La Grande Oregon

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

Yeske, Golden – Obituary

Yeske, James Golden – 57, of Roseburg, passed away October 13, 1984. He was born October 19, 1926, in La Grande, Oregon. On October 9, 1948, in Portland, Oregon, he married his wife Beverly and they lived in the Roseburg area since the early 1950s. Golden had been a teacher in the Roseburg area Elementary schools for many years and a member of the First Christian Church here in Roseburg. He was the President of the Umpqua Coin Club. Survivors include his wife, Beverly Yeske of Roseburg; 1 son, Shaun Yeske of Pocatello, Idaho; his mother, Faye Yeske, his brother, … Read more

Breckon, June Annette Gutridge Mrs. – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon June Annette Breckon, 80, of Elgin, died Aug. 18, 2002, at a La Grande care center. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Elgin Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dedication of the grave will be at the Elgin Cemetery. Visitations will be at the church in Elgin Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. June was born on June 14, 1922, to Charlotta Milissa Springer and William Allen Gutridge in Baker City. She married Clayton Breckon at Seattle, Wash., on Jan. 1, 1942. She moved to Elgin 25 years ago … Read more

Rush, George H. – Obituary

Auto Accident Well Known Man Killed at Railroad Crossing G.H. Rush, building contractor, was instantly killed when his auto was struck by train No. 21 a mile this side of Wingville Thursday evening. Wm. Hernsen of the Shockley Lumber Co. who was in the car with Mr. Rush is recovering at a Baker hospital. There seems to have been no witnesses to what transpired immediately before the accident. It is not known whether the car stalled on the track or an attempt was made to cross ahead of the train by too narrow a margin of time. The body of … Read more

McComas, E. S. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon One of the largest funerals in the history of the town of Union marked the obsequies of the pioneer editor and politician, E. S. McComas. The funeral was held at Union, Wednesday afternoon, September 6 at 3 o’clock, and was attended by a great gathering of pioneers. The body was laid to rest beside his mother, brother, and son. The deceased leaves a widow, one daughter, an adopted son and three sisters, Mrs. Alice M. Bell of Enterprise, Mrs. Esther E. Pursel and Mrs. Mary R. Thomson of Union. Mrs. Bell received word of her brother’s … Read more

Schumacher, Harriett Elizabeth Turner – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Harriet Elizabeth Turner (HET) Schumacher, 82, of Portland and formerly of La Grande, died June 20 surrounded by family after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. A rosary will begin at 7 tonight at Mount Scott Funeral Home, 4205 SE 59th St. A mass and a reception celebrating her life will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 3618 SE 79th St., in Portland. Burial will follow at Gethsemani Cemetery. Harriet Elizabeth was born Sept. 13, 1925, to Henry and Eileen Turner in La Grande. As an only child and with her dark, curly locks … Read more

Flett-Gray, Grace Eileen – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Grace Eileen Flett-Gray, 87, of Elgin, died June 13 at her home. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Grace was born April 20, 1920, to William Dewey and Harriet Innes Foust in East Brady, Pa. They later moved to Oakmont, Pa. After graduating from high school, Grace enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps and served in the Philippines and New Guinea from 1942 to 1945. She received a WAC service medal, a Good Conduct medal, a Phillippine Liberation Ribbon and an Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon. While in the Philippines, Grace met and married Lowell Guy Flett. After … Read more

Courtney, Doris Letha – Obituary

Doris Letha Courtney, 78, of Burns and formerly of Union and Wallowa counties died March 28. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday April 1 at LaFollette Chapel, 332 W. Monroe St., Burns. Burial in the Burns Cemetery will be private. Mrs. Courtney was born Sept. 5, 1927, to John and Marjorie Miller in La Grande. She grew up in Cove on a dairy farm, and was a princess at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show and the Elgin Stampede. She graduated from Cove High School in 1944, and attended Eastern Oregon College of Education before moving to Portland to … Read more

Biography of D. A. McAllister

D.A. McALLISTER. – Mr. McAllister is a pioneer among the horse-breeders of Eastern Oregon, and has animals in his band of three hundred easily worth four thousand dollars each. He sells colts at from five hundred to six hundred dollars each. It is not always noted, but it is nevertheless a fact, that the value and service of stock of all kinds ins multiplied rather by improving the quality of the animals than by increasing the number of those of inferior grade. In one particular Mr. McAllister is peculiar among horsemen. He despises gambling, and trots or runs only for … Read more

Dickerson, Wilberta Emily – Obituary

Child Dies, Mother Injured In Accident La Grande, Aug 21. A broken steering gear, that plunged a car and its occupants over a 100-foot embankment near Palmer Junction yesterday afternoon, is given today as the cause for the death of little Wilberta Emily Dickerson, 3, and serious injuries to her mother, Mrs. W.P. Dickerson. The third occupant of the car, Billie Dickerson, just 14 months old, was thrown clear of the automobile and escaped with slight bruises. The car plunged over the embankment, turning over and over, and stopped its catapulting course in a stream, little Wilberta being pinned under … Read more

Cornwell, Eloise – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Eloise Cornwell died on Aug. 2, 2007 at the Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center in La Grande. She was 87. Mrs. Cornwell was born Feb. 8, 1920, in Enterprise to Arthur C. and Nettie L. Beam Haggerty. On July 5, 1938, she married Leonard L. Cornwell. She worked as a linotype operator for the Wallowa County Chieftain for many years. After retiring, she and her husband enjoyed traveling in “Big Brown”, their converted bus. They spent winters in Arizona and summers in Wallowa County. Mrs. Cornwell is survived by her daughter Judi and Terry Holbrook of Enterprise; grandsons … Read more

Briggs, Edwin J. – Obituary

Edwin J. Briggs passed away on October 2, 2001. He was born in Perry, Oregon on August 23, 1912, the son of Willie J. and Harriet Watson Briggs, both deceased now. He was raised in LaGrande, Oregon, and it was at college there that he met and married his first wife, Helen Teed. They were married 56 years. Helen died in 1990. Ed entered active military service in September, 1940 as a 2nd Lt. with Co. E., 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Division. He served in New Guinea during the first Papuan Campaign. He then volunteered for service in Burma with … Read more

Wise, James – Obituary

James Wise, of 905 Division St., died Monday, Aug. 25, at Grande Ronde Hospital. He was 90. Mr. Wise was born Feb. 24, 1890 in Marion County, Ky., the son of David Parker and Debby Ritter (Benningfield) Wise. He came to this area in 1904. He was married to Hattie Jeanette Dugan Oct. 3, 1914 at Summerville. She preceded her husband in death in 1975. Mr. Wise was a heavy equipment mechanic for Grande Ronde Lumber Co., and Mt. Emily Lumber Co. Survivors include his son Harold of La Grande, grandson James Calvin Wise of La Grande, and several nieces, … Read more

Hail, Fielding W. – Obituary

Aged Man Victim La Grande Auto Crash La Grande, Dec. 20. Fielding W. Hail, 68 years of age, was killed early this morning when a car driven by Ray Billups, of Walla Walla, left the road near Island City and overturned. Mr. Hail, who occupied the back seat, was thrown from the car, the crash fracturing his skull and causing internal injuries. He was dead when found about half an hour after the accident. Mr. Billups and a companion, Lee Dunham, escaped with only minor bruises and scratches. They are being held on an open charge. According to reports received … Read more

Fisher, Sarah J. – Obituary

Sarah J. Fisher Pioneer, Passes On Here Today Sarah J. Fisher died about 1:30 o’clock this morning at 1501 U avenue. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Summerville chapel. The body was taken to the Snodgrass and Zimmerman mortuary. Mrs. Fisher, born in Sullivan county, Missouri, March 2, 1859, was 77 years, 11 months and seven days of age, and was among the early pioneers of Oregon. She crossed the plains with her parents, Mr. And Mrs. Hiram McDonald with ox teams in 1864, landing in Linn county where they lived until 1872. She moved … Read more

Wykoff, Marjorie Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Union County, Oregon Two Injured In Wreck Die At Hot Lake Sunday Both Mrs. Marjorie Wykoff, of La Grande, and R.L. Hite of Spokane, Wash., seriously hurt in an auto accident Friday of last week, died as a result of their injuries at the Hot Lake sanatorium Sunday. The woman passed away Sunday morning about 1:55 o’clock and the man died early Sunday evening. Skull fractures were said to have caused the death of both. The fatal accident occurred late Friday afternoon, just west of the Hot Lake viaduct when Hite’s large car failed to … Read more

Goss, Debra Faye Crim Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Debra Faye Goss, 47, of La Grande, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash. Her funeral was at 1 p.m. Thursday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in La Grande, 1002 L Ave. The Rev. Hank Albrecht officiated. Committal and interment was at the Summerville Cemetery. Visitations were Wednesday until 7 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., in La Grande. Deb was born June 18, 1955, to Harvey C. Bud and Ruthella “Ruthie” Phelps Crim in … Read more

Cash, Mary Rhodig – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Mary Rhodig Cash, 97, of La Grande died Nov. 16 in La Grande. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Committal and burial will follow at the Island City Cemetery. Mrs. Cash was born June 29, 1909, to James Edward and Elizabeth Campbell Taylor in Almena, Kan. She married Russel L. Rhodig in April 1932, and the couple had four children, Twilla, Russel, Charles and Netha. Mr. Rhodig preceded her in death. In 1982 she married James D. Cash of La Grande. Mr. Cash died in 1986. Mary … Read more

Berry, Anita W. Mrs. – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon Berry, age 59 years, of Ferndale, passed away in a local hospital, Wednesday, Dec. 15, following a short illness. Mrs Berry was home economics instructor at Ferndale High School and a member of the First Methodist Church of Kelso; the Bellingham A. A. U. W., the National Educational Association and the Alpha Chi Omega. She is survived by oneson, Robert W. Berry of Cambridge, Mass.; two daughters, Miss Mary Lou Berry of Longview and Mrs. William P. Beall Jr. or Berkeley, Calif.; her mother, Mrs. Mary Worth of Longview. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, Dec. … Read more

Lanegan, Lisa Lynn Simpson – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lisa Lynn Simpson Collis Lanegan, 40, of Vancouver, Wash., and formerly of La Grande and Baker City, died suddenly Aug. 18 in Vancouver. The cause of death has not been determined. No services have been scheduled. A family gathering will held at a later date to celebrate her life. Dahl-McVicker Funeral Home in Kelso, Wash., is handling arrangements. Lisa was born March 18, 1966, in San Gabriel, Calif. She attended junior high and high school in Baker but graduated from high school in California. As a certified nurse assistant she worked as a caregiver much of her … Read more