Ruckman, Virgil Audmer – Obituary

Imbler, Union County, Oregon Virgil Ruckman, age 74, former resident of Imbler, died Tuesday, Feb 25, at Oakland, Calif.. Ruckman was born on April 27, 1900, at Alicel, the son of Samuel and Lillian Ruckman. On June 10, 1922, he was married to Bessie Kasinger of Imbler. After farming in the Imbler area for a year they moved to Oakland,Calif. Survivors include his daughters, Mrs. William [Betty Gene] Graybeal and Mrs.. George [Audrea] Seitz, both of Oakland; sister, Mrs. Dale [Lucretia] Brookshire, Imbler, brother, Clark Ruckman, La Grande; stepbrother, Walter Phillips, Salem: two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, and other relatives and … Read more

Duncan, Lee – Obituary

Haines Commercial Organizer, Banker Had Notable Career Death on Monday, Dec. 1, at Cedar Manor nursing home after brief illness claimed Lee A. Duncan, businessman whose career paralleled for over a half-century the development of the community of Haines. Between the early 1900’s and the early 30’s he built a mercantile enterprise in Powder valley and was considered the most unique and successful of its kind in the country. His Haines Commercial Co. serviced the area with everything from up-to-date ladies ready-to-wear and millinery to plug tobacco, pickles, and lumber. It operated a machinery dealership, a repair service and bought … Read more

Loennig, Ruby Faye Ledbetter Mrs. – Obituary

Ruby Faye Loennig Burial Saturday Ruby Faye Loennig, 59, a resident of Haines, died Tuesday in St. Elizabeth Hospital. Ruby Faye Ledbetter, daughter of Will and Elsie Ledbetter, was born July 20, 1899, at Alicel in Union County. She graduated from Willamette High School and Willamette University and was married to Henry Loennig in Alicel in 1926. Mrs. Loennig was a member of the Methodist Church; a member of P.E.O.; president of W.S.C.S.; president of Muddy Creek PTA; member and past president of the Mutual Improvement club; a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority; and an active 4-H leader. She … Read more

Gray, Sallie Inez – Obituary

The funeral for Sallie Inez Gray, 93, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Niswonger-Reynolds Chapel, with burial in Deschutes Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Howard Heimbuch of the Four Square Gospel Church will officiate. Mrs. Gray, of 517 W. Birch in Redmond, died Sunday at a local nursing home. She was born to Charles and Sarah Bridwell Hamilton on March 20, 1884, in Alicel, Union County, Ore., and had come to Central Oregon in 1929. She had been a cook at the Altamont Hotel, the Sisters Hotel and the East and Crescent Lake resorts. She was preceded in death by … Read more

De Lint, Marinus Jacob – Obituary

Alicel, Oregon Marinus Jacob “Rien” de Lint, 66, of Alicel, died April 11 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Christian Church, 901 Penn Ave. in La Grande. Committal and interment will follow at the Summerville Cemetery. Rien was born Sept. 9, 1940, in Zevenbergschen Hoek, the Netherlands to Arie and Christina C. (Van de Erve) de Lint. In 1959 he came to the United States as an exchange student with the University of California-Davis and he participated in a work exchange on farms in California. When he … Read more

Elmer, Russell W. – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Russell W. Elmer, 85, of Cove died Aug. 18 at his home. Viewing will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. The funeral will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the LDS Chapel, 11206 S. McAllister Road in Island City. Burial will follow at the Summerville Cemetery. Mr. Elmer was born Jan. 19, 1921, to Frank and Margaret Meroney Elmer in Lower Cove. He graduated from Cove High School in 1940, and attended welding school in Portland. On Nov. 10, 1946, he married Norma Jean Roulet of Elgin. They lived in Imbler and Alicel … Read more

Ruckman, Samuel G. – Obituary

Alicel, Union County, Oregon Services Set For Samuel Ruckman Services for Samuel G. Ruckman of ALicel, who died at the Grande Ronde Hospital Sunday, will be held at Daniels Funeral Home, Thursday at 2 p.m. Rev. Gordon Milldrum will officiate. Burial will follow at Summerville cemetery. Born at Alicel, he had lived there all his life. He was a member of the First Christian Church. Survivovors include his widow, Mrs. Hermia Ruckman, Alicel; two sons, Audmer Ruckman, Oakland, Calif., Clark Ruckman, La Grande, one daughter, Mrs. Lucretia Paroz, Imbler; one stepson, Walter Phillips, Salem; 11 grandchildren, two great grandchildren and … Read more

Hamilton, Charlie – Obituary

Alicel, Union County, Oregon Charlie Hamilton, Alicel Farmer, Taken By Death Charlie Hamilton, 75, farmer from Alicel, died Wednesday, June 9, in a local hospital after a long illness. Mr. Hamilton was born in Scioto, Ohio, August 25, 1867. He had been a resident of Union county for 70 years. Survivors are three sisters; Mrs. Walter Pratt, Mrs. J. G. Wright and Mrs. Charles Gray. He also had several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 13, at the Snodgrass Funeral Home. Rev. Irvin S. Motz will officiate. Burial will be in the Summerville … Read more

McFerran, Maiva Joseline (Gray) – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Maiva Joseline McFerran, 72, of La Grande died Monday, June 14, 1993, at Grande Ronde Hospital. A private family memorial will be held later. Mrs. McFerran was born Jan. 12, 1921, to Joseph and Verda (Ohms) Gray on Lower Cove Road in Alicel. She attended grade school at Lower Cove and later La Grande High School. After graduating with the class of 1938, she attended Beauty College. She worked as a clerk in various grocery stores in La Grande and spent the longest time at Sinden’s Grocery (now Wayne’s Market). In 1975 she married William … Read more

Ruckman, Samuel G. Mrs. – Obituary

Alicel, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Samuel G. Ruckman Dead Survived by Husband and Four Children Death Comes a Few Hours After the Birth of a Son Saturday Night  A few hours after a son had been born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel G. Ruckman of Alicel last Saturday night, Mrs. Ruckman died of an acute attack of Bright’s disease,a malady with which she had been suffering for some time, and which was the cause of her being moved to the local hospital from her Alicel home shortly before death came. The motherless babe is healthy and strong today. Mrs. Ruckman’s … Read more

Gray, Nellie Frances – Obituary

Nellie Frances Gray, 91, formerly of Union County, died Tuesday, May 25, 1993, of natural causes in Spanaway, Wash. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at Unger Funeral Chapel in Silverton. Interment will follow in Belle Passi Mausoleum in Woodburn. Mrs. Gray was born Sept. 25, 1901, in Lenox County, Iowa, to George Washington and Alice Mae Wiley Lemon. The family moved to Lynden, Wash., when she was very young. Her father died there when she was six, and her mother moved the family to Union, where she received her education. She married Ernest Merrell Gray on May 28, … Read more

Cook, Nora – Obituary

Funeral services for Nora Anna Cook, 47, who died at a hospital here Thursday morning after a short illness, will be held at Summerville chapel Saturday at 2 p.m. She was born in Union County January 20, 1893 and had made her home in the valley all her life. She leaves two children, Wesley of Alicel and Mrs. Milda McCoy of Irrigon; one brother, Charles Hamilton, with whom she made her home at Alicel; three sisters, Sally Gray of Bend, Hattie Wright of Joseph and Lettie Pratt of Alicel. The Observer Friday, November 22, 1940 Page 3 Contributed by: Tom … Read more

Thorpe, Frank – Obituary

Graveside funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the Summerville cemetery for Frank Thorpe, 79, who died earlier this week at the Pythian Home at Vancouver, Washington, where he had lived the last several years. The service of the Knights of Pythias was used. Mr. Thorpe was born July 7, 1866 at Seymour, Iowa, and came in this locality when a small boy. He was in business here for many years and later moved to his acreage a mile from Alicel on the old Summerville road where he lived until going to Vancouver. The deceased leaves no known surviving relatives … Read more

Brookshire, Lucretia – Obituary

Lucretia Paroz Brookshire, 90, of Imbler, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1997, at a local care facility. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at the Summerville Cemetery Chapel with the Rev. Irwin H. Smutz of the Imbler Christian Church officiating. Friends may call at Daniels Chapel if the Valley from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Mrs. Brookshire was born on Jan. 31, 1907, in Alicel to Samuel and Lillian [Clark] Ruckman. She attended schools and graduated from Imbler High School in 1927. She attended one year of business school in Walla Walla, Wash. On Sept. 8, 1926, she … Read more

Hamilton, C. W. – Obituary

C. W. Hamilton, Of Lower Cove, Called by Death Charles W. Hamilton was born in Scioto, county, Ohio, May 2, 1845 where he lived until 1869. At the age of 18 he enlisted in the Union army. From May 2, to Sept. 3, 1864, he served as corporal in Company I of the 140th regiment. In this long and terrible struggle he offered his life daily for his country standing where only the bravest can stand. Sept. 13th, 1864 at Platsmouth [sic – Portsmouth], Ohio, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah F. Bridwell and to this union were … Read more

Butler, Georgia LaVella – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Georgia LaVelle Butler, 95, of La Grande died Sept. 11 at Jody’s Country Care in La Grande. A celebration of life will be held on at 2 p.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in La Grande. A graveside Service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Loveland Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. She was born in La Grande on Sept. 27, 1910, to Herman and Florence Richey. She grew up in La Grande except for five years when her family lived on a ranch in Cove. She graduated from … Read more

Cates, John A. – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon John A. Cates Responds to The Final Summons John A. Cates, aged seventy, died yesterday at the home of his son, Cecil Carter, near Alicel. His demise was due to injuries following an accident by a fall at the son’s farm a week or so ago and which resulted in a condition of partial paralysis. The deceased was a member of one of the earlier pioneer families of Union County, his parents settling on a homestead above Union in the early sixties. The surviving members of the original family are Robert S. Cates, former county clerk … Read more

Ruckman, Omar – Obituary

Omar Ruckman Dies In Hospital Omar [Scoot] Ruckman, 52, of Alicel, died in a hospital here on Sunday, after a long illness. he was born at Alicel on July 17, 1904 and had lived in the county all his life. Funeral services are scheduled for Daniels Funeral Home on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 2 p. m. with the Rev. Gene Robinson officiating. Burial is to be in Summerville Cemetery. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Ruckman of Alicel; two brothers, Audmer Ruckman, Oakland, Calif.; Clark Ruckman, La Grande; a sister, Mrs. Lucretia Paroz, Imbler, and other relatives. La … Read more

Childers, Lee Roy – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon La Grande Evening Observer Saturday, January 18, 1947 Page 3, Hospital Notes Lee Childers Dies Following Illness Lee Roy Childers, Cove farmer, and life resident of Union County, died Saturday in a local hospital at the age of 62. Active in Calvary Baptist church in that city, he had served as deacon for many years. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon in Snodgrass funeral home with Rev. Howard B. Smith of Vale officiating. Burial will be in Summerville. Mr. Childers, son of George P. and Nancy A. Childers, was born Nov. 10, … Read more

Childers, Merton T. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Merton T. Childers, 49, died Sunday morning at Hermiston. Funeral services will be held at La Grande, Wednesday at 2 p.m. with Snodgrass Mortuary in charge. Mr. Childers was water service foreman for the Union Pacific Railroad at Hinckle. He had worked for the railroad 26 years except for time with the Seebees during World War II. He was a member of the Masons, Elks, and Shriners. Mr. Childers was born at Alicel and had been a resident of La Grande until about five years ago when the family moved to Hermiston. Survivors are his … Read more