Biography of George C. Gray

GEORGE C. GRAY. – Mr. Gray was born in East Tennessee in 1840. His father was a farmer, and also an active worker as preacher in the Baptist church, and upon arriving in Oregon in 1853 laid a Donation claim near Corvallis, conducting his farm six days in the week and carrying on religious work on Sundays. It was in these surroundings that young George grew to man’s estate; and his first independent exertions were as a laborer in Corvallis from 1854 to 1860. In 1861 he went to the Oro Fino mines, and in 1862 brought cattle to Walla … Read more

Miller, Richard N. – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Richard Nathan Miller, 65, of 2467 Gekeler Lane, died Thursday at the Grande Ronde Hospital. Mr. Miller was born Dec. 14, 1913 at Lower Cove to Ernest E. and Anna (Gray) Miller. He graduated from La Grande High School. On Jan. 2, 1935 he married Veda Houx at Walla Walla. They farmed in the Cove area for many years. Mr. Miller was a member of Cove Lodge No. 91 A. F. & A. M.; Grande Ronde Valley No. 20 Royal Arch Masons; Cherry Chapter No. 177 O. E. S. and B. P. O. E. No. 433 … Read more

Miller, Dallas Richard – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Dallas Richard Miller, 66, of Cove, died April 18 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cove Sportsman’s Club, followed by a potluck dinner. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel. Mr. Miller was born Dec. 19, 1940, to Lester and Ida (Hunter) Miller, one of a set of twins. He attended school in Cove, graduating from high school in 1959, then joined the Navy. After his discharge from the Navy, Mr. Miller held various jobs until he became a farmer. He married Irene Lampkins Jan. 15, 1966, … 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

Hagey, Evelyn – Obituary

Evelyn Hagey, 96, died Sept. 22 at her home in La Grande. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St. Evelyn was born Sept. 17, 1911, to Royal David and Bernice Comstock Jones in Cove. In 1933, she married James Howard. He died in 1936. She married Floyd Hagey in March 1941. He preceded her in death in 2002. Evelyn was an active member in Eastern Star, Royal Neighbors and Daughters of the Nile. With her husband, she was also involved in the Shriners Food Caravan and the Shrine Football Game. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nicholas W. Ownbey

The esteemed gentleman whose name is at the head of this article is one of Wallowa’s best and most substantial citizens, having gained a prestige here by his faithfulness and uprightness, while he has also wrought for the advancement of the interests of the county in all ways and at all times, demonstrating him to be one of the public minded and progressive men of the section, and it is with pleasure that we accord to him a representation in this volume since also his life has been a bright example in manifestation of moral qualities of worth. In Benton … Read more

Burford, James S. – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Pioneer, Passes; Burial Thursday James S Burford, 76 year old pioneer of Union County, died this morning (June 25, 1935) at the Grande Ronde hospital after a short illness. (He was born February 19, 1859 per funeral card). Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Methodist church at Cove with Rev. Smits in charge of the services. Burial will take place at the family plot in the Cove Cemetery. Friends may view the body at the chapel of Walters Funeral Home. Mr. Burford crossed the plains to Oregon at the age … Read more

McCormack, William – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Pioneer Settler in the Valley Dead William McCormack First Permanent resident, Expires Suddenly William McCormack, the first settler in the Wallowa valley, died last Friday morning in his home on Alder Slope. He had not been robust for some time, but retired Thursday night in seemingly normal health. At 2 o’clock Friday morning, other members of the family heard groans coming from his room. He was found apparently suffering great pain although scarcely conscious. When a physician arrived, after being called in haste from Enterprise, the pioneer was dead. He never regained consciousness after the family … Read more

Pope, Grace – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Grace Pope, 99, formerly of Cove and Halfway, died June 2 at a care center in Clayton, Wash. A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. July 22 at the Presbyterian Church in Halfway. Mrs. Pope was born Sept. 21, 1906, to Isaac and Mary Nelson in Aitkin County, Minn. On Nov. 8, 1927, she married Milo Pope in Montesano, Wash. They lived in Washington, Montana and in Sutherlin, John Day and other Eastern Oregon towns where he worked as a logging contractor. They lived in Halfway from 1964 to 1996. She was a member of the Christian … Read more

Reese, Harry – Obituary

Harry Reese, 73, Dies at Portland Cove – Word was received here today of the death in Portland of Harry Reese, 73, former long-time resident of this area. Reese died Tuesday after a short illness. Funeral services will be held in Portland tomorrow. Surviving are: a brother, E. C. Reese, Cove, and daughters Connie Waterston, Portland and Lucille Day, Tacoma. La Grande Observer Wednesday, February 16, 1949 Front Page Contributed by: Tom Childers

Curteman, Beatrice A. – Obituary

Beatrice A. Curteman, 81, of Baker, died Friday at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center, Baker. Her funeral was today at Daniels Valley Funeral Chapel, La Grande, with the Rev. James Wenger-Monroe officiating. Interment followed at the Grandview Cemetery, La Grande. Mrs. Curteman was born July 22, 1906 in Roulette, PA., to Otto and Bessie Touscher Hunter. She was reared in Wallowa County area and attended and graduated from Enterprise High School. From Wallowa County she moved to Island City and then on to Union and Cove, where her family ranched. She married Carl Curteman in La Grande on Oct. 19, … Read more

Fordice, Kenneth L. – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Kenneth L. Fordice, 71, formerly of North Powder and Cove, died in his sleep Dec. 16, in Winston. A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the North Powder Cemetery. Viewing will be from 3 until 6 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande. He was born Aug. 28, 1935, in Enterprise to Willard and Lela (Gray) Fordice. He grew up on a ranch near Flora on the breaks of the Grande Ronde River and later moved with his family to North Powder where he attended school. He married Donna … Read more

Hedrick, Gene W. – Obituary

Gene W. Hedrick, 55, of Cove, a former Haines resident, died Sept. 1, 2003, as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident near Cove. There was a celebration of his life Friday at the Loveland Funeral Chapel in La Grande. Private inurnment will be at a later date. Mr. Hedrick was born Oct. 13, 1947, at Hillsboro. He was the son of George W. and Ann Ustic Hedrick. He attended school and graduated from high school in Seattle. He worked there for a time before he began attending college at the University of Washington at Seattle. After … Read more

Gauthier, Elizabeth – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Elizabeth L. Gauthier, 93, a retired homemaker of Cove, died Tuesday, August 22, following a short illness. Funeral services will be held Monday, Aug. 28, 1972, at the United Methodist Church at 10:30 a. m. with Rev. Dudley V. Johnson officiating. Interment will be in the Cove Cemetery. Elizabeth L. Gauthier was born in Osakis County, Minn. on Sept. 21, 1878, the daughter or John and Alive Vanschoonhoven. On Dec. 26, 1900, she was married to Delo Gauthier in Cove, and had been a resident of Cove for 50 years. Mr. Gauthier preceded her in … Read more

Hallmark, William Lewis – Obituary

Cove, Oregon William Lewis Hallmark, 86, of Portland and formerly of Cove died June 14. Mr. Hallmark was born July 29, 1919, in Cove. He graduated from Cove High School and helped run the family store. On Dec. 24, 1937, he married Winifred Mae Slauson, and attended Oregon State University and Eastern Oregon Normal School. He studied engineering and put himself through school by working for the Forest Service. He celebrated his 21st birthday while fighting a forest fire. In 1942 he began working for Willamette Iron and Steel as a draftsman in the shipyard. After the war he became … Read more

Holmes, Belle Mrs. – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon One Saturday night of last week, Mrs. Belle Holmes, the young wife of Eugene Holmes, died at her residence in the Cove afeter a lingering illness. For many months Mrs. Holmes was a patient sufferer as the insidious nature of her disease, consumption, marked its fateful progress until at last the summons came and a devoted wife and loving mother passed away to the tongueless silence of dreamless dust. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon attended by many friends, and relatives of the bereaved family to whom a silent sympathy is extended in their sad … Read more

Fisher, Emma Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon The death of Mrs. Emma Rundall Fisher occurred at a LaGrande hospital to which she was rushed from her home in Enterprise, after a severe illness of long duration which required an operation from which she did not recover. Mrs. Fisher was an early pioneer coming to this valley and locating with her family near Union and with her husband, Hiram Fisher, moved to Cove where they resided until going to Enterprise some 35 years ago. She was born on a trek of wagon-train movers, coming west between Iowa and Kansas before making the remainder of … Read more

Gray, Joseph – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Joseph T. Gray, 74, service station operator of Rt. 1 La Grande, died this morning at his home. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Daniels Funeral Home with Rev. Boon White officiating. Burial follows in Island City cemetery. Born at Cove, Mr. Gray had lived in Union County all his life. He was a member of Cove Lodge No. 91 AF & AM and the La Grande Elks. Survivors are the widow, Mrs. Verda Gray of La Grande; three daughters, Mrs. Reba Laird, Mrs. Maiva Spray and Mrs. LaNita Buchanan, all of … Read more

Conklin, Helen – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Helen A. [sic – Janet] Conklin, 70, of Conklin Lane, Cove, died at her home yesterday. She had been a resident of the Cove area since 1910. Funeral services are scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Cove Methodist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Pastor Dudley Johnson, United Methodist Church, will officiate. Services and arrangements are being handled by the Dempsey’s Funeral Chapel. Mrs. Conklin was born Dec. 18, 1900 in Stanton, Neb., the daughter of A. A. and Lula [sic – Lulu] Antles. She was married on June 21, 1922 in Cove to … Read more

Foster, A. J. – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Mr. A.J. Foster of the Cove, died at his home Thursday evening at 8:15 o’clock. He had been in poor health the past year, suffering with a bronchial affection which ultimately caused his death. He was 60(?) years of age. The funeral will be held under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity at 11 o’clock Sunday morning. The deceased was a brother of F.E. Foster, the Union merchant, and Mrs. B.B. Sanborn of Walla Walla. Eastern Oregon Republican Saturday, November 24, 1894