
known for bantering while
playing cards with friends
and family.
Rusty is survived by
his wife Cyde; stepson,
Chad Skroch, wife Sarah
Lynn and their sons Cooper
and Devin; stepson, Eric
Skroch, wife Sarah Lee and
their sons EJ and Skye and
daughter Elli. He is also
survived by his siblings,
Rita Bergstrom and her
husband Hal, Buck Estes,
Ginny (George) Nairns and
her husband Bob, Robin
Traeger and her husband
Rick; father, James F. Es-
tes; nieces and nephews,
Amy, Jeremy, Adam, Kiel,
Blake, Emily, Krystal, Aar-
on, Chelsey and Russell
and many great nieces and
nephews.
A celebration of life for
Rusty will be held January
15 at 11 a.m. at the Heppner
fire hall with a dinner to
follow at the Heppner Elks
Lodge. Rusty believed in
the safety of mask wearing
to protect those we love.
Memorial contributions
may be made to Heppner
Fire Department, PO Box
743, Heppner, OR 97836
or South Morrow County
EMT Association, PO Box
9, Heppner, OR 97836.
Sweeney Mortuary of
Heppner is in care of ar-
rangements. The online
condolence book is avail-
able at www.sweeneymor-
tuary.com.
John Deane Graves
John Deane Graves, farming and a long haul
85, of Lewiston, ID, died truck driver.
He is survived by his
November 20, 2021, at St
Joseph Hospital in Lewis- sons and daughters-in-law,
ton. Deane was born to John Eric and Leslie, Mike and
Vi c k i ; d a u g h t e r,
and Dorris Graves
Candy and Rob Niel-
on May 5, 1936. He
son, Lewiston, ID
attended Heppner
and grandsons Mi-
elementary and high
chael Deane Graves
schools. He joined
II and Mackenzie
the US Army and
served his country, Deane Graves Michael Fettsch.
His siblings are Jo
while stationed at
Fort Lewis in Washington. Ann and Howard Pettyjohn
In August 1954, Deane (deceased), Betty Carlson
married Pat Davis. Their (Louis, deceased), Reita
children were Eric (Leslie) Hill (Walt) and many nieces
of Aloha, OR and Mike and nephews.
There is no funeral ser-
(Vicki) Graves of Portland.
Deane and Pat divorced vice planned. A graveside
when the boys were young. service will be held at a
Deane had various jobs, later date.
including the US Army,
Alumni basketball
tourney to be held
The 10 th Annual Hep-
pner High School Alumni
Basketball games will be
held on Thursday, Decem-
ber 23 and signups are now
open. The cost is $25 and
includes a t-shirt.
The women’s game
will start at 6 p.m. with
the men’s game to follow.
The games are open to
any Heppner High School
alumni and their spouses/
significant others. They typ-
ically play two, 20 minute
halves with a running clock.
Sometimes additional time
is added if there is a large
turnout. Teams are split
depending on numbers and
age of participants.
The admission fee for
spectators is $2. This is a
fundraiser for the men’s
basketball program. Please
encourage former team-
mates and friends to play
and attend. For more infor-
mation call the high school
541-676-9138.
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
Heppner Gazette-Times
Sykes Printing
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
20% off Montana Silversmith Jewelry
Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed
Heppner - 242 W Linden Way - 541-676-9422
Free Throw Shooting Contest
Please send your photos to
editor@rapidserve.net
Include the city where the photo was taken.
When: Sunday, December 19, 2021
Where: HES Gym
Time: 1:00 pm
Who: Girls and Boys Ages 8-13 (as of April 1, 2022) from Heppner, Ione
or Lexington – parents do NOT need to be members.
Cost: FREE, sponsored by the Heppner Elks Lodge
Girls and Boys compete separately in 3 age groups; 8-9 year olds, 10-11 year olds and 12-13
year olds. Each competitor will shoot 10 free throws than rest and shoot 15 more for a total of
25 – 8-9 year olds will shoot closer to the basket and 10-13 year olds will shoot from the
standard free throw line. Winners from each age group will advance to the District Hoop
Shoot in Hermiston on January 9.
Questions? Contact Corey Sweeney at 541-256-0355