Emele, B. D. – Obituary

Muddy Creek, Baker County, Oregon B. D. Emele Dies at Farm Home Position in Haines Commercial Company Filled for 29 Years Benjamin David Emele died Sunday night at his farm home in Muddy Creek after a long illness. Born February 25, 1881 at Medical Springs, Mr. Emele accepted employment with the Basche- Sage Hardware Company as a traveling salesman after finishing school and business college here. He resigned five years later to become connected with the Haines Commercial Company, where hw worked for 29 years. He resigned a year and a half ago because of ill health. He was a … Read more

See, Joseph Matterson – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Son of Pioneer is Called to Beyond Joseph ( Matterson) See, son of a Union County pioneer of 1865 and a resident of this valley all his life died at his home at 1307 Jackson this morning after a lingering illness. He was born June 4, 1875 in this county and was 54 years 5 months and 12 days of age. Funeral services will be held at the Summerville Chapel at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon. The funeral cortege will leave the Snodgrass & Zimmerman Mortuary at 1 o’clock. He leaves his widow, Mrs. Ida See; his father … Read more

Taylor, Marion Henry – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon Marion Henry Taylor, 73, a resident of North Powder, died Thursday. afternoon at St. Elizabeth hospital. Mr. Taylor was born in Baker County near Haines on April 3, 1886 to Isaac Thomas and Delilah Ann Phillips Taylor. He had lived in Baker county all of his life and had farmed for number of years three miles east of Haines. He was preceded in death by his father, his wife, Viola. and one son Alvin Taylor. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. I. T. Taylor of North Powder; four daughters, Mrs. Coena, Cutshall and Mrs. … Read more

Shoemaker, William – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon William Shoemaker Committed Suicide William Shoemaker, a farmer who resides near Cove, committed suicide at his home Monday evening by hanging himself. Following is the story given by Coroner J.C. Henry to the Observer. The cause of deceased committing suicide was due to the fact that he had purchased a valuable imported stallion for which he gave his note, but the investment did not prove to be so profitable as he thought it would be and he was brought to face the fact that would be unable to make the payment when due. On the day … Read more

Lovelace, Carolyn Rees – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Union County, Oregon Obituary Carolyn Rees Lovelace, 74, of Ontario and formerly of Cove died of cancer June 25 at the home of her daughter, Rilla Lovelace Hanger, of Monroe, Wash. Her ashes will be spread at Cove Cemetery, followed by a family celebration of life at the Cove Pool at a time and date to be announced later. Born Feb. 18, 1933, Carolyn loved animals, especially horses. She also took in young people who needed a safe place. Carolyn passed on a strong love of family connections, family members said. She was a proud fourth-generation Oregonian from … Read more

Shelton, Mack C. – Obituary

Mack C. Shelton Passes To Rest Mack C. Shelton was born in Dallas County, Iowa on February 25, 1885. He crossed the plains with his parents in 1862, coming first to Willamette valley. In 1873 he came to Union county and purchased a quarter section of land two and one-half miles northwest of Elgin in 1878. While he lived in this vicinity he was engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married to Miss DeLilah Long September 21, 1874. To this union were born eleven children and two passed away in infancy. His wife passed away July 18,1900. He then … Read more

Burford, Ida Matilda – Obituary

Union, Union County, Oregon Ida Matilda Burford, wife of William Burford, died in Union Friday of last week and the funeral took place Saturday. Mrs. Burford leaves a husband and young child. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. V. Davis, of High Valley. The immediate cause of her death was pneumonia. Ida Matilda Burford was born on October 9, 1890, at High Valley. She was the second daughter and third child of nine children of Robert and Viola Davis, and was married to William P. Burford November 20th, 1913. Of this union one child, Alvin William, was … Read more

Biography of Samuel Wade

Few men have achieved a better success in Wallowa County, than the industrious and enterprising agriculturist and stockman, whose name appears at the head of this article. Mr. Wade came to the territory now embraced in the county in an early day and with the energy, sagacity, and sound practical judgment of which he is possessed so abundantly, he assiduously set to work to develop the resources here found and to add wealth to the county’s assessment, while he prosecuted the industries above referred to. During these years that have since intervened he has steadily pursued his way and is … Read more

Van Biene, Jean Ann Mrs. – Obituary

Jean Ann van Biene, 65, a former Baker City resident, died of pancreatic cancer on June 23, 2002, at Scottsdale, Ariz. Her memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Messinger Mortuary Chapel in Scottsdale, Ariz. Jean was born in Chicopee Falls, Mass., on March 4, 1937. She graduated from Philip Schuyler High School at Albany, N.Y., and received a bachelor of arts degree in theater and sociology from Eastern Oregon University at La Grande. Jean and her husband, Frederic, and son, Steven, moved to Scottsdale, Ariz., from San Gabriel, Calif., in 1979. Jean was actively involved professionally, owning … Read more

Biography of Charles R. Patten

CHARLES R. PATTEN. – It is with pleasure that we are enabled to grant to the esteemed gentleman whose name is at the head of this paragraph a representation in this volume of Union county’s history, since he has labored faithfully here for the advancement of the county and has demeaned himself in such a commendable manner that he has won the admiration and esteem of all who are acquainted with him. Charles R. was born in Walla Walla, Washington, on December 10, 1860, being the son of William H. and Elizabeth A. (Young) Patten, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles H. Zurcher

It is ample cause for joy, that the places of the worthy pioneers who have done such a noble work in these sections, are being, as they drop out one by one and go hence to their final rewards, filled with young men of courage and ambition and ability, and whose desire is to build super structures on the foundations so well laid by these frontiersmen, that will in every way do credit to the stanch predecessors, and as the age advances will keep pace with the rapid march of civilization. The subject of this sketch is a gentleman whose … Read more

Peterson, Judy Bernice – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Judy Bernice Peterson, 61, of La Grande, died June 21 at her home. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Summerville Baptist Church. A private family burial will be held later. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Judy was born May 3, 1946. She enjoyed arts and crafts and made beautiful wreaths at Christmastime, family members said. She grew beautiful roses and took great pride in her flower garden. She also loved doting on her dog, Brady. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Larry Neill; two grandsons; … Read more

Miller, Vera I. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Vera I. Miller, 71, of Union, died July 30 at her home with her family by her side. A memorial service began today at 11 a.m. at the Union Baptist Church on Main Street in Union. Vera was born on July 12, 1936, to German immigrants who came to the United States in 1907. She grew up in Nampa, Idaho, where she graduated in 1954 from Nampa High School and then Nampa Business College as a full-charge bookkeeper. She was well respected in the business community and was a former member of the Credit Women’s Association in La … Read more