Lane County OR

Biography of Capt. Pleasent Calvin Noland

CAPT. PLEASENT CALVIN NOLAND. – Captain Noland, one of the most substantial farmers of Lane County, and for nearly forty years a resident of Oregon, was born in Missouri in 1830. His ancestry extends to Ireland and Wales; and his grandfather, Leadstone Noland, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. His father, Smallwood V. Noland, became a pioneer of Missouri, and a very conspicuous man in that region, and as commissioner of Jackson County was concerned in the removal of the Mormons, by whom he nearly lost his life. In 1846, entering the service of the United States … Read more

Wilson, Jim – Obituary

Island City, Oregon James “Jim” William Wilson, 72, died Aug. 5 at his home in La Grande. A celebration of life potluck begins at 1 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Island City City Hall. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. The Observer – August 7, 2008 ______________________________ James “Jim” William Wilson, 72, of La Grande, died Aug. 5 at his home. A complete obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. The Observer – August 7, 2008 James “Jim” William Wilson, 72, of La Grande, died Aug. 5 at … Read more

Biography of Jeremiah De Spain

JEREMIAH DE SPAIN, – This veteran among the pioneers of Union and Umatilla counties illustrates in his career what one may accomplish on this coast. Coming here a poor man, he left at his death a competence valued at many thousand dollars. He was born in Knox county, Kentucky, in 1833, being the fifth child of Benjamin De Spain, whose family numbered six sons. In 1836 he removed with his parents to Warren county, Illinois, and there, on his father’s farm, acquired the habits of industry, and obtained what education was afforded in the frontier schoolhouses. In 1852, having attained … Read more

LaBaun, George Bradford – Obituary

George Bradford LaBaun, 82, a Baker City resident from 1996 until moving recently with his wife to Roseburg, died Dec. 29, 2004, with his family at his bedside after several years of battling with a rare lung disease. His memorial service was Jan. 3 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit. A celebration of his life will be scheduled later at Corvallis. He was born on Feb. 13, 1922, at Sheridan, Wyo., to George and Cora Burdick LaBaun. When he was 2 years old he moved with his parents to Eugene. He was a 1939 graduate of Eugene High … Read more

Stephens, Montia Coval – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Montia Coval Stephens died May 20, 2007, at the Vancouver Veterans Hospice Center, from cancer surgery complications. He was 64. Mr. Stephens was born Dec. 30, 1942, in Cottage Grove. He graduated from Joseph High School in 1960. Immediately after high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army. His service included Officers’ Candidate School, tours in Korea and the Dominican Republic and in the White House as a communication specialist and on the presidential press team during President John F. Kennedy’s term. He also worked in the Pentagon. He left the army as a Captain. Mr. Stephens remained … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Americus V. McAlexander

One of the sturdy, industrious and intelligent agriculturists and stockmen of Wallowa county is named at the head of this paragraph and we essay to outline his career, in which we are pleased to note sound principles, upright life and good abilities manifested, while he has ever labored for the advancement of the interests of the county and has manifested a broad public spirit and a patriotic heart. Mr. McAlexander was born in Lane County, this state, on November 9, 1856, being the son of Andrew and Verlander (Dickey) McAlexander. He remained in the Willamette valley on his father’s farm … Read more

Hammitt, Norman Peter – Obituary

Norman P. Hammitt, who has resided in Lane County since 1850, died from heart failure Sunday night, June 2, 1901, at his home in Mohawk Valley, aged 73 years. His beloved wife and three of his children were in Eugene visiting at the time the final summons came, as Mr. Hammitt had been enjoying excellent health. At about 10 o’clock last night some of the children at home heard their father make some noise in his room and asked what was the matter, when he replied, “Get me a light,” and expired. Mr. Hammitt leaves a wife and 13 children. … Read more

Leep, Frances Williams Mrs. – Obituary

Frances W. Leep, 87, of Baker City, died Jan. 16, 2005, at her home. Memorial services for Mrs. Leep will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Baker City Christian Church. Pastor Roger Scovil and Mr. Jack Pittman of the church will officiate. Mrs. Leep was born in King City, Mo., on July 11, 1917, to Nelson Oscar and Clara Belle (Keeney) Williams. She moved to Oregon with her family at the age of 14 and settled in Eugene, where her father was a pastor and her mother taught school. She attended schools in the Eugene area and graduated … Read more

Molitor, Lawrence Henry, Jr. – Obituary

Lawrence Henry Molitor Jr., 72, of Dallas and formerly of La Grande, died Dec. 5. A memorial service begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. Mr. Molitor, known as Hank, was born Jan. 5, 1934, in Chetopa, Kan., to Lawrence Henry Sr. and Nellie Juanita Caldwell Molitor. He was raised in Kansas and moved to Idaho during his teenage years. On Oct. 13, 1951, he married Irene Humphreys in Idaho. The couple and their children lived in Oakridge, where he worked in the plywood mill, and later moved to La Grande, where Mr. Molitor worked for … Read more

Biography of George F. Herbert

GEORGE F. HERBERT. – This gentleman and his wife were a venerable couple whose lives as pioneers in our state, and as citizens of great merit in social, religious and business life, have made them well known and highly respected in the entire circle of their acquaintances. Mr. Herbert was born in Frederick County, Virginia, in September, 1815. Mrs. Herbert (Elizabeth) née McCormick, was born May 1, 1818, in the same state. They were married in 1838, and emigrated to the frontier of Illinois, where they remained until 1842, when they moved to Iowa, making a second prairie home. In … Read more

Hesus, Carol Andrea McKim Mrs. – Obituary

After an aggressive four-month battle with throat cancer, Carol Andrea Hesus, supportive wife and fun-loving mother, joined her grandmother in heaven on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at 3:30 a.m. Andrea was 50 years old. Carol Andrea McKim was born in Baker, Ore., in 1957. Andrea attended schools in Baker and graduated from Pine Eagle High School in Halfway, Ore. She met Frederick Hesus while attending Eastern Oregon State College. They married in 1978 and moved to Halfway, Ore., to be close to Andrea’s family. In 1985, Andrea and Fred moved their family to Ponapei, and then to Guam where Andrea … Read more

Klinge, George – Obituary

George L. Klinge, age 81, of 840 Holly St., Junction City passed away at a local nursing home April 19, 1971. He was born at Clinton, Iowa on September 5, 1889, and was married to Jessie Bilyeu at Vancouver, Washington on April 20, 1916. She preceded him in death in February 1969. A retired farmer, Mr. Klinge came to Junction City in 1904 where he resided until 1928 when he moved to Linn County residing in the Scio, Lebanon, and Albany area returning to Junction City in 1968. Surviving are 1 daughter and 2 sons: Mrs. Wayne (Mary) Holst and … Read more

Wilder, Emily Ellen Osbon Mrs. – Obituary

Emily Ellen Wilder, 70, of Pendleton and a former Baker City resident, died May 13, 2003, at her home. A funeral service was held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in La Grande. Committal and interment followed at the Island City Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley in La Grande. Mrs. Wilder was born June 20, 1932, to John and Suzy Ellen (Tate) Osbon in Hayti, Mo. She was the youngest of four children. The family traveled throughout the states and settled in Eugene when she was still in school. In … Read more

Hornig, Blanche L. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Blanche L. Hornig, 85, of Salem and formerly of Union died June 1. A memorial service will begin 1 p.m. June 20 at Morningside United Methodist Church in Salem. Blanche was born in Ithaca Township, Wis., to Leslie and Libby Holeton on Sept. 28, 1921. She lived in Minnesota and Kennewick. She married Thomas Hornig in 1949, and they lived in Union, Eugene and Salem. In the ’70s, Blanche was executive secretary for the Salem League of Women Voters. She was proud to be a part of the Friday clan, and an honorary Cherry. Survivors include her husband, … Read more

Kirkpatrick, Bruce – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Bruce Kirkpatrick, 84, a lifelong Baker City resident, died March 5, 2006, at his home. His memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate. Bruce was born at Baker City on Feb. 19, 1922, to Elizabeth and Chauncey Kirkpatrick and lived in Baker City all of his life. He was a 1940 Baker High School graduate. His father had been the Chevrolet dealer in Baker City from 1926 until his death in 1940. Bruce worked in his dad’s Chevrolet dealership after school, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Imbler

JESSE IMBLER. – A native of Kentucky (1842), Mr. Imbler as a boy came west to Iowa, and in 1853 continued the journey to Oregon, being all this while with his father, who made his home near Eugene. Upon the appeal made for soldiers to quell the Rogue river Indians in 1855-56, Jesse then but sixteen, joined his two older brothers at the front, where, on account of his youth, he was assigned to the supply department, and remained with it to the end of the war. Returning home he accompanied his father and brother to The Dalles, and engaged … 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

Warnock, Alice Anatoinette Brown Mrs. – Obituary

Alice Antoinette Warnock, 94, died Aug. 16, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Hospital after a brief illness. Private burial was at the Sumpter Cemetery. There will be a memorial celebration of her life at 3 p.m. Sunday at the McEwen Community Church in Sumpter Valley. Pastor Bill Cox will officiate. There will be a beef barbecue at the church for family and friends after the service. Alice was born June 17, 1908, to Herbert and Theresa Nystrom Brown at Portland. She was raised on farms at Woodburn and Mohawk, and graduated from Eugene High School in 1924 at the age of … Read more

Talbott, Lester Elvin – Obituary

Lester Elvin Talbott, 94, of Junction City, and a former Baker City resident, died March 22, 2002. His funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Murphy-Musgrove Funeral Chapel in Junction City. Visitations will be Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Burial will be at Alford Cemetery. Mr. Talbott was born Dec. 23, 1907, at Tillamook to Francis and Franky (Farley) Talbott. He graduated from high school in Tillamook. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Europe during World War II. After the war he worked as a farmer and mill worker, retiring from … Read more

Carter, Ralph V. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Ralph V. Carter, 88, of Florence and formerly of La Grande, died Sept. 26. The family will have a private memorial service at a later date. Mr. Carter was born Sept. 5, 1918, in Henning, Minn., to Clarence and Lillian Carter, the fourth of eight children. He worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps and spent four years in the Army with the Coastal Defense Battalion. In 1959, after a particularly hard Minnesota winter, he and his wife, Florence Mabel Stewart, moved with their four children to Oregon. He worked as a Crook County assessor in Prineville and … Read more