Morrow County OR

Jewett, Helen M. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Helen M. Jewett, 93, of La Grande, died Aug. 17 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cove Christian Camp. Helen was born June 22, 1914, to Harold and Thena Mae Moak Fry in Montesano, Wash. Helen spent most of her childhood on a ranch on the Wynooche River near Montesano, with a brief time spent in Alberta, Canada. She attended a one-room school, and graduated high school in Montesano. She attended Eugene Bible College (now called Northwest Christian College) in Eugene. She and her husband, Joe, ministered during college … Read more

Miller, Inez E. Wellman Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Inez E. Miller, 81, of Heppner, a Baker City native, died Dec. 7, 2004, at Hermiston Terrace Assisted Living Facility. Her funeral was Monday at the United Methodist Church in Heppner. A concluding service and interment was at the Heppner Masonic Cemetery. Mrs. Miller was born on Sept. 4, 1923, at Baker City to Homer and Lucy Hunt Wellman. She grew up and attended school at Baker City where she graduated from high school. She attended and graduated from Eastern Oregon College (Eastern Oregon University) at La Grande. She began teaching at Riverside School in Pendleton. She … Read more

Biography of E. L. Matlock

E.L. MATLOCK. – This successful merchant and respected citizen of Heppner, Oregon, was born August 25, 1844. He came to Oregon in 1853, and located in Lane county, near Eugene. There he engaged in farming, stock-raising and mining. He was with his father when he died at Bannack City in 1863, and laid to rest all that was mortal of that good man and beloved parent. Returning to the home near Eugene, he conducted his father’s affairs there until 1866. In January of that year he was married to Miss E.J. Bennet of Lane county. After that event he engaged … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. H. Stanley

J.H. STANLEY. – J.H. Stanley is a native of Missouri, where he was born in 1858. In 1878 he came to the Willamette valley, where he studied for three years, finishing his education. He then went to Union County, Oregon, and taught as principal of the City School at Union for one year. Afterwards he went to Weston, where he taught in the same capacity. he then went to Morrow County, where he took up a ranch in 1883, which he still owns and runs. He commenced teaching in the fall of 1885, and was appointed county school superintendent, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nelson Jones

NELSON JONES. – Mr. Jones, one of the largest stock-raisers of Eastern Oregon, having besides his interest at Heppner, Oregon, large holdings on the main Malheur, was born in 1840 in Fleming county, Kentucky. Remaining there until 1849, he moved with his parents to Iowa, where he lived until 1858. In that year he left the paternal roof, and made the journey to Pike’s Peak, but continued on to Shasta county, California. In that county he engaged in mining, but in 1860 sought a more tranquil life, coming to Polk county, Oregon, and engaging in farming until 1866. In the … Read more

Biography of M. J. Morlan

M.J. MORLAN. – This prominent citizen of The Dalles was born in Lake County, Ohio, in 1835. In 1846 he moved to La Salle County, Illinois. In that state his parents were successful in securing good land and in improving their farms; and this was the home of our subject until he attained his majority. With a somewhat limited education, but with abundance of muscle and determination, he began life for himself working as a hired hand on his father’s farm, and saving nearly all his earnings. His innate ambition and desire to reach the higher walks of life induced … Read more

Dowdy, Janice “Roselle” McNair Mrs. – Obituary

Janice “Roselle” Dowdy, 64, of Irrigon, a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 5, 2001, at her home with her family at her side. A Celebration of Life Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Hermiston. Disposition was by cremation. Mrs. Dowdy was born the third of eight children on Aug. 22, 1937, in Baker City to John Joseph and Edith Maxine McNair. She attended St. Francis Academy in Baker City. In the summer of 1955, she and Adolph M. Dowdy met at a Grange dance in Haines. They were married … Read more

Mayfield, John – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon Mayfield Murdered Monday Morning Shot With Rifle While Asleep; Coe Held On Open Charge John Mayfield, a long time resident of the Elgin vicinity was murdered at an early hour Monday morning at the home of A.J. Coe, between Imbler and Cove. According to reports, Mr. Mayfield was killed with a rifle, the bullet entering his lower jaw, and going out near the top of his head. A J. Coe, at whose home Mr. Mayfield was staying, is being held on an open charge pending the coroner’s inquest, which was held Wednesday evening at 7:30 at … Read more

Sturgill, Barbara Ann – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Barbara Ann Sturgill, 82, of Baker City, died June 20, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 2130 Second St. The Rev. Dick Toll of Milwaukie will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at the church. Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Barbara was born to L.D. and Neva Chidsey Clabough on Aug. 12, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Otis Patterson

OTIS PATTERSON. – Mr. Patterson, editor of the Heppner Gazette, at Heppner, Oregon, and one of the representative men of common sense and energy in the Inland Empire, was born at Danville, Indiana, September 4, 1858. He remained in that city until the age of eighteen, receiving a good common-school education. He also improved himself by a scientific course, graduating as B.S. from the Centeral Normal College of Danville. In 1876 he acted upon the advice of a celebrated father of his profession, and came to Emporia, Kansas, where he engaged in educational work. In 1882 he performed the rest … Read more

Morrow County, Oregon Cemetery Records

Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Cemeteries hosted at Morrow County ORGenWeb Project Private Burials Baker/King/ Fairview/Tews Cemetery Boardman Cemetery Cecil Cemetery Clark Tippett Cemetery Desert Lawn Memorial Cemetery Gooseberry Cemetery Hamilton Cemetery Hardman Cemetery Hardman IOOF Cemetery Heppner Masonic Cemetery Highview (Ione) Cemetery Irrigon Cemetery (historical) Junkins Cemetery Lexington Cemetery Morgan  Cemetery Petteys Cemetery Pleasant Point/Lena Cemetery Rhea Creek Cemetery River View Cemetery Sand Hollow Cemetery Tommy Dean Cemetery Valby Cemetery Vinson Cemetery Well Spring Cemetery Yarlett Cemetery Cemeteries hosted … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Swagart

GEORGE W. SWAGART. – Mr. Swagart, identified since 1853 with the interests of our coast, and now one of the “cattle kings” of Eastern Oregon, was born May 1, 1848, near Galena, in Joe Davis county, Illinois. In 1853 he came with his parents to Oregon, locating in Lane county, where he received a common-school education, and became inured to the hardships of an early pioneer life, in the saddle, and to the arduous labors of farming, until, in 1865, he branched out for himself in the stock business, driving a band of sheep across the Cascade Mountains to the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas G. Matlock

THOMAS G. MATLOCK. – This well-known citizen of Heppner, Morrow county, Oregon, who devotes himself to the improvement of our stock of horses, was born in Dade county, Missouri, March 4, 1849, and came with his parents across the plains to Oregon in 1853, locating with them near Eugene, where they engaged in stock-raising, and remaining until the death of the father at Bannack City, Idaho. He was buried on Buena Vista Bar, July 1, 1863. Thomas received a common-school education, and worked on the farm. His father having been a fancier and producer of fine horses, our subject went … Read more

Bean, Harold Cedric – Obituary

Complications following an operation, yesterday caused the death of Dr. Harold C. Bean, 40, president of the State Board of Health and one of the most prominent diagnosticians in Portland. Dr. Bean died shortly before noon at the Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was operated on December 26, two days before his 40th birthday. He had been ill only a week, entering the hospital Christmas Day. Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 2:30 o’clock at the Finley Chapel. With the exception of a brother in Seattle, all members of his immediate family were at the bedside when Dr. Bean … Read more

Benge, Mary – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Mary Benge, 92, died June 21 in La Grande. A memorial service will be held at the Heppner Masonic Cemetery at 11 a.m. Saturday. A potluck will follow at the Heppner Elks Club. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mary was born April 9, 1915, in Coffey, Mo., to Claude and Ethel Brumfield Cartwright. She had four siblings. Raised by her grandparents, she grew up in Coffey and graduated from Coffey High School at age 16. After graduating, she met and married Dem Reninger and they had three children. They lived in Denver, where they … Read more

Groshens, Gregory Allan – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Gregory Allan Groshens, 42, of La Grande, and a former Heppner resident, died recently of natural causes at his home in La Grande. A memorial service will be scheduled later at Heppner. Disposition was by cremation. Mr. Groshens was born on Dec. 23, 1961, at Heppner to Victor L. and Judy Darnielle Groshens. He was a 1981 Heppner High School graduate. After graduation, he entered the U.S. Navy to begin a 17-year career as a Seabee. He was proud to serve his country and received several meritorious commendations while he was stationed at Adak, Alaska; MuMurdo, Antarctica; … Read more

Wilson, Bradley Dean – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Bradley Dean Wilson, 58, of Elgin died Jan. 4 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash., after a year-long battle with cancer. A funeral service is planned for noon Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Elgin. A viewing will be available from 8 to 10 a.m. that morning at the Loveland Funeral Chapel in La Grande. Burial will be at the Summerville Cemetery immediately following the services. Mr. Wilson was born Sept. 8, 1948, in Albany to Marion W. and Berna Clara Wilson and was educated in Albany and Portland. After … Read more

Biography of Hon. Henry Blackman

HON. HENRY BLACKMAN. – Mr. Blackman, as mayor of Heppner, Oregon, occupies a responsible and eminent position. His first election to the office was in 1887, during his absence at Salem, where he was still perfecting the articles of incorporation for the town. He was re-elected in 1888 by a heavy majority (100 to 41), and was re-elected for the third time in 1889 unanimously, there being no opposition. At all times the tickets were nonpolitical, although the mayor is a Democrat. The issue was upon general improvements, and a general policy of progress. The town was laid out upon … Read more

Biography of Hon. Jackson L. Morrow

HON. JACKSON L. MORROW.- It is not so uncommon a thing in this land of a great future for a man to lay out a town or build a city; but there is, we believe, but one man in the state who may be called the maker of a county, and whose name is perpetuated in its designation: that man is Jackson L. Morrow, of Heppner, Oregon, whose sketch is here presented. This honor was worthily bestowed upon him at the instance and almost insistence of his neighbors, in recognition of his privations and labors in settling up the region, … Read more

Russell, David Alan – Obituary

David Alan Russell, 61, a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 26, 2005, at his mother’s home in Vale after a sudden illness. There will be no funeral. Disposition was by cremation. His cremains will be scattered at the same site as those of his brother, Fuller. Dave was born on Jan. 13, 1944, at Randleman, N.C., to Paul T. and Verneta Mae Russell. He grew up in North Carolina, Idaho and Oregon. After graduating from high school at Portland, he joined the U.S. Navy Seabees, serving on Guam and Okinawa. After his discharge from the Navy, he worked for … Read more