Umatilla County OR

Rash, Phoebe Rowe Collins – Obituary

Mrs. LeRoy Rash, 54, resident here for the past month, died this morning [February 9, 1944], in St. Anthony’s Hospital, following a week’s illness caused by pneumonia. Mr. and Mrs. Rash came here from Silverton, Mr. Rash having purchased the Charles Peterson ranch at Cayuse. Besides her husband, Mrs. Rash is survived by two sons and a daughter, Lloyd Rash, Harold Rash, and Mrs. Arline Thompson; a brother, Jack Rowe of Meacham, and five sisters, Mrs. E. W. [Georgia] Barnum of Pendleton, Mrs. Laura Jochinsen of Spokane, Wash., Mrs. Sylvia King of Chewelah, Wash., Mrs. James [Carlie] Wickham of Hood … Read more

Ishmael, Alta “Marie” Dyer Mrs. – Obituary

Alta “Marie” Ishmael, 75, of Hermiston, a former Baker County resident, died Sept. 4, 2006, at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, Wash., of complications after cardiac surgery. Her memorial service was Sept. 9 at Burns Mortuary Chapel in Hermiston. Friends joined the family for a potluck afterward at her home. She was born on Dec. 4, 1930, at Weiser, Idaho, to parents J.R. “Ted” and Orpha Knee Dyer. They lived at Robinette until dams were built on the Snake River and the town was flooded. She always missed her childhood home. Marie moved to Hermiston in 1988 and had lived … Read more

Needles, Nellie Hooker Mrs. – Obituary

Nellie Needles, 89, a longtime Baker City resident, died Feb. 28, 2006, at her home. Her graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at Community Connection, 2810 Cedar St. Nellie Ethel Needles was born on Nov. 14, 1918, to Henry and Nellie Rogers Hooker at Hermiston. Nellie’s mother died of the flu just seven days after Nellie was born. Nellie’s Grandmother Rogers took her in as her own. Nellie was raised and educated in the La Grande and Hermiston areas until she … Read more

Bacon, Alma Theresa Turner Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Alma Theresa Bacon, 92, a longtime Baker City resident, died Sept. 19, 2005, at a foster care home in Baker City. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Jack Bynum of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home. Alma was born on Oct. 28, 1912, at Folsom, Calif., to Victor Leonard and Mamie Ellen Dickinson Turner. She was raised and educated at Folsom. She married John Bacon on … Read more

Bowman, Henry – Obituary

Another of Umatilla Counties Early Settlers Called To The Great Beyond. There will be old settlers for time evermore; but the old settlers who were here at the dawn of civilization, who marked the pathway of progress, are one by one crossing the silent river, and soon none will remain. Another has been claimed at Pendleton by the dark angel. Henry Bowman, widely known throughout Umatilla county and Eastern Oregon, died Sunday morning at 4:50 o’clock [November 30, 1892] at his home in this city. About two weeks ago he returned from the mountains, where he was engaged ten days … Read more

Tonack, Ron – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Ron Tonack, 66, of Baker City, died July 6, 2002, as a result of the progression of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). His graveside funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Allan Franks of the Church of the Nazarene and Lynn Shumway will officiate. Ron always enjoyed casual dress, his family members said. They encourage those attending the funeral to dress comfortably in the warm weather. Ron was born Sept. 24, 1935, at Pendleton to Robert and Becky Tonack. He grew up in the Pendleton area. He received his bachelor’s degree from Eastern … Read more

Denton, Barbara Wright Mrs. – Obituary

Barbara Denton, 89, of Pendleton and formerly of the Marble Creek area near Baker City, died May 15, 2003. Graveside funeral services were held Tuesday at Skyview Memorial Park. Alice was born to Stanley Carter and Onlie Foster Wright on Feb. 5, 1914, at Clovis, N.M. She was the oldest of four children. She grew up in various locations in Iowa and Missouri. She graduated from high school in Lamoni, Iowa and also briefly attended Graceland College in Lamoni. In 1932, the family moved to Oregon and settled in Medical Springs, later moving to the Marble Creek area. She married … Read more

Phillips, Gertrude Marie Karp Mrs. – Obituary

Gertrude Marie Phillips, 94, died Aug. 17, 2006, at Hermiston Terrace Assisted Living Facility in Hermiston. Recitation of the Rosary will be today at 7 p.m. at Burns Mortuary Chapel in Hermiston. A memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Hermiston. Disposition was by cremation. Inurnment of cremains will be at the Hermiston Cemetery at a later date. Gertrude was born March 16, 1912, at Encampment, Wyo., to Christian and Anna Clara (Elsen) Karp. She was raised in Baker City and graduated from Baker High School. She married Donald … Read more

Cleveland, Michael Gene – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Michael Gene Cleveland, 34, of La Grande died Aug. 1 at Grande Ronde Hospital of natural causes. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday Aug. 5 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Mr. Cleveland was born July 25, 1972, to Robert and Deborah Beickel Cleveland in Medford. The family moved to Pendleton and then settled in La Grande in 1973. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1990 and from Eastern Oregon State College in 1995. On Aug., 30, 2003, he married Elizabeth Canfield in La Grande. He worked for Boise … Read more

Lee, John Henry – Obituary

John Henry Lee of 828 SE 8th, died Saturday morning [May 5] at a Pendleton hospital. He was 70. He worked for John Deere and Caterpillar companies for 35 years. He lived in this area 25 years. Survivors are the widow, Mamie; daughters, Mrs. Richard Michael and Jeanne Kelley, both of Portland, and Mrs. John C. Smith, Walla Walla; sons, Bill Whitman of Pendleton and Leo Whitman of Reno, Nev.; sisters Mrs. Carl Penner and Mrs. Guy Kent, both of Walla Walla; brother Ted, Walla Walla and seven grandchildren. The funeral will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday at Groseclose Garden … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Alexander Waugh

ALEXANDER WAUGH. – This gentleman is a native of Indiana, and was born in 1826. He was a farmer boy and navigator on the inland rivers. Upon reaching mature life and being married, he came west to Rock Island, Illinois, in 1853, and in 1864 was on the plains for Oregon, making a successful trip despite an attack by the Sioux. He made his first location on Birch creek, Umatilla county, in September of that year, arriving with a total capital of four mules and seventy-five dollars in money. His one hundred and sixty acres of land, a small band … 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

Biographical Sketch of 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 in 1871 to Umatilla … Read more

McGinnis, Dellivan – Obituary

Died-In Ashland, Wisconsin, July 13, 1920, Dellivan McGinnis, age 33 years, 6 months and 15 days. Dellivan McGinnis was the son of Mrs. Lillie Cross, of Union. He was born at Milton, Oregon, in 1887. He was married to Miss Rita Wilson, July 30, 1910. He enlisted in the U.S. Marines in May, 1918, and received a discharge March 4, 1919. He died at Ashland, Wisconsin, July 13, 1920. His body accompanied by his wife arrived in Union Tuesday morning, July 20. He is survived by his widow, his mother and step-father, two half-brothers and three half-sisters. Two half-bothers preceded … Read more

Simonis, Ida J. – Obituary

Mrs. Louis Simonis, 76, died early Saturday morning at her home in Baker. Ida J. Simonis was born July 29, 1869 at Umatilla. She was married to Louis L. Simonis in 1888 at Weiser, Ida., and they made their home in Eagle Valley until 1937 when they moved to Baker. Mrs. Simonis is survived by her widower; two sons, George of Wapato, Wash., and Otis of Woodland, Wash.; three daughters Mrs. Mary Wilson of Weiser, Mrs. Arta Trickel of Baker and Mrs. Belle Johnson of Robinette; a sister, Mrs. Nora Rice of Imnaha, Ore.; two brothers John D. Simmons of … 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

Biography of William Tillman

WILLIAM TILLMAN – We have before us in the person of the subject one of those hardy, intrepid and commendable pioneers, who wrought in this section for its development, wresting it from the grasp of the savages and fitting it for the abode of man. Especially is our subject to be mentioned in this capacity, since he came here yound and vigorous and wrought constantly here for nearly half a century, enduring all the hardships known to frontier existence, displaying an astuteness, energy, and ability, coupled with faithfulness and integrity that have commended him to the graces and hearts of … Read more

Oliver, Henry William – Obituary

Henry Oliver Dies At Milton Home Henry William Oliver, 85, a former school teacher and Seventh Day Adventist minister in Wallowa County, passed away Monday, Feb., 23: at his home in Milton following a long illness. He had resided in Milton for about ten years and had lived in Oregon since 1884. Mr. Oliver was born near Memphis, Tenn., on Aug. 10, 1863. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon from the Adventist church in Milton and burial was in the College Place cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Jessie Oliver at the home; two sons, J. Paul Oliver … 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

Helman, Terry – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Terry Helman, 62, of La Grande, died May 30, 2003, at his home. A celebration of life service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at the La Grande Eagles Lodge. Mr. Helman was born on Sept. 19, 1940, at La Grande to Virgil and Cleo Campbell Helman. He was a 1958 La Grande High School graduate. He served with the Oregon National Guard and later became active in the U.S. Army. On Aug. 21, 1961, he married Marilyn Scott at Boise. The marriage later ended in divorce. On May 7, 1982, he married Carolyn Roberts. … Read more