Hopkins, Edith Wilson – Obituary

Edith Wilson Hopkins, 84, of Baker City and formerly of Imbler, died Nov. 22, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Care Center. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Summerville Cemetery Chapel. Edith was born on July 15, 1921, to Benjamin Franklin and Mary Ann Green Hopkins at Duke, Okla. She finished her schooling at Ellsinore, Mo., and then attended Ontario Community College where she earned her nursing degree. She worked for a time at St. Elizabeth Hospital and later was caretaker for her parents. Edith had a strong sense of family ties and family was the most important … Read more

Teeter, Nellie Byer – Obituary

Imbler, Oregon Nellie Byer Teeter, 99, of Imbler died Sunday at a local care center. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A graveside service will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday July 12 at the Summerville Cemetery. Mrs. Teeter was born Sept. 11, 1906, to August and Margarita Behrens in La Grande. Both parents were from Germany and moved to a farm in Summerville when she was six months old. On Feb. 28, 1925, she married A.W. “Bill” Byer who died in 1961. In Sept. 1969 she married Thurman … Read more

Culver, Clifford “Bruce” – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Clifford “Bruce” Culver, 55, of Cove died Feb. 16, 2006, at his home. A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at the First Baptist Church in La Grande. Mr. Culver was born April 27, 1950, to Clifford and Jeannine Culver in La Grande. He graduated from Powder Valley High School and attended Eastern Oregon State College and Oregon State University. He worked on his grandfather Powell’s cattle ranch until 1987, and for Fleetwood Travel Trailers for 13 years as a materials handler. He spent two years in Elgin working at the … Read more

Buoy, Wayland L. – Obituary

Imbler, Oregon Wayland L. “Buck” Buoy, 92, formerly of Imbler, died Aug. 10 at his home in Hermiston. Recitation of the rosary will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Burns Mortuary Chapel in Hermiston. Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church, Hermiston. Buck was born on Jan. 22, 1915, to Roy and Violet Linklater Buoy in Prescott, Wash. He was raised in Imbler and went to school there. He joined the Navy, serving in the South Pacific during WWII. He returned to Oregon and moved to Coos Bay where he worked as a … Read more

Arnoldus, Vivian Dorene – Obituary

Imbler, Oregon Vivian Dorene Arnoldus, 91, of Imbler died Nov. 28 at her home. A funeral service is planned for 1 p.m. Monday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Viewings will be conducted from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday and before the service, from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday. Mrs. Arnoldus was born Feb. 11, 1915, to Sterling Price and Maude Abel Literal in Dayton, Wash., where she attended school. She married Armond James Arnoldus on March 26, 1942, in Portland. Her husband worked at Commercial Iron Works as an electrician. The couple lived in Hermiston before settling on a farm in … Read more

Westenskow, Ronald W. – Obituary

Formerly of Imbler Ronald Wilford Westenskow, 87, of Walla Walla and formerly of Imbler, died Oct. 24. A private graveside service for family and friends will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Walla Walla. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at the chapel of Herring Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A full obituary will be available later. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity in care of Herring Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, 99362. La Grande Observer – October 29, 2009 ____________________________ … Read more

Mayfield, John – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon Mayfield Murdered Monday Morning Shot With Rifle While Asleep; Coe Held On Open Charge John Mayfield, a long time resident of the Elgin vicinity was murdered at an early hour Monday morning at the home of A.J. Coe, between Imbler and Cove. According to reports, Mr. Mayfield was killed with a rifle, the bullet entering his lower jaw, and going out near the top of his head. A J. Coe, at whose home Mr. Mayfield was staying, is being held on an open charge pending the coroner’s inquest, which was held Wednesday evening at 7:30 at … Read more

Donnelly, Roderick – Obituary

Formerly of La Grande 1921-2009 Roderick W. ‘Doc’ Donnelly, 88, formerly of La Grande, died Oct. 12 at his home in Richmond. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Sweeney Mortuary of Condon is in charge of arrangements. Roderick was born May 23, 1921, the first son of Virginia Odessa Wechter and Hamilton Keyes Donnelly at his grandmother’s house at the top of the Donnelly Grade in Wheeler County. He was the grandson of a founding father of Wheeler County. He attended grade school in a one-room school at Service Creek. He attended high school in … Read more

Ruckman, Bessie G. – Obituary

Former Imbler resident Bessie G. Ruckman died May 3 in Oakland, Calif. She was 81. Mrs. Ruckman was born Nov 4, 1903, in Jackson, Mo., to Thomas and Sophronia Kasinger. She and her family moved to Imbler in 1912. She married Virgil Audmer Ruckman of Alicel on June 10, 1922. In 1924, the couple moved to Oakland. Mrs. Ruckman was an employee of the Pacific Telephone Co., until she retired in 1957. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1975. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Betty Gene Graybeal of Oakland, and Mrs. Audrea C. Carero of Castro Valley, … Read more

Brookshire, Lucretia – Obituary

Lucretia Paroz Brookshire, 90, of Imbler, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1997, at a local care facility. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at the Summerville Cemetery Chapel with the Rev. Irwin H. Smutz of the Imbler Christian Church officiating. Friends may call at Daniels Chapel if the Valley from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Mrs. Brookshire was born on Jan. 31, 1907, in Alicel to Samuel and Lillian [Clark] Ruckman. She attended schools and graduated from Imbler High School in 1927. She attended one year of business school in Walla Walla, Wash. On Sept. 8, 1926, she … Read more

Rollins, Ruth Ada (Littreal) – Obituary

Ruth A. Rollins, 88, Summerville, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1991, at the Mountain Vista Care Center in La Grande. A service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Summerville Cemetery with Pastor Chuck Beickel of the Summerville Baptist Church officiating. Friends may call Friday evening or Saturday morning at Daniels Valley Funeral Chapel. Mrs. Rollins was born Dec. 28, 1902, in Summerville to Ishmel and Mary (Childers) Littreal. She attended schools in Summerville and Imbler, graduating with the Imbler High School class of 1920. In June 1927 she married Halbert Rollins. He died July 30, 1969. Mrs. Rollins … Read more

Curtis, Howard – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Howard Curtis, 73, of La Grande, died June 9 at his home. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements. La Grande Observer – Obituaries for the day of June 11, 2008 ____________________________________ Howard C. Curtis 1935-2008 Howard Collin Curtis, 73, of La Grande, died June 9 at his home following a long illness. A celebration of life service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center. A private burial will be at the Summerville Cemetery. Howard was born June 2, l935, to Lorenzo Houghton and Mary … Read more

Doud, Carl Glen – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Carl Glen Doud, 64, of Baker City and formerly of Elgin, died Jan. 4 in Baker City. At his request there will be no public service at this time; a memorial service will be conducted later. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mr. Doud was born Sept. 15, 1942, to Ira Lorenzo and Nellie Williams Doud in La Grande. He was raised in Summerville and graduated from Imbler High School. He and his family later made their home in Elgin where he owned and operated Carl Doud Logging until illness forced his retirement. … Read more

Larsen, Lloyd – Obituary

Train Hits Auto Three Are Killed While watching an airplane circle above him the driver of a light truck crashed into the engine of a passenger train on the Joseph branch as the train was pulling into Imbler Sunday morning and three young men were killed outright and three others who were riding on the truck were seriously injured. The dead are Lloyd Larsen, Wayne Keown, all residents of Imbler vicinity, Albert Blanchard, Ray Keown and Alfred Wertemskow. So intent on the machines above them the men failed to see or hear the train until their truck was caught between … Read more

Silva, Larie Lola Patterson – Obituary

Summerville, Oregon Larie Lola Patterson Silva, 67, of Aloha and formerly of Summerville, died Aug. 9 at the Hillsboro Rehab and Specialty Care Center. A graveside service will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Summerville Cemetery. Tualatin Valley Funeral Alternatives of Forest Grove is in charge of the arrangements. Mrs. Silva was born May 4, 1939, in Sisters to Willis and Lorraine Patterson. They moved to Imbler, where she grew up, attended school and graduated in 1957. She enjoyed sports and was very athletic. She attended college in La Grande, then moved with her parents to Portland, where she … Read more

Jordan, Edna H. – Obituary

Imbler, Oregon Edna H. Jordan, 101, of Grants Pass and formerly of Haines, Imbler and La Grande, died Nov. 16 at her home. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Imbler. Arrangements are under the direction of Hull & Hull Funeral Directors of Grants Pass. Mrs. Jordan was born Edna Grace Henner Sept. 18, 1905, in Baker City and grew up in Haines. In 1931 she married Ben Rich Jordan. They lived in Imbler from 1936 to 1989, when they moved to La Grande. Her husband died in 1999, and she moved to Grants Pass in … Read more

Scott, Elaine Laurose – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Elaine Laurose Scott Elaine Laurose Scott, 70, of Elgin, died Oct. 16 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Elgin Cemetery, with a potluck to follow at the Elgin Stampede Hall. Mrs. Scott was born July 24, 1936, in Imbler to Ivan and Elsie Obert Churchill. She attended school in Elgin and graduated with the Class of 1954. On Oct. 9, 1955, she married Wesley S. Scott in Elgin. The couple traveled numerous times over the years as Wesley served in the Navy, eventually settling in Elgin in … Read more

Choate, Virgil – Obituary

Virgil Albert Choate, 94, of La Grande died Sept. 2 at a local care center. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Burial will follow at the Summerville Cemetery. Mr. Choate was born July 7, 1910, to Thelbert A. and Mattie Hallgarth Choate on the family farm near Summerville. He attended schools in Elgin, a rural school in the lower Wallowa Valley, Summerville, Imbler and La Grande. He graduated from Imbler High School in 1930 and was one of the first 10 FFA members in Oregon to be … Read more

Dean, John Thomas – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon John Thomas Dean, 22, of Kennewick, Wash. and a former North Powder resident, died May 27, 2005, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on Cabbage Hill. His funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at North Powder High School. Interment will be at the Haines Cemetery. John was born Feb. 25, 1983, to Jerry and Eydie Dean. He attended grade school in Imbler and Ketchikan, Alaska. He moved to North Powder during his seventh-grade year and he graduated from Powder Valley High School. While attending high school, he played football and was an active … Read more

Rogers, Leslie George – Obituary

Leslie George Rogers, 74, of Imbler, died March 10 at his home. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. A viewing will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Loveland. Les was born June 10, 1933, in Emmett, Idaho, to Mahlon and Louise (Barnett) Rogers. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1951 and entered into the Army in 1953. He was stationed in Presidio, Calif., as a military policeman. He married Nita Rose Lyndley in La Grande on Oct. 10, 1955, and they had three children. They moved … Read more