California

Schisler, Ralph – Obituary

Union, Oregon Ralph Schisler, 74, of Union, died June 23. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at the New Life Center on Island Avenue next to Wal-Mart. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Mr. Schisler was born Dec. 23, 1931, to Francis and Marie Schneider Schisler in North Platte, Neb. The family moved to California, and he served in the Navy. In 1973 he moved to Klamath Falls where he owned a ranch. In 1981 he moved to the Catherine Creek area where he continued ranching before settling in Union where he was a carpenter and contractor for … Read more

Levy, Leon – Obituary

Death Claims Union Pioneer Leon Levy, 79, of Union, pioneer merchant and breeder of thoroughbred cattle, died Friday at La Grande, where he had been ill for 11 months. Mr. Levy was born May 3, 1863, in Pacheco, Cal., and came to Oregon in 1878 with his family. Mr. Levy and his brothers were well known on the Pacific coast for their fine livestock and for many years exhibited at the Pacific International Livestock show and were active in the handling of the Union livestock show. Mr. Levy was a member of the Union Masonic Lodge. He is survived by … Read more

Hickman, Willa Chloe – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Willa Chloe Hickman, 86, of La Grande, died Thursday morning at a local care center. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hillcrest Cemetery. Arrangements are with Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Hickman was born on March 10, 1920, the daughter of Hezekiah and Pearl (Carlton) Villines in Ponca, Ark. In 1940 she married Bill Franklin Hickman, and they lived in California until his death in 1972. After his death she moved to La Grande to be near family. She was a member of the Assembly of God church. She enjoyed sewing, her … Read more

Svetich, Corinne Josephine – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Corinne Josephine Svetich, 78, of Walla Walla, died June 29 at her home. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Skyview Memorial Park in Pendleton. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Svetich was born Jan. 4, 1928, to Charles and Francis Butler in Sacramento, Calif. She grew up in North Port, Wash., and graduated from La Grande High School in 1946. She took business courses at Eastern Oregon Normal School for two years. On March 10, 1950, she married Matthew Svetich in Pendleton. She worked as a teller at U.S. … Read more

Cunningham, Ruth Marie – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Ruth Marie Cunningham, 86, of La Grande died at a local care center July 16. A celebration of life will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday at the La Grande United Methodist Church. Ruth was born April 18, 1920, to Arthur and Edith Bennett Miller in Belgrade, Neb. She was member of the United Methodist Church,VFW and the Wesleyan Circle. She married Norman Ernst Cunningham July 13, 1942, in Santa Maria, Calif. She enjoyed helping others. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Jan and Jerry Arnoldus of La Grande, sister Pauline Rieken of Emmett, Idaho, brothers … Read more

Price, Joanne Kaye – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Joanne Kaye Price, 73, died July 13 in her home in Hermiston. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hermiston Church of the Nazarene. Burial will be at noon Monday at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Mrs. Price was born Jan. 16, 1933 in Fresno, Calif. to Samuel and Virginia Tarleton Timbrell. She graduated from Paso Robles High School in 1950, and on Sept. 9, 1950, she married John Robert Price in Hood River. The couple lived in Vancouver, Kennewick and Tacoma, Wash., and St. Helens, Astoria and Aloha. She graduated from … Read more

Bruch, Georgeanna Marie – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Georgeanna Marie Bruch, 89, of Hillsboro and formerly of La Grande died Aug. 4. A memorial service was held today in Hillsboro. Burial at Fir Lawn Cemetery in Hillsboro will be private. Fir Lawn Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Bruch was born Nov. 19, 1916, to George E. and Marie Keller Lockwood in Riverside. She attended school in La Grande and graduated from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Spokane in 1940. On Jan. 24, 1943, she married Robert H. Bruch. The lived in Yreka, Calif., and Hillsboro before moving to Woodburn, and more recently … Read more

Pierson, Lenn – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lenn Pierson, 91, of Claremont, Calif., and formerly of La Grande, died July 11 at his home. A celebration of life will be held in the future. He requested that his ashes be scattered over Klickitat, Wash., overlooking the Columbia Gorge. Mr. Pierson was born Feb. 22, 1915, to Elva and Winfred Pierson in Geneva, Neb. The family moved to La Grande in 1925, and in 1950 moved to Island City. His father, who worked for Mount Emily Lumber Co., taught him to fly. He graduated from La Grande High School and then from Oregon State University … Read more

Reeder, Della – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Della Reeder, 77, of Pahrump, Nev., and formerly of La Grande died Sept. 17. A memorial service is planned in Pahrump Saturday. Mrs. Reeder was born to Bertha Gandy on Jan. 27, 1929, in Idaho. Her father died very early and she was raised by a stepfather, Wayne Gillis. Mrs. Reeder went to first grade in La Grande, but grew up in Summerville. Her family remembers that the man who would be her husband, Wayne Reader, proposed to her in third grade. She married Jay Reeder on May 16, 1945. The couple lived in La Grande until … Read more

Lockhart, Louise – Obituary

Summerville, Oregon Louise Lockhart, 81, of Summerville died Sept. 13 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of life is planned for a later date. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Lockhart was born April 26, 1925, to Samuel Schurit and Ethel Macklin VanderJagt in Bellingham, Wash. She attended Pepperdine College in Los Angles, Calif., and married Ray Lockhart on May 3, 1946, in Southgate, Calif. She worked as a purchasing agent at Eastern Oregon University, and was active in her church. She was a member of the Grande Ronde Hospital Auxiliary and the Soroptimists, and enjoyed reading, … Read more

Read, Candy Lynn – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Candy Lynn Read, 37, of Libby, Mont., and formerly of La Grande, died Sept. 9 in Libby from complications related to an extended illness. A small service will be conducted at a later date. Miss Read was born June 29, 1969, in California to Gary and Jackie Read. She attended schools in La Grande, graduating in 1987. She worked at Valley View care center before moving to Libby in 2003. She was a member of First Baptist Church while in La Grande. She married Vincent Brewer in North Powder in July 1993 . She enjoyed sports and … Read more

Collins, Patrick Howard – Obituary

Union, Oregon Patrick Howard Collins, 48, of Seaside and formerly of La Grande and Union, died Nov. 19 in Seaside. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at Coastline Christian Fellowship Church in Olney. Prior to the service, visitation will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria. Mr. Collins, known as Pat, was born Sept. 11, 1958, in Waterbury, Conn., to Theodore M. and Mary E. Brooks Collins. He grew up and was educated in Anaheim, Calif. In 1974 he moved to Clatsop County and began a career in the … Read more

Lehman, Holly Jean – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Holly Jean Lehman, 51, of La Grande died Sept. 1 at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Boise. A celebration of life and potluck reception will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday Sept. 9 at the home of her mother, Jean Enderlin, 277 W. Bryan St. in Union. Ms. Lehman was born April 18, 1955, to Ernest and Jean Smith Lehman in San Francisco, Calif. She graduated from high school in Colton, and lived in Berkley, Calif., until 2002 when she moved to La Grande. She enjoyed gardening, crafts, astrology and cats. Survivors include her companion, Dan Nelson of … Read more

Bumgardner, Albert Isaac – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Albert Isaac Bumgardner, 91, of La Grande died Sept. 3 at a local care center. A celebration of life will be from noon to 3 p.m. Friday at the home of his granddaughter, Sheri Benitez, 2706 E. L Ave. Mr. Bumgardner was born April 28, 1915, to Isaac and Emma Davisson Bumgardner in Elgin. He graduated from Elgin High School in 1934, and during World War II worked at an airplane factory at San Diego, Calif. After returning to Union County he worked as a mechanic and carpenter, and in furnace and sheet-metal work. On April 16, … Read more

Blake, Eula – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Eula Blake, 86, of La Grande, died Sept. 2 at a local care center. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 6 at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City with Pastor Jonathan Privett of the First Church of the Nazarene officiating. Mrs. Blake was born Aug. 19. 1920, to Roy and Ada Gabert Lostutter in Santa Monica, Calif. She attended school in California, and on July 20, 1946, she married Frank M. Blake. She enjoyed cross-stitch and making latch-work rugs. Survivors include children and their spouses, Frank and Helen Blake of La Grande, Richard … Read more

Dean, Dallas – Obituary

Union, Oregon Dallas Dean, 81, of Baker City died Aug. 26 at his home. A reception and celebration of life will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at his son’s home, 44431 Anthony Lakes Highway in Haines. Mr. Dean was born July 1, 1925, to Marvin and Edith Hodgkins Dean at Keating. The family lived near Pondosa, and he graduated in 1943 from Union High School. He served in the Army during World War II, and was disabled by frozen feet at the Battle of the Bulge. He received the EAMC and Combat Infantry citations, the Bronze Star … Read more

Thompson, Shirley Eugene – Obituary

Island City, Oregon Stanley Eugene Thompson, 59, of Island City, died from unexpected natural causes on Aug. 24 at a hospital in Boise. A celebration of life at the Island City School will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday. He was born in Arcata, Calif., on Aug. 11, 1947 to Ana Mae (Posey) and Glen Thompson. He was raised and educated in Oakland, Calif., and Eufaula, Okla. Mr. Thompson enlisted in the Navy in April of 1965. After his naval service, he moved to Government Camp and helped his father cook at the Huckleberry Inn Restaurant. He greatly enjoyed his work … Read more

Lanegan, Lisa Lynn Simpson – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lisa Lynn Simpson Collis Lanegan, 40, of Vancouver, Wash., and formerly of La Grande and Baker City, died suddenly Aug. 18 in Vancouver. The cause of death has not been determined. No services have been scheduled. A family gathering will held at a later date to celebrate her life. Dahl-McVicker Funeral Home in Kelso, Wash., is handling arrangements. Lisa was born March 18, 1966, in San Gabriel, Calif. She attended junior high and high school in Baker but graduated from high school in California. As a certified nurse assistant she worked as a caregiver much of her … Read more

Shirley, Michael L. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Michel L. Shirley, 60, of Milton-Freewater and formerly of Union died Aug. 13 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Mr. Shirley was born Nov. 5, 1945, to Ancle L. and Eva M. Fulp Shirley in Tranquillity, Calif. He graduated from Union High School in 1963, and served in the Air Force specializing in computer systems. In 1966 he was assigned to NORAD Headquarters in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs, Colo., where he received the Armed Forces Commendation Medal. He graduated from the USAAFSS NCO Academy, and finished … Read more

Marcum, William Millord “Squeak” – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon William Millord “Squeek” Marcum, 65, of Sand Hollow, Idaho, and formerly of La Grande, died Sept. 26 at the VA Hospital in Boise. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Private interment will be at the Hillcrest East Cemetery. Mr. Marcum was born April 16, 1941, the son of William H. and Evelyn (Sanderson) Marcum in Weiser, Idaho. He was educated in La Grande and in his later years was raised by his mother and step-father, Howard Ramsey. After graduating from high school he enlisted in the … Read more