Obituaries for the day of April 8, 2009

Johnson, Burns, Gaertner, Goebel, Haskett, Higgason, Weimer

Corinne “Alayne” Burns, 71, of Summerville, died April 3 at home. A memorial potluck at the Summerville Odd Fellows Lodge will run from 2 to 4 p.m. April 19. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.

She was born July 2, 1937, to Albert Henry and Corinne Elizabeth (Taylor) Becker in Malta, Mont. She married Larry Burns, who was an active duty U.S. Marine, on March 17, 1956, in Yuma, Ariz. They later made their home in Summerville.

Alayne worked as a housekeeper for many families and businesses for 35 years until retiring. She collected all kinds of skunk items and enjoyed fishing and traveling. She was very much a people person and enjoyed the people she worked for.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Larry A. Burns of Summerville; her four children, Cheryl Colwell, Karen and her husband, Mike Brooks, Jerry Burns and Terry Burns; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her granddaughter, Ashley Brooks.

Memorial contributions may be made to any foundation in care of Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St., La  Grande.

Jeffery Alan Gaertner, 38, of Jackson, Wyo., and formerly of Enterprise, died March 31 in a motor vehicle accident. Memorial services were held April 5 at Joseph High School. Bollman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

A youth pastor and former coach, his nicknames included Coach G and “G.”

Jeff was born Sept. 30, 1970, in La Grande and grew up playing sports and loving the outdoors. He graduated from

La Grande High School, served briefly in the Army and was medically discharged, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon University.

In 1991, Jeff’s life changed as he realized the need for Jesus as his Savior and guide. Those who knew him say he began to live in the midst of God’s purpose for his life. They say Jeff saw the importance of sharing God’s love and the grace he had been given and was called to youth ministry.

In December 1995, Jeff married Heidi Miller of Enterprise and their ministry took them to First Christian Church in Milton-Freewater, First Baptist Church in Enterprise and most recently the First “B” Church of Jackson in Wyoming.

Jeff looked for opportunities to serve and minister to youth. He enjoyed 15 years of coaching high school football in La Grande, Milton-Freewater, Wallowa and Enterprise. He also coached junior high wrestling and girls softball. He helped create the Wallowa County Summer Adventure Program where he ultimately served as a counselor and manager. His love for the outdoors expanded to include youth camping and backpacking trips. Destinations of youth mission trips included Mexico, New York and Alaska.

Bible scripture was Jeff’s guide. He shared his love for Christ and desired for all to know and glorify his Lord and Savior, and live out God’s calling on our lives as stated in Ephesians 4:1 “ ... I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” A line from “The Gladiator’’ became his motto: “What we do in life, echoes in eternity.”

Jeff is survived by his wife, Heidi; daughter, Landrey; son, Dawson; parents, Terry and Cristy (Wilder) Gaertner of La Grande; brothers, Aaron and Cameron; in-laws, Rod and Sandy Miller; and brothers-in-law, Jesse and Cory Miller, all of Enterprise.

The Jeff Gaertner Memorial Fund has been set up at Community Bank to help with medical costs for the youths injured in the auto accident and to fund youth ministry in Wallowa County.

Leo R. Goebel, 77, died March 28, at his home near Joseph. Leo was buried March 29 on the family property on Bear Creek near Wallowa after a private memorial service.

He was born June 14, 1931, at the family home on Bear Creek, near Wallowa, and attended grade school and high school in Wallowa. Leo served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War where he was stationed at Misawa Air Base in Japan. He then attended the University of Oregon where he met and married Marilyn Purkey of Coquille in 1957. He taught high school math and science in Wallowa for one year before returning to the U of O to obtain a master’s degree in geology. The family then moved to Joseph, where Leo taught high school math, science and forestry for 15 years, while also logging in his spare time. In 1979 he retired from teaching and started logging full-time.

Leo was well-known for his dedication to forestry. He and his business partner, Bob Jackson, spent more than three decades teaching sustainable forest management on their Alder Slope tree farm near Enterprise. Leo was active in the Wallowa County Small Woodlands Association. He and Bob Jackson were named “Oregon Tree Farmers of the Year” in 1984 and again in 1991. In 1992, he and Bob were named “Western Regional Outstanding Tree Farmers” by the American Forest Council. Leo and Bob, along with other Wallowa County residents, appeared in a recent OPB documentary “The Oregon Story: Rethinking Our Forests.” Leo and Bob were privileged to host teachers and students from all over the U.S. and several foreign countries at the tree farm. Many of these tours were coordinated by Wallowa Resources.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Goebel, of Joseph; and his five children and their families: Sally Goebel of Wallowa, Patti Goebel of Everett, Wash., Mary (Goebel) and her husband, Mark Adams, of Rogue River, Ed and his wife, Denise Goebel, of Heppner and Katie (Goebel) and Natalie Summerlin of Corvallis; brothers, Harold and Jack of Wallowa; and numerous nieces and nephews. Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Kate (Johnson) Goebel; his sister, Geraldine Marie Wiecks; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kate Johnson Goebel Scholarship Fund, in care of the Wallowa School Foundation, 179 Highway 82, Lostine 97857, or any other Wallowa County nonprofit organization.

Parley Joe Haskett, 43, of La Grande, died March 24 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise after a prolonged illness. A service will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Underground Oasis, 1516 Adams Ave. in La Grande. Private services will be held later in Pilot Rock.

Parley was born July 2, 1966, to Leo and LaWanda Haskett in Corvallis. He was raised in Jefferson. Parley was in the reserves. He formerly worked at Radio Shack in Pendleton.

He married Anita Renee Witherspoon (now Kahut) March 6, 1993, in Elgin.

Parley was a self-taught musician. He loved music and loved spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed poetry and was known for helping others. He liked cooking interesting things.

Survivors include ex-wife, Anita Kahut; partner, Jennifer Shields; children, Parley Haskett Jr., Tawin Haskett and Triston Haskett; parents, Leo and LaWanda Haskett; and siblings, Leo Haskett Jr., Cyrus Haskett, David Haskett, Treva Groesbeck and Twyla Michael.

Bryan J. Higgason, 73, of Union, died April 3 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise. A celebration of life luncheon will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the Eagles Lodge in La Grande.

Bryan was born Dec. 22, 1935, to Bryan and Marie (Reichman) Higgason in Cisne, Ill. He entered the Navy April 21, 1953, and served on the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard. While in the Navy, he received his GED. He married Margaret Jane Cox June 9, 1961, in Longview, Wash.

They lived in Clatskanie, and moved to Cove in 1961 and to Union in 1964.

Bryan worked for the Oregon Department of Transportation for 35 years and retired in 1992. He then worked for Eagle Truck and Hagerman Inc. He enjoyed being with family and friends in Union and Arizona, playing golf and being in the mountains.

He was a member of the FOE Eagles, Elks and Good Sam Club.

Survivors include his sister, Shirley Sullens and her husband, Donnie of Lakeland, Fla.; children and their spouses, Sue and Richard Irvin of Kuna, Idaho, Lynn Murrill of Arlington, Carol and Michael Donnell of Wilsonville and Bryan and Ariadne Higgason of West New York, N.J.; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret; and son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Diane Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alan and Diane Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund at the First Bank of Idaho, Hailey Idaho, 83333.

Mildred “Faye” Weimer, 91, of La Grande, died April 3 at a local care center. Viewing will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in the Primary Room at the LDS Stake Center on Gekeler Lane. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at the church. Dedication of the grave will follow the service at Grandview Cemetery.

Faye was born Sept. 6, 1917, to Emmett and Golda Mae (Carpenter) Walker in

La Grande. She attended the Moss Chapel School, Greenwood School and graduated from

La Grande High School in 1935. In 1934 she was crowned queen of the Union Pacific Semi-Centennial Celebration. She attended business college, graduating in bookkeeping. She loved to dance and met her future husband, Stowell, at one of the local dances. In 1984, she was the grand marshal of the La Grande parade celebrating 100 years of railroad history in the community.

In 1947, she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many different capacities, such as on the Stake Primary Board for 10 years, as Cub Scout leader, as Guide Patrol leader, as Primary president and Relief Society president. One of her passions was genealogy. She spent many hours researching her family history and passing that love on to her children. She served the community as a 4-H leader for many years. She was also a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

In 1967 Stowell and Faye relocated to Enterprise, where they continued to support their children in their many activities.  She continued to live in Enterprise after Stowell died in 1969, leaving in 1972 and moving to Mesa, Ariz., where she could better support her family. She returned to La Grande in 1982 where she spent the remainder of her years serving her family and others and enjoying her many grandchildren.

Faye is survived by her five children, Sue and her husband, Brent Parker, of Salt Lake City, Joyce and her husband, Wayne McBride, of Mapleton, Utah, Bruce and his wife, Deanna Weimer, of La Grande, Jary Lynne and her husband, Shane Homan of Enterprise and Keith Weimer and his partner, Joe Lowe; 23 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren with four more on the way; siblings, Gene Walker of La Grande, Arvella Luckenbell of Spokane and Ken Walker of Union; and other relatives.

Memorial contributions may be made to the LDS Family History Center in La Grande in lieu of flowers.