Elma Washington

Grove, Gene D., Sr. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Gene D. Grove Sr., 68, a longtime resident of Elma, Wash., died Dec. 29, 2003, at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Wash. At his request, there will be no funeral. Mr. Grove was born on Feb. 28, 1935, at Holdrege, Neb., to John and Helen Grove. He married Jean Hendricksen in Baker City on Feb. 5, 1955. She died in 1999. Mr. Grove had worked at the Mayr Brothers Mill for more than 20 years. He was a member of the Elma Eagles, and enjoyed fishing and camping trips. Mr. Grove is survived by his son, … Read more

Ransom, Paul E. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Paul E. Ransom, 83, of La Grande and formerly of Milton-Freewater, died Aug. 8 at Rose Cottage, an adult care center, in Kennewick. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt, 1551 Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla. Pastor Roger Holden will officiate. A reception will follow at the funeral home. Paul was born Sept. 30, 1924, to Ernest and Lou Hahn Ransom in Walla Walla. He attended elementary school on Government Mountain then the Forks School on the Walla Walla River. He started high school in Prescott, Wash. His family then moved … Read more

Leslie, Elizabeth Annetta “Betty” – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Elizabeth Annetta “Betty” Leslie, 77, of La Grande died September 16 at Grande Ronde Hospital. At her request there will be no services. Mrs. Leslie was born Dec. 18, 1928, to Carl P. and Myrtle Harmon Cloud in Elma, Wash. In 1969 she married Bruce Leslie. He died earlier. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Survivors include a son, Carl “Jake” Jacobsen of Gig Harbor, Wash.; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers, Bob Cloud of Bellingham, Wash., and Hank Cloud of Oregon; and a sister, Barbara Jacobsen of Puyallup, Wash. Memorials may be made … Read more

Bartlett, Marjorie Ann – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Marjorie Ann Bartlett, 68, of La Grande, died May 26 in her home, surrounded by her family. A funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center with Phil Burling from the local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses officiating. Marjorie was born Aug. 23, 1939, to Ralph and Eula (Bircher) Trow in Elma, Wash. The family moved to La Grande when she was 10 years old. On Aug. 23, 1959, she married James William Bartlett in La Grande and soon after started a family. The family lived in the Union County … Read more

McCullough, Barbara Verell Jordan Mrs. – Obituary

Barbara Verell McCullough, 93, a former longtime Haines resident and Baker County teacher, died Aug. 14, 2006, at her home in Elma, Wash. Her graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to share memories and sign the family’s online guest book at www.whitesidefamilymortuaries.com. Barbara was born Jan. 6, 1913, at Montrose, Colo., to Loring Wesley and Mable Schee Jordan. After the death of her mother, Myrtle May became Barbara’s stepmother when she was 3 years old. She graduated from Roseburg High School and then went on to earn her teaching … Read more

Billerback, Darrel Ray – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Darrel Ray Billerbeck, 68, of Elma, Wash., and formerly of La Grande died June 26 at his home. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. July 21 at Whiteside Family Mortuary in Elma. A potluck meal will follow at Vance Creek Park. Participants are encouraged to bring a story or favorite memory to share. Mr. Billerbeck was born June 22, 1938, to Harry and Bernice Billerbeck in La Grande. He graduated from La Grande High School and attended Oregon State University until he returned home to run the family farm. He graduated from Oregon Technical … Read more

Boyce, Ned – 1938 Obituary

Imnaha, Oregon Ned Boyce passed away at Walla Walla, Wash., on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 1938. He was born Jan.6, 1912 at Elma, Wash., son of William and Olga Boyce. On Aug. 30, 1959 he was married to Cora Simmons at Enterprise. He was a painter by trade and was a member of the Enterprise Elks Lodge. He came to Wallowa County in February, 1948 and opened the Pie Shop and Melo Freeze Ice Cream Shop. He was in that business for several years. Survivors include his wife, Cora, of Imnaha; two daughter, Dorothy Keener of Joseph and Edith McGee of … Read more

Biography of Charles Biles

Charles Biles was born in Warren County, Tennessee, in Aug. 1809, and reared on a farm in North Carolina, removing when 19 years old to Christian County, Kentucky. In 1832 he married, and in 1835 removed to Illinois, soon returning to Hopkins County, Kentucky, where he resided until 1853, when he emigrated to Washington Territory in company with his brother James, their families, and C. B. Baker, Elijah Baker, and William Downing, and their families, being a part of the first direct immigration to the territory, via the wagon road through the Nachess pass. Mr Biles settled upon Grand Mound … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Melancthon Z. Goodell

HON. MELANCTHON Z. GOODELL. – The family of which this pioneer is a member has ever been prominent and influential in the Pacific Northwest since its arrival hither. Jothan W. Goodell, the father was a pioneer of Ohio; and it was at Vermilion that Melancthon was born in 1837. In 1850 the family crossed the plains, the eight children being deemed no serious hindrance. A stop-over was made at Salt Lake one winter; and it has been thought that they missed but little a great calamity from Mormon treachery. Reaching Portland in 1851, they made their first home in Polk … Read more