Burford, Paula Errolo – Obituary

Union, Oregon Paula Errolo Burford, 80, of College Place, Wash., and formerly of Union died Sept. 17 at her daughter’s home. The funeral was held today at Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home in Milton-Freewater. Burial was at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery. Mrs. Burford was born March 25, 1926, to Joseph Coleman and Katie Rosilla Deuel Lay in Medical Springs. She graduated from Union High School, and attended Brigham Young University. She moved to Los Angeles, Calif., where she worked for Western Union. On Sept. 16, 1949, she married Clifford Edwin Burford in Los Angeles. They returned to Oregon and lived in Milton-Freewater for … Read more

Shirley, Michael L. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Michel L. Shirley, 60, of Milton-Freewater and formerly of Union died Aug. 13 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Mr. Shirley was born Nov. 5, 1945, to Ancle L. and Eva M. Fulp Shirley in Tranquillity, Calif. He graduated from Union High School in 1963, and served in the Air Force specializing in computer systems. In 1966 he was assigned to NORAD Headquarters in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs, Colo., where he received the Armed Forces Commendation Medal. He graduated from the USAAFSS NCO Academy, and finished … Read more

Hearing, Clara – Obituary

Wallowa County, Oregon Wallowa County rancher, Clara Hearing, died Jan.4, 1990, at Elzora Manor in Milton-Freewater where she had resided since Oct. 9, 1987. She was born Jan. 31, 1909, at Spokane, Wash., the daughter of John and Dorothy (Briscoe) White. The family moved to Wallowa County when she was five years old. On July 11, 1933, she married Fred Hearing in Pasco, Wash. He preceded her in death in 1962. They operated a ranch on Powwatka for 25 years. Later they bought the Butte Creek holdings (the old Bill Zurcher Place) from Mark Sevier. After her husband’s death, Mrs. … Read more

Ransom, Paul E. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Paul E. Ransom, 83, of La Grande and formerly of Milton-Freewater, died Aug. 8 at Rose Cottage, an adult care center, in Kennewick. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt, 1551 Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla. Pastor Roger Holden will officiate. A reception will follow at the funeral home. Paul was born Sept. 30, 1924, to Ernest and Lou Hahn Ransom in Walla Walla. He attended elementary school on Government Mountain then the Forks School on the Walla Walla River. He started high school in Prescott, Wash. His family then moved … Read more

Sutton, Kathleen Elizabeth Ann “Kate” Winn Mrs. – Obituary

Kathleen “Kate” Elizabeth Ann Winn Sutton, 90, of La Grande passed away at a local care facility on June 22, 2005. Loveland Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. Celebration of Life Services were held on Monday, June 27, 10 a.m. at The Elgin United Methodist Church. Viewing was held on Sunday, June 26 from 1-4 p.m. at Loveland Funeral Chapel 1508 4th Street, La Grande. She was born on Nov. 6, 1914, in Milton-Freewater, Ore., to Henry and Ethel Dougherty Winn. She graduated from Maclaughlin High School in Milton-Freewater. She married Harold L Sutton on Dec. 2, 1932, in College … Read more

Frison, Donald L. – Obituary

Island City, Oregon Donald L. “Don” Frison, 62, of Island City, died March 30 at his home. Private services will be held at a later date. Don was born Dec. 10, 1945, to Joseph and Alma I. Kluth Frison in Mobridge, S.D. He grew up and attended school in Weston. After his schooling he joined the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1962 to 1966. After his discharge from the service he worked in Portland for the Teamsters Union for 10 years and later for the Operating Engineers Union for 22 years, doing various jobs. He retired from the unions and … Read more

Akes, Esther Elaine – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Esther Elaine Akes of Milton-Freewater died June 27, 2006, at Evergreen Nursing Home. She was 86. Mrs. Akes was born August 23, 1919 in Pendleton to James Wallace and Lucia Mae Tilton Spencer. On February 27, 1943, she married Charles Leonard Akes, Sr. at Olympia, Wash. She worked at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle as a “Rosie the Riveter,” putting the metal skin on B-17 bombers, while her husband served overseas during World War II. After the war the couple ranched in Bickleton and Roosevelt, Wash and Mrs. Akes started Oasis Aviaries, marketing her birds in the area. They … Read more

Adamson, Paul Thomas – Obituary

Anchorage resident Paul Thomas Adamson, 91, died Nov. 25, 2005, at his home of natural causes. A memorial service will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 1 at Kehl’s Forest Lawn Chapel. The Rev. Voss will officiate. Flowers are welcome. Mr. Adamson was born Feb. 27, 1914, in Scranton, Iowa. He moved to Anchorage in 1972 and worked as a Teamster for Matanuska Maid. He retired in 1978. After retirement he moved to Milton – Freewater, Ore., until 2002, when he returned to Anchorage. Mr. Adamson enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, fishing, farming and raising livestock. He was a member of the … Read more

Obituary of Lester E. Hammack

Jamison, Oregon—Lester E. Hammack 89, of Jamison, died July 13,1989, in a Vale nursing home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the First Christian Church in Vale, Rev. Paul Ratzlaff officiating. Internment will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Vale, under the direction of Lienkaemper Chapel of Vale. He was born June 12, 1900 in Lostine, Oregon, the son of John L. and Alice Bohannon Hammack. He moved with his parents and lived in Elgin, Echo and Milton-Freewater, Oregon before moving to Cow Valley in 1918. He moved to Jamison in 1920 where he ranched and farmed. He … Read more

Molstrom, Eldon Walfred – Obituary

Eldon Walfred Molstrom Umatilla Co., OR Eldon W. Molstrom, 46, Adams resident for many years, died at his home [September 19, 1952] at Milton-Freewater Friday from cancer. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Folsom’s in Pendleton with the Rev. Truman Robbins, First Christian Church at Milton-Freewater, officiating. Burial will be at Olney Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jasper Hodge, Frank Tubbs, and William Coppock, all Adams; William Allen, Milton-Freewater; Glen Bayne, Walla Walla, and Latcher Norvel, Helix. Born in Pendleton Dec. 27, 1905 Mr. Molstrom received his early education in rural schools, later graduating from Pendleton High School … Read more

Graham, Harry Russell – Obituary

Milton-Freewater, Oregon Obituary Harry Russell Graham, 80 a retired fruit farmer of Milton-Freewater died at a local rest home, Tuesday, Sept. 12 following an extended illness. Services will be held at the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home in Milton-Freewater, Friday, Sept. 15 at 2 p.m. Interment will also be at Milton-Freewater. The La Grande Observer, La Grande, Oregon – Wednesday, September 13, 1967 Transcribed by Dixie Ricker

Carder, Mary Nell Isitt Midkiff Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Nell Carder, 84, of Baker City died April 10, 2005, at Meadowbrook Place. There will be a private family inurnment at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery. Mary was born on June 11, 1920, to Rueben and Lenna Reusaw Isitt at Elgin. Her family moved by wagon from Milton-Freewater to Elgin. She was married to Elmer Midkiff in 1941. Together they raised two children, Bernadine J. Stillwill and David E. Midkiff. After Elmer’s service in the U.S. Navy, the family traveled to Oregon following his work in construction. They spent most of their time in Klamath Falls and Umatilla. The couple later … Read more

Reece, Lacy D. – Obituary

Lacy D. Reece of Milton Freewater and a former resident of Enterprise passed away Wednesday, January 22, at the Veterans Administration Hospital at the age of 80. Reece lived at Rt. 3, Milton Freewater. Mr. Reece moved from Clearwater, Kansas, where he was born Sept. 5, 1894, to Oklahoma, and in 1913 he moved to Falls City, Ore. He married Ruth Eaton in Enid, Okla., and the couple then moved to Enterprise. Reece served with the U.S. Army during World War I. He returned to Enterprise after the war and worked as a meat cutter. His wife passed away in … Read more

Hunot, Lulu E. Campbell – Obituary

Graveside service for Lulu E. Hunot, 89, of Pendleton, will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Olney Cemetery. Mrs. Hunot was bon Dec. 26, 1905, in Athena, the daughter of William A. and Susan Ogle Campbell. She died Thursday, Dec. 29, 1994, at Elzora Manor in Milton-Freewater. She grew up and spent most of her life in or near Pendleton. She attended St. Joseph’s Academy in Pendleton and married Fred P. Hunot in Pendleton on July 3, 1921. He died in 1943. Mrs. Hunot was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Eagles, 28 Ladies Auxiliary, Pauline, Rebekah Lodge, 13 Order … Read more

Carper, Mary A. – Obituary

Wallowa, Oregon Mary A. Carper died Oct. 7, 2005, at the Regency At the Park. She was 78 years old. She was born Oct. 19, 1926 in Enterprise to Emmet and Erma Chenoweth Landers. Mrs. Carper attended school in Wallowa. On Dec. 31, 1947 she married Fredrick C. Carper. They lived in Wallowa, Elgin and then in Milton-Freewater until 1962. Mrs. Carper worked for Lynden – Umatilla Cannery, Rogers Cannery and also the Carters Tree Farms. Later in life she worked for the school district in Athena and St. Mary Medical Center. She enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing. She … Read more

Wheeler, Lydia – Obituary

Wallowa, Oregon Lydia I. Wheeler, 77, formerly of Wallowa, died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1987 at her home in Milton-Freewater. She was born June 26, 1910 at Kirwin, Kan., daughter of Daniel and Alpha Vest Lare. The family lived in Kirwin, where she attended school until October, 1916, when the family moved to Oregon. They settled at Wallowa, where she graduated from high school. On Sept. 8, 1930, she married Joseph R. Wheeler at Enterprise. They moved to Freewater in the spring of 1931 and moved to a home on the South Fork of the Walla Walla River in the spring … Read more

Sutton, Harold L. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Harold L. Sutton, 91, a La Grande resident and a former longtime Elgin resident, died March 22, 2004, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. His funeral will be Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the Elgin United Methodist Church. Vault interment and concluding services will follow in Summerville. Pastor Kay Garver will officiate. Visitations will be Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Loveland Funeral Chapel 1508 Fourth St. in La Grande. Mr. Sutton was born March 10, 1913, at Bethlehem, Iowa, to Robert and Viola (Hancock) Sutton. His father died when he was 9-years-old, … Read more

Jones, Janis M. Davis Mrs. – Obituary

Haines, Oregon Janis M. Davis Jones, 65, of Haines, died March 24, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. At her request there will be no services. Mrs. Jones was born Nov. 1, 1937, at Forks, Wash., to Ed and Doris (Jones) Davis. She received her education in North Powder, and graduated from McLoughlin High School in Milton-Freewater. She loved the outdoors, camping, fishing and all outdoor wildlife. She loved all animals and was a loving and caring mother. She made friends with everbody she met. She will be missed by all. Mrs. Jones is survived by her husband, Ed Jones … Read more

Jewett, Joe – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Joe Jewett, 93, of La Grande, died Feb. 19, 2005. He was born May 13, 1911 in Helena, Montana to George and Alice Geary Jewett. His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First Christian Church in La Grande. Visitations will be until 4 p.m. today at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Joe was raised at Winston, Mont. He went to electrical school in Chicago, and graduated after one year. He returned to Aberdeen, Wash., to finish his high school education as an adult. He worked about 1 year before deciding to go to … Read more

Cross, Lauretta – Obituary

Lauretta Cross, of Milton-Freewater and a former resident of Wallowa County, died July 9, 2007, at Walla Walla General Hospital in Walla Walla, Wash. She was 85. Mrs. Cross was born June 19,1922, in La Grande to James Everett and Etta Rebecca Berg Rachau. The family resided on Pumpkin Ridge, outside of Elgin. They later moved to Minam, where Mrs. Cross attended school through the second grade. In 1930, the family moved to Onalaska, Wash., where she finished her schooling, graduating from the eighth grade twice. Her father didn’t believe in higher education for women. She married young and had … Read more