Notes:

Andy Echanis, a long time Pendleton resident and businessman, known for
decades as Andy "Blitz" throughout Umatilla and Morrow counties, died
early Sunday evening, July 8. He was 93 years old.

Born Andres Jose Echanis, June 12th, 1919 at a Basque boarding house on
Grove Street in Boise, Idaho. He was the eldest of five children of Ignacio
"Jack" Echanis and Maria Pagoaga, both Basque immigrants from Spain. He
grew up in Ontario, Oregon in his family-owned boarding house for Basque
sheep herders. All through his school years he excelled in sports; football,
basketball, and baseball. Also, as a teenager and a young man he worked as
a camp tender in his family sheep business in the Steens mountains area of
southeast Oregon. It is estimated that he has his named carved on close to
500 trees on the mountain dating back to the 1930's which are now part of a
historical landmark in that area. He had provided a good deal of oral history
for the Boise Basque Museum on his subject, as well as his experience in
meeting new Basque immigrants to the Ontario Area at the train station and
orienting them to the town as he spoke fluent Basque.

Andy graduated from Ontario High School in 1939 and attended Oregon
State University on a baseball scholarship until he joined the United States
Marine Corps in 1942. He was promoted to the rank of master Tech
Sergeant. He was also designated as a rifle marksman and air crafter armory
specialist. He served in the Marshall Island Operations specifically on
Midway Island and Guam in the south Pacific during World War II.

After his discharge in 1945, he returned to Ontario and worked various jobs,
mostly related to the beverage industry. Eventually, he became the district
sales representative for Lucky Lager beer in Yakima, Washington. In
January 1953, he married Lucy McKnight and his son and daughter were
born in Yakima.

In 1956, he moved to Pendleton after purchasing Umatilla Distributing, a
beer and wine sales company. The business grew and prospered over the
next 28 years until its sale in 1984. He became known as Andy "Blitz"
because Blitz-Weinhard was one of the name brand beers that he sold which
he made very popular in this area.

Besides being known for his capacity for hard work, he had a great love for
hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. Andy also enjoyed cooking specialty
Basque dishes learned in his early sheep camp days. He specialized in Dutch
oven campfire bread and worked on many of the large lamb barbecues put
on by Mario's Basque Barbecue in this area. After his retirement from the
beer business, he worked well into his 80's at the Rainbow Cafe on Main
Street in Pendleton arriving sometimes as early as 4:30 am to oversee its
opening at 6 am of the bar and restaurant as a relief manager for his long
term friend, Don Webb.

In June 1975, he married Thelma Purcell of Pendleton, they were married
for 37 years.

Andy is proceeded in death by his parents and one brother. Cam Echanis.
Besides his wife, Thelma, he is survived by a daughter Paula Rosenberg,
Pendleton, and a son Carols Echanis, East Hampton, New York. Also, a step
son and daughter, Bruce Purcell and Kirn Hinkle, both of Pendleton. Seven
grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Two younger brothers, John and
Frank Echanis and a sister, Josephine Keim, all of Ontario, survive as well.

In lieu of a funeral service a celebration of life will be held at the Pendleton
Elks Lodge on Saturday, July 14 2012 at 1 pm. Donations in Andy's name
may be made to the local Humane Society or to the Ontario Basque
Museum.

Andres married L. McKnight [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1905
• Residence: 1910, Crane, Oregon
• Residence: 1918, Crane, Oregon
• Residence: 1920, Boise, Idaho; Lodgers at Yribar's boarding house, 401 Idaho Street

Notes:

Christened:
BAUTISMO
Nombre: Jose Ygnacio
Apellidos: Echaniz, Yriarte
Fecha: 1885-01-06
Padre: Jose Maria, Echaniz, Elordi
Madre: Maria Bernarda, Yriarte, Alcorta
Fondo: Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, en MUTRIKU
Título: 20º Bautismos
Folio/Página: 56
Nº Partida: 3

Jose married Maria Josefa Pagoaga Aristondo on 28 Aug 1917 in Boise, Idaho. Maria (daughter of Jose Maria Pagoaga Cendoya and Maria Concepcion Aristondo Galzacorta) was born on 25 Nov 1896 in Mutriku, Gipuzkoa; died on 08 Feb 1991 in Ontario, Oregon; was buried in Sunset Cemetery, Ontario, Oregon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 10 Jun 1916, New York; SS Alfonso XIII from Bilbao. Final destination Burns, Oregon. Person in the US Valentin Aguirre.

Notes:

Christened:
Bautismo
Nombre: Maria Josefa
Apellidos: Pagoaga, Aristondo
Fecha: 1896-11-25
Padre: Jose Maria, Pagoaga, Cendoya
Madre: Maria Concepcion, Aristondo, Galzacorta
Fondo: Asunción de Nuestra Señora, en Mutriku, Gipuzkoa
Título: 21º Bautismos
Folio/Página: 33
Nº Partida: 89

Notes:

Christened:
Can't find a child named jose maria born to these parents. May be same person as Juan Jose Nicasio (sibling), but we know these are his parents from his marriage record.

Padre: Gregorio, Echaniz, Yriondo
Madre: Hermeregilda, Elordi, Elua

Jose married Maria Bernarda Yriarte Alcorta on 17 Jun 1882 in Mutriku, Gipuzkoa. Maria (daughter of Jose Manuel Yriarte Galdos and Maria Agustina Alcorta Basurco) was born on 02 Feb 1855 in Mutriku, Gipuzkoa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Extracto de Partida de Bautismo
Identificación
Nombre: Maria Bernarda
Apellidos: Yriarte, Alcorta
Fecha: 1855-02-02
Padre: Jose Manuel , Yriarte, Galdos
Madre: Maria Agustina, Alcorta, Basurco
Observaciones: ----------
Localización
Fondo: Asunción de Nuestra Señora, en Mutriku, Gipuzkoa
Título: 18º Bautismos
Folio/Página: 195 vº
Nº Partida: 18
Perteneciente a Diócesis: Pamplona
Territorio Histórico: Gipuzkoa
Signatura: 2621/003-02
Sig. Microfilm: M114-03
Sig. Digital: 262100302-0196
Registro Informático: 1482078
Data Versión: 2008-07-28

Notes:

Married:
Extracto de Partida de Matrimonio
Esposo: José Maria, Echaniz, Elordi
Esposa: Maria Bernarda, Yriarte, Alcorta
Fecha: 1882-06-17
Fondo: Asunción de Nuestra Señora, en Mutriku, Gipuzkoa
Título: 6º Matrimonios
Folio/Página: 26 rº
Nº Partida: 13

Notes:

Extracto de Partida de Bautismo
Identificación
Nombre: Jose Maria
Apellidos: Pagoaga, Sendoya
Fecha: 1864-03-17
Padre: Jose Andres, Pagoaga, Aramberria
Madre: Ana Maria, Sendoya, Arrieta
Observaciones: ----------
Localización
Fondo: Asunción de Nuestra Señora, en Mutriku, Gipuzkoa
Título: 19º Bautismos
Folio/Página: 85 rº
Nº Partida: 25
Perteneciente a Diócesis: Vitoria
Territorio Histórico: Gipuzkoa
Signatura: 4589/001-01
Sig. Microfilm: M581-02
Sig. Digital: 458900101-0088
Registro Informático: 1503637
Data Versión: 2008-07-28

Jose married Maria Concepcion Aristondo Galzacorta on 11 Jul 1887 in Mutriku, Gipuzkoa. Maria (daughter of Agustin Aristondo Garate and Francisca Antonia Galzacorta Arrate) was born on 22 Aug 1858 in Mutriku, Gipuzkoa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Bautismo
Nombre: Maria Concepcion
Apellidos: Aristondo, Galzacorta
Fecha: 1858-08-22
Padre: Agustin, Aristondo, Garate
Madre: Francisca Antonia, Galzacorta, Arrate
Fondo: Asunción de Nuestra Señora, en Mutriku, Gipuzkoa
Título: 18º Bautismos
Folio/Página: 250 vº
Nº Partida: 56