La Grande Oregon

Headley, Lyle Walter – Obituary

Lyle Walter Headley, 80, of La Grande, died Oct. 3 at his home. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the La Grande Church of the Nazarene. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements. Lyle was born on July 7, 1927, to Clarence and Margaret (Paulison) Headley in Omaha, Neb. During World War II he served with the Merchant Marines. On Jan. 8, 1950, he married Lillian Ruth McIntyre in Ralston, Neb. They lived in Nebraska for a time before moving to California where he was a self-employed heavy equipment operator. In 1969 they … Read more

Hansell, Delmar A. – Obituary

Delmar A. Hansell, 85, of La Grande, and a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 1, 2002, at his home. A celebration of his life took place Aug. 2 at Loveland Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Gary Hood of ioneer Park Church officiating. Mr. Hansell was born Feb. 3, 1917, in Corvallis to William Henry and Lydia L. Bullis Hansell. He attended Corvallis and Newport high schools. He married Ernestine (Teen) Gardener on Nov. 12, 1947, in Caldwell, Idaho. They lived in Corvallis, then moved to Baker in 1950 and to La Grande in 1956, where Mr. Hansell was a custodian … Read more

Conley, Royal – Obituary

Memorials in her name may be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund. La Grande Observer – Obituaries For The Week Ending September 15, 2007 Published: September 17, 2007

Workman, Sarah Helen – Obituary

Stroke is Fatal to Mrs. Workman; Burial Thursday Mrs. Sarah Helen Workman, a resident of La Grande the last 328 years, died at the Grande Ronde hospital at an early hour this morning following a stroke. Funeral services will be held at the Snodgrass and Zimmerman mortuary, with Rev. M. H. Greenlee, of the Fir Street Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will take place in the family plot at Elgin. A native of Logan county, West Virginia, Mrs. Workman was 67 years, seven months and 113 days of age. She was born April 18, 1869. Survivors include her widowed husband, Edwin, … Read more

Hixson, William A. – Obituary

William A. Hixson, 86, of La Grande, a former Baker City resident, died May 13, 2008, at a local care center. There will be celebration of his life at 11 a.m. Saturday at Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 1508 Fourth St., in La Grande. Bill was born on June 19, 1921, at Missouri Flat to Elijah William and Frances Edna Schiller. He attended grade school near Pleasant Valley and Baker High School. After high school, he began working in the sawmill and then went to log cutting. In 1941 he tried to enlist in the U.S. Navy after Pearl Harbor. … Read more

McLaughlin, Hiram – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon A Very Sudden Death The death of Hiram McLaughlin, a jewler, occurred very suddenly at his place of business in Hays Variety store, Saturday evening says the La Grande Gazette. He had started to walk to the rear of the building and advancing a few steps, sank witha groan into a chair. Parties who were present ran to his assistance, but he failed to rally, and in a few minutes life, was extinct. The cause of death is supposed to have been the rupture of a blood vessel, or some similiar difficulty. Eastern Oregon Republican, … Read more

Hutson, Carol Anne – Obituary

Carol Anne (Smith) Hutson, 63, of Kennewick and formerly of La Grande, died May 9 after a long illness. A private memorial service was held earlier in the month at Hillcrest Memorial Center in Kennewick. Carol was born Aug. 20, 1944, to Sherman Elton Smith and Josephine Amanda Thorpe in McMinnville. She married Richard Hutson. They later divorced. A retired library custodian and homemaker, Carol enjoyed rock hunting and arts and crafts projects. She lived in La Grande for 10 years, Lincoln City, Netarts, Tillamook and Salem and spent the last four years in Kennewick. She is survived by her … Read more

Gibbs, Rita – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Rita Gibbs, 65, formerly of La Grande, died March 2 in Mesa, Ariz. A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. June 16 at Grandview Cemetery. La Grande Observer – Obituaries for the day of May 17, 2008

Fain, Sheri Ann Putman Mrs. – Obituary

North Powder, Oregon Sheri Ann Fain, 23, of Soldotna, Alaska, died of natural causes on March 5, 2004, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Peninsula Memorial Chapel. Bishop William Thomas will officiate. Sheri was born on June 17, 1980, at La Grande to Daniel and Carla Putman. She attended Powder Valley Schools at North Powder through the 11th grade and graduated from Skyview High School at Soldotna. She married Jorel Fain in 2003. The couple made their home at Soldotna. They started their family with the birth of their … Read more

Neely, Jean – Obituary

Formerly of La Grande 1927-2009 Jean Neely, 81, of Cottage Grove and formerly of La Grande, died Jan. 19. A memorial service was held Jan. 24 at Riverside Community Church of God in Cottage Grove. Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel in Cottage Grove is in charge of arrangements. Jean was born Feb. 12, 1927, to Roy and Myrtle Neely in Grants Pass. She graduated from Grants Pass High School and received her bachelor’s degree from University of Oregon and a master’s degree from the University of Washington. She received a doctorate of education from the University of Oregon. Jean lived in La … Read more

Miller, Willis Gordon “Bill” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Willis Gordon “Bill” Miller, 80, of Portland, and a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 28, 2004, at Friendship Nursing Home in Portland. His memorial service was Dec. 4 at the St Johns Christian Church in Portland. Arrangements were by the Killingsworth Little Chapel of the Chimes. His ashes will be placed at Tehoma National Cemetery near his son’s home because Willamette National Cemetery’s Columbarium has no available space. Bill was born June 17, 1924, at Baker City to William F. and Josephine D. Miller. After graduating from Baker High School in 1942, he joined the U.S. … Read more

Craig, Olive Gorham Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Olive Gorham Craig, 85, of La Grande, a former North Powder resident, died July 24, 2001, at the Evergreen Care Center in La Grande. Her memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Sally Wiens of the Haines Methodist Church will officiate. Mrs. Craig was born on Oct. 25, 1915, at her family home in North Powder. She graduated from North Powder High School. She married Harold Craig in Pendleton in 1934. They farmed and made their home at North Powder until 1956 when they moved … Read more

Rogers, Vernon Irving “Vern” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Vernon Irving “Vern” Rogers, 84, of Baker City, died Sept. 9, 2004, in Boise, Idaho. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Bishop David Richards will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after the services. Vern was born on Aug. 23, 1920, at Maquon, Ill., to Irving Holt and Vivian Lois Burroughs Rogers. He was the eldest of nine children. Vern’s father, … Read more

Thornton, Pamela Liebig – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Pamela Liebig-Thornton, 56, of La Grande, died at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise after a long and courageous battle with cancer. A recitation of the rosary will begin at 7 tonight at Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory. A Mass of Christian burial will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1002 L Ave. Burial will follow at the Grandview Cemetery. Pamela was born May 22, 1951, in Portland to Norman and Dorothy (Drinkwater) Liebig of Hines. As an infant she lost her first mother and was raised by her father’s second … Read more

Wilson, Edward B. “Ed” – Obituary

Edward B. “Ed” Wilson, 74, of La Grande died Oct. 20, 2001, at the Boise Veterans Hospital. His graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Military rites will be accorded by the Baker City American Legion, Post No. 41. Vault interment will follow the services. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Mr. Wilson was born on July 18, 1927, at Richland to Victor O. and Mary Simonis Wilson. He was educated at schools on Brushy Flats … Read more

Emmons, Edith Gayle – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Edith “Gayle” Emmons, 69, of La Grande, died Oct. 29 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Edith was born on May 22, 1938, to Harry and Ethel (Gardner) Thomas in Baker City. As a teenager, she moved with her family to La Grande where she finished her education, attending business college. On Oct. 29, 1955, she married Don Emmons in Weiser, Idaho. They made their home in La Grande and she worked as a fry cook for the Sac Annex, for … 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

Spencer, Albert Ross – Obituary

Albert R. Spencer, 82, of 901 4th St., La Grande, died Saturday at a local hospital. Spencer was born on April 14, 1889 at La Grande, the son of Josephine and Joseph Spencer. He was a member of the First Christian Church of La Grande, and the Elks Lodge No. 433. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Survivors include his wife Abbie of La Grande; daughters, Margery M. Reynolds, La Grande and Thelma Eden, Pendleton; four grandchildren, Mrs. Lee Wick of Aloha, Ore., Mrs. Robert Strans of Beaverton, Mrs. Marva Wiggins of Portland, and Mrs. … Read more

Williamson, John Leo – Obituary

John Leo Williamson, 37, of La Grande, died Dec. 26, 2006, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande after a long battle with bone cancer. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of The Valley Catholic Church in La Grande. Burial will follow at La Grande Grandview Cemetery. John was born in Baker City on 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 … Read more

Burnett, Verle Leaman – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Verle Leaman Burnett Verle Leaman Burnett, 70, of Hermiston, died May 30 from a heart attack at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston. A graveside service will begin at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Hermiston Cemetery. Following the service, there will be a gathering for friends and family at Skip Walchli’s farm. Verle was born Oct. 2, 1936, in La Grande to Orval Virgil and Grace Loraine (Thompson) Burnett. Verle attended elementary school at Mount Emily Camp west of La Grande and graduated from La Grande High School. On Oct. 2, 1956, he married Marlys Myers, and … Read more