Lee, George “Jimmy” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon George “Jimmy” Lee, 89, a longtime Baker City resident, died June 10, 2002, at Meadowbrook Place, of natural causes. There will be a celebration of life service at 3 p.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate. Nursery service will be provided at the church. Jimmy was born Jan. 27, 1913, at the family home at North Powder. He met and married Eileen Cochrane in 1938. They lived their 63 years of married life in the Baker area and raised three daughters. Jimmy served in the shipyard at Bremerton, Wash., … Read more

Duncan, Leslie – Obituary

Leslie Vern Duncan, 90, 1350 10th St. who ranched and farmed in the Medical Springs and Ebell Creek areas, died Friday, May 8, 1987, at St. Elizabeth Hospital. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. The Rev. Greg Eicher of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Duncan was born March 12, 1897 at Medical Springs to Richard and Julia Ann Gobel Duncan. He married Blanche Ramsey in Weiser, Idaho, on March 11, 1941. He attended school in Medical Springs and was … Read more

Blackledge, L.M. – Obituary

Imbler, Union County, Oregon A terrible accident resulting in the death of L.M. Blackledge occurred at Imbler Friday of last week. The particulars as learned are that Blackledge drove into town from a nearby farm and stopped his team by the planing mill. The horses became frightened and started to run. The owner, who was standing directly in fromt of the wagon tongue, grabbed them by the bits and with a lunge the horses sprang forward knocking him down. The wagon passed over him crushing his ribs. Drs. Whiting of this city, and Molinor, of La Grande, were summoned and … Read more

Biography of James H. Riggs

JAMES H. RIGGS. – One of the capable and esteemed gentlemen of Union county is named at the head of this article and is deserving of representation in the history of his county, since he has labored here with assiduity and energy for the development of the county and its resources and has manifested meanwhile both ability, sagacity, and integrity in his endeavors, being one of the leading agriculturists of the county. Mr. Riggs was born in Roachdale, Lancashire, England, on December 18, 1837, being the son of Levi and Elizabeth (Standring) Riggs, natives also of England. The father was … Read more

Fischer, Kimberly Dawn – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Kimberly Dawn Fischer, 47, of Marysville, Wash., and formerly of La Grande died Sept. 9 at her home of natural causes. A service will be begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Marysville Senior Community Center, 514 Delta St. A memorial in Oregon will be conducted at a later date. Mrs. Fischer was born April 22, 1959, to Donna and Jerry Martin in Pendleton. She attended school in La Grande, and married Randy McKinnis. On April 28, 2002, she married Craig Fischer. She worked in food and beverage management for many years. She enjoyed rock and gem … Read more

Hefner, John ‘Jake’ – Obituary

Warren Lyle Jennings, 58, of La Grande, died Sept. 9 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A private service for family and friends will be held. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements. Warren was born on July 26, 1949, to Max and Loretta (Gorham) Jennings in Baker City. He was educated in La Grande and later attended community college for training in computers. On Oct. 9, 1973, he married Dayle Murray. He owned and operated Cornerstone Computers in La Grande before working with the computer department at Blue Mountain Community College. Warren enjoyed traveling, gardening, going to the … Read more

Law, Charles Walter – Obituary

Charles Walter Law, 84, passed away Monday, July 18, 2005 at the Idaho State Veterans Home. A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 21, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. at Summers Funeral Homes, Ustick Chapel, 3629 E. Ustick Rd. (due to construction we will need you to enter on Cloverdale). Charles (“Walt” or “Charlie”) was born September 16, 1920 in Baker, to Charles J. and Frances Heard Law. He spent his childhood in North Powder. Charles loved sports and exercise, but he was especially fond of flying and travel. His love for flying and travel began when he joined the … Read more

Duncan, Lee – Obituary

Haines Commercial Organizer, Banker Had Notable Career Death on Monday, Dec. 1, at Cedar Manor nursing home after brief illness claimed Lee A. Duncan, businessman whose career paralleled for over a half-century the development of the community of Haines. Between the early 1900’s and the early 30’s he built a mercantile enterprise in Powder valley and was considered the most unique and successful of its kind in the country. His Haines Commercial Co. serviced the area with everything from up-to-date ladies ready-to-wear and millinery to plug tobacco, pickles, and lumber. It operated a machinery dealership, a repair service and bought … Read more

Thompson, Mabel V. – Obituary

Friends Mourn Mable Thompson Imnaha, Oregon Mrs. Mabel V. Thompson daughter of Henry and Ella Creasey who came to Wallowa County at the age of eight years with her mother, Ella Rodriguez, passed away at Valley View Manor in La Grande, on Thursday May 18, 1967. She had been a patient there for the past month. She was born June 26, 1877 in Dell Prairie, Wisconsin, and had lived on the Imnaha most of her life. She was married November 23, 1893 on the Imnaha to Mark P. Thompson who preceded her in death on April 2, 1943. She was … Read more

Childers, J. W. – Obituary – Obituary

J. W. Childers Is Taken By Death Resident of County for Many Years Crossed Plains In 1865. James W. Childers died early Friday morning, Oct. 4, 1929, at the Wallowa hospital where he had been taken on Thursday for an operation for cancer of the bladder, an affliction with which he had suffered for years, and for which he underwent an operation about 20 years ago. Mr. Childers had been in poor health for years but always refused to give way to his ill health and kept active in the management of his farm until a few weeks before his … Read more

Puckett, Pauline – Obituary

Pauline G. Puckett, niece of the late T. T. Greer [Geer], 10th governor of Oregon, died Saturday in a hospital at age 76. Mrs. Puckett, who lived at 8655 NE Boehmer St., was born in Cove and lived in the Portland area for 26 years. She is survived by her husband Claude; two children, LaVerta (Pegge) Quiett of Lake Oswego and Winter [Winton] Puckett of Portland; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday in Caldwell’s Colonial Mortuary. Burial will be in Skyline Memorial Gardens. The family suggests remembrances be contributions to St. Mathew’s Church memorial … Read more

Dodson, Violet Louise Parker Mrs. – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon Violet Louise Parker Dodson, 101, of North Powder, died July 21, 2005. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the North Powder Community Church. Pastor Robin Harris of the Cornerstone Baptist Church will officiate. A graveside service will be at the North Powder Cemetery. Mrs. Dodson was born to Thomas Henry and Violet Kelsey Parker on Jan. 30, 1904, on an Anthony Creek ranch that is now the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife elk feeding station. Born in the middle of a blizzard and weighing only 2 pounds, it was surmised that … Read more

Hiatt, Alfred Charles – Obituary

Alfred Hiatt, of 1807 “V” Ave., died Saturday, March 1 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Mr. Hiatt was a retired truck driver for Union county. He was 75. Mr. Hiatt was born May 12, 1904, at Pinto, Utah, the son of Frank and Emma (Platt) Hiatt. He moved to La Grande, on January 25, 1925. On November 24, 1928 he was married to Alice Hoak at La Grande. Mr. Hiatt was a member of the Third Ward of the La Grande Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Knights of Pythias; AARPs and Senior Citizens. Survivors include his wife of La … Read more

Hixson, Erma V. True Mrs. – Obituary

Erma V. Hixson, 95, a former Baker City resident, died May 27, 2005, at a foster care home in Perry. Her graveside funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Monte Loyd of the Harvest Church in Baker City will officiate. Mrs. Hixson was born on Oct. 5, 1909, at Paradise, Kan., to Abraham Fredrick True and Artha Jane Kidd True. The family lived in several places, including Colorado and South Dakota. They moved to Oregon in the 1930s, living at various times at La Grande, North Powder and Baker City. Erma married Ernest A. Hixson … Read more

Arnold, George – Obituary

George Arnold, born April 26, 1853, in New York, passed away June 23 at his home in Pasco, Washington. Funeral services were held June 25 at the chapel at 2 o’clock, conducted by Rev. U. F. Hawk. Deceased made Pasco his home for about six years. He is survived by his wife, a niece, Mrs. John Perry, and two nephews, John and Francis Arnold, all of Pasco. Mr. Arnold was a resident of Union for many years and news of his death will be a shock to many friends in this section. 1929 newspaper item Contributed by: Larry Rader

Jones, Glen Loren – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon Glen Loren Jones, 72, a former North Powder resident, died Jan. 12, 2003, at Bremerton, Wash. After graduating from North Powder High School, he moved to Port Orchard, Wash. He retired from the Bremerton Naval Shipyard after 35 years of service. He loved to roller skate and in his spare time he taught young people to skate. Survivors include his wife, Marie, of Port Orchard, Wash.; a sister, Phyllis Ramey, and her husband, Harce, of Arroyo Grande, Calif.; brothers, Chuck of Modesto, Calif., Ed and his wife, Jan, and Jim and his wife, Beverly, of … Read more

Conley, Merrell F. – Obituary

Merrell Frank Conley, Route 1 Box 236, Cove, died Friday at Grande Ronde Hospital. He was 78. Mr. Conley was born on Oct. 25, 1906, to Joe Frank and Sarah (Gray) Conley at Cove. On May 16, 1940 he married Isabel Heger. She died on June 10, 1973. On Aug. 9, 1975, he married Ruth Holt Lacer at La Grande. He was a member of the Cove Methodist Church, Cove Lodge No. 91 A.F. & A.M., Baker Consistory Scottish Rite, Al Kader Temple and the Cove Sportsman Club. He was a member and past president of the Knife and Fork … Read more

Alexander, Susan – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Susan Alexander, 57, of Elgin, died Oct. 25 at her home. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements. La Grande Observer – October 26, 2009 ________________________ Susan L. Alexander Elgin 1952-2009 Susan Lorraine Alexander, 57, of Elgin, and formerly of Wallowa, died Oct. 24 at her home. A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the Wallowa Cemetery. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center in La Grande is in charge of arrangements. Susan was born Sept. 3, 1952, to Ardeth and Patricia Spruill in Oregon City. She was raised in … Read more

Horn, Myrtle E. Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Myrtle E. Horn, 78, a longtime Baker City resident, died in her sleep Dec. 6, 2002, at her home. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor John Goodyear of the Baker Valley Church of Christ will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, next to her beloved husband, “Gil,” immediately after the service. Visitations will be from noon to 8 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Myrtle was born on Feb. 7, 1924, at La Grande, the fifth of seven children. She attended schools at … Read more

Riggs, Ardeth Emma Moberly – Obituary

Summerville, Oregon Ardeth Emma Moberly Riggs, 83, of Summerville, died June 12 at a local care center. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday June 17 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Mrs. Riggs was born April 15, 1923, to William Homer and Eva Marie Gault Sink in Northgate, N.D. She moved to Yakima and married Harold Moberly on Dec. 13, 1946. While in Yakima her job was packing apples. The couple moved to Springfield in 1950 where she worked as a pre-school teacher for a time before going to work for the Lane … Read more