Union County OR

Spencer, Gerald Elroy – Obituary

Gerald Elroy Spencer, 97, of Los Osos, died Monday July 27, 1998, at his home. A memorial service will be held in the middle of August at Trinity Methodist Church in Los Osos. Mr. Spencer was born in his grandmother’s log house in La Grande, Ore., on Dec. 31, 1901. His mother died when he was 3 years old and his mother’s sister cared for him until his father remarried. During high school he played the trumpet and saxophone in the high school band. He kept up with his music while he was attending Oregon State University, not only in … Read more

McFerran, Maiva Joseline (Gray) – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Maiva Joseline McFerran, 72, of La Grande died Monday, June 14, 1993, at Grande Ronde Hospital. A private family memorial will be held later. Mrs. McFerran was born Jan. 12, 1921, to Joseph and Verda (Ohms) Gray on Lower Cove Road in Alicel. She attended grade school at Lower Cove and later La Grande High School. After graduating with the class of 1938, she attended Beauty College. She worked as a clerk in various grocery stores in La Grande and spent the longest time at Sinden’s Grocery (now Wayne’s Market). In 1975 she married William … Read more

Smith, Lois L. Arnold Mrs. – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon Lois L. Smith, 77, Rt.1 North Powder, died Monday at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home following an extended illness. She was a lifetime Oregonian. Funeral is Thursday at 10 a.m. at Gray’s West and Co. Pioneer Chapel, with the Rev. James Shaver of the Fist Christian Church officiating. Vault interment will follow in the family plot at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Smith was born January 3, 1900 in Lostine to William and Lucinda Graham Arnold. She grew up in Elgin, graduated from Elgin High School and was a life member of the Elgin Alumni group. Mrs. … Read more

Taylor, Nancy Ann Haman Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Nancy Ann Taylor, 58, of La Grande, died Jan. 30, 2001, at a La Grande care facility. A memorial service will be scheduled later. The Daniels Chapel of the Valley in La Grande is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Taylor was born on March 14, 1942, at Lebanon to Alvin and Inez Kaufman Haman. She lived most of her life in Portland before moving to Pendleton where she worked for the Eastern Oregon Hospital and Training Center. She married William Taylor in Boise on April 2, 1981. She enjoyed taking care of the elderly and the handicapped … Read more

Jewell, Jessee – Obituary

In Memorium In memory of Jesse Jewell who died at Cove Oregon, April 25, 1894, age 53 years and 16 days. Mr. Jewell was borne in Buttler county, Ohio, April 9, 1841, came to Illinois with his father, in the year ’59, residing there until the war 1861. He enlisted, at the age of 23, serving three years, then re-enlisting and serving until the close of the war, 1865. He then married Miss Sarah Hetchler, September 21?, 1865, at Lincoln, Ill., uniting with the Methodist church at that place living there 11 years. He came to Cove, Oregon, 1876, where … Read more

Reese, G. H. – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon At the Cove, Union county, Oregon, Sept. 19th., G.H. Reese, aged 58 years. Mr. Reese has been suffering for about six weeks with a complication of diseases which finally proved fatal, altho the best medical attendance was procured that could be had. Mr. Reese first located in Grande Ronde valley in 1857 and shortly afterward removed to the Willamette valley, returning again to this valley in 1871, and has resided in the Wallowa valley ever since. A few weeks ago he started for Northern California for the purpose of benefitting his health but was taken sick … Read more

Biography of John A. Wagner

JOHN A. WAGNER. Deceased- In the person of the esteemed gentleman whose name is at the head of this article we have one of the first of Union county’s settlers and a man who bore the brunt of assisting to open upthis section for the settlement of man and in developing the same, while he was ever enterprising and progressive, both in his private business operations as well as in the interests of the welfare of the county at large, and it is eminently fitting that a memorial be accorded to him in these abiding chronicles of our county, where … Read more

Reynolds, M. M. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon M. M. Reynolds Passes Away Has Been Ill For The Past Several Months Was One of Early Pioneers of This County, Coming Here in 1876, Retired 15 Years Ago Merritt M. Reynolds, one of the early settlers in Grande Ronde valley, passed away last evening at his home, 1607 Adams avenue, following an extended illness lasting for the past year. Born in Chautauqua county, New York, Mr. Reynolds later went to Indiana with his family and then later to Des Moines, Iowa. On February 8, 1861, he was married to Miss Mary A. Wheeler. To … Read more

McDonald, John Sr. – Obituary

Death of Another Pioneer John McDonald Sr. John McDonald, Sr., of the Sandridge was found dead in his barn last Thursday. The cause of his death was heart failure. Deceased was 82 years of age. He came to Union county in 1863 and had always been quite prominent in the affairs of the county, having at one time held the office of county commissioner. Deceased was interred in the Summerville cemetery Saturday. He leaves a wife and seven children to mourn his loss, among them being John and Hector, two prominent citizens of Wallowa county. Elgin Recorder Friday November 27, … Read more

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

Hecht, Jean – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Jean Hecht, 86, of Wilsonville and formerly of La Grande died April 11. Mrs. Hecht was born April 20, 1920, to Drs. Joseph and Margaret Ingle in La Grande. She graduated from La Grande High School and earned bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Oregon where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. She earned a pilot’s license and taught high school in Vale and Corvallis. She served in the Navy and was stationed in Lakehurst, N.J., where she married Irwin Hecht. The couple moved to Portland nine years ago to be closer to … Read more

Pumphrey, Niola H. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Niola H. Pumphrey, 85, of Pendleton and formerly of Union, died May 24 at The Odd Fellows Home in Walla Walla. Funeral services begin at 10 a.m. Monday in the First United Methodist Church, 352 SE Second St. in Pendleton. She will be buried in the West Lawn Cemetery in Gering, Neb. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements. Niola Pumphrey was born May 28, 1922, to Hollis L. and Carrie M. (Knapp) Chapman in Spencer, Neb. She spent two preschool years in Florida with her parents. She started grade school in Nebraska and spent several … Read more

Hinzpeter, Norbert O. – Obituary

Norbert ‘Nibs’ O. Hinzpeter Formerly of La Grande 1919-2009 Norbert “Nibs” Otto Hinzpeter, 89, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande, died of a heart attack Oct. 22 at St. Elizabeth Health Services in Baker City. A celebration of his life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Community Connection/Baker Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St. in Baker City. Pastor Sally Wiens of the Haines United Methodist Church will officiate. Friends and family are invited to have a light meal at Community Connection following the service. Nibs was born Dec. 7, 1919, to William and Ida (Harris) Hinzpeter in St. … Read more

Grosbeck, Stephen – Obituary

Stephen Grosbeck, owner of the Stoop ranch, died Monday night. He had been very poorly for some time. He leaves a large family of children, part of them reside in Imbler and the rest in Springville, Utah. Elgin Recorder Friday January 29, 1904

Wilkinson, Lydia – Obituary

Lydia Wilkinson, wife of Thomas Wilkinson, of High Valley, died Sunday night last of diabetes, and the fruneral took place at noon Tuesday, with services at the cemetery in Union. Mrs. Wilkinson was 56 years, 11 months and 26 days of age, and had been in a feeble state of health for some time. Lydia Rundall was born near Nebraska City, Neb., January 17, 1861. At the time of her death she was 56 years, 11 months and 26 days of age. Her early childhood was spent in the States of Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas. In 1876 she crossed the … Read more

Buchanan, Gary J. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Gary J. Buchanan, 34, formerly of La Grande, died Sunday in Hermiston. Mr. Buchanan was born Sept. 25, 1953, to Harry and Laneta (Gray) Buchanan of La Grande. He lived in La Grande until moving to Echo last summer to work on the Mosgrove Ranch. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 259 of La Grande. He is survived by sons, Gary Dean and Jason, both of Ontario; brothers, Terry Ray Buchanan of Chatteroy, Wash., and Jack Thomas Buchanan of Seattle; sister Carol Kay Baycroft of Spokane; grandmother, Verda Gray … Read more

Burleigh, Sylvester Howard – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First United Presbyterian Church for Sylvester Howard Burleigh, 75, of 508 Spring Ave., La Grande. The Rev. James Jones will officiate. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery. Burleigh, a lawyer with the firm Burleigh, Carey & Gooding, died at a local hospital Sunday after an extended illness. He will lie in state from 5 to 9 p.m. tonight at the Dempsey Funeral Chapel. Born in Enterprise Sept. 15, 1895, Burleigh has been a resident of Union County for 40 years. He was a member … 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

Wagner, Ethel L. – Obituary

Ethel Loretta Donohue Wagner, died Wednesday at her La Grande home. She was 69. Mrs. Wagner was born Dec. 12, 1913 in La Grande, the daughter of Edward and Florence (McLachlen) Donohue. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1930 and married Marion Wagner on Nov. 2, 1935 in La Grande. Mrs. Wagner was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Alter Society. She was a president and bookkeeper for the H. L. Wagner and Sons Seed Co. of Imbler. Survivors include sons, Howard Wagner, Moses Lake, Wash., Dale Wagner of Imbler, and Ted … Read more

Levy, Lillie Miss – Obituary

Miss Lillie Levy’s Death The city was cast in a gloom Monday morning by the sudden announcement of the death of Miss Lillie Levy. Lillie was highly esteemed by all who know her and will be sadly missed by our people whose sympathies are with the relatives in their very sad bereavement. The remains were taken to Portland Monday night for burial accompanied by Mr. Leon Levy and Mr. D. Sommner. Eastern Oregon Republican Wednesday, September 25, 1894