Umatilla County OR

Beard, Raymond H. Monsignor – Obituary

Monsignor Raymond H. Beard, 92, of Pendleton, a Haines native and a 1933 graduate of St. Francis Academy who was ordained to the priesthood at Baker City in 1941, died Dec. 23, 2007, at his home. The rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary Catholic Church in Pendleton. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday. Vault interment will be at Athena Cemetery. The Rev. Monsignor Raymond H. Beard was born on Oct. 31, 1915, at Haines. He was one of the nine children born to Henry and Stella Harter Beard. After graduation … Read more

Simonis, Valeria Denise Macy Mrs. – Obituary

Valeria Denise Simonis, 70, of Baker City, died Jan. 31, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. A memorial service will be scheduled this summer. Coles Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Valeria was born on March 9, 1934, at Baker City to John and Irma Williams Macy. Her family lived at Jacksonville until she was in the fourth grade, when they returned to Baker City. She married Keith Simonis at Elko, Nev., in 1950. They made their home at North Powder until their divorce. At that time, she and her children moved to Hermiston, where she went to work … Read more

Biography of James H. Raley

JAMES H. RALEY. – Prominent among the pioneers of Eastern Oregon may be mentioned this gentleman whose name and portrait appear here with, and who now sits as joint senator in the Oregon legislature from Umatilla and Morrow counties. He was born in Nebraska City in 1855, and as a boy, in 1862, crossed the plains with his parents, arriving at Portland at a time so early in the history of that metropolis as to find an excellent spot for camping near the present site of the St. Charles Hotel. A year later the family found a location at Vancouver, … Read more

Snapp, Ryan Lee – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Ryan Lee Snapp, 17, of McKenzie Bridge and formerly of Elgin, died Aug. 10. A memorial service was held Aug. 18 at McKenzie High School. Ryan was born on Feb. 6, 1990, in Pendleton. The family lived in Elgin before moving to McKenzie Bridge. Ryan loved the outdoors, logging, hunting, football, motorcycles and mechanics. He had recently completely rebuilt a car with his father. His friends and family say he had a willing smile, and was a gentle, caring person who loved people, especially his brothers. Survivors include his parents, Harvey and Shauna Snapp; brothers, Wyatt and Zepham; … Read more

Planting, Eva Maria Toulanen – Obituary

Mrs. Eva Maria Planting died yesterday [June 2, 1929] at her home 123 North Logan Street, after a lingering illness. Mrs. Planting was born in Sweden April 1, 1851, being 78 years old. She came to Calumet, Michigan in 1873 and was married that year to Gustaf W. Planting. In 1877 she came to Umatilla County and settled on a homestead near Adams, Oregon, being one of the early settlers in that section. In 1911 her husband Gustaf W. Planting died. In 1917 she retired and came to make her home in Pendleton where she lived until her death. She … Read more

Biography of Evans S. McComas

EVANS S. McCOMAS. – One of the earliest pioneers of what is now Union county, and intimately acquainted with all of eastern Oregon, having been a prominent figure here from the time of his advent into the region, the gentleman, whose name is at the head of this article, is to-day one of the leading representatives of Union county and has ever maintained a walk manifesting public spirit and an ardent interest in the welfare of all, while he has been instrumental in upbuilding the county by his own efforts in the business enterprises that he has fostered and consummated … 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

Erwin, Hugh Gerald – Obituary

Union, Oregon Hugh Gerald Erwin, 95 of Union died June 21 at Grande Ronde Hospital. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Monday June 26 at the Union United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the Union Cemetery. Mr. Erwin was born Oct. 25, 1910, to Hugh and Bertie Largent Erwin in Adrian, Mo. He worked on ranches in Pendleton, Summerville and North Powder, and graduated from Powder Valley High School in 1929. On Sept. 26, 1936, he married Fern Baxter in La Grande. The couple lived in Union for many years, and he worked for the Oregon Highway Department … Read more

Hefner, John C. – Obituary

John C. “Jake” Hefner, 69, of Union, died Sept. 12 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Private burial will follow at Union Cemetery. Jake was born on Dec. 23, 1937, the son of Howard and Wilma (Starnes) Hefner in Hickory, N.C. The family moved to Oregon when he was 12. He attended schools in Pilot Rock. On Jan. 4, 1969, he married Dianne Bartsch in Pendleton. They ranched at Medical Springs until 1976 when they moved to Union. Jake loved the Grande Ronde Valley and … Read more

Biography of John R. Ladd

JOHN R. LADD. – The stories told to the children of the generation hence of the abundance of gold and the immense profits of the early pioneers will fire their imaginations and set them on wild, and perhaps profitable, trips to the Andes or to Alaska. Mr. Ladd’s career will be thus exciting to his descendants, and to all who see this sketch. He was born in the Empire state in 1838. He came to California with his father in 1852, but returning East married Miss Rachel Knapp in Illinois. Here might be mentioned as a remarkable coincidence, that Mrs. … Read more

Lee, Catherine Alexander – Obituary

A funeral for Catherine A. Lee of Pendleton, a former Portland resident, will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Grace Memorial Episcopal Church. Interment will be in Riverview Cemetery. Lee died of causes related to age Tuesday in a Pendleton care center [December 15]. She was 96. She was born April 5, 1896, in San Francisco but moved to Portland as a youngster. Her maiden name was Alexander. She was a graduate of Washington High School and married C. M. [Chester Milton] Lee on Dec. 25, 1937, in Portland. Mrs. Lee worked for the city of Portland’s Bureau of Health … Read more

Nelson, David Henry – Obituary

David H. Nelson, 67, long prominent wheat grower of Umatilla County, and one of the first four in this county to use caterpillar-and-combine, died at 8 o’clock this morning [May 22, 1939] at his farm home. Death came without warning, his passing being due to a sudden attack of heart disease. Mr. Nelson was born in Finland, Nov. 30, 1872, and came to America in 1881 with his parents who settled in Duluth. He came westward in 1889 to Clatsop County and with the industry which was characteristic of him, worked as a life guard and fisherman at Astoria, where … Read more

Battrick, Robin Louise – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Robin Louise Battrick, 56, formerly of La Grande, died July 31 at her home in Coffey, Mo., following a 10-month battle with cancer. A funeral service and burial will be in Coffey, with memorial services to follow in Corvallis and La Grande. Robin was born July 17, 1951, in Bloomington, Ind. After a transient childhood with stops from Florida to Alaska, her family settled in La Grande in September 1965. She graduated from La Grande High School in 1969 as co-valedictorian. She attended Reed College in Portland and Oregon State University. Robin served a mission for the … Read more

Planting, Allen Arnold – Obituary

Memorial service will be 2 p.m. June 17, 1994, in Trinity Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Wash. Disposition will be by cremation. Interment will be in Park Hill Cemetery in Vancouver. Mr. Planting died of a stroke June 13 in Portland hospital. He was 80. He was born Dec. 31, 1913 in Pendleton. Before his retirement he was a shipping clerk for Crane Plumbing Co. in Portland. He had lived in Vancouver since 1929. Survivors include his wife, Leone; daughters, Ann Bates, Ruth Sundheim and Kay Planting, all of Seattle; sister, Goldie Vice of Vancouver; and one granddaughter. Remembrances: Trinity Lutheran … 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

Peacock, Joseph Mrs. – Obituary

Word has been received here of the death of Mrs. Charles Peacock of Pendleton. Mrs. Peacock was a sister of Mrs. Joseph Sanders, now of Scio, but formerly residents here. Mrs. Peacock has visited here many times and will be remembered by quite a number of friends. Oregon Trail Weekly North Powder News Jan 30, 1931 Transcribed by Charlotte Carper

Rash, LeRoy R. – Obituary

Funeral services for LeRoy R. Rash, 74, Boardman, will be Monday [March 22, 1951] 2 p.m. at the Burns Chapel in Hermiston. Dr. James Bennett of the Hermiston Baptist Church will preach the services. Burial will be in Olney Cemetery in Pendleton. Mr. Rash died at Boardman at the home of a son, Harold Rash. Another son survives him, Lloyd Rash of Estacade, Ore. A daughter, Mrs. Roy Thomas, lives at Hermiston. There are two brothers and five sisters and 13 grandchildren surviving Mr. Rash. He came to Umatilla county seven years ago from Silverton, Ore., where he was a … Read more

Bowman, Laura Evalena Stickler – Obituary

Mrs. O. P. Bowman, long time resident of Umatilla county, died on Sunday morning [August 31, 1930] at 7:00 at St. Anthony’s hospital after an illness of three weeks. Mrs. Bowman was 62 years of age, being born in Winterset, Madison County, Iowa, on January 20, 1868. She crossed the plains at the age of 15 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Stickler. The family settled in Vancouver, Washington, later moving to Pendleton. She was married to Mr. Bowman on April 26, 1891 in Vancouver, WA. She is survived by her husband and the following children: Roy, Oscar, Hugh, … Read more

Planting, Gustav Wilhelm – Obituary

G. W. Planting, a well-known pioneer farmer of this section, died at 5 o’clock this morning at his home three miles west of Adams. The deceased was 66 years of age. Gustaf W. Planting was born in Finland, May 27, 1845. From Finland he came to Calumet, Mich., and after a residence of a few years moved west to Oregon. That was in 1877 and he was therefore among the early settlers in Umatilla County. The deceased leaves a wife, two brothers, one sister, and 11 children to mourn his death. The children are Walter, John, Arnold, Mrs. Isaac [Sophia … Read more

Myers, John E. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon John E. Myers, 67, died April 13 at his home in La Grande. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, followed by burial at Grandview Cemetery. Mr. Myers was born Aug. 30, 1939, to Edgar and Helen (Crawford) Myers in Klamath Falls. They moved shortly thereafter to Kinzua and then to a small ranch east of Fossil, where John grew up. He attended grade school in Fossil and graduated from Wheeler County High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball, in 1957. After high school John attended Willamette University in Salem … Read more