Louie E. Standley, Pioneer Rancher, Dies One Week Before 71st Birthday
Funeral services for one of northeast Oregon’s most prominent pioneer ranchers, Louie E. Standley, 70, life-long resident here, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Snodgrass funeral home, followed by burial in the family plot at Summerville.
Born on the family ranch near Sand Ridge in 1879, Mr. Standley died in a city hospital yesterday after a long illness. He was prominently in Elks lodge activities since 1907, and his funeral will be in charge of the lodge, with Rev. Louis Samson officiating.
Standley, who would have been 71 March 30, started a partnership on the old family ranch with his father in 1900. Size of the ranch was increased from 400 to 600 acres, with stress laid on raising of top Herefords.
In 1920, he and his father sold out their acreage and cattle, the father dying in 1934. Standley, always active, returned to cattle raising in 1922, acquiring a huge range in the Jordan creek district.
In 1934, he entered a partnership with his wife and son, J. Dale Standley, ranching 3,000 acres in the Jordan creek area.
Long-time member of the cattlemen’s association, he retired in 1944. Unable again to stand inactivity, he emerged from retirement a year later, and took over management of the range until his death.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Mina A. Standley; daughters, Mrs. Mildred Hanks, La Grande, and Mrs. Thelma Walker, Portland; son, J. Dale, La Grande; sister, Mrs. Elizabeth McAlister, La Grande, and five grandchildren.
La Grande Evening Observer
Thursday, March 23, 1950
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