Miller, William Ward – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon Ward Miller of Union died Sunday, July 26, 1981 at his home. He was 77. Mr. Miller was Union County water master for 26 years, retiring in 1970. He was born Aug. 21, 1903 at Alicel, the son of William D. and Alice (Miers) Miller. On Dec. 29, 1926 he was married to the former Thelma Murphy at La Grande. Mr. Miller was a member of the La Grande Elks Lodge No. 433, and Grande Ronde Valley Lodge No. 56, A.F. & A.M., Union. Survivors include his wife, of Union; brothers, Howard of Union; Glenn of … Read more

Rollins, Olga Marie – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Olga Marie Rollins, 91, of La Grande, died March 4 at a local care home. A private family memorial service was held March 7 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel. Olga was born July 3, 1915, to Edwin M. and Hannah Mabel (Miltzpaw) Jensen. She married Don Palmer Rollins Sept. 19, 1934, and they had eight children. They moved to Cove in 1949 and to La Grande in 1963. Olga enjoyed reading, quilting and fixing dolls and making doll clothes for needy children. Survivors include her children, Avlys Burton, … 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

Kail, Burdell – Obituary

Burdell Kail, 74, died yesterday in a La Grande hospital after a prolonged illness. A retired farmer, he had lived in Union county for 63 years. He was a member of the La Grande Christian church. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Mary B. Kail, two daughters; Mrs. Forrest Bowman and Mrs. Cedric Clark, both of La Grande; a sister, Mrs. Myrtle Callison, Salem; a brother Clifford, Yakima and five grandchildren. Funeral services will be in the Daniels funeral home tomorrow at 2 p.m. with Rev. Gene Robinson officiating. Burial will be in the Island City cemetery. La Grande Evening Observer … Read more

Johnson, Thomas A. – Obituary

Thomas A. Johnson of Baker and formerly of La Grande, died Saturday after noon at St. Elizabeth nursing home. He was 90. Mr. Johnson was a roundhouse foreman for the Union Pacific Railroad and retired in 1960 at La Grande. He was a veteran of World War I, a member of Our lady of the Valley Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Virginia Johnson of Mobile, Ala.; a grandson, Scott Johnson of New York and a granddaughter, Susan Johnson of Florida. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline, in September 19??, and a … Read more

Belknap, Florence – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Florence Belknap, 88, of Rt. 1, Box 160, Cove, died Tuesday at Valley View Manor. Mrs. Belknap was born on July 4, 1890, at Hamilton, N. D., the daughter of Hugh and Mary (Millar) MacDonald. The family moved to Nyssa in 1900 where Mr. MacDonald had a homestead. Florence attended Monmouth College, graduating in 1914. She taught school in Island City, Alicel, Ladd Canyon and La Grande. She was married to Edward D. Jasper, who preceded her in death on Dec. 4, 1936. She married Maynard M. Belknap at Lewiston, Idaho, in 1949. She moved to … Read more

Coe, Harhsley – Obituary

Union, Oregon Funeral Services for Hashley Coe are scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. Details will be given by Crippin & Daniels Funeral Home when completed. The La Grande Observer – Tuesday, September12, 1967  

Hamilton, Hayden Lynn – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Hayden Lynn Hamilton, daughter of Kimberly residents Teri Lynn (Richards) Hamilton and Joshua Lee, formerly of La Grande, died shortly after birth on Jan. 20 at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Monument Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St. in La Grande, is in charge of arrangements. La Grande Observer – Obituaries for the week ending January 26, 2008 – January 26, 2008

McLachlen, J. – Obituary

J. McLachlen, Ex-Sheriff, Passes On Man Who Lead Posse Which Captured Til Taylor’s Slayers Dies Accident Given As Death Cause Funeral Services For Pioneer Union County Officer Will Be Held Here Saturday John H. McLachlen, pioneer officer of Union County, died at the Grande Ronde hospital Thursday. Ten days ago while picking apples, he fell from the tree, breaking three ribs. The injuries and the shock to a man of his advanced years, are said to have caused his death. Funeral services will be held at the Snodgrass and Zimmerman mortuary at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon, with the Odd Fellows … Read more

Varland, Paul Thomas – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Paul Thomas Varland, 53, of La Grande, died at his residence Thursday. A Celebration of Life service will take place Tuesday beginning at 2 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in La Grande. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is handlling arrangements. The Observer – August 2, 2008 __________________________________ Aug. 5 — Paul Varland, celebration of life, 2 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church; reception to follow August 4, 2008 _________________________________________ Paul Thomas Varland, 53, of La Grande, died July 31 at his home. A celebration of life begins at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Zion Lutheran Church. A reception will … Read more

Hendrix, James, Johathon “Jim” – Obituary

Halfway, Baker County, Oregon James Jonathon “Jim” Hendrix Jr., 61, of Halfway, died Aug. 21, 2005, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. His funeral was Friday morning at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Jim was born on May 6, 1944, at Halfway to James Jonathon and Evalenea Buchanan Hendrix. Jim was raised and educated in Halfway, graduating from Pine-Eagle High School in 1963. Following high school he married Diane Drake, and they had two children: James Jonathon III and Lori Ann. They divorced in 1975. Monique Moore met Jim while working in the ODOT District office in La Grande. They … Read more

McMillen, Carl Richard – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Carl Richard McMillen, 71, of Spirit Lake, Idaho, and formerly of La Grande, died April 7 in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. Celebration of life services begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Clark Fork Senior Center in Idaho. A private family interment will follow at the Clark Fork Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Carl was born June 26, 1936, to Maxine Petrina Skillingstad and William Hyrum McMillen in Salt Lake City. During WWII the family moved to San Francisco to work in the war effort. Carl attended grade school in San Francisco at … 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

Svetich, Corinne Josephine – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Corinne Josephine Svetich, 78, of Walla Walla, died June 29 at her home. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Skyview Memorial Park in Pendleton. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Svetich was born Jan. 4, 1928, to Charles and Francis Butler in Sacramento, Calif. She grew up in North Port, Wash., and graduated from La Grande High School in 1946. She took business courses at Eastern Oregon Normal School for two years. On March 10, 1950, she married Matthew Svetich in Pendleton. She worked as a teller at U.S. … Read more

Duncan W. R. Mrs. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. W. R. Duncan Dies Suddenly Mrs. W.R. Duncan, who with her husband lived north of Enterprise, passed away suddenly in La Grande Friday, December 5, 1958. Mrs. Duncan was the former Myrtle Cummins and was born May 19, 1895 in Elgin, daughter of John and Amelia Cummins. She had lived in Wallowa county for the past 26 years. Her survivors include her husband, Welford R. Duncan; a son, Welford R. (Bob) Duncan Jr., who also lives north of Enterprise; four grandchildren; and two brothers: Dee Cummins, Roseburg; and Orvan Cummins, Pendleton and five sisters: Mrs. … Read more

Nutt, Erma Mae – Obituary

Erma Mae Nutt 72 Died January 28, 1980 Erma Mae Nutt 72 of Halfway, Oregon passed away Wednesday, January 28 at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. Funeral services for Mrs. Nutt will be conducted Saturday, January 31 at 2:00 p.m. in the Halfway Presbyterian Church. Reverend Sidney Sandusky of the Halfway Presbyterian church will officiate. Interment will follow at the Pine Haven Cemetery Halfway, Oregon. Mrs. Nutt was born on May 2, 1908 in Enterprise, Oregon to Mr. and Mrs. George and Pearl Atins-Emmons. Mrs. Nutt was born and raised in the Enterprise area and attended schools there. She worked in … Read more

Loudermilk, Mary Blanch – Obituary

Mary Blanch Loudermilk, 96, of La Grande, died at a local care center Sept. 23. A graveside service will begin at 3 p.m. Thursday at Grandview Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mary was born on Nov. 3, 1910, to Jay Nutin and Stella Magdeline (Vaughon) Brown in Beaumont, Texas. She married Willard Jess Loudermilk Feb. 2, 1931, in Los Angeles. They had three children. She moved to La Grande from Bend in 1950. Mary enjoyed hunting, fishing, cooking, canning, gardening, camping and crocheting. She is survived by a daughter, Margaree Turner of La Grande; six grandchildren; … Read more

Stitt, Alvin Wayne – Obituary

Alvin Wayne Stitt, 90, of Portland and formerly of La Grande died Oct. 1. A funeral service will be held Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 3722 NE Going St. in Portland. Alvin was born July 1, 1917, in La Grande. He moved to Portland in 1937 and served in the US Army during World War II. He was stationed in North Africa, India and Burma. On June 14, 1950, he married Hilda Stitt. Alvin was a baker at Safeway. Alvin’s wife, Hilda Stitt, survives him. Family Memorial in Portland is in charge of arrangements. … Read more

Skillings, Marcella – Obituary

Marcella Lucinda Skillings, 80, died Dec. 2 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Dec. 10 at Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W. Main St., Enterprise. Mrs. Skillings was born June 20, 1924, to John and Eva DeClue in St. Louis, Mo. She lived in Alaska and California before coming to La Grande. She married Raymond Benjamin Skillings on May 21, 1955. She earned a nursing degree in 1968 and worked at Hot Lake for a while before settling in Wallowa. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, quilting and being with her husband and family. Survivors include her children, … Read more

Stephens, John Scott, Sgt. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Sgt. John Scott Stephens, 41, formerly of La Grande, died March 15 in Tikrit, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his patrol came under attack. Known as Scott, Sgt. Stephens was born May 16, 1965, to Gene and Jo Stephens in Prineville. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1983. While in high school he played baseball and football and competed as a wrestler and a swimmer. Growing up, he enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping and beating his sister at water-skiing. After attending college, he joined the Army as a medic in 1985. On Aug. 11, … Read more