Cox, Patricia Karen – Obituary

Patricia Karen Cox, 66, of Cove, died Oct. 11 in Boise. A graveside service will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Cove Cemetery. Viewing will run from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh Street. Patricia was born on Nov. 18, 1940, to Delbert C. and Adria (Nicholson) Webster in Iowa City, Iowa. The family moved to Cove where she graduated from high school. On Dec. 26, 1958, she married Craig Cox in Weiser, Idaho. She was a stay-at-home mom and a homemaker who loved to take care of her family. She loved … Read more

Collins, Patrick Howard – Obituary

Union, Oregon Patrick Howard Collins, 48, of Seaside and formerly of La Grande and Union, died Nov. 19 in Seaside. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at Coastline Christian Fellowship Church in Olney. Prior to the service, visitation will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria. Mr. Collins, known as Pat, was born Sept. 11, 1958, in Waterbury, Conn., to Theodore M. and Mary E. Brooks Collins. He grew up and was educated in Anaheim, Calif. In 1974 he moved to Clatsop County and began a career in the … Read more

Long, Dell Harlen – Obituary

Dell Harlen Long, 81, of Texas and formerly of Union and Wallowa counties, died Dec. 16 in Hermleigh, Texas. Graveside memorial services will take place March 30 at the Island City Cemetery. A full obituary will be published later. Mr. Long was born June 5, 1925, to Harlen and Lela Mae (Blanchard) Long. He was a longtime resident of Union and Wallowa counties. The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending Dec. 30, 2006 Published: December 30, 2006

Biographical Sketch of Hon. John W. Norval

HON. JOHN W. NORVAL. – Mr. Norval, at present state senator from Union and Wallowa counties, was born in Knox County, Illinois, June 5, 1840, and is the son of James and Mahala Applewhite Norval. He resided upon a farm at his native place until the age of twenty, having while a mere boy suffered the loss of his father, and being a member of a family of four brothers and one sister. In April, 1860, he came west to Alexandria, Missouri, where he joined an emigrant train and came across the plains to California, arriving at Stockton November 6, … Read more

Biography of Henry W. Beecher

The list of the real pioneers of Wallowa County would be sadly incomplete, as also the enumeration of the leading citizens of today, were there failure to add that of the worthy gentleman, and capable and patriotic citizen, whose name is at the head of this article and who is one of the prominent agriculturists of our county having wrought here since the earliest settlements and in addition to this, he is one of the immortal number who stepped to the front ranks when the call came from Columbia to her sons for strong arms to defend her honor. Mr. … Read more

Evans, Gerald – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Gerald Evans Gerald “Gene” Evans, 73, a lifetime resident of Union County, died Feb. 17 at the Grande Ronde Retirement Residence in La Grande. At his request there will be no public services. The family will have a private celebration of life at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Gene was born March 21, 1934, to Jason and Phyllis (Jones) Evans in Elgin. He was raised on a farm west of Union and attended Union public schools.Active in school sports, he was chosen to play in the Shriner’s Football … Read more

Jambura, Phyllis – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Phyllis Jambura, 1709 Foley St., died Saturday at her home following and extended illness. She was 52. Mrs. Jambura worked 17 years with the La Grande School District. She served as dean of girls at the middle and high schools, was vice principle of the high school, and was director of secondary curriculum/evaluation. Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at First United Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Steve Kliewer officiating. Private interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Mrs. Jambura was born on Feb. 4, 1931 in Yakima, Wash. to Philip and Carrie (Skiff) Walnum. … Read more

Spain, John – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon John Spain Died Wednesday Night Well Known Buckaroo Sick Only Short Time John Spain, 47, and for the past 30 years a resident of North Powder and Union vicinities, passed this life at Hot Lake at midnight Wednesday of this week. Death was due to hemorrage of the stomach. Mr. Spain was seized with the attack which caused his death at about daylight Wednesday morning. He was rushed to the sanitarium at Hot Lake where he gradually grew worse until the end. John Spain was on of the best known men in Eastern Oregon, having … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Phares E. Wade

PHARES E. WADE. – A native of the Old dominion, born in 1840, the subject of this sketch, at the age of fourteen, removed with his parents to Iowa and engaged in farming, remaining at home until 1863. In that year he crossed the plains to the Grande Ronde valley, where he continued his agricultural business, raising grain and stock, and is at the present for nearly a quarter of a century. This is two and a half miles east of Summerville, Oregon, and consists of twelve hundred acres of remarkably rich, level and productive land. Upon this farm he … Read more

Smith, Phyllis B. Morris Mrs. – Obituary

Phyllis B. Morris Smith, 74, of North Powder, died April 5, 2009, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Home in La Grande with a graveside service afterward at the North Powder Cemetery. A dinner will be served in the multipurpose room of Powder Valley Elementary School at North Powder. Phyllis was born on Jan. 17, 1935, at Cove to Elmer and Agnes Morris. She was the youngest of the family with six siblings. She attended school at La Grande and Cove, where she eventually graduated. Soon after graduation, … Read more

Cowan, Lois – Obituary

Wallowa, Oregon Lois Cowan of Wallowa died May 17, 2006, at the Wallowa Memorial Hospital after a short illness. She was 94. Mrs. Cowan was born Jan. 31, 1912, in Elgin to James Elvis and Bertha Witty Witherspoon. She grew up on the family farm on Cricket Flat and attended the Hindman Country School. She graduated from Elgin High School in 1931. After graduating, Lois worked as a telephone operator and a clerk in a grocery store. On June 26, 1938, she married Carl Raymond Cowan in Elgin. They lived in Baker City, Sumpter, La Grande and Elgin before moving … Read more

Moore, Jas. Mrs. – Obituary

At her residence on Catherine creek near this city, on Dec. 16, Mrs. Jas. Moore. Eastern Oregon Republican, Union Thursday December 17, 1891

Johnson, Thomas – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon on Friday of last week the funeral of George Thompson took place from the residence of his brother-in-law, Mr. Thomas Johnson, near Cove, the Rev. Mr. Haskell, of the Baptist church, officiating. The young man had been ill for sometime with consumption and was about 21 years of age at the time of his death. The remains were intered at Cove cemetery. Eastern Oregon Republican, Thursday September 19, 1889

Draper, Kelso M.

Kelso M. Draper Dies Suddenly Mrs. Frances Draper and her daughter, Mrs. James (Vera) Fisher were called to Saint Paul, Oregon, Friday, August 26, by the sudden illness of their son and brother, Kelso Mills Draper, who passed away that day before they could reach his bedside. Son of Judson and Frances Draper, he was born in the Grande Ronde Valley near La Grande 56 years ago. He attended schools in Grande Ronde valley and at Lostine and for many years lived in and near Enterprise, where he farmed. On Sept. 28, 1929 he married at Enterprise to Miss Frances … Read more

Sanders, William – Obituary

William R. Sanders Died At His Home Here Last Friday William Sanders, pioneer resident of this section, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Dalton, Friday, March 26, aged 68 years. He was born in Indiana and came to this part of the country at an early date. Mr. Sanders had been in poor health for several years, and for the past few weeks had been confined to his room. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the Methodist church, Miss Blokland officiating. The local lodge of Odd Fellows attended in a body and had charge of the … Read more

Stevens, Jeffery Max – Obituary

Union County, Oregon Obituary La Grande, Oregon Jeffery Max Stevens, 39, formerly of La Grande, died March 10 after battling cancer. There will be a private family memorial service in Canby. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel. Jeffery was born Aug. 22, 1967, to Arthur and Shirley (Shelly) Stevens in Oregon City, where he graduated from high school. He never married and was a painter by trade. He enjoyed spending time with his children, taking trips to the Wildhorse Casino in Pendleton, bowling and working in his yard. Survivors include his children, Jessy Stevens of Milwaukie and … Read more

Emmons, Alton R. – Obituary

Alton R. Emmons Services Held Word was received Friday, September 3, by Mrs. Charles T. Thornburg, Charles D. Emmons and Leonard B. Emmons of the passing of their brother, Alton R. Emmons, in San Francisco where he lived with his daughter, Mrs. Maxine Bindon. Funeral services were held in San Francisco Saturday afternoon, September 4. Mr. Emmons was born January 2, 1879 in Illinois to John W. and Martha Emmons. He came to Wallowa county when a young man and was married at Enterprise on July 4, 1892 to Miss Flora Hawkins. For many years he and his wife had … Read more

Crawford, Cora – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon Crawford  Cora, the 12- year old daughter of Mrs. Sarah Crawford died in this city May 10, 1905. Several weeks ago the little girl underwent an operation for appendicitis and it was thought a few days after the operation that she would enjoy a complete recovery but the past few days she began growing weaker and the end came Wednesday night. Services were held in the Christian church at 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon and the remains were laid to rest in the Elk Flat cemetery. Elgin Recorder Friday May 12, 1905

Overpeck, Harvey – Obituary

Overpeck Rites Set Thursday Graveside services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at Hillcrest cemetery for Harvey Overpeck, 80, retired barber and resident of 1205 Second St. Mrs. Earl Horine will officiate and services are under the direction of Daniels Funeral home. Born in Park County, Ind., Mr. Overpeck had resided in La Grande for many years. Survivors include a son, Charles Overpeck, Pasadena, Tex.; a step-sister, Mrs. Bertha Bright, Caney, Kan.; and a half brother, Carl Gaskill, Ogden, Utah. La Grande Observer, Wednesday, 31 August, 1960, Page 3. Contributed by: Robert C. Bull

Rogers, Betty Doris – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Betty Doris Rogers, 79, of Yuma, Ariz., and formerly of La Grande, died Oct. 20 at the Yuma Regional Medical Center after suffering a stroke. No services are planned at this time. Mrs. Rogers was born May 9, 1927, to Frank E. and Luva Roberts Messersmith in Alliance, Neb., one of seven children. She attended high school in Curtis, Neb., graduating in 1945. She studied for a year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, then taught at a country school in Box Butte County, Neb. She married Lyle Dunham Rogers on Sept. 27, 1947, in Alliance. The couple … Read more