Farr, Grace Lee – Obituary

Grace Lee Farr, 91, a pioneer resident of the Flora area, died in Milton-Freewater on Wednesday, July 9, 1980. She had been in failing health about a year. She was born on Nov. 17, 1888, in La Grande, the daughter of James Jackson and Bell Martin Berner. The family moved in the spring of 1889 to Fora, where Mrs. Farr lived until last August when she moved to Milton-Freewater. On Dec. 12, 1912, she was married to Claude Cole in Flora; he died on May 10,1944. On September 20, 1950, she married Walter Farr in Lewiston, Id. He preceded her … Read more

McAllister, Marjorie Mae Speelman Mrs. – Obituary

Marjorie Mae McAllister, 86, of Milton-Freewater, a former Baker County and North Powder resident, died Feb. 24, 2008, at St. Mary Medical Center at Walla Walla, Wash. There will be a celebration of her life at 11 a.m. Saturday at the American Legion Hall in Milton-Freewater. Marjorie McAllister was born on Oct. 16, 1921, at Haines to LeRoy Albert and Lela Cross Speelman at Haines. She was a 1940 Baker High school graduate. She married John Stell at Weiser, Idaho, in 1941. He died in 1964. Marjorie worked in restaurants in North Powder and Baker City and owned Virgil’s Drive … 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

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

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

Sample, Lois L. – Obituary

Wallowa County, Oregon Lois L. Sample died at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash., July 9, 1987. She was 65. No funeral services were held at her request. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children or the Elks Eye Clinic through Munsell-Rholdes Funeral Home Chapel in Milton-Freewater. Sample was born in Wallowa to Cecil and Thelma (Crow) Childers, on April 29, 1922. She attended schools in Lostine and Joseph, completing high school at Enterprise in 1940. She moved to Weiser, Idaho following high school graduation and attended the National Youth Business College. 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

Bork, Agnes R. – Obituary

Agnes R. Bork, 92, formerly of Milton-Freewater died September 1, 1992 in Highland, California. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, at Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home. Pastor Dick Jewett of the Stateline Seventh-Day Adventist Church will officiate. Concluding services and burial will follow at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery. Those who wish to pay their respects may do so today from 1 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home. The oldest of three children, Mrs. Bork was born August 19, 1900, in Flora, Ore., to Frank and Ella Davis Lindley. The family moved to Wallula early in her life, and later returned … Read more

Hodge, William – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon William Henry Hodge, 87, died Saturday, Dec. 25, 1993, at Elzora Manor Care Center in Milton-Freewater. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Dec. 30, 10:30 a.m. at Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home in Milton-Freewater. Internment will be in the Enterprise Cemetery, Thursday, Dec. 30 at 2:30 p.m. Mr. Hodge was born Aug. 11, 1906, in Enterprise, the son of Steve and Barbara (Hammock) Hodge. He attended school in Joseph. He worked as a logger/tree faller, a sheepherder and on cattle and grain farms. On June 30, 1929, he married Nellie Cooper. They lived in Enterprise until 1939 when … Read more

Heskett, Jesse C. ‘Jerry’ – Obituary

Pendleton–A graveside funeral for Jess C. “Jerry” Heskett will be held Saturday, 1 p.m. at the Enterprise Cemetery. Heskett, 76, of Pendleton, formerly of Milton-Freewater, died Wednesday, September 18, 1985, at Amber valley Nursing Home, Pendleton. He was born May 31, 1909, in the Leap area near Enterprise, the son of Willard and Grace (Feagins) Heskett. He attended schools at Trout Creek and Joseph and upon completion of his schooling Heskett farmed with his parents. He lived in Wallowa County until the mid-1960s when he moved to the Milton-Freewater area. He came to Pendleton in 1981 where he entered Amber … 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

Hammack, Lester E. – Obituary

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

Down, Melvin C. – Obituary

Joseph, Wallowa County Melvin Charles Down, 55, of Island City, died Friday, May 25, in Baker. Mr. Down was born Aug. 8, 1923 in Joseph to Roy and Ethel Stanford Down. On April 29, 1950 he married Peggy Waddingham in La Grande. In 1969 he moved from Milton-Freewater to La Grande. He was a World War II veteran and a member of La Grande Eagles Aeri No. 259, La Grande Elks Lodge #433 and the American Legion. He was a logger and former member of the Oregon Log Truckers Association. Survivors include his wife of Island city: sons, Kenneth, stationed … 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

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

Waliser, Lawrence – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lawrence “Larry” Waliser, 84, of La Grande, died Aug. 26 at Grande Ronde Hospital of lung cancer. A private family service will be held with burial following at Summerville Cemetery. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements. Larry was born in January 1923 to George and Mary Waliser in Sykeston, N.D. His family settled in Milton-Freewater in 1934. At 17, Larry joined the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp at Heppner. In 1943, he joined the Navy and served aboard the USS White Plains aircraft carrier, serving in the South Pacific in five invasions including the … 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

Johnson, James “Mike” – Obituary

Wallowa native, James “Mike” Johnson, 69, died October 2, 1988 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington. He had been a patient there since May. He was born September 12, 1919 at Wallowa, the son of Charles and Mabel (Fields) Johnson. Johnson attended schools in Wallowa, graduating in 1937. He attended Abilene Christian College in Texas for one year. He served in World War II as a flight navigator on a B-29 in the Army Air Corps. He married Helen Moffit in Wallowa, They divorced. He married Vesta Tippett. They later divorced. Johnson was a logger and … 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

Obituary of Jack O. Thompson

Jack O. Thompson, 81, of Baker City died Aug. 10, 2008, at home with his faithful dog Dutch at his feet. At his request, there will be no funeral service. Interment will take place at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery in Milton-Freewater. Mr. Thompson, the youngest son of Bress Thompson and Annie Bowyer Thompson, was born Sept. 12, 1926, in Wallowa. He graduated from McLoughlin Union High School in Milton-Freewater in 1944. He served proudly in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps during the late 1940s and 1950s. He was stationed in California and in Asia. He also served in … Read more