La Grande Oregon

Biography of John R. Ladd

JOHN R. LADD. – The stories told to the children of the generation hence of the abundance of gold and the immense profits of the early pioneers will fire their imaginations and set them on wild, and perhaps profitable, trips to the Andes or to Alaska. Mr. Ladd’s career will be thus exciting to his descendants, and to all who see this sketch. He was born in the Empire state in 1838. He came to California with his father in 1852, but returning East married Miss Rachel Knapp in Illinois. Here might be mentioned as a remarkable coincidence, that Mrs. … Read more

Rumney, Inez Fields Mrs. – Obituary

Inez Rumney, 93, of Prairie City, a former La Grande resident, died Nov. 16, 2001, at Blue Mountain Nursing Home at Prairie City. There was a celebration of her life Sunday at the Island City Cemetery. Mrs. Rumney was born on March 12, 1908, to William H. and Bessie Rimbey Fields at Elgin where she attended school. She met Stuart Francis Rumney in a construction camp where she was cooking. The couple were married on Oct. 13, 1928, at Walla Walla, Wash. They lived mainly in La Grande and later moved to Island City. Mr. Rumney worked as a heavy … Read more

Alexander, Adrienne Leona – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Adrienne Leona Alexander Adrienne Leona Alexander, 82, of Prineville and formerly of La Grande, died Feb. 20. Visitation will be available from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Whispering Pines Funeral Home, 185 NE Fourth St., Prineville. Funeral services are planned for 10 a.m. Monday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, SE Second Street and Idlewood, Prineville, with Bishop John A. Morgan officiating. Mrs. Alexander was born Oct. 19, 1924, to Adren and Leona (Morris) See in La Grande. She graduated from La Grande High School and was employed by Union Pacific Railroad as … Read more

York, George W. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon George W. York, 59, of La Grande, died Oct. 3 at his home. A complete obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements. La Grande Observer – October 6, 2009

Culley, Donna “Fern” Pearson Mrs. – Obituary

Donna “Fern” Culley, 90, of La Grande, a former longtime Baker City resident, died April 1, 2006, at the Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. There will be a celebration of her life at 11 a.m. Friday at the New Life Center in La Grande. Committal and interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, April 14, 2006. Fern was born on Sept. 15, 1915, at Enterprise to Arthur and Zella (Millard) Pearson. She was the great-granddaughter of David Kooch, an early pioneer to Wallowa County. She was a 1934 Enterprise High School … Read more

Evans, George Edward – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon George Edward Evans, 86, of La Grande, died Thursday at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Monday at the Summerville Cemetery. Mr. Evans was born on Dec. 10, 1919 in Bartlett, Neb., to Charles Sydney and Grace Lorenz Evans. He moved to La Grande at the age of 8 with his family and graduated from La Grande High School. During World War II he served in the 94th Infantry in Europe with the Army. He was in four major battles and received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Mr. Evans married … Read more

Lockhart, Louise – Obituary

Summerville, Oregon Louise Lockhart, 81, of Summerville died Sept. 13 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of life is planned for a later date. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Lockhart was born April 26, 1925, to Samuel Schurit and Ethel Macklin VanderJagt in Bellingham, Wash. She attended Pepperdine College in Los Angles, Calif., and married Ray Lockhart on May 3, 1946, in Southgate, Calif. She worked as a purchasing agent at Eastern Oregon University, and was active in her church. She was a member of the Grande Ronde Hospital Auxiliary and the Soroptimists, and enjoyed reading, … Read more

Roming, James – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon James Romig Is Run Down And Killed By Auto James Romig, 28 year old engineer, lately of Baker, but a native of La Grande, was instantly killed at 11:30 o’clock Monday night when he and the car he had been driving were struck by an automobile driven by Claude H. Gretchell of La Grande, on the highway at Hot Lake. The young man’s neck was broken and his left leg ground almost completely off. When found he was lying nearly 15 feet from his car. A piece of fender lay beside him, and the victim’s … Read more

Lee, Eileen Cochrane Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Eileen Lee, 91, a longtime Baker City resident, died at her home on Jan. 27, 2003. Her memorial service will be held Thursday at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. The Rev. Susan Barnes will officiate. At Mrs. Lee’s request, a private interment of her cremated remains will be at the North Powder Cemetery. Eileen was born June 24, 1911, in Baker City, the only child of Edgar and Susan Browning Cochrane of Haines. Eileen attended school in Haines until 1924, when her parents moved to Baker City. She was a 1929 Baker … Read more

March, Nellie – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Nellie March, 85, of La Grande, died May 10 at a local care home. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Christian Church in La Grande. A complete obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is in charge of arrangements. La Grande Observer – Obituaries for the day of May 12, 2008 ___________________________________ Nellie March, 85, of La Grande, died May 10. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Christian Church in La Grande. A viewing will precede from 9 a.m. to … Read more

Chaplin, Hannah Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon The death of Mrs. Hannah Chaplin occurred in La Grande Saturday morning, March 25, 1905. Deceased was 82 years and 6 months old. Mrs. Hannah Chaplin crossed the plains to Oregon in 1854, settling in Marion county, and in 1863 moved to La Grande, in which city she resided until the time of her death. Being one of the early pioneers of this county, she had a large circle of friends who are left to mourn her loss. In this city she leaves two nephews, Wm. and W.L. Arnold, who were at her bedside at … Read more

Holloway, Margaret Caldwell – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Margaret Caldwell Holloway, 91, of Amelia, Ohio, and formerly of La Grande, died June 6 in an Amelia care center. Date of services will be announced later. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements. Margaret was born on Nov. 9, 1916, in Fort Duchesne, Utah, to Mason and Ida Mae Caldwell. At age 8, she and her family moved to the Lime area. She attended school in Baker and La Grande, graduating from La Grande High School in 1935. She married Jess Holloway on March 31, 1942, in Weiser, Idaho. They were ranchers in … Read more

Adams, Agnes – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon In La Grande, March 26th., of Diphtheria, Agnes, daughter of Charles and Francis Adams, aged 5 years and 6 months: “There is no flock, however watchful tended, But one dead lamb is there There is no fireside, however defended But has one vacant chair. Mountain Sentinel, Saturday April 6, 1878

Butler, Georgia LaVella – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Georgia LaVelle Butler, 95, of La Grande died Sept. 11 at Jody’s Country Care in La Grande. A celebration of life will be held on at 2 p.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in La Grande. A graveside Service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Loveland Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. She was born in La Grande on Sept. 27, 1910, to Herman and Florence Richey. She grew up in La Grande except for five years when her family lived on a ranch in Cove. She graduated from … Read more

Spencer, Joseph – Obituary

Long Illness Foreruns Demise Yesterday Funeral Held from Family Home This Afternoon at 2 O’clock Death yesterday ended a long and painful illness suffered by Joseph Spencer, a well-known citizen of North La Grande. Mr. Spencer was ill for several weeks. He was about 63 years of age at the time of his death and is survived by a widow and several grown children. The funeral was held this afternoon from the family home near the planing mill and Dr. J. D. Gillian officiated. La Grande Evening Observer Monday, August 28, 1911 Page 8 Contributed by: Tom Childers

Watson, Gwendolyn Marise – Obituary

Gwendolyn Marise Watson, 66, of New Plymouth, Idaho, died Sept. 29 at her home. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the Highway Assembly of God in Fruitland, Idaho. Burial will follow at Parkview Cemetery in New Plymouth, Idaho. Haren-Wood funeral Chapel in Payette, Idaho, is in charge of arrangements. Gwendolyn was born on Dec. 6, 1940, to Ted and Ida (Celestine) Hixson in Baker City. She married Richard Watson on Dec. 24, 1963, in Baker City. She attended Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton and received a degree in nursing in 1962. She worked for 35 years … Read more

Millering, Grant Elwin – Obituary

Grant E. Millering of 409 Sunset Drive died Saturday, July 10th at the Alpine Meadows Golf Course at Enterprise, Oregon. He was 49 years old. Millering was born on November 4, 1922 in La Grande, the son of Eugene and Berdillie Millering. He attended schools in La Grande and graduated from La Grande High School with the class of 1940. He attended Eastern Oregon College for two years. In 1942 he enlisted in the Navy Reserve and was called to active duty in 1943. He attended flight school while in the Navy and was released from active duty in 1947 … Read more

Remsen, Ruth Abbott Mrs. – Obituary

Ruth Abbott Remsen, 83, of Richland, Wash., a former Richland, Ore., resident, died April 8, 2005, in the company of her daughter. Her graveside memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 28, 2005, at the Island City Cemetery. She was born Aug. 13, 1921, in Malheur County, near Weiser, Idaho, to Isaiah and Nannie May Wade Abbott. Ruth was one of 11 children. Ruth and her husband, Mearl F. “Mick” Remsen, were married on July 7, 1942. After the war, the family moved to Lakeview, where they lived for 12 years. They later moved to La Grande, where … Read more

May, David B. – Obituary

Died in La Grande, Friday morning, Oct. 13, 1899, David B. May, aged 84 years and 5 months. Mr. May was among the pioneers of grande Ronde, having made his home in this valley continuously since his arrival here in 1863. For many years Mr. May was one of the highly respected residents of the Cove. After the death of his wife who was also one of the well known and highly respected pioneer residents of Union county, Mr. May removed from Cove to Union. During the past few months his health began to rapidly fall, and he came to … Read more

Williamson, John Leo – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon John Leo Williamson, 37, of La Grande, died Dec. 26 at Grande Ronde Hospital after a long battle with bone cancer. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in La Grande. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Mr. Williamson was born in Baker City Jan. 21, 1969, to John H. Williamson of Baker City and Alice (Stroud) Williamson of La Grande. He attended school in both La Grande and Baker City. He married Martha Eoff of Elgin. They have two sons, Donald, 13, and Lucas, 10. The couple … Read more