Union County OR

Dowdy, Janice “Roselle” McNair Mrs. – Obituary

Janice “Roselle” Dowdy, 64, of Irrigon, a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 5, 2001, at her home with her family at her side. A Celebration of Life Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Hermiston. Disposition was by cremation. Mrs. Dowdy was born the third of eight children on Aug. 22, 1937, in Baker City to John Joseph and Edith Maxine McNair. She attended St. Francis Academy in Baker City. In the summer of 1955, she and Adolph M. Dowdy met at a Grange dance in Haines. They were married … Read more

Hixson, Dorothy – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Dorothy Hixson, 88, of La Grande, died Oct. 1 at a local care center. A complete obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements. La Grande Observer – October 02, 2009 ________________________ Dorothy Helen Combs Hixson, 88, of La Grande, died Oct. 1. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. A viewing will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Dorothy was born Oct. 19, 1923, to Nona Iva Baum Combs and Calhoun Morey Combs in La Grande. She attended schools in … Read more

Standley, Louie E. – Obituary

Louie E. Standley, Pioneer Rancher, Dies One Week Before 71st Birthday Funeral services for one of northeast Oregon’s most prominent pioneer ranchers, Louie E. Standley, 70, life-long resident here, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Snodgrass funeral home, followed by burial in the family plot at Summerville. Born on the family ranch near Sand Ridge in 1879, Mr. Standley died in a city hospital yesterday after a long illness. He was prominently in Elks lodge activities since 1907, and his funeral will be in charge of the lodge, with Rev. Louis Samson officiating. Standley, who would have been … Read more

Blacker, Henry James – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon (Dedicated to the Memory of Our Beloved Son and Brother Henry James Blacker) Born at Scott Bar, Siskiyou County, California March 18th, 1858: Died at Union, Union Co. Oregon, January 5th, 1879: I “He is not dead-he sleeps and he shall wake- Wake to new joy, new triumph, and new power: Wake to receive his birthright and his dower. Soon will the everlasting morning break- Soon will the mists and clouds his soul forsake And There, mid leafy glad and sunny bower, Shall live each tree and bloom each sweet, bright flower. He lived on earth, … Read more

Reagan, Jason Jae – Obituary

Jason Jae Reagan, 27, of Breckenridge, Colo., and formerly of Union, died Dec. 18, 2002, of a congenital heart condition. There will be a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Union. Jason was born on Jan. 11, 1975, at Seoul, South Korea. He was a gift from God to the Reagan family the day before Thanksgiving in 1975. He graduated from Union High School in 1993, where he ran cross country for six years. After graduation he worked at Alpine Rock & Ready and the North Powder Mill until its closure. He … Read more

Irwin, Samuel H. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Samuel Hugh Irwin, 80, a retired farmer formerly of La Grande, died following an extended illness, Friday, in a Portland hospital. Funeral services will be held in the Daniels Funeral Home, Monday at 2 p.m. Bishops Vernon Bennion, Hermiston, and Henry Stoddard, Pendleton, of the LDS Church, will officiate. Burial will be in the Island City Cemetery. Mr. Irwin was born in Illinois, Oct. 22, 1879 and had been a resident of the La Grande and valley area most of his lifetime. In August of this year he went to live with his daughter in … Read more

Graham, Powell – Obituary

LaGrande, Oregon Powell Graham, 87, of La Grande died June 6 at his home. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday June 10 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Burial will be private. Mr. Graham was born April 25, 1919, to Harry and Dora Powell Graham in Milton. At the age of 16 he received his Eagle Scout Badge from Mayor La Guardia and Jimmy Durante in New York City. He earned a degree in pharmacy from Oregon State University, and owned Graham Drug. In September 1940 he married Marjalee Purdy of La Grande. He … Read more

Bittenbender, Goldie Faye Farmer Marks Mrs. – Obituary

North Powder, Oregon Goldie Faye Bittenbender, 90, of North Powder, died Nov. 15, 2001, at home from complications associated with pneumonia. She requested there be no funeral. Her family will schedule a memorial service later. She was born Goldie Farmer in Neosho, Mo., on Sept. 20, 1911. She married Lois Marks in 1931. He died in 1943 during World War II. Goldie married Al Bittenbender in 1945. Mr. Bittenbender died in 1987. Goldie said one of her favorite things was that she and Lou never missed a Saturday night dance. She also loved to tag along with Al on his … 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

Elliott, Arnold – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Arnold Elliott, 61, of Baker City, died April 22, 2002, at his home. At his request, there will be no service. Arnold was born on June 2, 1940, at Long Creek to Earl and Beulah Elliott. He lived at Pondosa in his early years and then moved to Union. He was a 1958 Union High School graduate. He served in the U.S. Army at Baumholder, Germany, from March 1959 through April 1962. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Larry and Monte. Survivors include two brothers, Doyle Elliott of Salem and Dean Elliott … Read more

Stoddard, Marion N. – Obituary

Marion N. Stoddard, 61, Hermiston, died at a hospital here Friday, Mar. 22. He was a retired Union Pacific Railroad Engineer who operated a motel in Hermiston. Services will be Tuesday, Mar. 26, 1:30 p.m. in the LDS Lower Chapel here. Bishop Norman See will officiate. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. Stoddard was born in La Grande December 9, 1906 and lived here until moving to Hermiston 13 yeas ago. He was a member of the LDS Church and of the BPOE No. 1845 in Hermiston. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Ruth Stoddard, Hermiston; one son Gerald Stoddard, Clear, … Read more

Wingerd, Claude “Shorty” – Obituary

Claude “Shorty” Wingerd, 60, a former resident of LaGrande, OR, died Friday, July 26, in West Virginia. Graveside services for “Shorty” will be held Friday, August 2 at 10:00 a.m. in the Veterans section of Mt. Hope Cemetery, Baker City. Military rites will be accorded by the Mt. Home Air Force Base Honor Guard, Mt Home, Idaho. Friends may call for visitation at Gray’s West and Co. Thursday, August 1 from 9:00 a.m. until ?p.m. Mr. Wingerd was born, February 12, 1931 at Longmont Colorado, the son of Claude and Virginia (Black) Wingerd. At a young age, with his family … Read more

Vedder, Weldon Jack – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Weldon Jack Vedder Weldon Jack Vedder, 72, of Torrance, Calif., and formerly of La Grande, died Sept. 26, 2006, of complications after vascular surgery. Mr. Vedder, known as Jack, was born Dec. 5, 1933, in La Grande. He served in the Air Force then returned to La Grande and earned an undergraduate and a master’s degree from what is now known as Eastern Oregon University. He later received a graduate degree in mathematics education from U.C. Santa Barbara. Mr. Vedder moved to Manhattan Beach, Calif., in 1964. He taught at Lennox High School in Lawndale for 12 … Read more

Biography of William Jasper Reece Jr.

William Jasper Reece Jr., youngest son of William J. (Sr..) and Hannah Reece, was born December 20, 1869 in Oran Township, Logan County, Illinois. He married Margaret Ann Cox (born December 5, 1870 in Madison Co.., Kentucky, daughter of Dillard and Mary (Cobb) Cox.) on December 20, 1891 in Atlanta, Illinois. They had twelve children: Alma Lois, Lacy D., Wilbur McKinley, Marjorie Della, Deward (Della’s twin who died at birth), Floyd Keith, Harvey Emerson, William Homer, Howard (Homer’s twin who died a few weeks after birth), Amos Miller, Mary Hannah, and Wayne Travette. W. J. and Margaret moved from Logan … Read more

Holmes, Belle Mrs. – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon One Saturday night of last week, Mrs. Belle Holmes, the young wife of Eugene Holmes, died at her residence in the Cove afeter a lingering illness. For many months Mrs. Holmes was a patient sufferer as the insidious nature of her disease, consumption, marked its fateful progress until at last the summons came and a devoted wife and loving mother passed away to the tongueless silence of dreamless dust. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon attended by many friends, and relatives of the bereaved family to whom a silent sympathy is extended in their sad … Read more

Neustel, Colleen Lyon – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Colleen Lyon Neustel, 71, of La Grande, died Jan. 7 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A graveside service is planned for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Island City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Neustel was born Sept. 12, 1935, in Promise to Gilbert and Sadie Carper Lyon. She was raised in Wallowa, graduating from Wallowa High School in 1953. She married Kendal Neustel and had four children. Mrs. Neustel lived in Wallowa and Union Counties all her life and had resided at 2102 Cove Ave. since 1969. Until poor … Read more

Limbaugh, Richard Gene – Obituary

Union, Oregon Richard Gene Limbaugh, 52, of Union died Nov. 4 at home. A funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. today at the Union Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Limbaugh was born Jan. 17, 1954, and raised in Huntington. He graduated from Huntington High School. He was No. 51 on the Huntington Locomotives’ the famous eight-man football team, taking the state title many times. He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad as an engineer from 1974 to 2002, when he took an early retirement. He enjoyed hunting, … Read more

Clemens, Gerald Raymond – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon The funeral for Gerald Raymond Clemens will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at O’Hair and Riggs Funeral Chapel, Klamath Falls. The Rev. Robert L. Larson of Ascension Lutheran Church will officiate. Internment will be in Klamath Memorial Park. Mr. Clemens, 87, of Medford, died Dec. 7, 2001, at Rogue Valley Manor in Medford. He was born Nov. 13, 1914, in Lostine, the son of Emmett H. and Sadie Jane (Hammack) Clemens. He graduated from Helix High School in 1932. His family moved to Merrill in 1933, and he worked at Ewauna Box Company until 1933. … Read more

Wade, Mary C. – Obituary

Mary C. Wade, Pioneer Lady Died Yesterday The onward march of time has claimed another of the Grande Ronde pioneers. Mary C. Wade, one of the best known pioneer ladies of this valley died yesterday afternoon at her home on Fourth street. She was the wife of Phares E. Wade, and their marriage occurred on June 18th, 1865. Her husband died in 1894. The maiden name of the deceased was Mary Catherine Myers and she was born January 18, 1845, in Scotland county, Mo., at the town of Memphis. She crossed the plains in 1864 and settled in the Grande … Read more

Choate, Virgil – Obituary

Virgil Albert Choate, 94, of La Grande died Sept. 2 at a local care center. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Burial will follow at the Summerville Cemetery. Mr. Choate was born July 7, 1910, to Thelbert A. and Mattie Hallgarth Choate on the family farm near Summerville. He attended schools in Elgin, a rural school in the lower Wallowa Valley, Summerville, Imbler and La Grande. He graduated from Imbler High School in 1930 and was one of the first 10 FFA members in Oregon to be … Read more