Union County OR

Kennedy, Rex Allen – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Rex Allen Kennedy, 47, of Elgin, died, July 30 in an ATV accident at Jubilee Lake. A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Elgin Community Center. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Rex was born Jan. 7, 1961, to William Howard and Mildred Elizabeth (Phillips) Kennedy in La Grande. Rex was raised in Elgin and graduated from Elgin High School in 1979. Rex served in the Air Force from 1979 to 1983. He worked as an electrician for a trailer manufacturer; for cable companies, trimming trees all over the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lawrence E. Caviness

There is a special pride that we can take in tracing the career of one of the sons of Oregon, who has gained his education and training in this section and who has wrought out a success for himself that manifests him as a man of ability and business force. Such a one is the subject of this sketch and we are pleased to accord his representation in this volume both because of his bright achievements, that have placed him as eminently successful in the industrial world, and because of his qualities of moral worth and intrinsic value that have … Read more

Hill, Laura Belle

Elgin, Union County, Oregon Sisters-in-Law Die In Elgin Sisters-in-law, Laura Bell Hill and Dora Florence Hill, both resident of Elgin, died within three days of each other in local hospitals this week. Laura Belle Hill of Elgin, for 55 years a resident of Union county, died at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, of a stroke at the age of 68. Surviving are five children, Mrs. Louie Hale of Elgin, Mrs. Luther Cummins of Portland, and Mrs. Warren Metcalf of Chester, California, 11 grandchildren, two sisters, Miss Grace Crawford of Pendleton, and Mrs. Chester Kuykendoll of Pomeroy, Washington, and other relatives. Funeral services … Read more

McDonald, Aileen

Aileen McDonald, 86, of La Grande, died Friday at Valley View Care Center. Mrs. McDonald was born April 15, 1900 to Charles and Rhoda (Austin) Riggs at Pumpkin Ridge near Summerville. On Jan. 1, 1921, she married George Wesley McDonald at Summerville. They owned and operated McDonald Electric in La Grande until her husband’s death in 1952. She continued to operate the business until 1965. She later worked at the girls’ dormitory at Eastern Oregon State College until 1971. She belonged to the First Presbyterian Church of La Grande, the Westminster Guild, the Pythian Sisters, the Order of the Eastern … Read more

Baker, George M. – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Funeral Services For Cove Man Set Funeral services for George M. Baker, 86 year–old Cove retired farmer, will be held in the Methodist church in Cove at 2 p. m. tomorrow. Baker, who died in Pendleton Wednesday following a long illness, will be buried beside his wife in Cove cemetery. Baker was born in Wisconsin, November 8, 1859, has been a resident of Union County 51 years. He is survived by three sons, Earl of Pendleton, Ray of Summerville, and Roy of Cove, in addition to seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. The La Grande Observer, … Read more

Rooney, J. C. – Obituary

Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon Local people were grieved to learn through a telegram to Mrs. Mae McGregor, of the death last Wednesday morning, Dec. 5 of J.C. Rooney, merchant of Wallowa and who with his son Norval conducted a meat market and grocery in North Powder until early this fall. He died at Clarkston, Wash., after a protracted illness. Bright’s disease was the direct cause of his death. Mr. Rooney had gone to Clarkston about two months ago to be under the care of physicians there. No funeral arrangements have as yet been announced. Mr. Rooney and his family moved … Read more

Chitwood, Lawrence Allan – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Lawrence Allan Chitwood, 65, of Bend and formerly of La Grande, died unexpectedly of natural causes Jan. 4 while hiking up Pilot Butte. Memorial services are being planned. Visit www.LarryChitwoodMemorial.notlong.com for details. Larry Chitwood was born Aug. 4, 1942, to Paul H. and Ruth O. Chitwood in Los Angeles. He spent his childhood in Mount Shasta, Calif., and completed high school in Klamath Falls. His early interests included music, astronomy, electronics and mechanics. He earned degrees in music and education from Whitman College in Walla Walla. While attending Whitman, he met Karen Bergstrom of Yakima, and they … 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

Gebert, Laura Mrs. – Obituary

Haines, Oregon Laura Gebert, 82, of Haines died June 22, 2002, at her home. Her graveside funeral will be at 11 a.m. Sunday at Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland. Laura Bell Bennett Gebert was born on Jan. 7, 1920, at Green Creek, Polk County, N.C. She was a daughter of Willard Bennett and Kitty Mae Higgins. At the age of 14, she left North Carolina with her husband, Charles Willis, and they traveled by Model T to Oregon, camping along the way. She lived at La Grande and Pondosa for a short period and then walked with a small baby, … Read more

Belden, Helena Jane – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Helena Belden Dies at Age of 78 Helena Jane Belden, 78, for many years a resident of Union county, died Sunday, in her home, 2403 North Depot street, after a short illness. She was born October 12, 1886, in LaFayette, Yamhill County. Survivors include one son, Charles Fredrick Belden of La Grande, one foster daughter, Mrs. Helen Sandoz of Portland and other relatives. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday in the Snodgrass funeral Home with Rev. Floyd White officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic cemetery beside her husband who died … Read more

Cussins, George Oscar – Obituary

George (Dock) Cussins Passes at LaGrande George Oscar (Dock) Cussins, for 53 years a resident of Wallowa county, died at the Grande Ronde hospital yesterday morning as the result of a heart ailment which had followed a siege of bronchial pneumonia suffered by Mr. Cussins last winter. Last Thursday Mr. Cussins was taken to the hospital by his nephew, Roy Gastin, and his condition gradually grew worse until the end came. No funeral arrangements had been made late yesterday, pending the arrival of a sister and brothers. Mr. Cussins was born in Beatrice, Neb., in September, 1870, and when a … Read more

Conley, Isabel Frances – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Isabel Frances Conley, 62, died June 10 at Grande Ronde Hospital following a brief illness. A Cove resident, she had been a teacher there and in Wallowa County. She was born Nov. 14, 1910 at Aumsville, the daughter of Edward and Katherine Heger. The family later settled in Joseph. Mrs. Conley graduated from Eastern Oregon College in 1930, and taught school in Wallowa County for about 10 years. She married Merrell F. Conley of Cove in 1940, and lived on the Conley ranch ever since. Mrs. Conley was a member of Our Lady of the Valley … Read more

Biographical Sketch of E. P. McDaniel

E.P. MCDANIEL. – E.P. McDaniel, the junior partner of Cowles and McDaniel, was born in Missouri in 1839, and was raised on his father’s farm. In 1856 he emigrated to Kansas, where he engaged in farming and trading. In 1861 he crossed the plains to Portland, Oregon, and engaged in work at his trade of carpenter. In 1863 he came to Grande Ronde valley, and was engaged in packing, clerking and in the livery business. July 4th, 1865, he was married to Miss Fanny Cowles, and the next spring joined her uncle in conducting the farm, upon which they planted … Read more

McCumber, Arkley ‘Mac’ – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Arkley B. “Mac” McCumber, 73, of Cove died Friday morning at his home. He was born May 19, 1914 at Milton to Robert and Millie (Brown) McCumber. McCumber attended school at The Forks, east of Miltonand worked briefly as a ranch hand in Sparta. In 1935, he moved to Juntura where he did reach work. Se served three years in World War II. In October 1945, he married Vivian Robertson. She died earlier. He went to work for the Oregon State Highway Division at Juntura in 1946 and retired as a foreman on June 1, 1976. … Read more

Parmele, Beatrice L. – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Beatrice “Bea” L. Parmele, 82, of Cove, died July 29 at Grande Ronde Hospital. There will be no service as per Bea’s request. Bea was born March 29, 1925, to Bernice and Dora Cooper in Portland. She married Donald Parmele Aug. 20, 1945, in Portland. She was a homemaker who enjoyed her family, gardening and numerous pets including her current cat, Scamper. She also lived in Boring. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Dan and Kris Parmele of Boring, Jerry and Jana Parmele of Cove and Joanne and Randy Crutcher of Baker City; eight grandchildren, … Read more

Fordice, Kenneth L. – Obituary

Kenneth L. Fordice, 71, a former resident of North Powder and Cove, died Dec. 16, 2006, at Winston. His graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the North Powder Cemetery. Visitations will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., in La Grande. He was born on Aug. 28, 1935, at Enterprise to Willard and Lela Gray Fordice. He grew up on a ranch near Flora on the breaks of the Grande Ronde River and later moved with his family to North Powder where he attended school. He married … Read more

Fine, Abraham – Obituary

Abraham Fine, an aged pioneer resident of Elgin, died quite suddenly at his home in this city, shortly before nine o’clock Sunday evening. Mr. Fine had not been feeling very robust for some time although he was feeling as well as usual on the date of his death, and had been out on Gorden creek visiting that day. Shortly after returning home he began to feel badly and Dr. Brownell was sent for, but before he reached his patient he was beyond human aid. Deceased was born in Warren County, Mo., Sept. 6th, 1829, and came to Oregon in 1874. … Read more

Levy, Babette – Obituary

Union Pioneer Has Passed On Union, July 19.- Mrs. Babette Levy, one of Union county’s pioneers passed on at her home last evening at the close of an extended illness. Mrs. Levy has been a resident of Union for many years and her death comes as a sad shock to her host of friends. Taken from La Grande Observer – July 19, 1922 pg 1 Contrubuted by: Diane Levy Salmon

Crader, Miscal Mary “Mickey” Murchison Mrs. – Obituary

Miscal Mary “Mickey” Crader, 80, a former La Grande resident, died Nov. 24, 2001, at Salt Lake City. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. Committal and interment will be at the Summerville Cemetery. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. The family will be present to receive friends. “Mickey” was born on Feb. 27, 1921, at Summerville to Daniel and Mary Murchison. She was loved by all her family and friends and will be dearly missed. Survivors include three … 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