Steinbeck, J. D. – Obituary

Formerly of La Grande 1915-2009 J.D. Steinbeck, 93, of Seneca and formerly of La Grande, died Jan. 31 at Country Spice Assisted Living Center in John Day. Graveside services will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the Hermiston Cemetery. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements. J.D. was born May 19, 1915, to Frank and Clara (Hadley) Steinbeck in La Grande. He graduated from La Grande High School and later from Boeing Aircraft School in California. He served in the U.S. Army as a diesel mechanic instructor based in Seattle. He then returned to La Grande to work … Read more

Hackler, Clemma Aileen – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Clemma Aileen Hackler, 81, of La Grande died Nov. 20 at her home. A memorial service will be held at later time. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Hackler was born March 6, 1925, to William and Eunice Hughes Barber in Mankato, Kan. Her family moved to Steamboat Springs, Colo., where they lived for a short time before moving to Hermiston. She married Clarence Hackler and the couple raised watermelons in Hermiston before moving to Weston, where they logged. Mrs. Hackler cooked at numerous restaurants over the years. Whan she moved … Read more

Killingbeck, Fern E. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Fern E. Killingbeck, 94, died Aug. 21 at Richland Rehabilitation Center in Richland, Wash. A private family graveside service will be held at the Redmond Memorial Cemetery in Redmond. Mrs. Killingbeck was born July 8, 1912, at Madras to Thomas Jefferson and Etta Mora Parsley Fields. She lived in Longview, Wash., and The Dalles before moving to Redmond, where she graduated from high school. On Dec. 22, 1930, she married Clarence Herbert Killingbeck in Bend. She owned and cooked at her restaurant in Redmond for several years. In 1949 she moved to La Grande and operated the … Read more

Eckstein, Rosetta – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Rosetta Eckstein Rosetta Eckstein, 76, of Elgin, died Oct. 22 at the Evergreen Rehabilitation and Retirement Center in Milton-Freewater. A graveside service will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the Elgin Cemetery with Pastor Steve Gilmore officiating. Mrs. Eckstein was born July 20, 1930, in La Grande to Ernest and Lillian Knight. She moved with her family to Wallowa, where she grew up and attended school. After her schooling she moved to California for a time where she worked as a waitress and bartender. She returned to Wallowa to raise her family, where she also provided in-home care … Read more

Snyder, John Conrad – Obituary

East Oregonian, August 30, 1991 John C. Snyder, 94, of Pendleton, died Thursday, Aug. 29, 1991, at Good Samaritan Nursing Center in Hermiston. A graveside service will be held at Olney Cemetery on Saturday at 10 a.m. Friends may call at Bishop Funeral Chapel until 8 p.m. today. Mr. Snyder was born June 24, 1897 in Pendleton to Elmer and Margaret Schomerus Snyder. He grew up in Pendleton and attended local schools. He married Marie Hunt and the couple moved to Pilot Rock where they ranched along Yellow Jacket Road for several years prior to moving to Pendleton in 1930. … Read more

Irwin, Samuel H. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Samuel Hugh Irwin, 80, a retired farmer formerly of La Grande, died following an extended illness, Friday, in a Portland hospital. Funeral services will be held in the Daniels Funeral Home, Monday at 2 p.m. Bishops Vernon Bennion, Hermiston, and Henry Stoddard, Pendleton, of the LDS Church, will officiate. Burial will be in the Island City Cemetery. Mr. Irwin was born in Illinois, Oct. 22, 1879 and had been a resident of the La Grande and valley area most of his lifetime. In August of this year he went to live with his daughter in … Read more

Buckles, Ellis, Jr. – Obituary

Ellis Buckles Jr., 76, died Sunday, Aug. 3, 2003, at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston. A Celebration of Life Service was held Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003, at 11 a.m. at Oasis of Hope Baptist Church in Hermiston. Disposition was by cremation. He was born Jan. 21, 1927, at Mound City, Ill., to Ellis and Tobatha Mae (Fields) Buckles Sr. Ellis was a resident of Hermiston since 1962 and had previously lived in Baker City for 11 years. He worked for the railroad for a short time before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the service, … Read more

Horn, Stanley Bruce – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Stanley Bruce Horn, 74, of Elgin died Nov. 19. An inurnment begins at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Elgin Cemetery with a celebration of life following at 1:45 p.m. at the Elgin Community Center. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Stanley was born May 16, 1933, to Clarence and Lillie Southard Horn in Kimball, Neb. When he was 4, his family moved to High Valley near Union, and when he was 5 or 6, they moved to Cricket Flat near the breaks of the Minam River. He spent the remainder of his childhood years … Read more

Pierson, Dale W. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Dale W. Pierson, 82, of Salem and formerly of La Grande died June 2 at his home. Viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday June 8 at Howell Edwards Doerkson Funeral Home in Salem. A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. Friday June 9 at the Summerville Cemetery. Mr. Pierson was born Oct. 6, 1923, to Sylvan and Vera Bradley Pierson in Grafton, Neb. The family lived in Lyle, Wash., Hermiston and at Mount Emily Camp. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1941, and served in the Army during World War … Read more

Brooks, Charlotte Ora – Obituary

Flora, Oregon Charlotte Ora Brooks died May 26, 2007, in Hermiston. She was 87. Mrs. Brooks was born Feb. 17, 1920 in Flora. A memorial graveside service was held June 2, 2007, in Hermiston at the Hermiston Cemetery. Wallowa County Chieftain, June 7, 2007 Contributed by Dixie Ricker

De Long, Lois Jean – Obituary

Lois Jean De Long, 94, of La Grande, died Sept. 13 in a care center in Hermiston. A funeral service will be held at the First Christian Church, 903 Penn Ave. in La Grande at 11 a.m. Monday. Burial will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery. Viewing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. Lois was born on May 3, 1913, near Cove to Nettie (Golden) and Arch Conley. She was a descendant of early pioneers, her great grandfather being Ben Brown, the first man to build … Read more

Gardner, Donna Lea Howell Mrs. – Obituary

Donna Lea Gardner, 60, a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 16, 2006, at the Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, Wash. Recitation of the rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Burns Mortuary Chapel in Hermiston. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Burns Mortuary Chapel. Private burial will be at the Desert Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Irrigon. Donna was born at Baker City on Jan. 6, 1946, to Robert and Violet Howell. For the past few years she had lived at Irrigon. She had lived at Baker City for many years and also spent 15 … Read more

Burnett, Ruth Loretta Scott Mrs. – Obituary

Long-time Hermiston resident, Ruth Loretta Scott-Burnett, died August 1, 1995, at Good Shepherd Community Hospital in Hermiston. She was 88 years of age. She was born on March 16, 1907 in Athena, the daughter of Arthur and Daisy Bryson-Scott. She graduated from the University of Washington and the taught kindergarden and high school in Stanfield and kindergarden in Seneca. On November 13, 1928, she married William Earl Burnett in La Grande. She was a member of the Stanfield Rebekah Lodge, Stanfield Study Club, Stanfield Grange Faith Presbyterian Church, Echo Womens Golf Club, Theta Rho Advisor and a master bridge player. … Read more

Frasolas, Marjorie Della (Reece) – Obituary

Marjorie Della (Reece) Frasolas, was born May 5, 1900. She died at the Umatilla hospital on March 24, 1975 at the age of 74. Mrs. Frasolas was a resident in the Hermiston Umatilla area since 1936. She was a member of the Auxiliary and the Pocahontas. Survivors are two daughters; Mrs. Don Allstott of Hermiston and Mrs. Jay Huson of Adams, Ore.; brothers are Amos Reece of Port Orchard, Wash., and Emerson and Wayne Reece of Enterprise; sisters are Mrs. William Phillips of Wapato, Wash. and Mrs. Earl Bonner of Weiser, Idaho, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Funeral services … Read more

Williams, Marjorie Ellen – Obituary

Marjorie E. (Ellen) Wood-Jaensch-Bowers-Strack-Williams Marjorie Ellen Williams, a 6-year resident of Bullhead City, AZ, died Wednesday June 12, 1996, in Bullhead City. AZ. Marjorie Ellen Wood was born to James Franklin Wood and Clara Lureene Womack on October 29, 1920 in Hermiston, Oregon. She was married to Charles Franklin Jaensch of Enterprise, Oregon in Dayton, Washington on January 14, 1939. They had two children, Gerald (Gary) Franklin Jaensch, and David (Dave) Michael Jaensch. Marjorie later married Lawrence Williams of Los Angeles, California. She is survived by her mother Clara L. Finstad of Port Lavaca, Texas, a sister, Lavonne Burgess of … Read more

Pifher, Madeline Josephine Luster Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Madeline Josephine Pifher, 79, of Baker City, died June 21, 2004, at Avondale, Ariz. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception at the American Legion, 2129 Second St., after the services. Visitations will be Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Madeline was born on Feb. 10, 1925, at Baker City to … Read more

York, George Wesley – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon George Wesley York, 59, of La Grande, died Oct. 3 at his home. Private family services will be held at a later date. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. George was born June 20, 1950, to Max Marshall and Bernice Frances (Smith) York in Portland. He enjoyed all types of art – photography, woodworking, painting, etc. He moved to the La Grande area from Hermiston in 1977. He is survived by his sister Margaret and her husband, Kenneth Brown, of Hermiston; and one niece. He was preceded in death by his parents. La Grande Observer … Read more

See, Benjamin Franklin – Obituary

Benjamin Franklin See Jr. husband of Nancy Ann Hammack See Hermiston Herald – February 21, 1935 Pioneer of Union County called to Final Rest Another pioneer of the plains was called to his final rest last week when Benjamin Franklin See passed away after 89 years of sojourn here on this earth. As a youth, he braved the long journey to the West Coast and Oregon with his parents to help build civilization in the Grande Rhonde Valley in Union County. In later years, about 1865, Mr. See freighted between Umatilla and LaGrande enduring the hardships of the trail. He … Read more

Shuck, Iva Ree Van Arsdale Brooks Sipp Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Iva Ree Shuck, 79, of Baker City, died March 7, 2006, after a long illness. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Gray’s West & Co. There will be a reception afterward at 1090 D St. Visitations will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. Iva was born June 16, 1926, at Tooele, Utah, to Paul and Audrey Van Arsdale. She graduated from Hermiston High School. After high school her family moved to Baker City, where she met and married Ballard Brooks. They raised three sons. Ballard died in 1966. In 1970 … Read more

Simonis, Valeria Denise Macy Mrs. – Obituary

Valeria Denise Simonis, 70, of Baker City, died Jan. 31, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. A memorial service will be scheduled this summer. Coles Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Valeria was born on March 9, 1934, at Baker City to John and Irma Williams Macy. Her family lived at Jacksonville until she was in the fourth grade, when they returned to Baker City. She married Keith Simonis at Elko, Nev., in 1950. They made their home at North Powder until their divorce. At that time, she and her children moved to Hermiston, where she went to work … Read more