Portland Oregon

Harrison, Joe E. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Joe E. Harrison, 85, died at his home in Baker City on Jan. 22, 2003. At his request, there will be no funeral. An urn burial will take place later at Lane Memorial Gardens in Eugene. Joe E. Harrison was born on Dec. 24, 1917, at Wallowa to John Baker Harrison and Lula Jane Markham Harrison. He attended school at McEwen in Sumpter Valley until the age of 16 when he moved to New Bridge in Pine Valley to finish his education and to work in the Cornucopia Gold Mine. He later moved to Portland where he … Read more

Rachau, Jeffrey Lynn – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Jeffrey Lynn Rachau, 57, of La Grande died at his home Oct. 30 after a long illness. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St. Jeff was born July 26, 1950, to George E. and Beverly J. (Powell) Rachau in La Grande. He attended La Grande High School and went into military service at the end of his senior year. Jeff served two tours in Vietnam as a radio operator. He also attended three years of auto mechanic school in Portland. He married the former Jeanne Larkin in Reno, … Read more

Duckworth, Virginia Brock – Obituary

Virginia Brock Duckworth, 87, of Kennewick and formerly of La Grande died Aug. 28. A graveside service will begin at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 at Riverview Heights Cemetery in Kennewick. Mrs. Duckworth was born May 7, 1918, to Wilbur F. and Cora Brock in Portland. She graduated from La Grande High School, and then from Emanuel School of Nursing and Hastings Business College, both in Portland. She worked as a nurse and a medical claims investigator for Blue Cross. She served in the Army Nurse Corps in World War II in the Philippines, and later as a medical secretary … Read more

Vernam, Richard Dean – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Richard Dean Vernam, 78, of Enterprise died July 6 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland after open-heart surgery. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Friday July 14 at Mountain View Christian Church in Joseph. Burial will be at Prairie Creek Cemetery. Bollman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Vernam was born April 7, 1928, to Glenn and Irene Vernam in Colville, Wash. The family moved to Alvadore and he graduated from Junction City High School. On June 15, 1947, he married June Athey. They lived near Alvadore where he was a welder and steel fabricator, … Read more

Watson, Bert – Obituary

Watson Funeral To Be Tuesday The remains of Bert Watson who passed on at Portland a few days ago, arrived in La Grande this morning from Amity, where he made his home. The funeral services will take place from the Snodgrass and Zimmerman chapel on Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock. The body will be interred in the Masonic cemetery. William Birton Watson was born at Fairfield, Iowa, April 2, 1870. He came to the Grande Ronde valley with his father and mother in 1872 and was one of the old timers of this valley. At one time he owned a … Read more

Beck, Joyce Kennedy – Obituary

Joyce Kennedy Beck, 63, of Kennewick and formerly of Elgin, died March 17 in Yuma, Ariz., in an ATV accident. A memorial service will begin at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Building 4 of the Benton-Franklin County Fairgrounds just off East 10th Avenue in Kennewick. Joyce was born June 1, 1944, to William and Mildred Kennedy in Portland. She grew up in Elgin and graduated from Elgin High School in 1962. She was married in January 1964 to Bill J. Beck of Hermiston. The couple moved to the Tri-Cities in 1969 where she worked for Ice Harbor Dam and the Social … Read more

Biography of Joseph Schoewaiter Smith

Joseph Schoewaiter Smith, was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1824. His ancestors at an early day emigrated from England and Wales and settled in New Jersey and their descendants are now scattered all over the United States. At the age of eight years he accompanied his parents to Clermont County, Ohio, and three years later to Vermilion County, Indiana. He received such education as a farmer’s boy of ambition could receive at that day in a pioneer neighborhood. During the summer he worked on the farm and in the winter attended such schools as the county afforded. He … Read more

Wilberg, Charles E. – Obituary

Died at Elgin Charles E. Wilberg, residing at Portland, died at Elgin on last Sunday. He was in the employ of the O.R.& N. Co. surveying party and was taken sick one week ago to-day. He was taken to Elgin for medical aid as soon as his condition was known but after lingering for two days, died Sunday afternoon. The causes of his death is thought ot have been on account of drinking water found in the vicinity of the surveying camp. The body of the young man was sent to Portland and the funeral took place yesterday. Eastern Oregon … Read more

Biography of James R. Daniel

JAMES R. DANIEL. – The subject of this sketch was born in 1826, and has lived a life that might well be described in poetry as succinct as that in which Othello related his own. The son of a machinist and shipbuilder of Philadelphia, Mr. Daniel early learned naval craft on the schoolship North Carolina in New York harbor, and on the brig Washington of the Coast Survey, and was then transferred to the Independence and Potomac. After his honorable discharge from the United States navy, he made voyages as able seaman to Havre and Liverpool, and to the West … Read more

Harris, Lavelle – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lavelle Harris, 93, of La Grande, died March 9 at her home. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande. A complete obituary will be published at a later date. The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending March 17, 2007 1913-2007 LaVelle Harris, 93, of La Grande, died March 9. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, with burial to follow at the Union Cemetery. Mrs. Harris was born April 6, … Read more

Craig, Paul Dennis “Denny” – Obituary

Paul Dennis “Denny” Craig, 66, of Las Vegas, Nev., a former North Powder resident, died Aug. 20, 2002, at Las Vegas. Mr. Craig’s body was cremated. There was a private funeral at Las Vegas. There will be a memorial service at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Haines United Methodist Church. Pastor Sally Wiens will officiate. Denny was born on March 11, 1936, at Baker City. He was raised on his parents’ ranch at North Powder and was a 1954 graduate of Powder Valley High School. He attended the University of Oregon at Eugene for one year and Eastern … Read more

Fischer, Vinta M. – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Vinita M. Fischer, 87, a longtime Wallowa County resident, died April 30 in Portland. A funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at Bollman Funeral Home, Enterprise. Burial will be at the Enterprise Cemetery. Vinita was born Sept. 4, 1919, to Lee and Arlie Cook in Enterprise. On July 29, 1938, she married Otis Fischer in Lewiston, Idaho. They spent the majority of their life together in Enterprise. A homemaker when her children were young, Mrs. Fischer later worked for many years at the Enterprise Post Office. Following retirement, she enjoyed her home, caring for her cats … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Leo J. Flanagan

Dr. Leo J. Flanagan, one of the county’s well-known physicians and surgeons, is located in South San Francisco where he has been practicing for the past year. Before moving into this county Dr. Flanagan had a large practice in San Francisco. Dr. Flanagan is another of the young professional men who has been attracted to San Mateo County by the wonderful opportunities that the future holds. He sees a great period of growth and prosperity ahead for South San Francisco and his confidence in this era of development was such that he gave up a flourishing practice in San Francisco … Read more

Biography of A. Lawrence Lovejoy

A. LAWRENCE LOVEJOY. – The subject of this memoir was born in Groton, Massachusetts, March 14, 1808, and was the third son of Doctor Samuel and Betsey Lawrence Lovejoy, descendants of good English families. His mother, Betsey Lawrence Lovejoy, was a cousin and adopted sister of Amos and Abbot Lawrence of Boston. When quite young he moved with his parents to Townson, Massachusetts, where he was a pupil of the Reverend David Palmer until the age of sixteen, when the death of his mother made it necessary for him to reside with an elder brother in Boston, where he engaged … Read more

Biography of Rev. Jesse Moreland

REV. JESSE MORELAND. – But few, if any, stand higher socially, morally or in the estimation of their neighbors and friends than the grand man whose name calls forth this brief pen-and-ink sketch. We do not attempt to give the likeness of the man drawn from opinion. Our purpose is to sketch what he is in a few selected facts from his life. With this intention, what we have essayed to give to the public will furnish an instance of the influence of piety and industry, united with sound common-sense, in giving a noble character a distinguished position and eminent … Read more

Biography of Hon. Peter G. Stewart

HON. PETER G. STEWART. – Peter Grant Stewart was born on the 6th of September, 1809, in Stanford, Delaware County, New York. When eight years of age he moved to Jefferson, Scohane County, where he received a common-school education, and learned the trade of a watchmaker. He followed the occupation of watchmaker and jeweler in Middlebury until the spring of 1838, when, with a selected stock of watches, jewelry, etc., he started for the West, going by way of Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Toledo and Fort Wayne to Mount Vernon, Indiana, and from there to Morganfield, Union County, Kentucky, where he … 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

Cloud, Velma Ann – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Velma Ann Cloud age 93, 2510 Aubers Ave., Baker City, Oregon passed away July 23, 1991 after an extended illness. She was born December 17, 1897 to John R. and Daisy E. Long in Muddy Creek on the farm of her pioneer grandparents. She attended Muddy Creek School and was graduated from Baker High School. The Muddy Creek School was built on land donated by her grandparents Alonzo and Julia A. Long. On June 30, 1918 she married Carl W. Cloud in Portland. They celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary this year. They have resided in … Read more

Biography of Mrs. M. Weatherford

MRS. M. WEATHERFORD. – Of all the pioneers of Oregon, none have performed a more devoted part than this now venerable lady, who is well known and esteemed in our chief city. She was born near Beaufort, North Carolina, September 22, 1822. In her fifth year she accompanied her father Josiah Harris and family to Indiana, making a new home. In 1839 she was married to William Weatherford, a young physician from Richmond, Virginia. Thus united they entered upon various scenes, and made their home in a number of different places in the old West, selecting New Haven, Illinois, as … Read more

History of Portland Oregon’s Educational Institutions

St. Helen’s Hall opened September 6th, 1869, in the building then known as St. Stephen’s Chapel, standing at the southwest corner of Fourth and Madison streets. There were fifty pupils on the opening day. By November 1, the number had increased to eighty and the principals, finding that they had more than they could do, called Miss Atkinson, now Mrs. F. M. Warren, Jr., to share their duties. Since then, the Misses Rodney have constantly taught in the school and continued to direct it, having had a gradually increasing corps of able assistants. Of them, Miss Lydia H. Blackler and Mrs. … Read more