Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 5, 2022 -- THREE
Spiritually Speaking
Obituaries
Baptism: Marks the
beginning our life in
Christ
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph
Recent weeks of celebrations that be-
gan with Christmas end with the Solem-
nity of the Baptism of the Lord in River
Jordan, which might come as a surprise,
as we have just celebrated His birth and
today we celebrate the moment He began
His public life and ministry. This is part Fr. Thankachan
of celebrating the growing manifestation Joseph
of Jesus to the world. His birth and reve-
lation to the shepherds, the discovery of Him by the Magi,
His presentation in the temple, His baptism in the Jordan,
and His first miracle at the wedding feast at Cana are all
part of the revelation of Jesus to his own people and to the
entire world. With this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord,
we end the “Christmas season” and begin the “ordinary,”
regular, season of the year. This is the same way baptism
marks the end the state of sinfulness and the beginning
of a new life (2 nd Cor. 5:17). The word “baptism” comes
from the Greek word “baptize,” which means to immerse
or plunge into water to be raised up again into newness.
The feast of Baptism of the Lord invites us to plunge
ourselves into a life of glory with God. Isaiah 40: 1-5,
9-11 offers a poem Isaiah wrote hundreds of years before
Christ, describing the relationship between God and the
Messiah and the kind of work the Messiah would do to
save mankind. Isaiah comforts the Israelites who were
discouraged and disappointed about their spiritual life.
He invites them to rejoice in the Lord because their
struggle is over and their fight against the evil power is
completed. Now they are invited to hope for a victorious
life. Similarly, the sacrament of baptism evokes a vision
of new life, a life according to God’s plan.
In the Gospel of St. Luke (3: 15-16, 21-22), John
the Baptist sets the stage for the public manifestation of
Jesus on the banks of the River Jordan. John’s preaching
led the people to a change of heart, and as a sign of their
repentance, he was baptizing them. Jesus comes as one
among the many people to be baptized, surprising John:
“It is I who need baptism from you and yet you come to
me!” Why did Jesus come to John for Baptism? People
came to be baptized as a sign that they were sorry for their
sins. Jesus received baptism as a sign that He was sorry
for the sins of all mankind because of His decision to pay
for those sins with His obedience unto death on the cross.
Though Jesus was sinless, His baptism was necessary for
several reasons.
Jesus’s baptism was His moment of identification,
time for Him to identify Himself with the God-ward
movement, with those who stand for God and His king-
dom. Up to this time, no Jew ever wanted to submit to
baptism. The Jews considered themselves to be children
of Abraham and, by that fact, assured of salvation. We
need to notice the spirit with which Jesus approaches His
baptism. He prayed and prepared Himself for the recep-
tion of this sacrament. He is an inspiration for all of us in
how to prepare for the reception of various sacraments.
Jesus’s baptism was a moment of approval for Him.
Jesus was ready and willing to carry out the mission de-
signed for Him by His Father, and He receives approval:
“You are my son, the beloved, my favor rests on you.”
This voice from the heavens tells us who Jesus is and also
affirms for Jesus what He already knows that He is the
well-beloved Son of the Father. This leaves a question
to us: What do we need to do in order to be addressed as
His favored ones? God experiences should help us to live
new lives that we begin in baptism.
Baptism for Jesus was the moment of empowerment:
“the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, descended on him.”
In ancient times, kings and priests were anointed to show
that God was appointing them to carry out their work in
His name. Now Jesus was priest, prophet and king, the
High Priest, the Prophet and the King of Kings! As the
pouring of the oil on priests, prophets, and kings declared
these people to be appointed by God to be His messengers,
so the Father shows Jesus to be His messenger, not by
anointing with oil but by filling Him with the Holy Spirit.
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Kathryn Ann
Cutsforth Fullmer
Kathryn Ann Cutsforth love of horses. She was
Fullmer died December 30, on the Harney County Fair
2021, at Pioneer Memo- Court and participated on
rial Hospital. She was 64 the junior, high school and
college rodeo teams.
years old. Recita-
She graduated from
tion of the Rosary
Burns Union High
will be held at 10
School and then East-
a.m. Monday, Jan-
ern Oregon Univer-
uary 10, 2022, at
sity.
St. Patrick Catholic
She is survived
Church in Heppner
with a memorial fu- Kathryn Ann by her mother, Sharon
Lewis and stepfather,
neral mass to follow Cutsforth
Fullmer
Keith Lewis; sister,
at St. Patrick’s at 11
Kim Cutsforth; broth-
a.m.
Kathy was born at Pi- er, Kraig Cutsforth; nieces
oneer Memorial Hospi- and nephews, Sam Vaughan
tal in Heppner on March (Allison), Kate Hansen
25, 1957, to Sharon Lewis (Gus), Pat Vaughan, Mag-
(Bryant) and Kenneth Cuts- gie Armato, Joe Armato and
Kelsey Cutsforth.
forth.
She was preceded in
She married Ed Full-
mer on August 25, 1999, in death by her husband, her
Heppner. Kathy was very father, and her stepsister
active in her community, Teresa (Lewis) Vaughan.
Memorial contributions
volunteering at the Heppner
Day Care and the Heppner can be made to Heppner
Library. She was a mem- Day Care, PO Box 446,
ber of St. Patrick Catholic Heppner, OR 97836.
Sweeney Mortuary of
Church in Heppner where
she taught catechism for Heppner is in care of ar-
many years and also volun- rangements. The online
teered in many other ways. condolence book is avail-
Kathy loved visiting able at www.sweeneymor-
with people and knew no tuary.com
strangers. She had a great
Marcus Collier
Marcus Collier, 51,
beloved son to Edward
(Skip) and Raylene Collier
passed away at his home in
Bremerton, WA
on December 8,
2021, of sudden
heart failure. He
was born October
29, 1970, in San
Diego, CA.
Marcus, his Marcus
wife, Lisa and Collier
daughter, Annika
were former residents of
Ione, OR, and owned and
operated Colliers Market
from 2004-2009. Marcus
was affectionately called
“the store guy” by many
in the community. One
of Marcus’ favorite parts
of owning the store was
having the morning coffee
crowd that tried to solve
the world’s problems daily,
all while enjoying a bot-
tomless cup of coffee. The
days Marcus lived in Ione
and operated the store held
a special place in his heart.
Following Annika’s
completion of kindergar-
ten in 2009, the Colliers
returned to western Wash-
ington so she would grow
up closer to family. In
2017, Marcus and Lisa
began working together
again forming Collier Re-
alty Group, part of the RE/
MAX Exclusive family.
Lisa plans to continue the
successful business they
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built together, and Annika
will be joining her in the
family business as time
allows as she is earning her
bachelor’s degree.
Thankfully, Mar-
cus, Lisa and Annika re-
turned to Ione this past
year to attend Ione’s
class of 2021 gradua-
tion where he was able
to connect with many
friends.
Marcus loved
books, reading and was
constantly learning. He en-
joyed working on improve-
ments to their home and
property, helping Lisa with
her gardening and spending
quality time with Annika.
When time allowed, an
escape into the forest in the
RV was always a recharge
for him.
Marcus is survived by
his wife of 28 years, Lisa;
daughter, Annika, 18; moth-
er and father, Raylene and
Skip Collier; sister and
brother-in-law, Shannon
and Bob Kerr; and nephew
and wife, Thomas and Ra-
chael Kerr.
A celebration of life is
planned for early spring.
Correction
L a s t w e e k ’s s t o r y
“Wrestling team competes
at Pendleton tournament,”
inadvertently listed Conor
Brosnan, Cade Cunning-
ham and Nathan Ellsworth
as competitors at the tour-
nament and they were not.
The editor apologizes
for this error.
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Alyce Mason Rea
Alyce Mason Rea, 81,
Survivors include her
died Thursday, December husband, Daniel Eubanks;
23, 2021, at Kennewick,
daughters, Don-
WA. A funeral service
na Kaseberg and
will be held at 1 p.m.
Darcy Gabriel;
Friday, January 7, 2022,
grandchildren,
at the Ione Community
Wade Kaseberg,
Church with burial at
Hannah (Travis)
High View Cemetery
F e i g n e r, E v a n
Alyce Mason (Cass) Kaseberg,
in Ione.
She was born Feb- Rea
Walker Kaseberg
ruary 7, 1940, at Hep-
(fiancé Hailey
pner, the daughter of Dorr Keller), Tyler (Aileen) Ga-
and Alva McDuffee Mason. briel, Travis (Annie) Ga-
She was the fourth of five briel and Emma Gabriel;
children. Alyce was raised great grandchildren, Jase,
in Portland and Ione. She Kinsley and Maren Feigner,
attended school in Ione Royce and Ripp Gabriel;
where she graduated in a sister, Judy Mason and
1957. While living in Ione, brothers, John Mason and
she resided with the Lewis Jerry Mason.
and Dot Halvorsen family.
She was preceded in
In August of 1956, she death by her parents; sister,
married Richard L. Rea, Janet Lindstrom and son in
and the couple had two law, Greg Gabriel.
children, Donna and Darcy.
Memorial contributions
The couple later divorced. may be made to Ione Edu-
She resided in Califor- cation Foundation, PO Box
nia since 1969 and worked 61, Ione, OR 97843 or to
for Charles Schwab, Wells Alzheimer’s Association,
Fargo Bank, and the Federal 1650 NW Naito Parkway
Reserve, retiring in 2001. Suite 190, Portland, OR
On October 14, 2016, she 97209 or to American Can-
married Daniel Eubanks. cer Society, Oregon Divi-
She recently moved to Ken- sion Inc., 0330 SW Curry
newick, WA.
St., Portland, OR 97239.
Alyce enjoyed cooking,
Sweeney Mortuary of
attending theater and trav- Heppner is in care of ar-
el, which included trips to rangements. The online
Europe, China and around condolence book is avail-
the United States. She also able at www.sweeneymor-
very much enjoyed her time tuary.com.
with family.
Jamie Lynn (Dowe)
Payne
Jamie Lynn (Dowe)
Payne, Heppner, was born
in Portland on August 28,
1974, and passed away
on December 22, 2021, in
Shelton, WA.
Survivors include her
husband, Fred Payne; fa-
ther, Joseph Dowe and
brother Stacy Dowe, both
of Heppner; step-children,
Tiffany Lafesen, Crystal
Payne, Brittany Payne and
Shawn Payne, all of Van-
couver, WA; and grandchil-
dren Sierra and Jeremiah
Johnson.
A celebration of life
will be held in April.
Service Notices
Eddie M. Gunderson Jr. – A memorial graveside
service with military honors will be held for Eddie M.
Gunderson Jr. at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at
the Heppner Masonic Cemetery. He died December 17,
2021, at Heppner. Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner is in
care of arrangements.
Births
Send birth announcements to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net.
Declan Bennett
Paul High
A son, Declan
Bennett Paul High,
was born to Cody and
Nichole High, Hep-
pner, OR, at 9:41 p.m.
on January 30, 2021,
at Good Shepherd
Hospital in Hermis-
ton, OR. He weighed
7 lbs., 5 oz, and mea-
sured 19.5 inches long.
Declan joins siblings,
Keeley, 14, Emery, 6,
and Reiley, 3.
Grandparents are
David Gibbs of John Declan Bennett Paul High
Day, OR, Cindy Gibbs
of Mt. Vernon, OR, Lisa Daniels of Nampa, ID, and
George and Bob Nairns of Heppner, OR.