A garden was dedicated in memory of Lori-Hayes Kotter this morning at the Baker City Post Office. The plaque held by Lori's mother, Ann Hayes (seated in green chair), will be mounted at the front of the garden where a bleeding heart and daffodils from Hayes-Kotter's flower garden will be planted along with other flowers. Also attending this morning's ceremony were Lori's brother, Blane Hayes, (wearing gray hat), her friend Jennifer Carpenter (in white sweater), daughter Candra Clark (standing next to Carpenter), and husband Brian Kotter (in black sweater, wearing glasses and standing next to Clark). (Baker City Herald/Kathy Orr).

By CHRIS COLLINS

ccollins@bakercityherald.com

A beautiful garden of flowers and the Baker City Post Office itself were dedicated in honor of Lori Hayes-Kotter during a brief ceremony this morning, the first anniversary of her death.

Hayes-Kotter, 49, was murdered on April 4, 2006, in the back parking lot of the Federal Building by Grant Gallaher, a letter carrier she supervised.

About 60 people, including postal workers, friends and family gathered on the front lawn outside the post office, 1550 Dewey Ave., for the dedication.

andquot;The memorial garden is for the family, employees and the community and the best way we could express our memory of Lori,andquot; said Claire Eckrich, La Grande postmaster.

Eckrich, who before being named postmaster was Hayes-Kotter’s counterpart in La Grande, traveled to Baker City the night her friend was killed and helped the employees continue to provide service in the wake of the murder.

andquot;We all had wonderful memories of Lori and I keep her laugh and smile ingrained in my heart,andquot; she said.

andquot;Lori loved flowers and the beauty and serenity of this garden will be a constant reminder of how Lori touched our lives with her smile, kindness and caring,andquot; she told the crowd.

The garden includes a granite rock from Hurricane Creek in Wallowa County where Hayes-Kotter grew up. A bleeding heart plant, one of her favorite flowers from the garden of her North Powder home, blooms prominently in the front section of the garden. Daffodils she had given her friend and former letter carrier Sally Colton were planted throughout the garden after this morning’s ceremony.

Postmaster Mike McGuire joined Dallas Keck, the U.S. Postal Service manager of the Portland District, which includes all of Oregon, in unveiling a plaque that features Hayes-Kotter’s photo and details her history of service with the postal service, which began in 1987. She had worked at the Baker City Post Office since 1994 and was promoted to supervisor in 1999.

andquot;She was loved and respected by her friends and colleagues,andquot; reads the plaque, which dedicates the post office in her memory.

Letter carrier Christy Rankin presented Hayes-Kotter’s daughter, Candra Clark, with a quilt made from the bright- colored strips of cloth worn by postal workers during her mother’s funeral. The quilt was designed by McGuire’s wife, Nancy.

andquot;Pretty cool,andquot; Candra said of the quilt after the ceremony.

As the ceremony drew to a close, McGuire honored his former co-worker and friend and gave tribute to the employees who worked hard to continue their jobs in the wake of her murder.

He credits her memory with helping his employees get through the tragedy.

andquot;Lori never did forget the mission: to deliver the mail,andquot; he said.

And the postal workers have honored her memory by continuing that philosophy since her death, he said.

andquot;You need to be very proud of these employees,andquot; he said.

Peter Hass, a Postal Service spokesman, added that the ceremony was planned for the employees.

andquot;Our employees, from the day after this tragedy, have continued to provide the service the community needed and showed amazing strength,andquot; he said.

andquot;Today is a day for the employees of the Baker City Post Office to remember Lori,andquot; he said. andquot;This was the result of thinking about what to do to honor her.andquot;