Union County OR

Luhrs, Sarah J. – Obituary

Sarah J. Luhrs, 88, formerly of North Powder and La Grande, died Tuesday March 11 in Eugene. A service will be start at noon Monday at West Lawn Funeral Home in Eugene. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to noon at West Lawn Funeral Home. Mrs. Luhrs was born March 1, 1920 in North Powder to Dick and Enolia (Gorham) Brothers. She married John Luhrs on Aug. 23, 1938 in Wallowa. They were married 47 years. John Luhrs died Feb. 16, 1984. She was a foster home care giver in La Grande, Corvallis, and Clarkston, Wash. She had lived in … Read more

Richardson, Enoch – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon In this city, October 10, 1900, Enoch Richardson aged 83 years, 7 months and 27 days. Mr. Richardson was an old pioneer of this state having come to Oregon in 1851, when he settled in Polk County. Some two years ago he came to grande Ronde Valley to visit his son and daughter J.Q.A. Richardson, of the Cove, and Mrs. S.E. Birdsell of this city. Cove Ledger Thursday October 19, 1899

Griffith, Harold Leon – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Harold Leon Griffith, 40, of Portland and formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 19. There will be a funeral service at 11 a.m. Friday at Highland United Church of Christ in Portland. Mr. Griffith was born Feb. 18, 1966, in Portland. He was a graduate of Jefferson High School and Western Culinary Institute, both in Portland. He lived most of his life in the Portland area, but for a time lived in La Grande, where he was a chef at Ten Depot Street. Most recently he was employed as a chef at Jimmy’s Italian Restaurant in Portland. … Read more

Stahl, Donald – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Donald “Don” Stahl, 57, of Pendleton, died May 15 in a Richland, Wash., hospital. Funeral services were held today in the Burns Mortuary of Pendleton chapel. Don was born Aug. 4, 1950, to David and Lorna (Hallmark) Stahl in Cove. He was raised and educated in Cove. After high school, he enlisted into the United States Navy and served his country during the Vietnam Conflict. He won the National Defense Service Medal as well as the Bronze Star. After his discharge he returned to Cove for a time before he moved to Pendleton. He then began working as … Read more

Hays, William T. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Former Councilor Bill Hays Dies – Mardi Ford – The Observer Former La Grande city councilor William T. “Bill” Hays, 75, died Thursday at a local care center. A celebration of life is planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Hays moved to La Grande in the early 1970s with his wife, Jacquie, and daughter, Ida. His involvement in the community began right away. For a time, he worked as a plan checker in the city building department. Eventually, Hays started his own construction business. An early accomplishment was the design and construction for a … 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

Pearson, Edna Kenworthy Mrs. – Obituary

Edna Pearson, 82, a former longtime Baker City resident, died Aug. 12, 2009, of Alzheimer’s disease at Cedar Crest Alzheimer’s facility at Tualatin, where she had lived for the past three years. Her memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Sept. 12 at North Powder Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at the North Powder Grange Hall. Edna was born on July 5, 1927, at Dayton, Wash., to Arzee and Ethel Kenworthy. The family moved to North Powder when Edna was in grade school. She graduated from North Powder High School where she met her high school sweetheart and … Read more

Biography of Hon. Andrew McAlexander

It is with especial pleasure that we are enabled to recite the salient points in the eventful and lengthy career of the distinguished and prominent citizen of Wallowa county, whose name is at the head of this article, since his life has been spent in the noble and self-sacrificing work of the pioneer, wherein he has served with the faithfulness, ability, integrity and energy that are characteristic of him, being a potent influence in the development of two states and having wrought in Oregon, so that his memory will be handed down to generations to come with expressions of appreciation … Read more

Biography of William Wilson

WILLIAM WILSON. – Mr. Wilson was born of Irish parents in 1835. “His father and mother were Irish; and he is Irish still.” His parents secured to him a common-school education; and his father, falling a victim of the cholera in New York in 1848, William assumed the management of his affairs and conducted the business until 1852, when he left home and started for California. On the Isthmus he was stricken with Panama fever and laid three weeks among strangers, convalescing only to realize the fact that his money and ticket were missing. He finally shipped, as he supposed, … Read more

Smith, Geraldine Iphiginia – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Geraldine Iphiginia “Gerry” Smith, 95, of La Grande and formerly of Elgin, died April 7 at her home. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the La Grande New Life Center, 10700 Walton Road. Private burial will be at the Elgin Cemetery. Viewing will be held tonight from 4 to 6 at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh Street. Gerry was born on Nov. 15, 1912, to Ernest John and Lydia (McBean) Ross in Adams. She graduated from Weston High School and met her future husband, Richard “Lee” Smith, while cooking … Read more

Biography of Hon. J. H. Rinehart

HON.J.H. RINEHART. – Mr. Rinehart, whose portrait appears in this volume, is one of the pioneers of Eastern Oregon, and the proprietor of the Mammoth Anna-Lulu Flouring mills. He was born October 1, 1836, in Adams county, Illinois, and moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1845. In 1854 he crossed the plains with his parents to Oregon and located with them at Eugene. In 1855 he left the parental roof and, although but a boy of eighteen, sought the gold fields of Northern California, where he remained a year and a half, and returned to Oregon soon after the close … Read more

Renfrow, Mary A. Wright Mrs. – Obituary

Services Held For Mary Renfrow Memorial services for Mary A. Renfrow sho passed away Thursday, December 4, 1958 in Forest Grove, where conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. by the Bollman Funeral Home from the Enterprise Church. The Rev. Al Boschee officiated, and Mrs. Don Kooch was organist. Mrs. Al Boschee and Mrs. Delbert Pratt sang “In The Garden” and “The Old Rugged Cross.” Casket bearers were: A.J. Oliver, Oscar Maxwell, James Fleet, Therval Gray, Hubert Johnson, Roy Carper, and vault entombment was in the Enterprise Cemetery. Mrs. Renfrow was the daughter of Jackson and Malinda Wright and was born January … Read more

Hand, Douglas – Obituary

Doug Hand Had Family Tie Here In supplementing the obituary in the Courier of Douglas Hand, former Haines schoolboy, we rely upon a life sketch of Doug and his beloved Baker valley family ties, by Doug himself over a year ago for the local Historical Society. Doug died at Tucson late in January, retired as a prominent citizen there after a successful army career. The Hand history in the west was due to the courage of the mother. Doug’s grandfather, a blacksmith in Illinois, James Douglas Hand, was a Civil War veteran. He died shortly after his father James L. … Read more

Jordan, Bobby Gene – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Bobby Gene Jordan, 73, of Spokane and formerly of La Grande, died Aug. 24 in Spokane. A funeral service will begin at 4 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home in Spokane. Burial will be at Riverside Memorial Park. Bobby was born April 7, 1935, in Ripley, Okla. He grew up in La Grande and graduated from La Grande High School. Bobby retired from the Air Force as a chief master sergeant after 22 1/2 years. He then worked as an equipment technician until his retirement. He was a member of the VFW Post 1435, Moose Lodge No. … Read more

Biography of Albert Good

ALBERT GOOD. – One of Union county’s intelligent and enterprising agriculturists and stockmen is named at the head of this sketch and we are constrained to grant him representation in this volume of his county’s history since he is one of the leading men of today and because he has achieved a very flattering success here, and because his personal characteristics of ability and integrity demand a place for him among those so represented having achieved his splendid success by dint of hard effort and wise management. In Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on September 25, 1844, the subject of this sketch … Read more

Lovelace, Carolyn Rees – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Union County, Oregon Obituary Carolyn Rees Lovelace, 74, of Ontario and formerly of Cove died of cancer June 25 at the home of her daughter, Rilla Lovelace Hanger, of Monroe, Wash. Her ashes will be spread at Cove Cemetery, followed by a family celebration of life at the Cove Pool at a time and date to be announced later. Born Feb. 18, 1933, Carolyn loved animals, especially horses. She also took in young people who needed a safe place. Carolyn passed on a strong love of family connections, family members said. She was a proud fourth-generation Oregonian from … Read more

Richey, George Mack – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Richey Services Will Be Held On Tuesday At 2:00 Funeral services for George Mack Richey, pioneer who died yesterday about noon, will be held at the Snodgrass and Zimmerman mortuary Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev. Clarence Kopp, rector of St. Peter’s church, will have charge. Mr. Richey, who died after a long illness, was a member of the K. P. and B. P. O. Elks lodges. He was born in New York Sept 27, 1864 and was 71 years, three months and 14 days of age. He came to La Grande in 1883, going … Read more

Huffman, M. Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. Marshall Huffman of La Grande, formerly of Union, died at Hot Lake January 21, 1931, after a long illness. She had been a patient there for about two years. Deceased was a native of Cove and was aged 57 years, 7 months and 14 days. For a number of years the family lived on a ranch south of Union. She is survived by husband, son and brothers and sisters. Oregon Trail Weekly North Powder News Jan 30, 1931 Transcribed by Charlotte Carper

Kelly, Flores A. “Flo” Nickels Mrs. – Obituary

North Powder, Oregon Flores A. “Flo” Kelly, 71, of North Powder, died June 15, 2001, at her daughter’s home in North Powder. At her request, there will be no public service. There will be a private family service later. Loveland Funeral Chapel of La Grande is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Kelly was born on July 7, 1930, at Bend to Bert and Agnes Beach Nickels. She was a Baker High School graduate. She lived at North Powder for about 15 years before moving to Bullhead City, Ariz., where she lived for about 15 years. She had been a resident … Read more

Teeter, Nellie Byer – Obituary

Imbler, Oregon Nellie Byer Teeter, 99, of Imbler died Sunday at a local care center. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A graveside service will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday July 12 at the Summerville Cemetery. Mrs. Teeter was born Sept. 11, 1906, to August and Margarita Behrens in La Grande. Both parents were from Germany and moved to a farm in Summerville when she was six months old. On Feb. 28, 1925, she married A.W. “Bill” Byer who died in 1961. In Sept. 1969 she married Thurman … Read more