RECORDS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2019
OBITUARIES
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A5
DEATH NOTICES
Dixie L. Banker
Leon Francis Powell
Hermiston
Hermiston
Hermiston
March 17, 1944 — December 14, 2019
July 22, 1931 — December 22, 2019
March 1, 1923 — Dec. 19, 2019
Dixie L. Banker of Herm- Banker and wife Laurie Les-
iston, Oregon, was born on ter-Banker, Asotin, Wash.,
March 17, 1944, in Herm- Jon Banker and wife Teresa,
iston, Oregon, to parents Umatilla, Ore., and Ryan
Bruce and Mary Burnham Banker and wife Jen, Chan-
Giddens. She died
dler, Ariz.; daugh-
on December 14,
ter Patricia Simon
2019, in Hermis-
and
husband
ton, Oregon, at the
Shawn,
West
age of 75 years.
Richland, Wash.;
Dixie
was
grandchildren
raised and attended
Tyson, Tiffi nie,
school in Herm-
Kristopher, Tay-
iston,
Oregon.
lor, Jessica, Jen-
She was united in
nifer and Ashley;
Banker
marriage to Carl
and
numerous
Banker in March
great-grandchil-
of 1961 in Lewiston, Idaho. dren, nieces and nephews.
They moved to Provo, Utah,
Dixie was preceded in
in 1962 and later to Eugene, death by her parents.
Oregon, before moving to
A funeral service was
Portland in 1966.
held on Friday, December
They returned to Hermis- 20, 2019, at 1 p.m. at the
ton, Oregon, in 1980 where Church of Jesus Christ of
they operated Burnham’s Latter-day Saints, 1035 S..E
Department Store for several Ninth St., Hermiston, Ore-
years. Dixie later worked in gon. Burial followed at the
Dr. Thomas Farney’s offi ce Hermiston Cemetery.
for several years.
Those who wish may
She enjoyed horseback make contributions in Dix-
riding in her younger years, ie’s memory to Shriners
traveling, genealogy, cook- Hospital at www.shriner-
ing and time with her fam- shospitalsforchildren.org.
ily. Dixie was a member of
Please share memo-
the Church of Jesus Christ of ries of Dixie with her fam-
Latter-day Saints.
ily at burnsmortuaryhermis-
She is survived by her ton.com. Arrangements by
husband
Carl
Banker, Burns Mortuary of Hermis-
Hermiston, Ore.; sons Greg ton, Oregon.
Leon Francis Powell of
Leon married Eve-
Hermiston was born July lyn Jane Horner on July
22, 1931, in Grand Island, 29, 1950, in North Long
Nebraska, the son of Ray- Branch, New Jersey.
mond and Vera (Coe) Pow-
He is survived by his
ell. He passed
wife of 69 years,
away in Hermis-
Evelyn; daughters
ton on December
Barbara Powell
22, 2019, at the
and Patricia Pow-
age of 88.
ell Chard; sons
Leon
lived
Robert
Powell
in Grand Island,
and Donald Pow-
Neb.,
through-
ell; seven grand-
out his childhood
children;
many
where he attended
great-grand-
school and grad-
children;
and
Powell
uated from high
two great-great-
school. After high
grandchildren.
school, he served
He was pre-
in the U.S. Air
ceded in death by
Force for over
his parents and a
three years.
brother, Marlyn
After his mili-
Powell.
tary service he moved to Los
Viewing will be held
Angeles, Calif., where he from 3-6 p.m. on Friday,
began working for Pacifi c December 27, 2019, at
Bell Telephone as an infor- Burns Mortuary, 685 W.
mation systems special- Hermiston Ave., Hermis-
ist. In 1970, he transferred ton, Ore. A funeral service
to Hermiston, Ore., where will be held at 1 p.m. Sat-
he continued his work and urday, December 28, 2019,
has resided since. He retired at Burns Mortuary chapel.
from AT&T after 29 years Burial will follow in Herm-
of employment in 1984. He iston Cemetery.
then worked for the Herm-
Family suggest memo-
iston School District for an rial contributions in Leon’s
additional nine years.
memory be made to the
Leon enjoyed fi shing, Wounded Warrior Project.
metal detecting, camping
To leave an online condo-
and RVing. He was a mem- lence for the family please
ber of the Good Sam RV go to www.burnsmortuary-
Club and the Eagles Lodge. hermiston.com.
Charlotte L. Dack, 96, of Hermiston, died Thursday,
Dec. 19, 2019, in Hermiston. She was born March 1,
1923, in Hereford, South Dakota. Arrangements by Burns
Mortuary of Hermiston.
COURTS
Suits Filed
PENDLETON — The follow-
ing suits have been fi led
in Umatilla County courts
(interest, court costs and
fees not listed):
•Portfolio Recovery Associates
LLC vs. Russel G. Weber of
Hermiston: seeks $8,911.79.
•Cavalry SPV I LLC vs. Bousay
Khathavong: seeks $1,152.34.
•Jeff erson Capital Systems
LLC vs. Pedro Valdez: seeks
$843.09.
•West Extension Irrigation
District vs. Peter Hotrum of
Irrigon, Mann Mortgage LLC
dba Direct Home Loan Center,
Carrington Mortgage Services
LLC, Umatilla County and all
unknown occupants: seeks
$1,641.08.
•Bank of America N.A. vs. Mi-
Charlotte L. Dack
Martha Jane ‘Marty’ Rock
Irrigon
Oct. 10, 1934 — Dec. 10, 2019
Martha Jane “Marty” Rock, 85, of Irrigon, died Tues-
day, Dec. 10, 2019, in Richland, Washington. She was
born Oct. 10, 1934. A funeral service was held Saturday,
Dec. 21 at 10 a.m. at Burns Mortuary chapel in Herm-
iston. Burial followed at the Desert Lawn Memorial
Cemetery in Irrigon. Arrangements by Burns Mortuary
of Hermiston. Share memories with the family at www.
burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
George Schuster
Hermiston
March 1, 1938 — Dec. 16, 2019
George Schuster, 81, of Hermiston, died Monday,
Dec. 16, 2019, at his home. He was born March 1, 1938,
in Sendorf, Romania. At his request, no services will be
held. Arrangements by Burns Mortuary of Hermiston.
Share memories with the family at www.burnsmortuary-
hermiston.com.
Shirley Ann Wells
Hermiston
Nov. 28 1930 — Dec. 22, 2019
Shirley Ann Wells, 89, of Hermiston, died Sunday,
Dec. 22, 2019, in Hermiston. She was born Nov. 28,
1930, in St. Louis, Missouri. Arrangements are pending
with Burns Mortuary of Hermiston. Share memories with
the family at wwwburnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
BIRTHS
chael Low of Hermiston: seeks
$7,081.38.
•Kenneth Reid Withers of
Irrigon vs. Esteban and Cynthia
Rodarte of Umatilla: seeks
$50,764.09.
•Credits Inc. vs. Alma Delia
Torres Galarza of Hermiston:
seeks $1,850.05.
•Credits Inc. vs. Irma R. Iniguez
Galvez of Stanfi eld: seeks
$1,781.38.
•Credits Inc. vs. Mao San (Gett-
mann) of Hermiston: seeks
$3,453.90.
•Credits Inc. vs. Amy Gomez of
Hermiston: seeks $1,957.71.
•Credits Inc. vs. Daisy Palomino
of Hermiston: seeks $885.70.
•Credits Inc. vs. Michael Reese
of Hermiston: seeks $1,583.28.
•Credits Inc. vs. Lily Ringe (nka
Gilstrap) of Hermiston: seeks
$1,452.91.
•Credits Inc. vs. Gretchan and
James Varady of Hermiston:
seeks $2,630.40.
•Bonneville Billing & Collec-
tions Inc. vs. Colton McKenney
of Hermiston: seeks $208.13.
Judgments
PENDLETON — The follow-
ing judgments have been
rendered in Umatilla County
courts (interest, court costs
and fees not listed):
•Credits Inc. vs. Carlos Mendo-
za of Hermiston: judgment for
$6,298.48.
Divorces
PENDLETON — Divorce
decrees were signed in Uma-
tilla County Courts for:
Crystal LeAnne Curtis of
Hermiston and Timothy Patrick
Curtis Jr. of Irrigon.
Marriages
PENDLETON — Marriage li-
censes have been registered
in Umatilla County for:
Douglas Milton Minton, 51,
and Ann Marie Richards, 45,
both of Hermiston.
Josie Rhea Erickson, 23, of Pilot
Rock, and Rhyce Cole Pruit, 24,
of Irrigon.
Cesar David Huizar de los
Santos, 30, and Alejandrina
Camacho Garcia, 29, both of
Stanfi eld.
Sarah Ann Staff ord-Richards,
32, and Andrew Mitchell Prof-
itt, 30, both of Boardman.
Nabor Murguia Mejia, 43, and
Maria de Jesus Ortega Davalos,
43, both of Irrigon.
Monte W. Johnson, 41, and
Stacie Marie Brasher, 36, both
of Irrigon.
Armando Contreras Leal, 22, of
Hermiston, and Yakima Guz-
man Espinoza, 20, of Stanfi eld.
Lindsey Mae Cabral, 24, and
Michael LaFay Blais Jr., 25, both
of Hermiston.
Umatilla County residents get into the holiday spirit
By JESSICA POLLARD
STAFF WRITER
It was only natural that Ron Bunch
would spice up his home with a cou-
ple knick-knacks here and there during
Christmas. After all, his mother always
decorated during the holiday season.
“And then it kind of exploded,” he
said.
The outside of the home Ron shares
with his wife, Linda, is adorned with
a 24-hour light display. It glows more
brightly than the displays of the other
homes in the cul-de-sac on West Sand-
piper Avenue. But the real magic is
inside the home.
“My friend tells me it looks like
Christmas puked in our house,” Ron
jokes.
The common area of the home is
stocked, and it takes three days total for
Ron to get the decorations unpacked.
There are 32 Christmas stockings
hung throughout the home, four arti-
fi cial Christmas trees, one of which is
fi ber optic, another which is adorned
only in Oregon State University orna-
ments, and more than 30, 18-gallon
totes of decor to boot.
There’s a stocking that Ron’s mom
knitted when he was just a baby. A fl eet
of reindeer welded out of horseshoes.
And atop an entryway shelf sits an
unsettling-looking elf with unseemly
long legs.
“When we fi nd something with a lot
of character, we get it,” Ron said. “If
you can fi nd it at Walmart, we won’t
have a lot of it here.”
They said operating their out-
door display has become less costly
since they purchased LED lights. The
pair, two former postmasters with the
U.S. Postal Service, said that having
a Christmas display from the end of
November till New Year’s costs just $6
extra a month on their utility bill.
“It’s negligible,” Linda said.
Ron and Linda are one of a few
locals who take holiday decorating to
the next level, much to the delight of
passersby and neighbors.
Ron West in Umatilla, for instance,
Staff photo by Ben Lonergan
The Bunch house near Desert View Elementary School features a 14-foot illuminated
reindeer that towers over the yard, as well as a variety of lighted orbs. Despite the
outdoor display, the real magic of the Bunch House lies in the Christmas decorations
that adorn every inch of the interior of the house.
has been honing his handcrafted dis-
play for the last two decades. Glowing
10,000 lights strong, the display is vis-
ible from Highway 395.
There’s a sign attached to the chim-
ney of his home, which reads “SANTA
HERE.”
“That’s so he knows where to go,”
West said.
West is the maintenance director at
the Umatilla County School District.
He starts setting up his Brownell Bou-
levard Christmas display in September,
and everything — from a towering tree
made of lights to the moving Snoopy
display — is handmade.
“Each year, I add something more,”
he said. “Next year, it’ll be the Island
of Misfi t Toys from ‘Rudolph.’”
West, who grew up in Hermiston,
started decorating his home around
20 years ago when his kids were little.
When his wife passed away, he consid-
ered stopping, but continued the tradi-
tion on each year with his kids.
“I probably wouldn’t do it at this
age,” he said. “But the whole neigh-
borhood loves it.”
West joked that his decorations take
him “too long” to make. Karen and
Mike Montegna on West Utah Avenue
in Irrigon could say the same. Their
vast front yard is jam-packed with all
sorts of moving and stationary displays.
“Christmas is our favorite time of
year,” Karen said. “We’ve always had a
little bit of something, and it just grew.”
The pair has lived in Irrigon for 26
years, and retired from life in the U.S.
Navy.
In the front part of the yard sits a
rotating ferris wheel with hand-painted
characters that took three years to
make, and a group of woodcut elves
packing gifts on Santa’s sleigh. Santa
himself is stuck on the chimney, his
legs poking out.
It was only very recently that the
pair opted to stuff the back portion of
their yard with store-bought infl atable
decorations. It wasn’t an easy decision.
“I am anti-blowup,” Karen said.
“But they’re the only things that are
visible back there.”
Good Shepherd Medical Center, Hermiston
DEC. 13, 2019
MENDOZA — Crystal S. Gomez and Teodoro Parra
Mendoza of Umatilla: a girl, Ariela Rosa-Linda Mendoza.
ROGERS — Justyce Cox and Kyle Strong/Rogers of
Boardman: a girl, Alyson Louise Rogers.
DEC. 14, 2019
NISBET — Makayla L. Nisbet and Matthew W. Nis-
bet of Hermiston: a boy, James Roy Nisbet.
DEC. 16, 2019
NUÑO — Selina Abris-Mendoza and Victor Nuño
Estrada of Hermiston: a girl, Viviana Nuño.
St. Anthony Hospital, Pendleton
DEC. 17, 2019
FRANCO — Olivia D. Pedro and Enrique Franco
Salas of Hermiston: a girl, Lively Alicia Franco.
POLICE LOG
Tuesday, December 17
1:21 p.m.— Hermiston police
issued a citation to a minor
in possession of alcohol or
tobacco.
11:56 p.m.— A domestic
disturbance occurred on
Southwest Fourth Street.
Hermiston police issued a
warning.
Wednesday, December 18
12:10 a.m.— A burglary was
reported on Southwest 13th
Place.
4:59 a.m.— On Highway
395, a woman was yelling at
herself.
8:06 a.m.— A domestic
disturbance was reported on
West Madrona Avenue.
4:58 p.m.— A man reported
his nephew took off with
his car after an argument
at Good Shepherd Medical
Center.
5:07 p.m.— A burglary was
reported on Northwest 11th
Street.
Thursday, December 19
1:00 p.m.— A domestic
disturbance was reported on
West Highland Avenue.
5:43 p.m.— A burglary was
reported on West Ridgeway
Avenue.
NW
Shade Co
LLC
8:31 p.m.— On Northwest
Third Avenue, a domestic
disturbance was reported.
Friday, December 20
7:27 a.m.— Unauthorized use
of a motor vehicle occurred
on West Elm Avenue.
8:54 a.m.— A fi ght occurred
on Southwest Seventh Street.
3:19 p.m.— On West Linda
Avenue, a woman reported
being followed by a man in a
parking lot.
5:08 p.m.— A domestic
disturbance was reported on
East Jennie Avenue.
5:18 p.m.— On North First
Street, a possible drunk driver
left the area before police
could locate them.
Saturday, December 21
2:32 a.m.— A domestic
disturbance was reported on
West Sunland Avenue.
2:44 a.m.— On North First
Street, a drunk driver was
reported.
12:19 p.m.— A domestic
disturbance was reported on
South Highway 395.
Sunday, December 22
9:32 a.m.— Someone’s pick-
up truck was egged Saturday
night on Southwest River Hill
Drive.
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