La Grande Oregon

Biography of Hon. Stukely Ellsworth

HON. STUKELY ELLSWORTH. – This eminent lawyer of our state was born at Stockton, Chautauqua county, New York, December 18, 1826. Among his distinguished ancestors were Oliver Ellsworth, the third chief justice of the supreme court of the United States; Mary Lyon, founder of Mount Holyoke Seminary, and Mary Franklin, a sister of Benjamin Franklin. Colonel E.E. Ellsworth is also supposed to have belonged to the same family. Mr. Ellsworth received his academical education in Chautauqua county, and graduated at Yale College in 1847. He studied law at Buffalo, New York, nearly three years, and was admitted to practice before … 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

Flanagan, Larry – Obituary

Larry Flanagan, 71, of La Grande died Oct. 11 in Boise. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Larry was born in Wilbur, Wash., on July 24, 1936. He grew up on a farm at the foot of Mount Emily in the Grande Ronde Valley and lived in the area most of his life. He worked at Boise Cascade for 46 years, retiring in 2002. He loved fishing, hunting and traveling. His last hunting trip was about two weeks ago. His last big trip was a cruise to Alaska. … Read more

Ackley, Martha B. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon La Grande, Jan.5 (Special)–Mrs. Martha B. Ackley, second white child to be born in La Grande, died here at the age of 89 years, all of them spent in this city. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Lane came to La Grande in August, 1862, and took up thier residence in a log cabin in Old Town–then the center of the town. She was born the following year. Mrs. Ackley is survived by five of her ten children; 32 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. The children are:Mrs. Lulu Burnett and Oscar Ackley, of La … Read more

Goff, Connie Rae – Obituary

Connie Rae Goff, 58, of La Grande, died March 21 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Appreciation Center, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. Connie was born May 29, 1949, to William and Myrtle (Ross) Goff in Boise, Idaho. She graduated from Union High School. She was a faithful employee of RD Mac for 37 years. She loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting and camping. She loved spending time with her family and playing video games. Survivors include her siblings and their spouses, Linda and Thurman Elliott of … Read more

Reynolds, Lillian Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Lillian Reynolds is Fatally Stricken Mrs. Lillian Reynolds, 1508 Second St., housewife and music teacher, died at her home today from an extended illness. Born in Michigan, she had been a resident of La Grande for 47 years. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church. Survivors include her husband, Lee Reynolds, La Grande; one daughter Mrs. Dorothy Lee Bloomer, Yakima, Wash.; two brothers, Robert and Howard Evans, La Grande; seven grandchildren and other relatives. Services will be held at Daniels Funeral Home, Monday at 2 p.m. Rev. Louis Samson will officiate. Interment … Read more

Smart, Mildred Lucille – Obituary

Mildred Lucille Smart, 92, formerly of La Grande, died Oct. 1 at a care center in Salem. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in La Grande. Private burial was held at the Grandview Cemetery in La Grande. Mildred was born on June 11, 1915, to Ferris and Grace (Wakeland) Miller in Evansville, Ind. On Feb. 26, 1935, she married Alva Asa Smart in Evansville. The couple moved to Missouri, Arizona and Southern and Northern California before finally settling in La Grande in 1997. Alva preceded her in death on Dec. 11, 2004. … Read more

Powers, Robert E. “Bob” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Robert E. “Bob” Powers, 82, a longtime Baker City resident, died July 3, 2002, at his home. Vigil services for Mr. Powers will be Sunday at 7 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 11 a.m. at the cathedral. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin will celebrate the Mass. Vault interment will be Monday afternoon at Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande. Robert was born Sept. 25, 1919, the youngest of six siblings born to Gertrude and Laurence Powers, a second-generation American farming family. His mother’s … Read more

McCoy, Elmer – Obituary

Elmer “Ellis” McCoy, 85, formerly of La Grande, died of natural causes March 1 in Klamath Falls. A memorial is planned for summer 2008 in La Grande. Elmer, also known as Ellis, was born in February 1923 in La Grande, the youngest son of Delmer and Mintie (Neal) McCoy. His parents operated a dairy on Mt. Glen Road. Ellis attended the Mt. Glen School and graduated from La Grande High School. He took over the family dairy and ran it for many years. Ellis married Rose Marie Buckley on Aug. 10, 1944. He enjoyed running the dairy, farming and operating … Read more

Golden, Margaret Francis – Obituary

Margaret Francis Golden, 2201 Orodell Blvd., died Friday at Valley View manor. She was 90. Mrs. Golden was born Oct. 31, 1892, at Summerville to Charles and Mary (Childers) Duggan. On Oct. 31, 1915 she married John Golden at Summerville. He preceded her in death in July 1945. In 1919, Mrs. Golden and her family moved to Portland and lived there until they returned to La Grande in 1975. She was a homemaker and a member of the La Grande United Methodist Church. Survivors include her son, Virgil Golden, San Antonio, Texas; two sisters, Ardra Behrens and Ruth A. Rollins, … Read more

Dumphrey, Harry – Obituary

Brakeman Killed Last Monday night as a wrecking train pulled out from La Grande for the scene on the same day’s accident at Hilgard, Harry Dumphrey’s; a brakeman attempted to climb on the train while it was in motion, as is usual with all train men, but in some manner lost his hold, and falling under the car a truck passed over his right side. Dumphrey was first missed by his crew when the train reached Ora Dell about a mile beyond La Grande and backing up to the depot, they were horrified to find him in a dying condition … Read more

Terry, Jason Basil – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Jason Basil Terry Jason Basil Terry, 27, of La Grande, died Monday due to an automobile accident. A private family service will be held at a later date. Mr. Terry was born March 9, 1979, in La Grande to Paul and Jeanne Eckley Terry. He graduated from high school and attended Blue Mountain Community College, then went to work as an operator mechanic. Survivors include his parents, Paul and Jeanne Terry of Hermiston; girlfriend, Brittany Blakeney of La Grande; brother, Clifton Terry, and stepbrother, Chandler Carroll, both of Cheyenne, Wyo.; stepsister, Alicia Cork of Arizona; grandmothers, Patricia … Read more

Dunn, Robert Delaine – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Robert Delaine Dunn, 47, of Amity, a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 4, 2004. There will be a memorial service in the spring. Macy’s Funeral Home at McMinnville is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Dunn was born on Jan. 6, 1957, to Delaine and Bonnie Byrne Dunn at Baker City. He graduated from Grant Union High School in 1975 and served in the U.S. Army for 10 years. He lived in various places in Eastern Oregon, including La Grande, before moving to Amity in 1998. He worked as an auto mechanic and enjoyed cars, music and … Read more

Lindley, Hildreth Colton Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Hildreth Lindley, 83, a longtime Baker City resident, died May 6, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. The rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the cathedral. The Rev. Rob Irwin of the church will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward in the church basement. Visitations will be until 5 o’clock tonight at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. Hildreth C. Lindley was born on Dec. 24, … Read more

Lofton, Bruce Martin – Obituary

Summerville, Oregon Bruce Martin Lofton, 63, of Huntington and formerly of Summerville, La Grande and Union, died Feb. 20. A funeral service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at the VFW Hall in Huntington. Bruce was born June 1, 1943, to Carlos and Dorothy Lofton in Ontario. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was retired from the Union Pacific Railroad. Survivors include his sister, Frances; daughters, Wendy, Sheila and Lena; son, Kelley; and eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending Mar. 3, 2007 Published: March 3, 2007

Hooker, Frances Harriet Wilsey Mrs. – Obituary

Frances Harriet Hooker, of La Grande and formerly of Union, died Friday, April 4, 2008, at a local care home in La Grande; she was 92. A life tribute and celebration was held at 3p.m. on Friday, June 6, 2008, at the Union Cemetery in Union, Ore. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory handled Arrangements. Through the last 92 years, Frances touched many lives and helped many people whether volunteering at senior meals and the local food bank at the United Methodist Church in Union. She was usually the first one at Church on Sundays and would turn up the heat, … Read more

Harrison, Hazel – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Hazel Harrison, 93, of Yuma, Ariz., and formerly of La Grande and Island City, died July 6. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Friday July 14 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Yuma. Mrs. Harrison was born June 19, 1913, to Henry and Flora Herrmann in Hester, Mo. She was raised in Island City, and graduated from La Grande High School. She married Howard Bousquet, and after his death, Albert Harrison. He also died earlier. She worked at the Umatilla Ordnance Depot in the early 1940s, and at the Yuma Proving Grounds from 1963 until her retirement … Read more

Glenn, Keith E. – Obituary

Summerville, Union County, Oregon Keith E. Glenn, 84, formerly of Summerville, died Friday evening at his home in La Grande. A service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Daniel’s Valley Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Scott Pricer of La Grande officiating. Fraternal services will be under the auspices of Elgin Lodge No. 67 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Commital and vault and interment will follow at the Summerville Cemetery. Friends may call until 8 p.m. today at Daniel’s Valley Funeral Chapel, 1502 Seventh Street. Keith was born on Jan. 14, 1909, on the family farm at Summerville, … Read more

Conrad, Randall Dean – Obituary

Randall Dean Conrad, 57, of Union, died unexpectedly at Grand Ronde Hospital Oct. 2. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. He was born on Aug. 31, 1950, to Robert and Camille Conrad in La Grande. On May 8, 1982, he married Donna Zerber in Nampa, Idaho. He entered the U.S. Army in September 1969, serving in Vietnam until his honorable discharge in March 1971. He is survived by his wife, Donna of Union and brother, Stephen Conrad of Nampa. La Grande Observer – Obituaries for the week ending October 6, 2007-Published: October 6, 2007

Biography of Dr. John H. Kennedy

DR. JOHN H. KENNEDY. – Doctor Kennedy was born in Iowa in 1850. His father, John K. Kennedy, was born in Tennessee in 1811, and figured in the Mexican war as well as in local politics. In 1862 the parents crossed the plains to Union county, Oregon. They had given their children the advantages of a good early education. In 1865 his father’s house and personal effects were destroyed by fire; and the Doctor was obliged to assist his parents, as well as to care for himself. In 1871, having studied at Whitman Seminary and taken a course in the … Read more