Anna Mae Alvarado died on Dec. 31, 2008, at Ashley Manor in Burns.

She was born on Sept. 24, 1922, in Snelling, Calif., to Manuel and Maria (Ramos) Santos.

Her family moved to El Nido, Calif., where she grew  up on her father’s dairy. She enjoyed the farm life, and remembered those years fondly with many stories. Alvarado graduated from Merced High School in 1939.

She was a leader in the Young Ladies Institute and was elected Grand President of that Catholic organization around 1946.

While working as a secretary she met Ernest J. Alvarado. They were married on Nov. 22, 1947, in Merced, Calif. In 1963 and 1964, her daughters Ramonda and Valencia were born. In 1968, Alvarado and her husband bought a place east of Elkton; they moved there on July 1, 1969. This house, yard and small ranch became her new career.

Alvarado was proud of her two daughters and always believed in them and helped them with their activities. When the girls attended Oregon State University, she became a “Beaver Believer.”

She was very proud of her Portuguese heritage; both of her parents were from Madeira Island, Portugal.

Alvarado is survived by her husband, Ernest J. of Elkton; daughter, Ramonda Thompson and husband David, of Diamond; grandchildren, Maria, Risa and Adam, of Diamond; sister, Betty Newhall, of Merced; and several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

A rosary burial was held on Jan. 8, with a memorial Mass held on Jan. 10, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sutherland
Contributions in Alvarado’s memory may be made to the Elkton FFA Chapter, Elkton High School or the Holy Family Parish scholarship fund at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Burns.

Clifford “Gene” Coleman died on Jan. 13.

He was born on March 4, 1930, in Jonesboro, Ark., to Arthur D. and Quincy V. Coleman. He was the youngest of five children.

Coleman grew up on a farm where his father raised cotton. He entered the United States Army on July 27, 1948, and served in Germany.

After his discharge, Coleman moved to Burns to work in the lumber industry. He was employed by Edward Hines Lumber Co. and Snow Mountain Pine until his retirement on Jan. 1, 1993. He also worked at Tiller’s Market in the evenings and on the weekends until 1979.

He met his wife, Helen, in Burns and they were married on June 16, 1964, at the Assembly of God Church. The couple had two children, and Coleman also had three step-children.

After retirement Coleman spent his time with his wife, until her death in 1998. He then devoted his time to his children and grandchildren.

He took pride in everything he did and passed that on to his family.

Coleman is survived by his step-children Sandra Smith, of Fitzgerald, Ga., Barbara Payne of Redding, Calif., and Bill Cunningham, of Hines; children, Regina Griffith of New Plymouth, Idaho, and Brian Coleman, of Hines; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; niece, Carolyn Christensen of Burns; nephew, Jerry Coleman of Canby; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and wife, Helen.

Graveside services were held on Jan. 20, with a celebration of life at Harney County Nazarene Church.

Contributions in Coleman’s memory may be made to the Nazarene Church, in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720.

Ronald “Ron” Eugene Gregg died on Jan. 12 in Redmond.

He was born on Jan. 21, 1959, in Klamath Falls, to Eugene R. Gregg and Patricia J. Gregg. He was the oldest of six children.

Gregg was a long-time resident of Harney County. Though he moved quite often, the pull of Harney County always brought him back. He finally found his home in Sandpoint, Idaho, with his love, Sheila Fields.

He is survived by his grandmother, Eunice Gregg, of Burns; father, Eugene Gregg and wife, Lavon, of Redmond; brothers, Ray Gregg of Redmond, Patrick Gregg of Montana, Joe Gregg of Montana and Fred Gregg of Bend; sister, Pamela Tirkle of Bend; step-children, Tangela Melhorn Kassler of Hawaii, and Daylyn Melhorn and wife, Caitlin of Hermiston; and many other family members and friends in Harney County and Sandpoint.

A memorial service will be held later this spring.

Jessie Mae “Jimmie” Ferguson Howland, 86, of Caldwell, Idaho, died in Nampa, Idaho, on Jan.  22.

She was born on April 2, 1922, in Wilson, Idaho, the daughter of Fay O. and Lydia (Cox) Mitchell.

Howland attended grade school in Wilson and high school in Melba, Idaho. She married Hale Ferguson on June 13, 1938, in Wilson where they made their home. In 1950, she completed a course of study at the Grimms Business College in Boise.

In 1951, the couple moved  to Jordan Valley, where they owned and operated the Jordan Valley Hotel and Café. In 1954, they moved to McDermitt, Nev., where they owned and operated The Stateline Café.

Her husband died in 1965, and she then married Chuck Howland on June 11, 1966, in Winnemucca, Nev.

The couple moved to Hines, where they made their home until 1987, when they moved to Caldwell.

Howland enjoyed camping and fishing at the Oregon Coast and trips to British Columbia, Canada. She loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was a faithful prayer warrior for her children and grandchildren. She collected recipes and was known as a wonderful cook. Her family benefited from her baking hobby and truck drivers followed her from Jordan Valley to McDermitt to get her famous oatmeal raisin cookies.

She loved growing pansies in the spring. She used to say that they looked like “little faces smiling back at her.” She was a member of the Owyhee County Historical Society.

Howland is survived by her husband, Charles “Chuck” Howland; her children, Joe Ferguson and wife, Betty, of Fallon, Nev., Beverly Langston, of Nampa, Mitch Ferguson and wife, Lorcie, Hawthorne, Nev.,  Dave Howland and wife, Kim of Portland, Dawna Runnels and husband Dick  of Nyssa, and Tim Howland and wife, Evelyn of Chandler, Ariz. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sisters, Frances Caldwell, Esther Hoagland and June Whitted, and grandson, Chris Ferguson.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel, 404 10th Ave. So., in Nampa. Burial will follow at the Wilson, Idaho Cemetery. The family will greet loved ones and friends at the funeral chapel on Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 6-8 p.m.

Correspondence may be mailed to Chuck Howland at 5200 Midway Rd. #650 Caldwell, ID 83607. Contributions in Howland’s memory may be made to the Owyhee County Historical Society, P.O. Box 67, Murphy, ID 83650.

Services for Rose Mary Diaz will be held on Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. at the Burns Elks Lodge. A gathering of family and friends will follow.

Donations will be accepted in the name of Gloria Armstrong and Bobbi Jo Allen.

Harney County Health District board of directors meets the fourth Wednesday of each month in the board conference room of the hospital, in the entrance off N. Grand, at 6 p.m.

Burns City Council meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at Burns City Hall, 242 South Broadway, at 6 p.m.

High Desert Park and Recreation District board of directors meets the fourth Wednesday of each month in their office at Lincoln Junior High School, 550 North Court, at 7 p.m.

Storytime for preschoolers is scheduled at the Harney County Library, 80 West D St., each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Contact the Harney County Library for more information at 573-6670.

Burns Fire Dept. meets each Wednesday at the Burns Fire Hall at 7 p.m.

Burns Elks Lodge, 118 North Broadway, meets each Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets each Wednesday at the Foursquare Church at 7 p.m.

Coffee Clatter, the Harney County Chamber’s newest networking event, will be hosted by the Harney County Chamber of Commerce at the Community Center in the Smith Building at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 29. For information, contact the chamber office  at 573-2636.

The Prescription Assistance program through the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center is held each Thursday, from 1-3 p.m. Call Selena Westlake at 573-6024 to make an appointment.

Chamber Music Bell Choir meets each Thursday at 6:30 p.m., at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 393 West A. St. Bell ringers are being recruited. For information, call Carol Sawyer, 573-6886.

Tai Chi is held every Thursday at the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. All ages are welcome to participate.

Kiwanis Club of Burns-Hines meets for a no-host luncheon each Thursday at Glory Days Pizza, 690 Oregon Avenue, at noon.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets each Thursday at Hines City Hall, 101 East Barnes, at noon. Call 573-2896.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets each Thursday at the Foursquare Church, at 7 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Friday at Foursquare Church at 7 p.m.

Robert Burns Night will be held on Jan. 31 at the Burns Elks Lodge. Social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m., dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Harney County Chamber at 573-2636.

Alanon holds an open meeting each Saturday at Foursquare Church at 7 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Sunday at Foursquare Church for 12X12 study, at 7 p.m.