La Grande Oregon

Holt, James – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon James Holt, 58, of La Grande, died April 5 after a short battle with cancer. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at The Place, 62846 Philynda Loop, near Buchanan and McAlister. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Known as Jess, he was born Aug. 20, 1948, to Janice and Russell Holt in Pocatello, Idaho. He grew up in Boise, graduating from Borah High School in 1966, and served in the Air Force from 1968 to 1972. In 1978 he earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of … Read more

Bumcratz, William – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Suicide At La Grande A Prominent Business Man Takes his own life. Despondency The Cause A Woman in (?) – Laudenum the Weapon – The Funeral. A most deliberate and shocking suicide occurred at La Grande last Friday. A dispatch to the Oregonian says: Early Friday morning William Bumcratz of the firm of Bumcratz and Graham, was found to be seriously ill, and everything that medical science could do was tried upon him without avail, and at five he died from an overdose of laudanum. It was not until a letter was found several hours … Read more

Ward, John – Obituary

Graveside funeral services for John Ward, 67, formerly of La Grande, who died Friday at a Newberg hospital, will be held Monday at 12:30 p.m. at Grandview Cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Daniels Valley Funeral Chapel, 1502 Seventh Street. A complete obituary will follow. La Grande Observer July 4, 1987.

Wilson, Edward B. “Ed” – Obituary

Edward B. “Ed” Wilson, 74, of La Grande died Oct. 20, 2001, at the Boise Veterans Hospital. His graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Military rites will be accorded by the Baker City American Legion, Post No. 41. Vault interment will follow the services. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Mr. Wilson was born on July 18, 1927, at Richland to Victor O. and Mary Simonis Wilson. He was educated at schools on Brushy Flats … Read more

Hoskins, Jerome – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Jerome “Jerry” Hoskins, 78, of La Grande died Jan. 10 Services are planned 1 p.m. Monday at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in La Grande. Viewing will be on Sunday from 4 until 6 p.m. and again Monday from 9 until 11 a.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mr. Hoskins was born Aug. 21, 1928, to Omar K. and Essie C. Hoskins at Havre, Mont. Mr. Hoskins attended grade school at Havre; Mobridge, S.D.; Baker City and Lewiston, Idaho. He attended junior high in Clarkston, Wash., and senior high at Yakima. While in high school Mr. Hoskins … Read more

Donohue, Edward J. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon A 35-year old career in the La Grande furniture business ended last night for Edward J. Donohue, 57, who died unexpectedly at a local hospital after a one-day illness. He was one of La Grande’s pioneer furniture dealers, having operated his own business on the corner of Jefferson and Fir shortly after he arrived in La Grande about 40 years ago. After he sold out in that location Mr. Donohue went to work for Joe Carr’s furniture store at [the] corner of Adams and Fir and has been employed on that corner since. Carr sold … Read more

Beardsley, Joy Gail – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Joy Gail Beardsley, 64, of La Grande and formerly of Summerville, died Nov. 12 at her home. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the Summerville Cemetery Chapel. Private burial will be at the Summerville Cemetery. Viewing will be held at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St., today from 4 to 6 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Joy was born April 15, 1943, to Loren and Edna (Gekeler) Turner in La Grande. She attended Union schools and graduated in May 1961. She was active in volleyball, … Read more

Pierson, Lenn – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lenn Pierson, 91, of Claremont, Calif., and formerly of La Grande, died July 11 at his home. A celebration of life will be held in the future. He requested that his ashes be scattered over Klickitat, Wash., overlooking the Columbia Gorge. Mr. Pierson was born Feb. 22, 1915, to Elva and Winfred Pierson in Geneva, Neb. The family moved to La Grande in 1925, and in 1950 moved to Island City. His father, who worked for Mount Emily Lumber Co., taught him to fly. He graduated from La Grande High School and then from Oregon State University … Read more

Shepherd, John Frances – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon John Francis Shepherd, 67, of The Dalles and formerly of La Grande, died Aug. 8, at his home of cancer. Mr. Shepherd was born July 28, 1939, to John and Francis May Furgason Shepherd in La Grande. He graduated high school in Portland, and served in the Army from 1958 until 1962. He moved to Baker, and settled in The Dalles in 1971. He was a journeyman lineman, and married Marie Fay Mattison on April 13, 1963, in La Grande. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and the Electricians Union Local 125 IBEW. He … Read more

Smith, Kenneth – Obituary

Kenneth ‘Ken’ Smith Formerly of La Grande 1943-2009 Ken Smith, 66, of Salem and formerly of La Grande, died Oct. 12. A private family ceremony will be held in Portland in November. Ken was born Aug. 27, 1943, to G. LaVerne and Dorothy Smith in Chicago. He married his wife, Connie, in 1966. They had two children, Julie and Marc, and moved to La Grande in 1981. Ken taught in the education department at Eastern Oregon University until his retirement. His family said that many of Ken’s most treasured memories came from this time in his life. In lieu of … Read more

Burnett, W.F. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon O.F. Burnett and little son, Douglass, went to La Grande Thursday. Mr. Burnett was called by the death of his father, W.F. Burnett, a civil war veteran. Wallowa County Reporter, Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon, Thursday November 21, 1918.

Bay, William – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon In this city Monday morning at 7 O’clock Feb. 22, 1904, Wm Bay after an extended illness, aged 74 years. The funeral will take place today from the family residence in the old town at 2 o’clock. The interment will take place in the Masonic cemetery. Deceased leaves a wife and six children, David Bay, Mrs. Susan Robinson, Mrs. C. D. Goodnough, John Bay, and Mrs. Issie Winkler of this city and Mrs. Emma Grant who resides in Kansas. Mr. Bay was a respected pioneer. In commenting on his life one who had been a … Read more

Kolasinski, Gary Lee – Obituary

Gary Lee Kolasinski, 53, of Baker City, died Aug. 24, 2007, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1002 L Ave., in La Grande. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception afterward at the church. Gary Lee Kolasinski was born on Oct. 12, 1953, four minutes earlier than his twin brother, Terry Lee, at Alpena, Mich., to Ardath Snitgen and Donald Kolasinski. He grew up in Alpena and then at St. John’s, Mich., later moving to Portland and then to La … Read more

Watson, Gwendolyn Marise Hixson Mrs. – Obituary

Gwendolyn Marise Watson, 64, of New Plymouth, Idaho, a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 29, 2007, at her home. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. MDT Friday at the Highway Assembly of God Church in Fruitland, Idaho. Interment will be at Parkview Cemetery in New Plymouth. Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel of Payette, Idaho, is in charge of arrangements. She was born Dec. 6, 1940, at Baker City to Ted and Ida Celestine Hixson. She married Richard Watson on Dec. 24, 1963, at Baker City. She attended Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton where she earned a degree in nursing … Read more

Overpeck, Mary A. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Mary A. Overpeck Funeral Rites Set Mary A. Overpeck, wife of H. S. Overpeck of 1427 Washington, La Grande, died Monday, June 23 at the close of a long illness. Mrs. Overpeck was born in Porter County, Ind., Sept. 3, 1884 and was married to Harvey S. Overpeck, March 3, 1903. Funeral arrangements are pending at Daniels Funeral Home. Survivors in addition to the husband are a son, Charley E. Overpeck, Pasadena, Texas; a sister, Florence Umbarger, Lakeside, Calif.; a brother, Charles C. Bull of La Grande and other relatives also survive. La Grande Evening … Read more

Conley, Nettie – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Nettie Conley of La Grande died Wednesday at the La Grande Nursing Center just 25 days short of her 100th birthday. Born Sept. 8, 1885, near La Grande, Mrs. Conley was the daughter of Charles and Martha (Childers) Golden. The Childers were a pioneer family who came to the valley in 1863 in a covered wagon. On July 18, 1902, she married Archie Conley at Union. They farmed at Phrys Point in Cove for several years. The Conley’s owned and operated one of the first combines brought into the Cove area. Her husband died on … Read more

Fowler, Oscar Ernest – Obituary

Oscar Ernest “Ernie” Fowler, 92, of La Grande, died at a local care center Thursday. A full obituary will be published later. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is handling arrangements. La Grande Observer – June 28, 2008

Hearing, Ross Ellwood – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon La Grande 1921-2000 Ross E. Hearing, 78, of La Grande, died April 23. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Grandview Cemetery Mausoleum with the Rev. Norm Shrumm of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Following the service, Mrs. Hearing’s friends and family will honor him at a luncheon at noon at Hoke Hall room 309 on the Eastern Oregon University campus. Viewing will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Mr. Hearing was born Sept. 6, 1921, to Merle and Alma McCullough … Read more

Hinzpeter, Norbert O. – Obituary

Norbert ‘Nibs’ O. Hinzpeter Formerly of La Grande 1919-2009 Norbert “Nibs” Otto Hinzpeter, 89, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande, died of a heart attack Oct. 22 at St. Elizabeth Health Services in Baker City. A celebration of his life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Community Connection/Baker Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St. in Baker City. Pastor Sally Wiens of the Haines United Methodist Church will officiate. Friends and family are invited to have a light meal at Community Connection following the service. Nibs was born Dec. 7, 1919, to William and Ida (Harris) Hinzpeter in St. … Read more

O’Connell, Mary Bond Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Bond O’Connell, 46, a former Baker County resident, died April 5, 1991, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Washington. A memorial service was scheduled at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Baker City First Christian Church, 2998 Eighth St. Private interment was at the Haines Cemetery. A memorial service also was conducted Monday in Spokane. Mrs. O’Connell had undergone a bone marrow transplant at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle slightly more than a year ago. She died from complications of the dancer she battled for more than two years. Mrs. O’Connell was born December 11, 1944, in … Read more