Makin, Elzie O. – Obituary

For many years was engaged in the operation of a large sheep ranch in Wallowa county, is one of the substantial residents of Joseph, where he is now living retired. He was born in Madison County, Indiana, on August 7, 1862, the eldest and only surviving child born of the marriage of William and Mary (Fox) Makin. The father was at one time the largest sheep raiser in the Wallowa valley but he is now living retired in Enterprise. The mother, however, has long since passed away. When he was a child less than one year of age Elzie O. … Read more

Sheets, Margaret Mrs. – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Pioneer Woman Dies At Joseph Mrs. Margaret Sheets, pioneer resident of Joseph, passed away Sunday morning, April 12, 1942, following a week’s illness, having been stricken with paralysis Easter Sunday. Margaret Ann Scott was born in Carthage, Mo., Aug. 20, 1854, and died at the age of 87 years, 7 months and 23 days. She came to Weston, Oregon, with her family by ox team in 1866 and later moved to La Grande where on Aug. 7, 1870, she was united in marriage to Adam Francis Sheets. To this union 11 children were born, four of … 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

Isley, Madison Pennington – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon M.P. Isley, Pioneer Rancher of Joseph, Dies At Hospital Memorial services were held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Bollman Chapel for Madison Pennington Isley who passed away at Wallowa Memorial Hospital on Saturday, October 16, 1965 after being a patient there for six days, Rev. LeRoy Brownell, pastor of the Joseph Baptist Church, officiated, and Mrs. Mae Stein was organist. Mrs. Claire Trullinger and Mae Stein sang “Shall We Gather At The River” and “Beyond The Sunset.” Casket bearers were: Luther Thornburgh, Fred Bird, Bill Cool. A. Daisley, Stone Butner, and S.W. Begley, and internment … Read more

Case, Gifford Ryder – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Gifford “Giff” Ryder Case died Feb. 27, 2007, at home in Joseph with his wife Susanna, son Richard, and daughter Lorri at his side. He was 87. Mr. Case was born Sept 21, 1919, on a rural family farm five miles outside of Milford, Penn. He was the third of six boys born to Arthur B. Case and Emilie Fieg Case. Mr. Case loved sharing stories of his childhood and teen years growing up on the beloved Oak Tree Farm. In 1938, after trying a year at Drexel Institute College, he set out on a travel adventure across … Read more

Mace, Emery Mrs. – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. Emery Mace Dies At Joseph Home. Mrs. Emery Mace passed away at her home in Joseph Tuesday, July 26, following a short illness and her body is being taken by Booth-Bollman ambulance to Yakima for funeral services at Shaw & Sons Chapel and for burial. Mrs. Mace was born Amelia Edwin in Freeborn County, Minn., May 3, 1875, daughter of Haldor and Martha Edwin. She was married in Minnesota in 1895 to Simon Olson who passed away in October of 1935. On May 20, 1950 she married at Joseph to Emery A. Mace who survives … Read more

Drake, Wanna – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Wanna drake passed away at the Wallowa Memorial Hospital in Enterprise on January 1, 1984. She was born on February 26, 1908 at Downey Lake, Oregon, daughter of Robert and Zula Wright. On January 1, 1927 she was married to Cecil Drake at Great Falls, Montana. Her husband preceded her in death in 1957. Mrs. Drake was born and raised in Wallowa County and spent her adult life as a homemaker. Survivors include a daughter, Mina Elliott of Wallowa; two granddaughters, Lynn Heath of Enterprise and Lori Casaray of Missoula, Mont., and five great- grandchildren. Funeral … 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

Mallon, Donald Lee – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Donald Lee Mallon, 79, of Joseph died June 29 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. A memorial service was held today at Bollman Funeral Home. Mr. Mallon was born June 14, 1927, to Charles E. and Elsie M. Bridgeman Mallon in Craig, Mo. The family lived in Lone Rock before moving to Alder Slope in 1939, and Joseph in 1941. He attended one year of high school and served in the Army during World War II. On aug. 29, 1948, he married Ruth “Anne” Homewood. She died in 1996. He worked as a logger and for the Chief Joseph Lumber … Read more

Cathcart, H.J. – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Henry James Cathcart, of La Grande, formerly of Joseph, passed away Thursday, September 2, 1965 at St. Joseph hospital in La Grande, following several months of ill health. Memorial services were held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Bollman Chapel with Rev. James E. Jones officiating. Mrs. Luella Miller was organist and Rev. Douglas T. Field was soloist and Sang “The Lord Is My Shepherd.” Casket bearers were: S.W. Begley, Lou Knapper, Willard Prout, Carlyle Roundy, Earl Hovis and Kirk Hayes, and internment was in the Prairie Creek cemetery. Mr. Cathcart, a retired merchant, had lived … Read more

Mastrude, Spencer Fredrick – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Spencer Fredrick Mastrude Spencer Fredrick Mastrude, 84, of La Grande died Feb. 14 at a local care home. A funeral is planned for 11 a.m. Monday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mr. Mastrude was born April 29, 1922, to Fredrick and Agnes (Lozier) Mastrude in Joseph. He was educated in both Joseph and La Grande and graduated from Enterprise High School. He worked with his father, farming and ranching for a few years, then did some work in the logging industry. He later went to work in heavy construction, mostly as a cat skinner. He married … Read more

Cole, Robert Lindford – Obituary

Robert Lindford Cole 1867 – 1950 Robert Lindford Cole was the son of Rev. William Person Cole Sr. AKA Wiley P. Cole and Catherine Lindord Misner Cole. In the early 1940’s the Enterprise Chieftain published articles concerning Wallowa County Pioneers still living in the area. At this time they interviewed Robert Cole and the following article was published as a result. It gives his complete history. Another Wallowa County resident who belongs in the ranks of the pioneers is Robert Lindord Cole of Enterprise who has resided in the county since 1880. Mr. Cole was born on May 5, 1867 … Read more

Marks, James Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. James Marks passed away suddenly Thursday noon, June 14, 1928, at the family home at Joseph. She had just eaten dinner when she was stricken and in a few minutes the end came. Two years ago in October Mrs. Marks suffered a stroke of paralysis from which she recovered only partly, and she was able to get about the house with the help of other members of the family. Clara Royce was born Feb. 14, 1857, at Shelbyville, Ill. When she was 19 years of age the family moved to Caldwell County, Missouri, where she … Read more

Hartsock, Gary David – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Gary David Hartsock, 45, of La Grande, died Jan. 13 at his home. A viewing runs from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Loveland Funeral Chapel. A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at the La Grande Church of Christ, 2107 Gekeler. A graveside service will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Gary was born in Yakima, Wash., on March 30, 1962. He attended elementary school through the third grade in Yakima. Gary’s family moved to Joseph in 1971. There he attended school in Enterprise and … Read more

Himelwright, Mellisa Jane Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Pioneer Mother Services Today Mrs. Mellisa Jane Himelwright, one of the oldest of Wallowa County pioneers and who had been in failing health for the last several months, passed away Tuesday, November 5, 1957 at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Robert Trezona in Enterprise. She fell last March and broke her hip and had since been confined to a wheel chair or her bed. Memorial services are being held this afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Booth-Bollman Chapel with the Rev. John Sinclair of the Christian Church officiating. Mrs. John Munsey will be organist and … Read more

Cole, Lindford Catherine – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon Catherine Lindford 1835 – 1891 At her home near Joseph, December 10, 1891, Catherine Lindford Cole, aged 56 years, 6 months and 14 days. Catherine Lindford was born hear London, England may 17, 1835, her parents removing to America the same year, after a short residence in Pennsylvania,  they removed to Indiana, and finally settled in Clark County, Illinois. In 1854 she was married to Eli Misner who died in 1858. In 1859 Mrs. Misner moved to Iowa. In July, 1860 she was united in marriage to Wiley P. Cole (Rev.William Person Cole Sr.) Mr. and … Read more

Cornwell, Elizabeth Ann – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Cornwell, a longtime resident of Wallowa County, died at the age of 89 on Oct. 24, 2005, at the Life Care Center in McMinnville. Cornwell was a poet with four books to her credit and also wrote a bi-weekly column for the Chieftain for over a decade. She was born on March 24, 1916, in Portland, the daughter of Ned and Irene Butler Hynson. She grew up in the Parkrose area of Portland and graduated from Grant High School. After high school she went on to attend the University of Oregon. While working on the … Read more

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

McCully, Fred F. – Obituary

Fred Fletcher McCully, father of Kermit McCully, of La Grande, died in a La Grande hospital Friday. Funeral services were held Monday in the Wallowa Methodist church with interment in the Prairie Creek cemetery at Joseph. He was born at Lebanon, October 8, 1870, and when about ten years of age, his parents came to Wallowa county where he grew to manhood. Joseph was the home of the deceased for a long time and he was cashier of the bank there; later he moved to Wallowa where he was active in community affairs and where he was city recorder at … Read more

Cerato, Mildred Elva – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Mildred Elva Cerato, 88, of College Place, Wash., died Dec. 11, 2003, on her birthday at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash. She was born on Dec. 11, 1915 in Santa Ana, Calif. to George W. and Mary Ella (Pearce) Todd. In 1937, she married John A. Cerato and the couple lived and raised a family in California. After her husband died, Mrs. Cerato moved to Joseph in 1992 to be near her daughter. She was an active member of the Joseph Baptist Church, doing mission work, serving for a time as president of the women’s … Read more