Joseph Oregon

McClain, Benjamin Franklin – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Frank McLain Laid To Rest Benjamin Franklin McLain, born June 9, 1892, passed away suddenly at his home Friday, February 27. For some time his general health had been poor and the complications had proved fatal. Benjamin Franklin McClain, the son of James and Alice McLain, was one of the early pioneers of Wallowa County. His early life was spent on the family farm on upper Prairie Creek. He moved to Joseph with his parents in 1910, graduating from the Joseph high school with the class of 1914. He worked a few years in the First … Read more

Wright, Robert Burns – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Robert Wright Dies at Hospital Robert Burns Wright, of Joseph, who had been ill eleven months, passed away Tuesday, July 21, 1961 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital where he had been a patient for four months. Funeral services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Bollman Chapel with Rev. James E. Jones officiating. Mrs. Donald Swart will be organist and Mrs. Orval McArtor will be soloist. Internment will be in the Prairie Creek cemetery. The deceased was the son of Roberta and Zula Wright and was born January 10, 1896 in Colville, Wash. He had lived … Read more

Childers, Dale – Obituary

Dale Childers, 57, of Milton-Freewater, died Sunday, Nov. 13, 1988, at his home. At Childers’ request there will be no funeral service. He was born Aug. 7, 1931, in Wallowa, to Cecil and Thelma Crow Childers. He grew up in the Wallowa Valley and graduated from Joseph High School in 1949. He attended Moler Barber College at Portland, graduating in 1950. Childers owned and operated barbershops at Klamath Falls and Arlington before moving to the Milton-Freewater area in the late 1960s. He operated Dale’s Barber Shop in Milton-Freewater for 20 years. On Nov. 5, 1973, he married Jan Hobbs at … Read more

Clark, Wayne – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Wayne Clark died of natural causes at a care facility in Star, Idaho, on May 31, 2006. He was 96. Mr. Clark was born on Sept. 23, 1909 on a homestead ranch in Hill City, Idaho, to Frank and Viola Clark. He was one of seven children. He went to high school in Carey, Idaho, after the Clark family moved to a ranch outside of Picabo, Idaho. He rode his horse to school nearly 10 miles, frequently taking his two sisters on his horse with him. He attended the University of Idaho for a brief time, and then … Read more

Gwenn, George M. – Obituary

George M. Gwenn died at the Enterprise Hospital on November 29th, 1917. Appendicitis was the cause of his death. Mr. Gwenn recently moved to a farm near Joseph and came from Walla Walla. He was fifty years of age and leaves a wife and nine children to mourn his departure. The body was sent to Walla Walla for burial on Friday the 21st. Wallowa County Reporter Wednesday, December 5, 1917

Fisher, Erma – Obituary

Graveside funeral services will be Thursday, January 17 at 1:30 p.m. in the Milton-Freewater Cemetery for Mrs. Erma Fisher 72, of 1818 Walnut Street who died January 14 at Walla Walla General Hospital. Rev. Richard Davidson, First Christian Church, will officiate. Mrs. Fisher was born in Wallowa County December 14, 1907 to W. B. and Grace Heskett. She attended schools there and also Alder Slope and Joseph. She married Ira Fisher in Enterprise on October 18, 1926. They lived in Joseph until 1945 when they moved to Umapine. In 1946, they moved to their present home. She was a member … Read more

Butler, Sarah Evaline Mrs. – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Pioneer Citizen Laid To Rest Another pioneer citizen is lost to Wallowa County in the passing of Mrs. Sarah Evaline Butler, who died at the Enterprise hospital Sunday, March 18, 1951. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Keener she was born in Virginia November 3, 1864. She was married to Horace J. Butler in 1880 in the state of Kansas, and they came to Wallowa County in the 90’s, living here since. Surviving to mourn her passing are four sons, James E. of Joseph, Paul of Clarkston, Washington, H.J., of Magalia, California, and Bert in Korea; … Read more

Stephens, Montia Coval – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Montia Coval Stephens died May 20, 2007, at the Vancouver Veterans Hospice Center, from cancer surgery complications. He was 64. Mr. Stephens was born Dec. 30, 1942, in Cottage Grove. He graduated from Joseph High School in 1960. Immediately after high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army. His service included Officers’ Candidate School, tours in Korea and the Dominican Republic and in the White House as a communication specialist and on the presidential press team during President John F. Kennedy’s term. He also worked in the Pentagon. He left the army as a Captain. Mr. Stephens remained … Read more

Heskett, Jesse C. ‘Jerry’ – Obituary

Pendleton–A graveside funeral for Jess C. “Jerry” Heskett will be held Saturday, 1 p.m. at the Enterprise Cemetery. Heskett, 76, of Pendleton, formerly of Milton-Freewater, died Wednesday, September 18, 1985, at Amber valley Nursing Home, Pendleton. He was born May 31, 1909, in the Leap area near Enterprise, the son of Willard and Grace (Feagins) Heskett. He attended schools at Trout Creek and Joseph and upon completion of his schooling Heskett farmed with his parents. He lived in Wallowa County until the mid-1960s when he moved to the Milton-Freewater area. He came to Pendleton in 1981 where he entered Amber … Read more

Bales, Sylvia – Obituary

Imnaha, Oregon Sylvia Bales Sylvia M. Bales, 94, of Imnaha, died Aug. 15, 2004. Services will be held Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. at the Enterprise Cemetery. A full obituary will be published at a later date. Wallowa County Chieftain, Thursday, August 19, 2004 Sylvia Bales, 94, of Imnaha, died Aug. 15 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. She was born April 19, 1910, to Tom and Odelia Jacob on Joseph Creek. She married John Bales Sept. 17, 1928. They lived most of their lives on different ranches in Wallowa County, the last years on the Imnaha. After John’s death, she moved … Read more

Willis, Laura Ethel – Obituary

Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon Services Held For Laura Willis Mrs. Laura Ethel Willis of Joseph passed away on Thursday, April 26, 1973 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital where she has been a patient for six days. She was the daughter of Alfred C. and Matilda Toney and was born in Joseph on February 18, 1900. She had lived in and near Joseph all her life. On Nov. 22, 1924 she was married to William Jasper Willis who preceded her in death in 1949 She was a member of Wallowa Lake American Legion auxiliary 157 of Joseph and a life member of … Read more

Isley, Belle – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Services Held For Belle Isley Mrs. Belle Vesta Isley of Joseph passed away Thursday June 28, 1973 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital following a lengthy illness. She had been a resident of Joseph and the area east of there most of her life. She was the daughter of Allen and Gullia Kutch and was born in Umatilla County on June 5, 1887. On July 25, 1903 she was married at Enterprise to Madison P. Isley who preceded her in death on Oct. 16, 1965. She was a member of the Methodist Church. Survivors include three sons, Alvin … Read more

Leffler, Shirley – Obituary

After a long illness, Shirley, the six months old child of Mr. And Mrs. Thos. Leffler died last Thursday evening at the home of its parents in south Joseph. The child was buried in Prairie Creek cemetery on the following day, Rev. A. Cook, officiating. Wallowa County Reporter, Wallowa County, Oregon, Thursday December 5, 1918

Graham, Ralph – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Ralph W. Graham, a retired farmer of Joseph, passed away Monday, June 2, 1975, at Wallowa memorial Hospital. He had been ill for the past six months. He was born Aug. 10, 1898 at Promise, son of Albert and Adda Graham. On September 24, 1929 he was married to Cecile May McClain at La Grande. He was a ditch director and a silversmith artist. He belonged to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Survivors include his wife, Cecile, at the farm home; two brothers, Dale and Herman of Grangeville, Ida.; five sisters, Mrs. Jeff (Ruby) Snyder, Kalispell, … Read more

Stanley, Jay H. – Obituary

Imnaha, Oregon Jay H. Stanley, 95, hillbilly, cowboy, bachelor and hero, died early November 9 at Danielle’s Adult Foster Care home in Tigard, OR. Mr. Stanley was born February 2, 1906 in a log cabin 3-mi south of Joseph, OR. Jay, the second son of Charles and Elsie (Beecher) Stanley, whose parents were both early pioneer families in Indian Valley. Jay and his brother Jabez helped their father on the 500-acre ranch. When he was in his teens Jay helped saw the lumber and build the big house. In 1923, he assisted his father and brother JB saw lumber for … Read more

Barnett, Anna Lee – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Anna Lee Barnett Anna Lee Barnett, 81, of Walla Walla and formerly of Enterprise died Sept. 20 at her home. Herring Groseclose Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Barnett was born April 3, 1924, to Bert and Tula Dean Gibson Wingfield in Joseph. She attended high school and married William H. Barnett. They lived in Enterprise where she worked for the First Interstate bank of Oregon for 30 years. She retired in 1986. They traveled for several years before moving to Walla Walla. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, hand work and being with her family. Survivors include … Read more

Wright, Gladys – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Gladys Wright, a former teacher who taught at a country school on the Sheep Creek Divide, died Sept. 11, 1987 at the Odd Fellows Home in Walla Walla, Wash. She was 81. Funeral services were held Sept. 14th at Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home Chapel in Milton-Freewater with Rev. Edward Morrison officiating. Ritualistic services were conducted by Integrity Rebekah Lodge. Graveside services and burial followed later the same day in the Prairie Creek Cemetery near Joseph. Wright was born April 22,1906 in Evelyn, Wash., the daughter of Douglas and Edith Eaton Towers. She was the eldest of nine children. Following … Read more

Fleet, Hazel – Obituary

Hazel Jane Fleet, 90, died March 6, 2005 in La Grande. She was born to Ralph and Lenora Barton on Oct. 26, 1914 in Joseph. Mrs. Fleet spent her first winter in Hells Canyon at Three Creeks at the old Frank Hiltsley Homestead until her family home was built on Johnson Bar. In 1916 the family moved back to the Imnaha River to their ranch at Grouse Creek and then to a ranch at Summit Creek in the Fall of 1917. She graduated from the eighth grade at the Park school in 1928. She attended high school in Enterprise and … Read more

Weaver, Harry – Obituary

Well Known Auto Salesman Killed Harry Weaver an automobile salesman for the Inland Motor company, working out of La Grande, was instantly killed when his car turned over at Joseph Sunday afternoon. Hugh Campbell who was in the car with Weaver was only slightly bruised. Witnesses to the accident report that Weaver was driving at a rate of speed exceeding fifty miles an hour. Mr. Weaver is survived by a wife and two children. Mrs. Weaver was visiting with her parents in Pendleton at the time of the accident. North Powder News Saturday, August 28, 1920

Williamson, Buena – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Buena Williamson Buena Jean Williamson died September 4, 2005, at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Wash. She was 71 years old. Mrs. Williamson was born Feb. 20, 1934 in Bend, Oregon to Arthur and Grace Barton. She graduated from Joseph High School in Joseph in 1952. She married Wayne Williamson on June 21, 1952. For many years she worked as a sales clerk and later a bank teller. In the 1990’s she worked at the Wallowa County Museum, where she specialized in antique clothing. Mrs. Williamson loved spending time camping and being in the outdoors. … Read more