La Grande Oregon

Buchanan, Gary J. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Gary J. Buchanan, 34, formerly of La Grande, died Sunday in Hermiston. Mr. Buchanan was born Sept. 25, 1953, to Harry and Laneta (Gray) Buchanan of La Grande. He lived in La Grande until moving to Echo last summer to work on the Mosgrove Ranch. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 259 of La Grande. He is survived by sons, Gary Dean and Jason, both of Ontario; brothers, Terry Ray Buchanan of Chatteroy, Wash., and Jack Thomas Buchanan of Seattle; sister Carol Kay Baycroft of Spokane; grandmother, Verda Gray … Read more

Murry, Barbara June Nielsen – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Barbara June Nielsen Murry, 75, of La Grande and formerly of Pilot Rock, died Nov. 9 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Family and friends may call from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Daniels Chapel. Ms. Murry was born June 16, 1931, at Pilot Rock to Hans C. and Mable E. Galbreath Nielsen. Ms. Murry grew up on a ranch up East Birch Creek and attended schools in Pilot Rock to half her sophomore year until her parents … Read more

Spears, Bette Ladine – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Bette Ladine Spears, 70, died April 19 after a long illness at her residence in La Grande. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church, 901 Penn Ave., La Grande, with Pastor Mark Schlessman officiating. A luncheon will follow at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel. Bette was born Aug. 5, 1936, to Vance and Marie (Reichle) James in Plains, Mont. She graduated from La Grande High School in 1954 and married Claude A. Spears in 1955. They raised four children and later divorced. She … Read more

Conley, A. B. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon A. B. Conley, Pioneer of County, Called Beyond Another pioneer of the Grande Ronde valley answered the last call Sunday when death claimed Archie Bird Conley, of La Grande and former resident of Cove. Mr. Conley, one of the outstanding pioneers of this county, spent a long and useful life, having an important hand in the development of the county to its present stage. The deceased was 88 years, one month and eleven days of age and on January 4th, he and his wife celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. A few days before their daughter … Read more

Scriber, Loyd – Obituary

Loyd Carlton Scriber, 106 Greenwood, La Grande hospital after a long illness. He was 65 years old. Scriber was born in Salem on Aug. 21, 1885 but moved to “La Grande when he was only five, living here for the past 60 years. In La Grande, he was a member of B.P.O. Elks lodge number 433. He worked for the Union Pacific railroad. Private funeral services will be held Wednesday at the Snodgress funeral home with Rev. Clarence A. Kopp officiating. Burial will be in the city cemetery. The family has requested that flowers not be sent to the funeral. … Read more

Carter, Lucille H. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lucille H. Carter, 85, of La Grande, died Oct. 26 at a local care center. A full obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. La Grande Observer – October 27, 2009

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

Phillips, Dorothy Mae Bone Freney Mrs. – Obituary

Dorothy Mae Bone Freney Phillips, 87, of La Grande, Ore., died March 19, 2006, in La Grande. A Memorial service will be held Friday, July 28, 2006, 2 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery. Father Julian Casacee of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will Officiate. There will be a reception at the Geiser Pollman Park. Dorothy was born on May 26, 1919 in Toppenish, Wash., to William and Edith Fordyce Bone. She is survived by daughters, Laura Van New Kirk, Sally Anders; son, Robert Freney. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Oliver Wendell Phillips. Arrangements are by Gray’s West … Read more

Culley, Fern – Obituary

Donna “Fern” Culley, of La Grande and formerly of Wallowa County, died April 1, 2006, at the Grande Ronde Hospital. She was 90. Mrs. Culley was born on Sept. 15, 1915, to Arthur and Zella Millard Pearson in Enterprise. She was the great-granddaughter of David Kooch, who was an early pioneer to Wallowa County. She graduated from Enterprise High School in 1934. On June 15, 1935, she married Floyd Culley. She met her husband when he came to Enterprise with the Civilian Conservation Corp. Shortly after they were married, they moved to Baker City where she spent most of her … Read more

Miller, Ed – Obituary

Union, Oregon Edward “Ed” Odin Miller, 64, of Union, died Aug. 19 at his home. A celebration of life memorial gathering will run from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show clubhouse. Ed was born May 5, 1944, to Odin and Fonda (Helmick) Miller in La Grande. He graduated from Union High School and then attended Oregon State University and Eastern Oregon University. He was a fourth generation rancher in Union. On July 31, 1965, he married Sue Cunningham in Union. Survivors include his wife, Sue of Union; children, Cassie Miller of Pendleton, Cinda and Justin … Read more

Pattee, Jerrold I. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Jerrold I. “Pat” Pattee, 78, of Lower Perry, died Thursday, Aug. 23 in Portland after an extended battle with cancer. There will be no funeral service, but a memorial get-together will be held at a later date for family and friends. Arrangements are with Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Jerrold was born in Beaver, Okla., to Eber and Erma (Mann) Pattee Oct. 29, 1928. He owned Pat Pattee Carpet Service in La Grande and Portland. He belonged to the Eagles and Elks Lodges. He loved to hunt, fish, garden and canning. Pat and his wife just celebrated … Read more

Vandermulen, Eva C. – Obituary

Eva C. Vandermulen, 88, La Grande, died Sunday, Jan 28, at Mountain Vista Care Center. She was born Sept. 11, 1901 to William and Iantha (Stevenson) Bay. She married Roy E. Vandermulen on Dec. 24, 1919. Survivors include daughters, Juanita Hyde, Baker, Dorothy Pound, Seattle, and Bethel Gruis, La Grande; sister, Ella Kolb, Portland; four grandchildren; nine great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. Her husband, Roy, a sister, Maude Applegate, and brothers Ira, Guy and Roy Bay died earlier. A funeral will be held at 11 a. m. Thursday and Payne Family Mortuary. The Rev. Irwin Smutz of Imbler Christian … Read more

Armato, Michael James – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Michael James Armato, 51, of Heppner, died Feb. 19 of natural causes in La Grande. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. March 3 at the Pioneer Masonic Cemetery, Heppner. A Rosary will be read at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church during the regular 5 p.m. mass. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. March 4 at the Heppner Elks Club. Arrangements are under the direction of Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner. Mr. Armato, known as Mike, was born June 27, 1955, to Frank and Catherine Armato in San Francisco. He grew up in San Rafael, Calif. He graduated … Read more

Easley, Carlos Eugene – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Carlos Eugene Easley, 91, of La Grande, died May 10 at his home. A funeral service will begin at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the First Christian Church. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements. Carlos was born April 7, 1917, the sixth of eight children, to George Woodson and Della Jeanette (Whitton) Easley in Chillicothe, Texas. He spent his early years in Texas, and then the family moved to Southern California where he attended schools in Baldwin Park and West Covina. One of his earliest memories is of a house fire that … 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

Rickett, Wanda J. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Wanda J. Rickett, 57, formerly of La Grande, died of natural causes April 20 at her home in Emmett, Idaho. A celebration of life will begin at 10 a.m. April 30 at the Abundant Life Fellowship, 207 S. Washington, in Emmett. Wanda was born Sept. 11, 1949, to Lewis and Genevieve (Roberts) Ingram in La Grande. She attended school in Cove and graduated from La Grande High School in 1968. After graduation she worked at the public library in La Grande. In 1973 she moved to Flagstaff, Ariz., where she met and married Keith Rickett. She moved … Read more

Bay, Caroline Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. Caroline Bay died last night at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. D. Goodnough, in the first ward, from where the funeral services will be held tomorrow at two o clock. Rev Gibbs, Pastor of St. Peter’s church officiating. The Interment will be in the Masonic cemetery beside her husband, Wm Bay, who preceded her one year ago last February. Mrs. Bay was one of the pioneers of the valley, having settled here with her husband in the sixties, and her kindly administrations in the sick rooms for years in the city, will always live in the memory … Read more

Griggs, Larry Malcolm – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Aug. 30 — Larry Griggs, funeral service, 1 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, La Grande The Observer – August 25, 2008 ________________________ Larry Malcolm Griggs , 81, of La Grande, died peacefully Aug. 22 at his home. Services will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the LDS Stake Center on Gekeler Lane. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Larry was born July 5, 1927, to Edward Rex and Ruth Rawlins Griggs in Union. Larry was a veteran of the Navy and subsequently trained to become a certified aircraft mechanic and … Read more

Smith, Harry E. – Obituary

A retired railroad employee, Harry E. Smith, 66, 1810 Adams Avenue, died at a local hospital early this morning, February 29. He is survived by his wife Mildred E. Smith and other relatives. Arrangements are pending at Crippin-Daniels Funeral Chapel. La Grande Observer, La Grande, Union County, Oregon, Thursday, February 29, 1968 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Smith, Harry Edward Union County, Oregon Harry Edward Smith, 66, 1810 Adams Avenue, died at a local hospital February 29. He had retired in December, 1967, as a Union Pacific Storekeeper. Services will be Saturday, Mar. 2, at 3:30 p.m. at Crippin-Daniels Funeral Chapel with Rev. Boone … 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