Karl Roy Stone, a well-known La Grande businessman and longtime head of the Union County Planning Commission, died Saturday at Grande Ronde Hospital. He was 89.
Mr. Stone, of 1703 Cedar St., was born on Sept. 15, 1895, in Sterling, Kan., to Robert and Amalia “Mollie” Birk. He served with the U.S. Army during World War I, and was corporal of the honor guards at the funeral of Buffalo Bill Cody at Pike’s Peak, Colo. He married Genevieve Rogers at Watertown, N.Y., on Aug. 27, 1919. The couple homesteaded near Reedsport in 1920, and Mr. Stone owned and operated the Reedsport Creamery from 1921 to 1926.
He was in the creamery business in Klamath Falls, Eugene, Springfield and Portland from 1926 until 1945, when the couple moved to La Grande.
Mr. Stone owned and operated Stone’s Cream Station from 1945 to 1960, and served as Union County fruit fly inspector from 1960 to 1965. He served as administrator for the Union County Planning Commission from December 1965 until June 1976.
Mr. Stone was a member and deacon emeritus of the First United Presbyterian Church of La Grande. He was a member of the La Grande Lodge No. 41 A.F. & A.M., Baker Consistory Scottish Rite; Union Council No. 5 Royal and Select Masons, La Grande Chapter 9 Royal Arch Masons; Eastern Oregon Commandary No. 6 Knight Templar, Al Kader Temple, Union County Shrine Club, and Hope Chapter No. 13 Order of Eastern Star.
He also was a member of the La Grande Elks Lodge No. 433, Farmer Merchant Association, Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, National Rifle Association, Izaak Walton League (of which he was a state officer), National Wildlife Association, and the La Grande Kiwanis and Rotary clubs. Mr. Stone also was a member of the Salvation Army
advisory board.
Mr. Stone was an avid hunter, fisherman, boater, archer and storyteller, and taught in local hunter safety programs for many years.
He was preceded in death by his wife Genevieve on May 24, 1976.
Survivors include two sons, David of Port Washington, N.Y., and Roger of Eugene, a daughter, Charlotte Rankin of Island City; a brother, Don of Missouri; three sisters, Wilma Harrington of La Grande, Myrna [sic] Fromme and Roberta Lutes, both of Missouri; eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and other relatives.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Daniels Valley Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Steve Kliewer of the First United Presbyterian Church, and the La Grande Lodge No. 41 A.F. & A.M. officiating. Concluding services will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.
Those who wish to make contributions in Mr. Stone’s memory may send them to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland 97201, or to the charity of their choice in care of Daniels Valley Funeral Chapel, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande.”
LaGrande Observer, 9/24/84
Contributed by: Marilynn Howard