Enterprise Oregon

Benson, Leo Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. Leo Benson of Enterprise died at Wallowa hospital Tuesday evening. Last Friday she underwent a Cesarean operation. The child died soon after and the mother lived only until Tuesday. The remains of both will be taken to Enterprise Wednesday for burial. Mrs. Benson was the wife of a prosperous farmer of the upper valley and the sister of Mrs. Harry Lyman, and Mrs. Peffer of Wallowa. Wallowa County Reporter, Enterprise, Wallowa County, Thursday January 23, 1919

Sanders, Katherine – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon The many friends of Mrs. Katherine Sanders were grieved when word reached them of her passing on Sunday morning, March 18, 1951 at the St. Joseph hospital in La Grande where she had been a patient for several days. She had been in ill health for several years. Katherine Agnes Myers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Myers, was born September 6, 1872 in Beaverville, Illinois. Her girlhood was spent in California. On January 12, 1896 she was married to James Preston Sanders at Corrine, Utah and to them was born one daughter, Routh. In … 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

Browning, Marie – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Marie Browning was born at Chester, Illinois on December 22nd, 1895 and died at Enterprise on August 23rd, 1919, aged 23 yrs., 8 mos. and one day. Her death came as a distinct shock to the community as very few people knew of her illness, although it was known that her health had been ailing for about a year. Marie had grown from childhood into lovely young womanhood here in Enterprise, to which place she had come with her parents, fourteen years ago, from Danville, Ill. With the exception of two years in school, one year … Read more

Putnam, Dorothy – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Dorothy Matilda “Tilly” Putnam, 88, died Sunday, June 17, 1979, in Wallowa Memorial Hospital, after a stay of four days. She had been in failing health for three or four years. Two years ago she moved from Portland to Enterprise, where she was a resident of Alpine Village. She was born on Feb. 2, 1891, in Ostrander, Minn., the daughter of Olle J. and Margaretta Hager. On June 21, 1931, she was married to Harold Douglas Putnam in Reno, Nev. He preceded her in death on July 15, 1968. A homemaker, Mrs. Putnam had been a … Read more

Forbes, Susan Mrs. – Obituary

Susan D. Forbes died Friday at 11 a.m. at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. E. Warden. She came to Enterprise last July to make her home with her daughter. A succession of colds and the rigor of winter proved more than her frail body could endure and she succumbed to a bronchial attack quite suddenly. Mrs. Forbes was born in Ohio in 1835 and died in Enterprise, Oregon April 4, 1919. She was married to W. I. Forbes at the age of 18 and to this union was born nine children, seven of whom preceded her in death. … Read more

Emmons, Elmer G. – Obituary

La Grande, April 30–Elmer G. Emmons, 39 president of La Grande aerie No. 259, Fraternal Order of Eagles, died unexpectedly in a local hospital Wednesday night. Funeral services are announced for Saturday morning, conducted by the lodge, with interment at Baker. Emmons was born at Enterprise and had lived here for 15 years. Survivors include the wife, Esther M. Emmons, and three sons, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Emmons, and a sister, Mrs. Erma Morrison, all of Baker.

Draper, Judson – Obituary

Judson Draper Services Today Judson Wolvert Draper was born May 21, 1869, near Schuyler, Neb., and passed away suddenly at his home in Enterprise at 9 o’clock Monday morning, Dec. 20. Mr. Draper came to Oregon when he was 14 years old, and his home had been here ever since. In La Grande in 1894 he was married to Miss Sarah Frances Baldwin, and they came to Wallowa county to make their home many years ago. They lived first at Lostine, later moving to a farm in the Leap county where they resided for ten years before moving to Enterprise. … Read more

Wilks, Ella Mae – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa Couty, Oregon Ella Mae Wilks, 67, died on April 7, 2005, at her daughter’s home in Sparks, Nev., after a long battle with lung cancer. She was born on Nov. 25, 1937, in Enterprise to Glenn and Louisa Sanday. Mrs. Wilks went to school in Flora and married Jay Wilks in 1954. After leaving the county for some time, they returned and resided mostly in Lostine until Mr. Wilks died in 1998. Mrs. Wilks then lived in Enterprise until 2004 when she moved to Sparks to live with her daughter and family. Mrs. Wilks worked as a cook … Read more

Wright, Mary – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon The passing of one of Wallowa’s pioneers occurred Tuesday morning July 9th, when Aunt Mary Wright died at her home in Enterprise after an illness of several months. She and her husband homesteaded on Alder slope among the very first settlers in the county. Had she lived until December would have 89 years. Three sons are living in this city: George, Layfayette and Tom Wright. One son, Henry Wright lives in Portland and a daughter, Mrs. H. A. Owenby at Oregon City. The funeral is this afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Alder church, Rev. Sibley officiating. Wallowa … Read more

Curtis, Donald Eugene – Obituary

Donald Eugene Curtis, 51, died on Feb. 23, 2005 at his home in Wallowa. He was born June 16, 1953 in Enterprise to Roy Laverne Curtis and Jessie Lee (Collins) Curtis. Mr. Curtis graduated from Enterprise Seventh Day Adventist School and later attended Gem State Academy, Treasure Valley Community College and Clackamas Community College. He worked as a long haul truck driver, and enjoyed guns and reloading, visiting with friends, welding and doing mechanic work. He was an avid collector of M&Ms memorabilia. He is survived by his wife Leslie (Henderson) Curtis; parents Roy and Jessie Curtis; children Margret Curtis … Read more

Taylor, Loring E. “Jack” – Obituary

Loring E. (Jack) Taylor, 82, of Joseph, and a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 24, 2001, at Wallowa Memorial Hospital in Enterprise. His memorial service will be held Thursday, Jan. 3, at 11 a.m. at the Joseph American Legion Hall. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City. Mr. Taylor was born Feb. 9, 1919, at Baker City to Balen Alonzo and Dorey “Higgins” Taylor. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was a past commander of the Baker City American Legion post. He was also a member of the Blue Mountain Fiddlers and … Read more

Alford, Helen – Obituary

Helen Alford, the daughter of Eugene Albert Houck and Doris Francis Houck, was born on Nov. 5, 1930 in Enterprise. She grew up in the Zumwalt area of Wallowa County. In 1949, she married Glen Emory Alford of Joseph. During their lives together they lived in Wallowa County, Baker City and the Willamette Valley. Helen enjoyed family gatherings, playing pinochle and table games, and sewing for her family. She loved being outdoors and often instigated family adventures from fishing the nearby lakes and streams to picking huckleberries on the mountain side, sharing a picnic in the park, sledding and building … Read more

Varney, Roy

Enterprise, Oregon Roy Varney, a prominent farmer of Prairie Creek, died Sunday, August 25, 1935, at Hot Lake after having been taken there for treatment following a two weeks illness. He had been in poor health for some time as a result of a serious heart disease but had carried on his usual farm work until his condition became serious two weeks before his death. It is thought that an injury he received while building a barn might have hastened his death. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at the Methodist church with Rev. G.R. Archer in charge and interment … Read more

Racey, Nina L. Deen Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Nina L. Racey, 91, of Enterprise, died at home Saturday April 29, 2000. She was born in Boring, Oregon on August 6, 1908 to Melvil and Dora Deen. She married Laurence House and they had a daughter, Wanda June House. They were later divorced, and she and Wanda moved to Malheur where she met and married Alexander Racey. They lived in the Bridgeport area and ranched for over 30 years. Later they sold the ranch and moved to Baker City, where they lived for seven years, then moved to Estacada to live with her daughter. Upon … Read more

Collins, Debrah Rae – Obituary

Debrah Rae Collins, 50, died at her home in Enterprise on Dec. 20, 2004. She was born Nov. 2, 1954 in Lebanon to Ray Albert Davenport and Dorothy Louise (Ruggles) Davenport. Debrah worked as a kitchen helper at the hospital. She is survived by her sister, Patricia Davenport, niece Melissa Jarrad, and her great niece Josie Jarrad, and her great nephew Damien Jarrad. At her request there will be no service. Donations may be made in her name to a charity of your choice. Wallowa County Chieftain – Thursday, December 30, 2004

Hess, Gertrude Jean – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Gertrude Jean Hess, 59, of 123 Union St., Walla Walla, died June 21, 1981 at Portland’s St. Vincent Hospital. Mrs. Hess was born July 19, 1921, in Criterion, Oregon to Peter and Birtha Herling Kirsch. She attended Criterion and Maupin schools and graduated from Oregon State University in Corvallis. She married W. John Hess June 9, 1946. She was a teacher in Enterprise and a homemaker. She was a member of Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, Christian Womens Club and Engineers Wives. Mrs. Hess is survived by her husband, at home; three sons, Dan and Mark … Read more

Moore, Charles – Obituary

Accidently Killed Chas. Moore, a herder in one of Sam Litch’s sheep camps in Wallowa county, accidentally shot and killed himself this week. The camp is situated 25 miles northeast of Enterprise and the unfortunate man was found a short time after the accident by friends. A coroner’s jury was called and after investigating the case, concluded that the affair was purely accidental. Elgin Recorder Friday June 15, 1906

Cornwell, Arnold Byron – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Arnold Byron Cornwell, a long-time rancher and farmer on Upper Prairie Creek and a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on his ranch March 18, 2007. Arnold was born in Gordon, Neb., Sept. 6, 1920. He moved to Enterprise with his parents, Iver and Winnie, and his six brothers and sisters in 1930. He graduated from Enterprise High School in 1937. In 1943, he married Elizabeth Ann (Bess) Pecinovsky, and he and his wife had two sons, Jerry and Jim. Arnold was a successful and hard-working farmer and rancher all his life. He built the family … Read more

Ransier, David J. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon David J. Ransier died at the Wallowa County Nursing Home in Enterprise on December 30, 1983. He was born on August 4, 1898 at Bickleton, Wash. In 1920 he was married to Rena Ivy Morgan at Arlington, Oregon. She preceded him in death. Mr. Ransier was a restaurant proprietor by profession. Survivors include a son, James R. Ransier of Las Vegas, Nev.; a daughter, Mrs. Edwin (Lorean) Kruse of Wallowa; three brothers, Roy Ransier of Pasco, Wash., Lester Ransier of Goldendale, Wa., and Norman Ransier of LaCenter, Wa..; two sisters, Mrs. Nettie Sheldon of LaCenter and … Read more