La Grande Oregon

Vannice, Harvey ‘Kenneth’ – Obituary

Harvey ‘Kenneth’ Vannice, 94, of La Grande, died May 22, 2001, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. A celebration of his life will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at the North Powder Methodist Church. Sally Wiens will officiate. His graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Alford Cemetery at Halsey-Harrisburg. Mr. Vannice was born on Nov. 13, 1906, to James Harvey and Cassie Elizabeth Angel Vannice in Dayton, Wash. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Willamette University at Salem where he lettered in baseball. He earned his master’s degree from Oregon State University at Corvallis. He was … Read more

Jones, Ethel Ardine Newby Mrs. – Obituary

Ethel Ardine Jones, 88, of Rawlins, Wyo., a former Baker City and La Grande resident, died Dec. 2, 2000, at Rawlins, Wyo., of natural causes. Her funeral was Thursday at the Baker City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Mrs. Jones was born on July 24, 1912, to Robert and Ada Violet Hathaway Newby. She married Charles Ted Gorrell at Buhl, Idaho. Later she married Irvin Nelson Jones on Oct. 10, 1954. He died on Nov. 10, 1995. Mrs. Jones worked in restaurants in Baker City and Nyssa. In 1994, she moved from Baker City to … Read more

Mulhall, Robert – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Robert Mulhall, 86, of La Grande and formerly of Seattle, died March 5. At his request there will be no public services. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mr. Mulhall was born June 3, 1920, to Leo and Jenny (Price) Smith in Yakima, Wash. He lived in Yakima, Portland and Seattle and served in the Army during World War II. After an honorable discharge, he worked as a manufacturing engineer for Boeing for 25 years. In the 1970s he moved to La Grande, where he was employed as a consultant for the … Read more

Draper, Kelso M.

Kelso M. Draper Dies Suddenly Mrs. Frances Draper and her daughter, Mrs. James (Vera) Fisher were called to Saint Paul, Oregon, Friday, August 26, by the sudden illness of their son and brother, Kelso Mills Draper, who passed away that day before they could reach his bedside. Son of Judson and Frances Draper, he was born in the Grande Ronde Valley near La Grande 56 years ago. He attended schools in Grande Ronde valley and at Lostine and for many years lived in and near Enterprise, where he farmed. On Sept. 28, 1929 he married at Enterprise to Miss Frances … Read more

Blang, Richard John – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Richard John Blang, 75, of La Grande died Sept. 18 after a long illness. A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Sept. 25 at Valley Fellowship Church, 507 Palmer St. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Blang was born Sept. 6, 1932, to John and Alice Wincher Blang in Humburg, Wis. He graduated from Alma Center Lincoln High School in 1950, and served in the Army in Korea. He married Alice Evelyn Felcan on April 28, 1958. They moved to La Grande in 1974. After a divorce he married Patricia Watkins-Hix on … Read more

Reed, Irene Adell – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Irene Adell Reed, 93, of La Grande died Aug. 7 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Viewing will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and the funeral at 11 a.m. Saturday at La Follette’s Chapel in Burns. Burial will follow in the Burns Cemetery. A memorial reception in La Grande will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church fellowship hall. Mrs. Reed was born Aug. 5, 1913, to Leonard Lincoln and Alda Bertha Elliot Davis in Leland, Idaho. She graduated from Kendrick High School in 1931 and Lewis and Clark Normal School 1933. … 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

Harrison, Wilma Florence (Blystone) – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Wilma Harrison, 76, of Rt. 2, Box 2714, died Tuesday at Grande Ronde Hospital. Mrs. Harrison was born April 10, 1898, at Neoga, Ill., the daughter of C. H. and Margaret Blystone. She moved to La Grande with her parents in 1901. On Oct. 4, 1914, she married Joe Harrison at La Grande. This past Oct. 4 they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They have lived on their ranch all of their married lives. Mrs. Harrison was a member of the La Grande United Methodist Church, past president of the La Grande Country Club and … Read more

Christensen, Linda Jean Shawver Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Linda Jean Christensen, 51, of Baker City, died July 28, 2004, at her home after a long illness. At her request, there will be no memorial service. Linda had lived in Baker City and prior to her illness had worked for several years at Marvin Wood Products. She was born at La Grande on March 13, 1953, to Armia Jean Schooler and LeRoy Shawver. She lived at La Grande most of her childhood. She married Daniel Christensen in Baker City in November 2003. Survivors include her husband; her mother; her brother and sister-in-law, Robert Lee and Mildred … Read more

Metcalf, Geraldine N. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Geraldine N. Metcalf, 85, of La Grande died July 31 at a local care center. A private service will be held. Mrs. Metcalf was born Aug. 19, 1920, to Lewis and Lucille Strange Ansell in Burley, Idaho. She married Robert Metcalf on Dec. 24, 1937, in La Grande, and worked at US Bank for 20 years. She enjoyed tole painting and traveling. Survivors include children and their spouses, Paul and Bert Metcalf of Summerville, and Keith and Kathy Metcalf of Umatilla; a brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Thelma ansell of La Grande; five grandchildren; and other relatives. … Read more

Steen, Leona Marie – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Leona Marie Steen, 89, of La Grande, died Sept. 18 at a local care center. At her request there will be no public services. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements. Leona was born Aug. 10, 1920, to Paul William and Laura (Quin) Barber in Aberdeen, S.D. She came to Oregon from South Dakota in 1971. She worked as an office clerk for Adult and Family Services until her retirement. She was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, the American Legion Auxiliary, the VFW Auxiliary, the Eagles Auxiliary … Read more

Reynolds, Lillian Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Lillian Reynolds is Fatally Stricken Mrs. Lillian Reynolds, 1508 Second St., housewife and music teacher, died at her home today from an extended illness. Born in Michigan, she had been a resident of La Grande for 47 years. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church. Survivors include her husband, Lee Reynolds, La Grande; one daughter Mrs. Dorothy Lee Bloomer, Yakima, Wash.; two brothers, Robert and Howard Evans, La Grande; seven grandchildren and other relatives. Services will be held at Daniels Funeral Home, Monday at 2 p.m. Rev. Louis Samson will officiate. Interment … Read more

Hendrix, James, Johathon “Jim” – Obituary

Halfway, Baker County, Oregon James Jonathon “Jim” Hendrix Jr., 61, of Halfway, died Aug. 21, 2005, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. His funeral was Friday morning at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Jim was born on May 6, 1944, at Halfway to James Jonathon and Evalenea Buchanan Hendrix. Jim was raised and educated in Halfway, graduating from Pine-Eagle High School in 1963. Following high school he married Diane Drake, and they had two children: James Jonathon III and Lori Ann. They divorced in 1975. Monique Moore met Jim while working in the ODOT District office in La Grande. They … Read more

Kelley, Arthur Thomas – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Arthur Thomas Kelley, 88, of La Grande died Nov. 21 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. A funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Committal and burial with military honors will follow at 1 p.m. Monday at Grandview Cemetery. Mr. Kelley was born March 17, 1918, to Thomas and Ida Wright Kelley in Throckmorton, Texas. He was educated in Texas and attended Texas A&M before enlisting in the Air Force. He made the military his career and retired as a lieutenant colonel. In 1945 he married Jacqueline Wiese in California, … Read more

Corbett, Rose – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Rose Corbett, 90, who was born in La Grande Sept. 11, 1868 and lived here most of her life, died in Walla Walla, Wash., Friday. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Dempsey-Snodgrass Funeral Chapel with Rev. Gene Robinson officiating. She was a member of the Baptist church. She is survived by one son, James, of Hilt, Calif., two daughters, Mrs. Hazel B. Martin of Walla Walla and Mrs. Elizabeth Garner of San Francisco, Calif.; two brothers, Ben Hopper of Hollywood, Calif. And Gleve Hopper of Shoshone, Idaho; two sisters, … Read more

Pierce, Robert Lee – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Robert Lee Pierce, 58, of La Grande, died March 12 at his home after a long battle with multiple myeloma. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel. Known as Bob, he was born Oct. 16, 1948, to Robert and Phyllis (Eckelman) Pierce in Portland. He graduated from Beaverton High School. Bob served in the Air Force from 1967 to 1971. While stationed in Georgia, he met and married Julia LaFavor. They had a son, Scott, in 1972. The couple later divorced. After moving back to Oregon, Bob met Helen “Ann” Wilson, whom he married in … Read more

Stitt, Donald Virgil – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Donald Virgil Stitt, 92, of Woodburn and formerly of La Grande, died June 18 at the Cascade Park Retirement Home in Woodburn. Funeral services were held June 27. Donald was born June 9, 1915, the third of six children, to Charles and Annie Stitt in La Grande. He grew up in La Grande and graduated from La Grande High School where he was an outstanding athlete in basketball, football and track. In 1937, he moved to Portland with his family. He played professional basketball for the Signal Oil Co. and attended Oregon State University in 1939 and … Read more

Long, Sue Weaver Stevenson Compton Mrs. – Obituary

Rock Creek, Baker County, Oregon Sue Stevenson Compton Long, 70, who lived a good deal of her life in the Rock Creek area, died Jan. 3, 2006, at La Grande. Friends are invited to a celebration of life service for Sue at 12:30 p.m. Friday at 14101 Launchpad Lane. There will be a private graveside service at 11 a.m. Friday at the Rock Creek Cemetery. The third of three children, she was born on May 31, 1935, at Yreka, Calif., to Amos and Zelna Weaver. Sue attended 28 different grade schools in California and Oregon, while growing up. She earned … Read more

Cannon, Kody Bonham – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Kody Bonham Cannon, 3, died July 29 in La Grande. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Kody was born March 16, 2004, in La Grande. His family says that Kody was a happy boy who, no matter what, had a smile on his face. Kody enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing and camping with his family. Kody enjoyed cutting and drawing, leaving many masterpieces behind, family members say. Throughout his short life, his family says that he touched many other people. They say that Kody taught, in his own way, each person he met … Read more

Bruch, Georgeanna Marie – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Georgeanna Marie Bruch, 89, of Hillsboro and formerly of La Grande died Aug. 4. A memorial service was held today in Hillsboro. Burial at Fir Lawn Cemetery in Hillsboro will be private. Fir Lawn Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Bruch was born Nov. 19, 1916, to George E. and Marie Keller Lockwood in Riverside. She attended school in La Grande and graduated from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Spokane in 1940. On Jan. 24, 1943, she married Robert H. Bruch. The lived in Yreka, Calif., and Hillsboro before moving to Woodburn, and more recently … Read more