Alaska

Fain, Sheri Ann Putman Mrs. – Obituary

North Powder, Oregon Sheri Ann Fain, 23, of Soldotna, Alaska, died of natural causes on March 5, 2004, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Peninsula Memorial Chapel. Bishop William Thomas will officiate. Sheri was born on June 17, 1980, at La Grande to Daniel and Carla Putman. She attended Powder Valley Schools at North Powder through the 11th grade and graduated from Skyview High School at Soldotna. She married Jorel Fain in 2003. The couple made their home at Soldotna. They started their family with the birth of their … Read more

Brown, Helen Louise Emerson Mrs. – Obituary

Helen Louise Brown, 86, of La Grande, a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 29, 2004, at a La Grande care center. Her graveside service was Nov. 1 at the Island City Cemetery. Mark Schlessman of the First Christian Church in La Grande officiated. Loveland Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Brown was born on Feb. 11, 1918, to Jack W. and Mabel Clara Vest Emerson at Wallowa. She was the descendant of early Wallowa County pioneers, William Harvey Vest and Ellen Mollissia Cole. She attended elementary school in Baker City for a year and graduated from La … Read more

Vanderbilt, Marguerite Jean – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Marguerite Jean Vanderbilt, 88, of La Grande died June 18 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Nazarene Church with Pastor Mouse McKinney officiating. Mrs. Vanderbilt was born Nov. 10, 1917, to William Wallace and Barbara Agnes Whittall Orr in Ponteix, Saskatchewan, Canada. She graduated from high school in Ormstown, Quebec, attended a school in Plattsburg, N.Y., and the Montreal Homeopathic Hospital Nurses’ Training School. She became a registered nurse and worked in Temiskaming, Ontario, and Montreal. On Aug. 14, 1946, she married John William Vanderbilt in Plattsburg. They … Read more

Stevens, Jena Louise – Obituary

LaGrande, Oregon Jean Louise Stevens, 54, formerly of La Grande, died July 11. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Haven Cove Ward LDS Chapel in Meridian, Idaho. Viewing will be from 6 to 8 tonight at the Relyea Funeral Chapel, and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the church on Saturday before the service. Burial will follow at the Cloverdale Cemetery. Mrs. Stevens was born Sept. 9, 1951, to LaRue and Beverly Budge Bevington in Fairbanks, Alaska. She graduated from Capital High School in Boise in 1969, and later earned an associate degree in business administration … Read more

Gregory, Helen Elizabeth – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Helen Elizabeth Gregory, 78, of La Grande died Dec. 7 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Walla Walla. A celebration of life is planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Gregory was born March 17, 1928, to Henry Walter and Florence Hazel Wellington McDonald in Ketchikan, Alaska. At the age of 8 she moved with her family to Washington and later to Union and Elgin. She graduated from Elgin High School. On April 27, 1951, she married Robert Gregory in La Grande. She was employed as an educational secretary for many years … Read more

Straight, David Duane – Obituary

Union, Oregon David Duane Straight, 63, of Jacksonville, Fla., and formerly of Union and La Grande, died Nov. 3 in Jacksonville. Following cremation, his ashes will be returned to Alaska in the spring. Mr. Straight was born April 21, 1943, to H. David and Dorothy Anne Straight. He was raised in Union and lived in La Grande while attending college. He graduated from Southwestern Oregon Community College with two degrees in 1969 and married Joyce Marie Emmons in Kodiak, Alaska, on April 8, 1972. He lived and worked in Alaska for 35 years before retiring to Portland. He later moved … Read more

Murry, Barbara June Nielsen – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Barbara June Nielsen Murry, 75, of La Grande and formerly of Pilot Rock, died Nov. 9 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Family and friends may call from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Daniels Chapel. Ms. Murry was born June 16, 1931, at Pilot Rock to Hans C. and Mable E. Galbreath Nielsen. Ms. Murry grew up on a ranch up East Birch Creek and attended schools in Pilot Rock to half her sophomore year until her parents … Read more

Moberry, June – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon June Moberry, 89, of Salem and formerly of La Grande died Jan. 9 in Beaverton. No service is planned. A family gathering will take place June 9 to plant a rose arbor. Mrs. Moberry was born June 9, 1917, the daughter of Oscar and Anna Hultman, in Ketchikan, Alaska. She was raised on Bainbridge Island in Washington, and married Ralph Moberry in 1951 in Seattle. She lived off and on in La Grande from 1955 to 2002 and was assistant manager of Founta Court. She belonged to the Christian Science Church and had two children, Carol Moore … Read more

Rutherford, Alan Duane – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Alan Duane Rutherford, 57, of Ivins, Utah, and formerly of Elgin and Imbler died Dec. 28 while traveling to his home. A memorial service and celebration of life was conducted at Grace Episcopal Church in St. George, Utah, Jan. 3. Mr. Rutherford was born to Donald and Fauntella Rutherford in Iowa Jan. 25, 1949, but spent most of his early years in Oregon. He lived in Elgin and Imbler and graduated from Elgin High School in 1967. He married Lisa Christine Abel on Jan. 4, 1997. He attended Blue Mountain Community College and Eastern Oregon University and served … Read more

Horn, Terri – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Terri Horn, 51, formerly of La Grande, died May 19 at her home in Palm Springs, Calif., after an extended illness. Terri was born Dec. 15, 1955, in Las Vegas. Due to her father’s military service, the family lived in several locations before settling in Fairbanks, Alaska, where Terri lived most of her life. She worked as a grocery clerk for many years. She was employed by Carr’s Foodland in Fairbanks, and after moving to La Grande in 1995 she worked at Albertson’s for several years. Terri was known for her incredible friendliness and outgoing personality. She … Read more

Douhan, Margaret E. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Margaret “Micky” E. Douhan, 95, died June 3 in Port Townsend, Wash. Memorial services were held at Quimper Unitarian Church in Port Townsend. Micky was born Oct. 13, 1911, in Greeley, Colo., to Carl and Vesta (Parker) Douhan in Greeley. The family moved to La Grande where Micky grew up and graduated from high school. She enrolled at Oregon State University in 1936 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology in 1940. Micky returned to school in 1968 and earned a master’s in liberal arts degree from Reed College in Portland. Micky met Wendell … Read more

Baxter, Phaedra Dune – Obituary

Phaedra Dune Baxter, 62, of La Grande died on Oct. 26. A celebration of Phaedra’s life is planned and the details will be announced later by Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center. She was born Pamela Bernice Bishop on Oct. 13, 1945, to Edward Fletcher Bishop and Bernice May Bedford in Vancouver, British Columbia. She was raised in Sumas, Wash., then moved to Wenatchee, Wash., where she attended grade school. The family moved to Los Angeles where she graduated from Lynwood High School in 1963. There, Phaedra became active in school and community theatre, nurturing a lifelong love of … Read more

Wariner, Stephen

North Powder, Oregon Stephen Wariner, 49, of Sisters and of North Powder, died in a traffic accident in Pyles Canyon outside of Union Sept. 29. Celebration of life services will begin at 2 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Chapel in the Pines at Camp Sherman. Stephen was born Aug. 9, 1958, to Lee Roy and Norma Wariner in Fairbanks, Alaska. He graduated from Diamond High in Anchorage and joined the Ironworkers Local and worked as a journeyman in Alaska, Hawaii and Washington. He crabbed and fished commercially in the Bering Sea. Later he started his own business building homes. He … Read more

West, Brian Donald – Obituary

Brian Donald West, 29, of Wasilla, Alaska, and formerly of La Grande, died Sept. 20. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Catherine Creek State Park. Cousin Brandon Boone will officiate. Brian was born July 20, 1978, in Salem. He spent his early years in La Grande. His Great-grandma Faye Hayes spent her later years helping to raise Brian and his younger brother, Christopher. He graduated from Honokaa High School in Honokaa, Hawaii, in 1995. Brian joined the U.S. Air Force after high school. He served 10 years as a civil engineer and was a certified master … Read more

Bruce, Braddie May – Obituary

Braddie May Bruce, 79, of Island City, died Jan. 11 at a local care center. A service will be held later in Canyon City. Braddie was born Jan. 26, 1928, to Clyde Willis and Grace Irene (Herburger) Laughlin in Prairie City. She was raised in Dayville and graduated from high school there. On Jan. 12, 1947, she married Ralph Bruce in Canyon City. She worked as a school secretary in Canyon City, Ukiah and John Day. For several years they lived in Fairbanks, Alaska, where she worked for the Episcopal bishop and for a co-op drug company. In her younger … Read more

Partridge, Donald Doyle – Obituary

Donald Doyle Partridge, 70, of Elgin and formerly of Hermiston and Fairbanks, died March 12 at a local care center. A memorial service will be held May 10 at 11 a.m. at the Cove Cemetery. Arrangements are with Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. Mr. Partridge was born on Oct. 25, 1937, the son of Edward and Wilma (Clark) Partridge in Cortez, Colo. He served with the Oregon National Guard for a few years. He married Carolyn Hartley on Aug. 16, 1971 in Reno. They lived in La Grande for a year in 1975 and then Eugene before living … Read more

Vincent , James Douglas – Obituary

Ukiah, Oregon James “Doug” Douglas Vincent, 73, of Ukiah, died April 7 in Gresham. At his request no services will be held. Burial was at the Ukiah Cemetery. Gresham Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Doug was born Oct. 17, 1934, to Cecil and Ruth (Dawson) Vincent in St. Louis. When Doug was 6, the family moved from Missouri to Tillamook where Doug was raised and educated. At 16, he purchased a log truck and moved to Eastern Oregon where he met and married the love of his life, Patsy Sheff, on Aug. 14, 1955. The couple had five … Read more

Thilenius, Carol – Obituary

Carol Thilenius, 73, of Juneau, Alaska, and formerly of La Grande, died May 6 in her sleep at home. No formal services are planned. Family may be contacted at dmthilenius@aol.com. Carol was born in 1935 in La Grande. She was a graduate of La Grande High School. According to her family, she was a teacher, professional handweaver and marine biologist of considerable skill. She taught handweaving at the University of Alaska Southeast for many years but more recently had become interested in geology, micro fossils and botany. She traveled extensively in Africa, South and Central America and Australia, collecting plants … Read more

Fifer, Deborah Lee – Obituary

Union, Oregon Deborah Lee (Brooks) Fifer, 57, of Fairbanks, Alaska, and formerly of Union and La Grande, died June 3. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. June 21 at the Eagle Valley Cemetery. A full obituary will be available later. Friends are invited to join the family following the service at the Eagle Valley Grange. Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home in Halfway is in charge of arrangements. La Grande Observer – June 6, 2008 ________________________________________ Deborah Lee (Brooks) Fifer, 57, of Fairbanks, Alaska, and formerly of Union and La Grande, died June 3 at her home with her … Read more

Beardsley, Larry Eldridge – Obituary

Union County, Oregon Obituary Larry Eldridge “Ty” Beardsley, 70, formerly of the Grande Ronde Valley, died Aug. 15 in Polson, Mont. Memorial services begins at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Friends may go to www.buffalohillfh.com to post condolences to the family. Ty was born Sept. 17, 1937, to Eldridge and Amy Lou (Holman) Beardsley in Walla Walla. He grew up in Eastern Oregon and married Viola Mae Vanderpool in Lewiston, in 1958. Ty was a farmer and rancher in the Grande Ronde Valley. He moved from the area in 1977 and went to Alaska to work as … Read more