Union County OR

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

Allen, Joe – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Joe Allen Dead In Train Wreck Enterprise Man Killed at La Grande on way to Market with Stock Joe Allen, well known at his home in Enterprise and elsewhere in Wallowa county, was killed in the railroad yards at La Grande last Saturday evening. He was on his way to Portland with a car of hogs. The body was brought back to Enterprise on Monday and the funeral, conducted by the Odd Fellows lodge, was held Tuesday morning. Burial was in the Enterprise cemetery. Mr. Allen left Enterprise Saturday morning on the same train which George … Read more

Steel, R. M. – Obituary

Expired at His Michigan Home at 10 O’clock Tuesday Morning A telegram announcing the death of Robert M. Steel at his house in St. Johns, Michgan, at 10 o’clock that forenoon, was received by William Steel, brother of the deceased at Hilgard Tuesday. Although Mr. Steel’s death was not unexpected, the news of his demise is a shock to his many friends in this section, and during the day a number of telegrams of condolence was forwarded to Mrs. Steel. R.M. Steel is well known throughout Eastern Oregon where he has been interested in many extensive busines enterprises during the … 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

Allen, Dolores May – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Dolores May Allen, 80, of La Grande, died in her sleep Nov. 9 of cancer. A viewing will begin at 9 a.m. and a slide show celebration will begin at 10 Saturday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Private burial will follow. Dolores was born Dec. 25, 1926, to C. Eugene (Smiley) Gibson and Nora Duckett Gibson in La Grande. A lifelong resident of La Grande, Dolores attended Eastern Oregon College. Those who knew her say she enjoyed an enduring tradition of love and learning with her family. She lived at Wildflower Lodge for a while. She is survived … Read more

Biography of Charles L. Blakeslee

CHARLES L. BLAKESLEE. – A man of energy, sagacity, and keen foresight. Mr. Blakeslee is today one of the well-known pioneers, whose labors have opened this vast and fertile region for the settlement of his fellows, and, he has gained distinction not only on account of this work but also through his enterprising endeavors in operations in the industrial world here as well as in the ranks of educators that laid the foundations deep and wide for the advancement of the new found land for the training of those that should follow. In 1827, in New York, Charles L. was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Marshall C. Davis

Before Wallowa county had a separate political existence the subject of this sketch was in this section, redeeming from the savage and the unbroken wilds of nature the country and laboring for the development of the same, and constantly he has so demeaned himself that the confidence of all who know him is freely given him, while his characteristic qualities of uprightness, integrity and excellent capabilities for the business affairs of life have been displayed, and he justly stands today in the prominent place that he occupies and enjoys the prestige that his worthy career has gained. In Hancock County, … Read more

Crawford, June M. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon June M. Gerry Crawford, 86, of La Grande, died June 11 at her home. A celebration of life service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center. A full obituary will be available later. La Grande Observer – June 12, 2008 ________________________________________ June M. Gerry-Crawford, 86, of La Grande, died peacefully June 11 at her home after a long illness. A celebration of life service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center with Doug Edmonds, minister of the La Grande Church of Christ, officiating. … Read more

Collier, Ruth Marie Fisher Mrs. – Obituary

Ruth Marie Collier, 77, died June 5, 2003, at La Grande. Her graveside funeral was at 2 p.m. today at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Ruth was born in Halfway on Feb. 6, 1926, to A.N. and Gladys Rosella Sturgell Fisher. She was one of six children. She attended school at Halfway, all except the last two years of high school when she went to school at Corvallis. She graduated from high school at La Grande. After graduation, she met and married Rulen Collier. Together they had two children, Jeff and Bethel. During their time in Halfway, they owned and … Read more

Harris, Emeline Mrs. – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon Mrs. Emeline Harris, an aged resident of this city, was found dead in bed at an early hour Tuesday morning, by her son, George with whom she lived. She had gone to bed the evening before feeling as well as usual and when her son went to call her for breakfast he discovered that she had passed away during the night. Deceased would have been 83 years old next October, having been born in Ash County, North Carolina, October 29th, 1820. She came to Oregon from Mo about 15 years ago and resided in Elgin for … Read more

Erwin, Hugh Gerald – Obituary

Union, Oregon Hugh Gerald Erwin, 95 of Union died June 21 at Grande Ronde Hospital. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Monday June 26 at the Union United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the Union Cemetery. Mr. Erwin was born Oct. 25, 1910, to Hugh and Bertie Largent Erwin in Adrian, Mo. He worked on ranches in Pendleton, Summerville and North Powder, and graduated from Powder Valley High School in 1929. On Sept. 26, 1936, he married Fern Baxter in La Grande. The couple lived in Union for many years, and he worked for the Oregon Highway Department … Read more

Haggerty, Arthur – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Last Rites Held For Art Haggerty. Memorial services were held from the Booth-Bollman Funeral chapel Monday, February 11 at 3:00 p.m., for Arthur C. Haggerty, who passed away at the Wallowa Memorial Hospital Thursday, February 7, following an illness of short duration. Rev. John Munsey officiated with Mrs. George Swanson of Wallowa singing “In The Garden” and “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere”. Mrs. Garnet Best was at the organist. Pall bearers were: Fred Wagner, Ervan Witty, Ed Long, W.M. White, Wayne Reece and Claude Rennie. Vault internment was in the Enterprise cemetery. Arthur C. Haggerty was born … Read more

Conley, William ‘Tuck’ – Obituary

William “Tuck” Conley, 75, county maintenance employe of 2707 N. Fourth St., died Wednesday at Grande Ronde hospital. Services will be at Daniels Funeral Home, Saturday at 2 p.m. Rev. Danny Pyles will officiate and burial will be in Island City Cemetery. Mr. Conley was born in the Sand Ridge area of Union County and was a lifetime resident of the area. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Claudia Conley of La Grande; two brothers, Burl Conley of Cove and Jay Conley of La Grande; one sister, Mrs. Stella Grimmett of La Grande, and other relatives. Observer La Grande, Oregon Thursday, … Read more

Wilberg, Charles E. – Obituary

Died at Elgin Charles E. Wilberg, residing at Portland, died at Elgin on last Sunday. He was in the employ of the O.R.& N. Co. surveying party and was taken sick one week ago to-day. He was taken to Elgin for medical aid as soon as his condition was known but after lingering for two days, died Sunday afternoon. The causes of his death is thought ot have been on account of drinking water found in the vicinity of the surveying camp. The body of the young man was sent to Portland and the funeral took place yesterday. Eastern Oregon … Read more

Laird, Warren C. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Warren C. “Jiggs” Laird, 77, La Grande, died Thursday, Nov. 7, 1991, at his home. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Daniels Valley Funeral Chapel under the direction of La Grande Masonic Lodge No. 41. Mr. Laird was born on Dec. 22, 1913, in Fairfield, Idaho, to Lewis and Luella (Hartman) Laird. His family moved to Cove from Fairfield in 1917. IN 1933 he graduated from Cove High School. He married Reba Gray on Sept. 13, 1933, in Walla Walla. He was the distributor for the Phillips 66 Petroleum Company. … Read more

Melton, Charles T. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Charles T. Melton, 73, of Union died May 24 at his home. Mr. Melton was born Dec. 29, 1932, to Frank and Rose Klepzig Melton in Dixon, Mo. He was a farmer, and married his wife, Deloris, on Nov. 12, 1960, in Reno, Nev. Survivors include children, Mindy Melton of Union, Marcia Wisdom of La Grande, Donna Melton of Seattle and Teresa Melton of Stoneville, N.C. Loveland Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements. The Observer Online, Obituaries for the week ending June 10, 2006, Published June 8, 2006

Hammack, Emily Elestia – Obituary

Wallowa-Funeral rites were held here Saturday at the Christian Church for Mrs. E. Gastin. Mrs. Emily Elestia Hammack, Womack, Gastin was born April 12, 1871 at La Grande, Or. and came with her parents to Wallowa County when a small girl. The family settled near Lostine where she grew to womanhood. She was married to T. M. Gastin at Lostine, about 42 years ago. Following the death of her husband Jacob Clairborne Womack a number of years ago ( 1904), Mrs. Gastin had made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Eugene Johnson of Middle Valley. she is survived by four … Read more

Gray, George Grant – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon George Gray Is Called Beyond Grim Death Angel Takes Another of County’s Respected Pioneers Death took another of Union county’s respected pioneers yesterday when George Grant Gray died at his residence in Lower Cove at 2:15 o’clock in the afternoon. Burial will be at the Summerville cemetery tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. The body will be at the residence from Monday evening until 1:30 p. m. Tuesday at which time it will be taken to Summerville where funeral services will be held. Mr. Gray was born in Granger County, Tennessee, April 10, 1840 er’s family, in 1853, … Read more

Schlegel, Willard “Willie” – Obituary

Willard “Willie” Schlegel, 82, a former Elgin resident, died June 26, 2003, at Emmett Rehab & Healthcare in Emmett, Idaho. The family invites all of Willie’s friends to join them in a memorial celebration of his life on Saturday, July 26, at 2 p.m. at the Stampede hall on the rodeo grounds in Elgin. The oldest son of Velma and William “Bill” Schlegel, Willie was born March 12, 1921, in Whitefish, Mont. He attended school in Whitefish, where he excelled in sports. In high school he was a member of the all-star team in both football and basketball. After graduation, … Read more