Services for Kooch to be held March 23

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Creighton Burl Kooch of Enterprise died peacefully at the Wallowa Memorial Hospital on March 20, 2007. He was 66.

Mr. Kooch was born in Enterprise on Sept. 7, 1940, to Raymond and Wiletta Kirkman Kooch. He grew up on Lower Prairie Creek at a time when all of the neighbors raised their children, socialized together and were a close group. He attended Pratt School under the tutelage of Lois Fleshman and finished his grade school education in 1954. He once told his wife that if he had known then what he knows now he would never have ridden his bike to town he would have stayed on lower Prairie Creek. He attended Enterprise High School and graduated in 1958.

Mr. Kooch was an outstanding natural athlete. He competed in football, basketball, boxing and track and held the state record in the high hurdles for many years. He felt honored to play in the 1958 Shrine Game for the East Team.

Mr. Kooch attended OIT in Klamath Falls for one year and then returned to Wallowa County. He and Sally Thompson were married in 1961. They had two daughters.

Mr. Kooch began his masonry business in 1968 and continued to work until the time of his death. He was passionate about his work, his animals and his family.

He and his wife Cheryl have enjoyed traveling and showing their Clydesdale horses and being at home just out of Enterprise where they have lived, worked and enjoyed their family for the past 22 years.

Mr. Kooch is survived by his wife Cheryl; daughter Kris and Doug Sterns of Yakima, Wash.; daughter Kim Riste of Seattle, Wash.; stepson Harley Tucker of Portland; stepdaughter Kerri Tucker of Boise, Idaho; stepdaughter Sherri and Wes Kilgore of Enterprise; grandchildren Nathen Riste, Jennifer Riste, Harley Tucker, Addie Kilgore and Kade Kilgore.

Mr. Kooch was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held March 23 at the First Baptist Church in Enterprise at 1 p.m. A reception will follow the service.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Wallowa Memorial Hospital.