McMinnville Oregon

Polvi, Allan “Al” – Obituary

Allan “Al” Polvi, 66, died Nov. 9, 2005, at his home at Walla Walla, Wash., after a long battle with cancer. At his request, there will be no service. Inurnment will be at Hopewell in July 2006. Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt Cremations & Funeral Services, 1551 Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla, Wash., is assisting the family with cremation arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary Regional Cancer Center or Walla Walla Community Hospice, through the funeral home. For condolences or additional information the family may be reached through this email address: nanpolvi@bmi.net. Mr. Polvi was born on Jan. 31, … Read more

Crimmins, Deltah M. – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Deltah M. Crimmins, 89, of McMinnville and formerly of Elgin, died Jan. 6 at Oakwood Country Place. Visitation will run from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Chapel of Macy and Son, 135 N. Evans St., in McMinnville. Graveside service begins at 2 p.m. Saturday at McBride Cemetery with Rev. Kent Savage officiating. Burial will be at McBride Cemetery in Carlton. Deltah was born Dec. 13, 1918, to Eldon and Gladys McClune Hartley in Elgin. She was raised and went to school in Elgin. She moved to McMinnville in 1941 and married Darrell Crimmins on … Read more

Biography of Robert Couch Kinney

ROBERT COUCH KINNEY. – Oregon will always treasure with respect and admiration the memory of the men and women who came in the days when the Pacific Northwest was the home of savage tribes, mountain men and a few traders, to plant homes and lay the foundation of an empire on the waters of the Columbia. They dared much when they accepted the roll of pioneers to the Pacific. Some became notable for success, and developed character that gave standing to the new state; for the constitution and early legislation of Oregon showed statesmanship seldom equaled in the erection of … Read more

Turner, Laurie Dolores – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Laurie Dolores Turner, 65, of Redmond and formerly of La Grande, died July 26. A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at her home. Laurie was born April 26, 1942, to Stanley and Jeanette Brown Mann in McMinnville. She married Darrell G. Turner on Jan. 23, 1961, in Boise. She worked as a sales assistant to her husband at Western Wear and later for The Spotted Mule in Bend. They lived in La Grande for a while, where their son graduated from high school. She enjoyed being with her family, dancing and her cat, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James A. A. Wilson

JAMES A.A. WILSON. – Mr. Wilson is one of our characteristic Oregonians of the early times, whose career the pen would willingly linger upon. He was born in Carrol county, Mississippi, in 1841, and in 1853 with his father crossed the plains to California. Remaining as an assistant in that state until 1858, he made a visit in that year to the northern coast, stopping off at Victoria; and, after an inspection of various points, he made a residence near McMinnville, where in 1859 he was married to Miss Susannah Owens. He continued here in farming and stock-raising until 1863, … Read more

Golden, Charles – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Sudden Death Of Citizen From La Grande, Oregon Charles Golden, a farmer of La Grande, aged 55 years, who was attending the Grand Lodge of Oddfellows in this city, died suddenly early Wednesday morning at the home of J. W. Looney, on North G street, of neuralgia of the heart. Mr. Golden was taken ill at the meeting held in Burns’ hall and was conveyed to the Looney residence in an auto. He was put to bed and was able to sleep for about 10 minutes, when there was a recurrence of severe pain, and … Read more

Osterman, Dorothy L. Inskeep Mrs. – Obituary

Dorothy L. Osterman, 91, a resident of Sunridge Retirement Community in Pendleton died Monday, Sept. 30, 2002 in Pendleton. Her graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Evergreen Memorial Park in McMinnville. Vault interment will be afterward. Mrs. Osterman was born Sept. 12, 1911, at McMinnville. She was a daughter of Oliver Warren and Dora Ellen Leach Inskeep. Her great-grandfather owned the stage stop at Jordan Valley. She was raised and educated at McMinnville. She started working for Macy & Son Funeral Home part time during high school. Upon graduation, she went to work full time at Macy’s. … Read more

Croucher, Norman W., Sr. – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Norman W. Croucher Sr. Formerly of Elgin A memorial service for Norman W. Croucher Sr., 74, formerly of Elgin, is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Elgin Christian Church, 1335 Division St. A finger-food potluck will follow the service. Mr. Croucher, of McMinnville and formerly of Elgin, died Jan. 19. The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending March 17, 2007

Long, Wendy Marie – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Wendy Marie Long, 41, of Baker City, died July 1, 2003, at her home. An informal memorial service will take place Saturday, July 12, at 10 a.m. at her home for anyone who wishes to attend. Disposition was by cremation at Gray’s West Pioneer Crematory. Wendy was born Chicago, and lived in the Detroit, Mich., area until moving to Middleton, Idaho. She attended Middleton High School and was a champion gymnast and member of the American Honor Society. She received an LPN license from Boise State University. Wendy married and moved to McMinnville, where she received an … Read more

Farnsworth, Ellen Idolette Gates – Obituary

McMinnvile–July 5 (Special)–Mrs. Ellen Idolette Farnsworth, 78, died June 28 [1945] in McMinnville. Services were held at Macy’s Chapel Tuesday and interment was at Multnomah Cemetery in Portland. Mrs. Farnsworth was born in Portland, May 6, 1867. She is survived by two brothers, Alonzo B. Gates and Frank H. Gates of Portland. The Oregonian, July 6, 1945 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Maxwell, William J. (Billy) – Obituary

Services will be Friday, February 13, 10:30 a.m. at Macy and Son in McMinnville for William J. (Billy) Maxwell, 73, who died of a heart attack Monday, Feb. 9. The Rev. Bernard Turner will preside at service, which will be followed by private interment at Evergreen Memorial Park. Maxwell was born July 22, 1902 at Haines, Oregon the son of J.O. and Nancy Ann Maxwell. He grew up on a farm in the Muddy Creek area and graduated from Muddy Creek high school. He entered Linfield College in McMinnville, and after his graduation in 1924, he started a long teaching-administrative … Read more

Biography of N. K. Sitton

N.K. SITTON. – This pioneer of 1843 was born in Calway county, Missouri, in 1825. As a boy in school he read Lewis & Clarke’s travels, and being an active and intelligent youth seventeen years old, at the time of the great interest that prevailed in the border states respecting Oregon, was moved to join the party of Applegate Or Burnett, and made the journey with these noted men across the plains. he remembers meeting with Whitman on the Sweetwater, and recalls his services in guiding the emigrants from Fort Hall. Arriving in Oregon he found employment on various farms … Read more

Conaway, Violet – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Violet Effie Conaway, 88, of McMinnville, died April 15, 2004, at home. She was born Oct. 3, 1915, in Flora to Roy and Bessie Varney. Mrs. Conaway spent most of her growing up years on Upper Prairie Creek and graduated from Joseph High School. After marrying James B. Conaway in 1938, the couple moved to La Grande a few years later where she worked as a high school secretary, followed by a move to McMinnville in 1950. After a short time in Alaska, the couple lived in Vancouver, Wash., before returning to McMinnville in 1980 with two young … Read more

Towell, Dick – Obituary

Dick Towell, 60, of McMinnville, a former longtime Halfway resident, died April 5, 2002, at his home after an ongoing battle with cancer for the past four years. His funeral was Saturday at the Church of Christ at McMinnville. There was a graveside service afterward and a potluck at the Towell home. Dick was born at home in the country by Scholls on Nov. 23, 1941, to Edith Alice and Euidas Scott Towell. He attended a two-room school in first grade and then moved to a newly built school for Grades 2-4. In fifth grade he went to a one-room … Read more

Coles, Edward – Obituary

Death came to Edward W. Coles, 103 year old retired Haines cattleman and one time Oregon livestock industry leader, at McMinnville, Tuesday, January 5. He passed away about three months after actively participating in his 103rd birthday anniversary party there early in October. Funeral is scheduled for Saturday, January 9, 1982, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Haines. Interment will follow in the Haines Cemetery. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers that donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of the First Baptist Church at Haines or to a charity of ones choice. Gray’s West … Read more

Vollmer, Thomas Wesley – Obituary

Thomas Wesley Vollmer, 25, of Portland, died May 19, 2002. His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Central Lutheran Church in Eugene. Mr. Vollmer was born on June 1, 1976, at Baker City to Andrea Nicholson Wiggins and Wesley Vollmer. He moved with his family to McMinnville in 1980 where he lived until 1985 when they moved to Corvallis. He lived there until 1989 and then moved to Eugene where he lived before moving to Portland in 2001. He worked at Starbucks and Renner’s Grill in the Multnomah Village of Portland. He also worked at the … Read more

Maxwell, Frances Olson Mrs. – Obituary

Frances L. Maxwell, 81, former McMinnville resident who taught for 26 years at Cook School, died Thursday, July 21, at Jefferson. Services were Monday, July 25, at 1:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Macy & Son in McMinnville, with interment at the Masonic Cemetery. Born April 21, 1902 in Haines, the daughter of Arthur L. and Bertha Jarman Olson, Mrs. Maxwell was raised and schooled in Haines. She graduated from teacher’s college at OCE in Monmouth in 1920, then taught a few years at Muddy Creek near Haines. In June 1923, in Baker, she married Charles Dewey Maxwell who preceded … Read more

Biography of Robert C. Mays

ROBERT C. MAYS. – The well-known and capable business man, whose name appears at the head of this article, is one of the most widely known men of Union, and Wallowa counties, and is at the present time handling a large business as warehouseman at Elgin, where he is numbered among the leading residents of that thriving city, and he has made a record in this section that is both crowned with gratifying success from a financial standpoint, and wherein he has maintained a representation that is untarnished and displayed talents that properly place him among the real leaders in … Read more

Barron, Zellar Ann Heaton Mrs. – Obituary

Zellar Ann Barron, 98, a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 28, 2006. Her graveside funeral was Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. She was born on April 14, 1908, at Crossville, Ala., to William and Cordillia Camp Heaton. She was educated at Wynn, Ark. She moved to Baker City in 1936. She married Robert Barron on Dec. 23, 1946, at La Grande. She cleaned houses, painted houses, did wallpapering and worked for the Oregon Trail Motel for 22 years. She then cared for elderly people in their homes for a number of years. She retired and moved to McMinnville in … Read more

Ringer, Barbara E. Strong Mrs. – Obituary

Barbara E. Ringer, 77, of McMinnville, and a former Baker County resident, died Dec. 20, 2000, at a McMinnville assisted living facility. Her funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Macy & Son Chapel in McMinnville. The Rev. Jim Kirby of Community Christian Church will officiate. Entombment will be at Evergreen Memorial Park Mausoleum. Visitations will be Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. at Macy & Son Chapel. Mrs. Ringer was born Nov. 12, 1923, at Pollock, Idaho, to James and Maude Irvin Strong. She spent her youth in Baker City, graduating from Baker High School in 1942. … Read more