La Grande Oregon

Fox, H. Clayton – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon H. Clayton Fox, 90, died March 31 at his home in La Grande. A funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in La Grande. Private burial will be at the Summerville Cemetery. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande. Mr. Fox was born Dec. 18, 1916, to Clay and Lelah (Day) Fox in Imbler. After graduating from high school he attended what is now known as Oregon State University. During his senior year his father became ill and … Read more

Sigler, Allan J. – Obituary

Formerly of La Grande Allan J. Sigler, 89, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande, died Sept. 17 at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City with Pastor David Eddy of Faith Center, La Grande, officiating. Viewing runs from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight at Gray’s West and Company. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery and there will be a reception at the family’s home. Allan lived in La Grande from 1977 through 1980. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Elizabeth Care Center … Read more

Baker, Leola Mary – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Leola Mary Baker, 83, of Central Point and formerly of Elgin, died March 27. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Elgin Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Memory Gardens Mortuary of Medford. Mrs. Baker was born June 15, 1923, in Elgin, where she was raised. She married Delmar Baker, and they owned and operated a real estate business in La Grande. She was a member of Eastern Star and the Fraternal Order of Eagles #259 in La Grande. She also was a Grey Lady volunteer at Grande Ronde Hospital many years ago. … Read more

Ferguson, Duane Wesley – Obituary

Union, Oregon Duane Wesley Ferguson, 75, of Union, died April 14 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A private family service is planned, and burial will be at the Union Cemetery. Mr. Ferguson was born Nov. 4, 1931, to Emery Wesley and Marie (Sanford) Ferguson in Hilgard and was raised in Eastern Oregon. He enlisted in the Army, serving in Korea and Vietnam. On Jan. 31, 1952, he married Paulette Marie Térése Lallmand in France. His military career took them to various places, including Missouri and North Carolina. After an honorable discharge, the family moved first to La Grande and then … Read more

Jeffries, B. F. Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. B. F. Jeffers, formerly Mrs. Lydia Reeves, died in Olympia, Washington, Monday of this week, and interment took place in Union Thursday from the Undertaking Parlor. Mrs. Jeffers was a former resident of Union, at which time she was known as Mrs. Lydia Reeves, wife of Vincent Reeves. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves removed to La Grande from Union thence to Haines, where they resided up to the time of Mr. Reeves’ death, which was seven years ago. She was married to Mr. Jeffers, who survives her. After her marriage, the deceased was a resident of Olympia. She leaves no … Read more

Bond, Champ Clark – Obituary

Haines, Oregon Champ Clark Bond, 90, a longtime Haines resident, died March 16, 2002, at Baker City. His memorial service was this morning at Baker City Christian Church, with Pastor Roger Scovil officiating. Disposition was by cremation at Grays West & Co. Pioneer Crematory. Burial of cremated remains will be at the Haines Cemetery. Champ was born on a homestead at Missouri Flat to Martha Elizabeth Herndon and Charles Wesley Bond. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1929 and married Lois Lucretia Fisher on Dec. 18, 1933, in Union County. Champ grew up on a farm in the … Read more

Simonis, Louis – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon Louis H. Simonis, 84, a resident of North Powder, died early Saturday morning in St. Joseph’s Hospital, La Grande. Mr. Simonis, a pioneer resident of the North Powder country, was born April 7, 1874 in Rosholt, Wis. He moved with his parents to North Powder as a small child and had lived there since. He was a farmer. He was a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Simonis has no immediate family, but is survived by a number of nieces and nephews. Rosary for Mr. Simonis will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at West … Read more

Henry, Phyllis Constance – Obituary

Phyllis Constance (Traiver) Henry, 86, of Johnson City, Tenn., and formerly of La Grande, died in the comfort of her home May 28 after a brief illness. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the family home. Family and friends are invited to attend. Morris-Baker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Phyllis was born April 15, 1922, to Joshua and Mary Traiver in Johnson City. In 1928 her family moved to La Grande where she attended school and later continued to visit every year. At the age of 18, Phyllis moved back to her hometown with … Read more

Miller, William Dudley – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon Long-time valley resident passes William Dudley Miller, lifetime resident of the Grande Ronde Valley, passed away late Friday night at a local hospital. He was 93 years old. He was born March 5, 1876, in La Grande, the oldest of nine children of George and Matilda (Conley) Miller. His parents were immigrants to Union County in 1874 and later resided in the Cove area. Mr. Miller attended schools in Union County. When he was 22 he and his brother-in-law, John Smith, started farming by renting 800 acres from his father. This was located nine miles northwest … Read more

Baker, Mary Jane – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Mary Jane Baker, 74, of Meacham, died today in a local hospital after a long illness. She was born April 15, 1860, in Missouri, and had been a resident of Meacham for 47 years. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Frank Hanlin of La Grande; a son, James B. Baker of Kamela, and four grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, in the Snodgrass Funeral Home with Rev Mark A. Talney officiating. Internment will be in the Masonic cemetery, beside her husband who died last March, La Grande Evening Observer, La Grande, Union … Read more

Harris, Lavelle – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lavelle Harris, 93, of La Grande, died March 9 at her home. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande. A complete obituary will be published at a later date. The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending March 17, 2007 1913-2007 LaVelle Harris, 93, of La Grande, died March 9. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, with burial to follow at the Union Cemetery. Mrs. Harris was born April 6, … Read more

Coulter, Dusty Clark – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Dustin Clark Coulter, 33, of Portland and formerly of La Grande, took his life on March 26. A memorial service is planned for 7 p.m. March 30 at the First Baptist Church in La Grande, 1702 Sixth St. A private family interment will take place at a later date. Known as Dusty, he was born April 21, 1973, in Corvallis and was raised in both Salem and La Grande. After high school he worked various jobs in La Grande until moving to Portland in August 2006. Dusty enjoyed video games, outdoor family activities, sporting events and supporting … Read more

McKenzie, Robert A. (Alex) – Obituary

Well-known farmer, Mason passes Robert A. (Alex) McKenzie died Saturday at a local hospital. He was 82 years old. He served as a Union County Commissioner from 1939 to 1943, and was Union County Judge from February through April of 1943. Mr. McKenzie was born on November 21, 1887 in Summerville, Oregon, the eldest son of Roderick and Isabella McKenzie. He was a lifelong farmer and resided in the Summerville area until his retirement when he moved to La Grande and lived at 1503 4th St. He is survived by two brothers, Clyde of Summerville and Le Roy of Corvallis; … 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

Holt, James – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon James Holt, 58, of La Grande, died April 5 after a short battle with cancer. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at The Place, 62846 Philynda Loop, near Buchanan and McAlister. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Known as Jess, he was born Aug. 20, 1948, to Janice and Russell Holt in Pocatello, Idaho. He grew up in Boise, graduating from Borah High School in 1966, and served in the Air Force from 1968 to 1972. In 1978 he earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of … Read more

Niederer, Mini (See) – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Minnie (See) Niederer, 85, formerly of La Grande, died Oct. 21. Minnie was born and raised in La Grande where she met Harley Levon Niederer. They were married in Weiser, Idaho, in 1941. They moved to Eugene and spent 55 years together until Levon died in 1996. She is survived by son, John Niederer of Vancouver, Wash.; daughter, Nikki Pettet of Olympia, Wash.; two grandsons; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by four siblings, Bill Hart, Grover See, Lottie Noyes and Ester Crader. La Grande Observer – Obituaries for the week ending November … Read more

Goodnough, Effie P. – Obituary

Effie Pearl Goodnough, 94, of La Grande, died Thursday afternoon at the La Grande Nursing Center. Mrs. Goodnough was born Feb. 16, 1894, on a farm near Cove to Jabe and Alma (Brown) Conley. On May 10, 1922, she married Raymond Goodnough. He died on Sept. 19, 1948. She was a graduate of Cove High School and lived all her life near Cove or Island City and in La Grande. Following the death of her husband, she worked for many years at Fitzgerald’s Flowers in La Grande. She enjoyed playing cards with her friends and liked the outdoors, especially fishing. … Read more

Fowler, Oscar Ernest – Obituary

Oscar Ernest “Ernie” Fowler, 92, of La Grande, died at a local care center Thursday. A full obituary will be published later. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is handling arrangements. La Grande Observer – June 28, 2008

Carper, Charles P. – Obituary

Promise, Wallowa County, Oregon Early Promise Resident Dies Charles P. Carper, resident of Promise for 42 years, died at La Grande, Monday, May 24, 1937, after an illness of over a year. Funeral services were held at the cemetery in Promise, Tuesday, and were attended by a large gathering of relatives and friends, Rev. Albert Kribs, pastor of the Christina church of Elgin, gave the address. Six of Mr. Carper’s sons were pall bearers, Harold, Robert, Ralph, Melvin, Roy and Orville Carper. Mr. Carper was a son of Washington Carper, one of the first of the many who came to … 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