Union County OR

Huffman, Donald Wayne – Obituary

Union, Oregon Donald Wayne Huffman, 73, of Union died Aug. 10 at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Boise. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 14 at the Union United Methodist Church. Burial at the Union Cemetery will be followed by a reception at the United Methodist Church. Mr. Huffman was born March 25, 1933, in Pyles Canyon. He attended school in Tolecaset until the eight grade. Don later graduated with the Union High School class of 1951. After high school, Don enlisted in the United States Army and after his honorable discharge he returned to the family ranch. … Read more

O’Neil, Annie Beddes – Obituary

Annie Beddes O’Neil, 91, of Junction City and formerly of La Grande, died March 13 of age-related causes. A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at Lane Memorial Gardens in Eugene. Burial will follow. A visitation will precede from 10 a.m. to noon at Lane Memorial Funeral Home. She was born in Elgin on July 25, 1916, to Joseph and Eliza Eleanor (Ricks) Beddes and raised in the area before moving away in the early 1950s. Annie was married to Glade Hards O’Neil on June 2, 1934, in La Grande and in a temple marriage in Salt Lake … Read more

Wisdom, Frank – Obituary

September 20, died of diphtheria, at the Park, Frank, son of James Wisdom. Eastern Oregon Republican, Thursday September 25, 1890

Conley, Thalia (Lyman) Mrs. – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Burl Conley, 71, Cove, died at a local rest home Saturday, June 22. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 25 at 2 p.m. at the Daniels Valley Chapel with the Rev. Clarence Kopp officiating. Burial will follow in the Island City Cemetery. Mrs. Conley, daughter of Solon E. [and] Luella Ward Lyman, was born in Provo, Utah, January 4, 1897, and lived all except two years of her life in Union County. She was married to Burl Conley at Walla Walla, Washington, in 1937, and was a member of the Sportsmens Club in Cove. … Read more

See, Benjamin Franklin – Obituary

Hermiston, Oregon Pioneer of Union County called to final Rest. Another pioneer of the plains was called to his final rest last week when Benjamin Franklin See passed away after 89 years of sojourn here on this earth. As a youth he braved the long journey to the west coast and Oregon, with his parents to help build civilization in the Grande Ronde valley in Union County. In later years, about 1865, Mr. See freighted between Umatilla and La Grande enduring the hardships of the trail. He was a true pioneer of this vast western empire. Benjamin Franklin See was … Read more

Wright, Roderick – Obituary

Roderick Wright, 58, of Tucson, Ariz., and a former Baker City resident, died July 22, 2003. His funeral was July 26 at Desert Sunset Funeral Home at Tucson. Roderick was born Aug. 31, 1945, at Ontario to James and Opal McClellan Wright. Growing up he worked in the family bee business, producing and distributing honey. He was a 1964 graduate of Baker High School. He joined the U.S. Army and later served in the National Guard. He was a graduate of Eastern Oregon State College (now Eastern Oregon University) at La Grande. He taught and coached in the Wallowa School … Read more

Wilson, Sylvia – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Sylvia Wilson, 88, of La Grande died June 20 at a local care center. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. Monday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Mrs. Wilson was born Sept. 10, 1917, to Mathew and Christina Elizabeth McNew Nooner in Salt Lake City. She married Robert Blacker who died an automobile accident. She later married Arthur R. Wilson in Sisters. She was a member of the Church of the Open Bible and later the New Hope Church. She enjoyed embroidery, gardening, baking and playing bunko. Survivors include children, Shirley Cox and … Read more

Diaz, Amelia Garcia – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Amelia Garcia Diaz, 80, of Ontario and formerly of La Grande, died Saturday, Aug. 19. Viewing will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and a recitation of the Rosary will begin at 6 p.m. at Loveland Funeral Chapel. A Resurrection Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Hillcrest East Cemetery. Mrs. Diaz was born Sept. 29, 1925, to Rolando and Maria Gonzalez Garcia in Carrizo Springs, Texas. She married Antonio Sandoval who died earlier. Following his death she married Valdemar Diaz on Feb. 11, … Read more

Varney, Roy

Enterprise, Oregon Roy Varney, a prominent farmer of Prairie Creek, died Sunday, August 25, 1935, at Hot Lake after having been taken there for treatment following a two weeks illness. He had been in poor health for some time as a result of a serious heart disease but had carried on his usual farm work until his condition became serious two weeks before his death. It is thought that an injury he received while building a barn might have hastened his death. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at the Methodist church with Rev. G.R. Archer in charge and interment … Read more

Neely, Jean – Obituary

Formerly of La Grande 1927-2009 Jean Neely, 81, of Cottage Grove and formerly of La Grande, died Jan. 19. A memorial service was held Jan. 24 at Riverside Community Church of God in Cottage Grove. Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel in Cottage Grove is in charge of arrangements. Jean was born Feb. 12, 1927, to Roy and Myrtle Neely in Grants Pass. She graduated from Grants Pass High School and received her bachelor’s degree from University of Oregon and a master’s degree from the University of Washington. She received a doctorate of education from the University of Oregon. Jean lived in La … Read more

Walker, Clyde – Obituary

Clyde Walker’s Death Is Confirmed Mr. & Mrs. L. A. Walker Get Word From War Dept. Mr. and Mrs. L. A. WALKER received a letter from the war department recently which confirmed the death of one of their sons who had been in the service and who had been reported missing in action last summer. The letter which they received is as follows: Army Air Forces Hdq. South Pacific Wing Pacific Division Air Transport Command 1550th AAF Base Unit 15 December 1945 Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Walker, R. F. D. No. 1, La Grande Dear Mr. and Mrs. Walker, … Read more

Biography of Hoit, Mary Melvina

Mary Melvina Hoit 1842 – 1916 Biography Mary Melvina Hoit was born in Meigs County, Ohio in 1842. She was one of the two daughters. Her sister’s name was Ruthanar. We do not have the names of her parents but in scrapbook #3 in one of the letters she wrote to newspapers there is come family history. Her father moved from Meigs Co. to Quincy, Ill. In Adams County in 1844. They lived in town until the following spring when they moved to the north line of Adams County and purchased a farm from his brother-in-law, Truman Hocox. This farm … Read more

Berry, W. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon, Chas. W. Berry died Monday morning at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Berry, of pneumonia resulting from influenza. He was ill only thirteen days. He was born at Imbler and was 20 years and 6 months of age. Besides his parents he leaves 6 brothers and one sister. Two of the brothers, Claude and W. A. who live in La Grande accompanied the remains to Summerville for interment. Wallowa County Reporter, Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon, Thursday December 19, 1918.

Norris, Verna Hand Mrs. – Obituary

Verna Jean Norris, age 69, of Baker City, passed away Friday, March 22nd at St. Elizabeth Hospital. Funeral services for Mrs. Norris will be held on Wednesday, March 27th at 2:00 p.m. in the Monroe Mortuary Chapel. Mr. Blaine Kenney of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church will officiate and interment will follow in the North Powder Cemetery. Verna Norris was born June 14, 1921 to James and Nina Hand in Wolf Creek, Union County, Oregon. She was raised in the North Powder area. She married Benjamin Norris who has preceded her in death. Verna cared for her sisters children and home … Read more

Biography of Hiram W. Oliver

HIRAM W. OLIVER. – It is with pleasure that we are enabled to grant to the esteemed pioneer and capable citizen whose name is at the head of this article a representation in the history of the county of Union, where he has labored long and faithfully, both for its advancement and development and for the successful culmination of his various business enterprises, wherein he has demonstrated a consummate wisdom in handling the raw resources of the wild country and in subduing it and bringing forth the wealth that lay wrapped in its coffers of natural stores, while also he … Read more

Gunn, Royal C. – Obituary

Royal C. Gunn Sr. died Sunday at Huntington, where the family has been living the last few years, following a short illness. Funeral services were held Wednesday. Gunn was an engineer on the U. P. He leaves his widow, Mrs. Mary Gunn of Huntington; three sons, William of Portland, George in the U. S. Navy and Royal Gunn just released from the service; four daughters, Mrs. Myra Saling, Mary Gunn, just released from the Wac, Violet Cochran and Ruth Gunn, all of Huntington. The Eastern Oregon Review, December 28, 1945 Contributed by: Holly Vonderohe

Halley, Sarah C. Mrs. – Obituary

Island City, Union County, Oregon The death of Mrs. Sarah C. Halley occurred at her home in Island City Wednesday, February 8, 1905. Death was due from paralysis. The funeral services, conducted by Rev. Gillilan, were held in the Island City church Friday and were attended by a large concourse of friends. Sarah C. Halley was born at Laplata, Macon County, Mo., October 4, 1857, aged 47 years, 4 months and 8 days. She was converted at the age of 12 years and became a member of the Protestant Methodist church and led a consistent life and during her illness … Read more

Woll, Catharina A. – Obituary

Catharina Ackerman was born at Waterloo, Monroe county, Ill. She was married to Adam Woll, Nov. 24. 1881, at New Design, Ill. They lived thereon a ranch for about 12 years, after which they came to Oregon, bringing with them their four children, moving on a ranch north of Union. They lived there about thirteen years and three more children were born to them. Giving up farming they moved to town and have since then resided here. Mrs. Woll leaves a husband, three sons and four daughters, three children of whom are married, Mrs. E. Crist and Mrs. H. M. … Read more

Biography of Alex Furgason

ALEX FURGASON. – One of the earliest pioneers of Union county, and one who has been a real pioneer of the pioneers, the subject of this sketch is eminently worthy to be represented in a work of the character of our volume, since also he has always maintained a bearing of uprightness and manifested principles of truth and probity, and has wrought during all the years of his domicile here for the development of the county’s resources and for the interests of all, while he has prosecuted successfully his private business enterprises. Mr. Furgason was born in Rouse’s Point, New … Read more

Waymire, Sharon Skaggs – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Sharron Skaggs Waymire, 60, of Granger, Wash., and formerly of La Grande, died April 1 at her home after a long battle with cancer. A funeral service is planned for 1 p.m. Friday at the Smith Funeral Home in Sunnyside, Wash., with burial to follow at the Zillah Cemetery. Mrs. Waymire was born Nov. 26, 1946, to Everett and Wilma Skaggs in La Grande. She graduated from Gem State Academy in 1965 and earned a teaching certificate from Walla Walla College in 1971. On Nov. 2, 1975, she married Larry David Waymire in Granger, where the couple … Read more