Eugene Oregon

Babb, Frances Elaine Breshears – Obituary

Wallowa, Oregon Frances Elaine Breshears Babb, 96, of Eugene, died April 4, 2004. She was born April 8, 1907, in Elgin to William and Margaret (Eckley) Breshears. Mrs. Babb grew up in the Wallowa, Vincent and Rondowea areas and graduated from Lostine High School. She worked for M. Crow and Company in Lostine for a time. She married Avon Dale Babb in 1926 and lived in the Eugene area for the last 79 years. Her interests included vegetable and flower gardening, crossword puzzles, University of Oregon football and basketball, and travel. She enjoyed family and friends and was well known … Read more

Leep, Frances Williams Mrs. – Obituary

Frances W. Leep, 87, of Baker City, died Jan. 16, 2005, at her home. Memorial services for Mrs. Leep will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Baker City Christian Church. Pastor Roger Scovil and Mr. Jack Pittman of the church will officiate. Mrs. Leep was born in King City, Mo., on July 11, 1917, to Nelson Oscar and Clara Belle (Keeney) Williams. She moved to Oregon with her family at the age of 14 and settled in Eugene, where her father was a pastor and her mother taught school. She attended schools in the Eugene area and graduated … Read more

Biography of Philip F. Castleman

PHILIP F. CASTLEMAN. – Those who now make the trip in the palatial car across the continent from the populous cities and thickly settled districts of the union, and view the Pacific Northwest in its present development, can but faintly realize the dangers and privations the sturdy pioneers experienced in reaching here, nor yet understand the troubles they had with the red man who then roamed its confines at will, and knew no law save what pleased the savage heart the best. They often meet among its residents not a few upon whom the snows of many winters have fallen, … Read more

Bean, Katherine Patterson – Obituary

Mrs. Katherine Patterson Bean, member of a prominent pioneer family and for many years an outstanding figure in the civic and community life of Eugene and in several leading women’s organizations, died in her sleep Tuesday [February 22, 1944] at her home, 978 High Street, at the age of 69 years. She was the widow of the late Louis E. Bean, who held several high state offices. Mr. Bean was an attorney. Mrs. Bean was a native of Lane County, born Aug. 28, 1874, on the farm of her parents, Alexander K. and Iphie Henderson Patterson, three miles east of … Read more

Hesus, Carol Andrea McKim Mrs. – Obituary

After an aggressive four-month battle with throat cancer, Carol Andrea Hesus, supportive wife and fun-loving mother, joined her grandmother in heaven on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at 3:30 a.m. Andrea was 50 years old. Carol Andrea McKim was born in Baker, Ore., in 1957. Andrea attended schools in Baker and graduated from Pine Eagle High School in Halfway, Ore. She met Frederick Hesus while attending Eastern Oregon State College. They married in 1978 and moved to Halfway, Ore., to be close to Andrea’s family. In 1985, Andrea and Fred moved their family to Ponapei, and then to Guam where Andrea … Read more

Niederer, Minnie See – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Minnie See Niederer, 85, formerly of La Grande, died Oct. 21. Minnie was born and raised in La Grande where she met Harley Levon Niederer. They were married in Weiser, Idaho, in 1941. They moved to Eugene and spent 55 years together until Levon died in 1996. She is survived by son, John Niederer of Vancouver, Wash.; daughter, Nikki Pettet of Olympia, Wash.; two grandsons; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by four siblings, Bill Hart, Grover See, Lottie Noyes and Ester Crader. The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending November 10, … Read more

Hamblen, Sylvester – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon 1918-1998 Sylvester “Sid” Hamblen, 80, died Sunday evening, November 29, at his La Grande home. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Summerville Cemetery, with Pastor Roger Cochran officiating. Payne Family Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Hamblen was born January 19, 1918 in Eugene, to Harry and Elma Hamblen. He married Cora Brown in 1942, and they had three children. They divorced after 26 years of marriage, but remained friends. He married Pauline Willis in 1969. She died in 1996. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Humphrey

GEORGE HUMPHREY. – Mr. Humphrey was esteemed by everyone as an honorable gentleman, a man of large brain, and of an excellent capacity and understanding. Although in his youth he suffered from poverty and the lack of educational facilities, he nevertheless succeeded in obtaining a large property and an honored and enduring name. His estimable wife, Cynthia A. Humphrey, was “one of the best of women,” so described by all who knew her and were allowed to make the acquaintance of her great mental intelligence and vigor, and to know of her benevolence and christian character. Mr. Humphrey was born … Read more

Biography of Judge Robert Eakin

JUDGE ROBERT EAKIN. – While Union county is so especially favored in having men of energy and talent in the various callings of human industry and learning, there is no profession that is more signally marked by the men of ability within its ranks than the legal, and as a leader among this class stands the gentleman, whose name initiates this paragraph, and who is well and favorably known throughout eastern Oregon. Judge Eakin is a profound student of the literature of his chosen profession, having added by careful and thorough research to a mind well poised for weighing the … Read more

Foust, Roenna Bee McBride Walton Mrs. – Obituary

Roenna Bee Foust, 75, of Eugene, a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 18, 2006. Her memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Fairfield Church of the Nazarene. Inurnment will be in Baker City. She was born on Oct. 15, 1931, at Pocatello, Idaho, to Loren and Hazel Stiff McBride. She worked as a church secretary at the Myrtle Creek Church of the Nazarene and owned Vic-Tone Cleaners at Myrtle Creek. She also worked in home care as a nurses aid in Baker City. She married John Walton at Baker City in 1950. They were divorced in … Read more

Biography of Hon. Stukely Ellsworth

HON. STUKELY ELLSWORTH. – This eminent lawyer of our state was born at Stockton, Chautauqua county, New York, December 18, 1826. Among his distinguished ancestors were Oliver Ellsworth, the third chief justice of the supreme court of the United States; Mary Lyon, founder of Mount Holyoke Seminary, and Mary Franklin, a sister of Benjamin Franklin. Colonel E.E. Ellsworth is also supposed to have belonged to the same family. Mr. Ellsworth received his academical education in Chautauqua county, and graduated at Yale College in 1847. He studied law at Buffalo, New York, nearly three years, and was admitted to practice before … Read more

Greene, Douglas Wright – Obituary

Richland, Oregon Douglas Wright Greene, 75, a former Richland resident, died July 16, 2004, at Springfield. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Richland Methodist Church. There will be a graveside service afterward at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. A memorial service will be scheduled later at Springfield. Douglas was born on Oct. 27, 1928, at Richland to Russell and Mildred Greene. He was raised in Richland, graduating from Eagle Valley High School in 1946. While in high school, Douglas lettered in football and was student body president. He joined the U.S. Army in 1950 and … Read more

Odell, William Holman – Obituary

Plans have been completed for funeral services this afternoon in Salem for W. H. Odell, who died here late Wednesday night [April 26, 1922] at the age of 92. He was formerly editor and owner of the Oregon Statesman of Salem and a well-known educator and political figure. Mr. Odell came to Oregon from Indiana in 1851. He attended Willamette University. After his marriage, he and his wife had charge for a time of the old Santiam Academy. Later he was identified with the public schools of Albany. In 1864 he moved to Eugene and was appointed United States Deputy … Read more

Nagel, Kyla J. Evans Mrs. – Obituary

Kyla J.E. Nagel, 28, a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 13, 2006, at the home of her parents after a courageous four-year battle with brain cancer. There will be a celebration of life service at 6 p.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church, 1166 Oak St. in Eugene. Inurnment will be later at Springfield Memorial Gardens. She was born in Baker City on May 3, 1978, where she attended grade school through the fifth grade. She moved to Springfield with her family in 1988. She was a 1996 graduate of Thurston High School where she was active in drama … Read more

Klinge, Jessie Bilyeu – Obituary

Jessie Klinge of 1390 Oak Drive, Eugene, died February 23, 1969. She was born June 11, 1895 in Scio, Oregon and had been a resident of this community for the past 2 years. Wife of George; mother of Earl of Eugene, Merle of Albany, and Mrs. Wayne (Mary) Holst of Albany; sister of George Dane Bilyeu of Lebanon and Byron Bilyeu of Kingston, Washington; 7 children; numerous nieces and nephews. Private graveside services will be held Wednesday, February 26 at 10 a.m. in Willamette Memorial Cemetery, Albany. Reverend Paul Blikstad officiating. Eugene Register Guard, February 15, 1969 Contributed by: Shelli … Read more

Biography of Isaac N. Cromwell, M.D.

ISAAC N. CROMWELL, M.D. – Perhaps there is no calling of men with which the issues of life and death are so intimately connected s with that of the physician: hence it is that popular sentiment demands a class of men to take up this profession who are in every sense of the word the leaders of their fellows, and especially endowed with keen perception, careful and discriminating judgment, alert faculties and sympathy, with perfect self-possession and steady nerve. The subject of this sketch is one of the votaries of the medical muse, and is today one of Union county’s … Read more

Engle Jimmie E. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Jimmie E. Engle, 88, of Eugene and formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 13. The family will have a private memorial service in Eugene. Mr. Engle was born Jan. 24, 1918, in Krupp, Wash., and grew up in eastern Washington. In 1941 he married Sheila Thompson in Portland. He served in the Army overseas during World War II, then attended pharmacy school at Oregon State University. He was a pharmacist for 30 years and was the manager of the La Grande PayLess from 1969 to 1984. After retiring in 1985, he and his wife moved to Eugene. … Read more

Hassler, Willie “Papa” Obituary

A memorial service was held on Jan. 16 for Willie “Papa” Hassler of Eugene and a former resident of Halfway and Baker City, who died Jan. 12 at age 87. Willie was born April 7, 1915, in Oregon City to Audley and Anna Hassler. He married Carrie Sells in Reno, Nev., in 1967. Carrie died in April 2001. When in Halfway, he was a charter member of VFW Post 7847. Willie lived in Halfway and Baker City before settling in Eugene more than 40 years ago. He served in the Navy during World War II as a chief radioman, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George A. Herbert

GEORGE A. HERBERT. – The parents of George A. Herbert crossed the plains in 1850, locating in Wasco county, where our subject was born January 22, 1860, on Fifteen-mile creek. The early years of George’s life were spent on the farm of his father until he reached the age of sixteen years. Previous to this time his opportunities for securing an education were very limited; but afterwards he was able to attend The Dalles Public School during the winter, while he still rode the ranges during the summer. In 1879 he commenced a regular course of study at the Oregon … Read more

Calapooya Indians

Calapooya Indians were located on the headwaters of Willamette River including McKinzie, Middle, and West Forks in Oregon.