Wallowa County OR

Rich, Fred (Mary) Goebel Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. Fred Rich, resident of Wallowa for the last 48 years, passed away Friday morning (May 29, 1936) following a lingering illness. While the end came somewhat suddenly, she had been in failing health for more than a year and her recovery had long been despaired of. Funeral services were held from the home Sunday afternoon at 3:30, with a large number of friends and relatives paying their final tribute and a mass of flowers testifying to their esteem. The services were conducted by Rev. C. N. Trout of Enterprise. Mrs. Rich’s maiden name was Mary Goebel. She was born … Read more

Watson, LaVeda Ruth – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon LaVeda Ruth Watson, 73, of Joseph died March 8 at her home. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday March 15 at the Enterprise Nazarene Church. Mrs. Watson was born Sept. 15, 1931, to Henry and Ruby Carper in Wallowa. She worked as a licensed practical nurse at Wallowa Memorial Hospital and retired in 1981 when she married Ralph Watson. She was active in her church and participated in the senior meals. She enjoyed playing cards, picking mushrooms, picture puzzles and crossword puzzles. Survivors include a daughter, Donna Butterfield; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a brother, Towell … Read more

Coyle, Roy A. – Obituary

Funeral serviced for Roy A. Coyle, Sr., 82, of 2022 Resort St., longtime Baker and Baker county resident will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, February 25 at Grays West and Co. Pioneer Chapel. The Rev. Gerald C. Nelson of the United Methodist Church in Baker will officiate. Vault interment will follow in the family plot at Mt. Hope Cemetery with the Baker Veterans Organizations conducting graveside honors. Mr. Coyle died suddenly at his home early Thursday afternoon. He was born in Flora, Oregon the son of Howard and Estella Cannon Coyle. He had his schooling in Elk City, Idaho, … Read more

Coverdale, Zadock – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Zadock Coverdale, a pioneer of Upper Prairie Creek, this county, but of late a resident of Milton, Oregon, died December 15th at the advanced age of 83 years. Chieftain, Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon, January 4, 1912 Contributed by Pat Higley

Ferguson, William B. – Obituary

Funeral services for William (Bill) Ferguson, age 71, well known Enterprise and Baker, Ore., business man were conducted Friday, Feb. 27, in Gray’s West and Company Pioneer Chapel. The Rev. Richard K. Toll of St. Stephens Episcopal Church officiated. Burial followed in the family plot in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mr. Ferguson died Wednesday, Feb. 24, at his home after an extended illness. He was born Oct. 12, 1904, in Corning, Kansas, the son of George and Mattie Mae Casey Ferguson. He had his schooling in Broken Bow and was married to Isla Pearl Williams, May 2, 1925, in Grande Island, … Read more

Wright, Gail Richard – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Gail Richard Wright, of Enterprise, passed away at his home, September 2, 1984. Mr. Wright was the son of Carol and Zelma M. Wright, born Nov. 15, 1915. He was a ranch hand, sheepherder and packer by trade, and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and B.P.O.E. In his lifetime, Wright packed for the Geodetic survey in Oregon and Idaho, and herded sheep for Bud Wilson, Kenneth Johnson, Bud Harshfield, Bill Beaudoin, and Doria Audit. He also herded for sheepmen in south Idaho before retiring to make his home with Betty and … Read more

Buhler, Donald Franz – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Donald Franz Buhler Funeral services for local ranch owner Don Buhler, 88, who died Monday, March 19, 2007, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at Joseph United Methodist Church. A reception will follow at 1 p.m. at the Buhler Ranch at the foot of Mount Joseph near Joseph will follow. A full obituary will be published next week. Wallowa County Chieftain – March 22, 2007 Contributed By: Sue Wells Second Obit. Donald Franz Buhler, real estate developer and local rancher, died in Portland on March 19, 2007, at the age of 88. During his final … Read more

Skaggs, Henry T. – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Henry T. Skaggs was born in Indiana, Sept. 13, 1848, and died at his home in Enterprise on Dec. 25, 1920, aged 72 years, 3 months and 7 days. When a young man he moved to Missouri, and soon afterward to Madison, Kansas, where on Sept. 18, 1881, he was married to Miss Effie Martin. About 31 years ago Mr. and Mrs. Skaggs moved to Dayton, Washington, and 28 years ago they moved to Wallowa county, locating near Flora. A year ago last October they moved to Enterprise. He leaves a wife, Mrs. Effie Skaggs, one daughter, Mrs. … Read more

Denney, William L. – Obituary

William L. “Bill” Denney, 63, of Champaign, Ill., and formerly of Wallowa County, died Aug. 13 after a long battle with pancreal cancer. Bramley Funeral Home in Champaign is in charge of arrangements. A funeral was held Aug. 18 in Divernon, Ill., with burial in Pawnee, Ill., at Calvary Cemetery. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Sept. 5 at Northside Baptist Church in Vancouver, Wash. A reception and visitation will follow. Bill was born Dec. 14, 1944, to Clifford R. and Mary (Betz) Denney in Spokane. He moved to Oregon in 1948 to the lower Imnaha area. He … Read more

Childers, Howard – Obituary

Howard Childers Dies At Kennewick Howard Boone Childers, a native of Lostine and son of the late B. F. and Maude Childers, passed away at his home in Kennewick, Wash., on Monday, May 8, 1967. Funeral services were held yesterday (Wednesday) at 10:30 a.m. at the Desert Memorial Chapel in Kennewick. He was a retired forest service employee, and at one time worked for the Walla Walla ranger district of the Umatilla National Forest and resided in College Place. He is survived by a son, Howard J., assistant superintendent of schools in Kennewick, a daughter, Mrs. Gay Tracy of Hermiston, … Read more

Childers, Claire B. – Obituary

Lostine, Oregon CHILDERS – Claire B. Childers of Vida, Oregon died October 13, 1962. He was born June 12, 1905 in Lostine, Oregon. He had been a resident of this community for the past 22 years. He was owner and operator of Claire’s Barber Shop, 942 Oak Street. He was a member of the Eugene Elks Lodge Number 357. Survived by this wife, Leona; 1 daughter, Geraldeen Mobley of Los Angeles; 1 brother, Cecil of Joseph, Oregon; 3 sisters; Vera Pearson of Portland, Maxine Schumaker of Kelso, Washington and Verda Davis of Emmett, Idaho. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, … Read more

Fisher, David Cyrus – Obituary

Pioneer Who Crossed The Plains in 1859 Dies At Ontario  David Cyrus Fisher, resident of Oregon since 1862, died at Ontario, April 17, aged 75 years. Mr. Fisher was a native of Illinois and crossed Hate plains in 1859 to California, coming from that state to Oregon in 1862. He first settled in the Willamette Valley, later moving to the Grande Ronde Valley, where he passed the later years of his life. Mr. Fisher is survived by nine children; Hiram Fisher and Harvey Fisher of Wallowa; Mrs. Phemina Forman of Bidwell, Cal; Mrs. Mattie Henely, Portland; Mrs. Mary McKennon, Otis … Read more

Couch, Iris Faye – Obituary

Wallowa, Oregon Iris Faye “Bobbie” Skaggs Couch, 90, died Dec. 4, 2007, in La Grande. She was born Dec. 7, 1916, at Lenore, Idaho, to Charles and Ethel Skaggs. A 1935 graduate of Enterprise High School, she and David T. Couch were married Sept. 19, 1937, in Enterprise. They made their home in Wallowa on Holmes Street. While her husband served in World War II, she ran the family insurance and real estate business in Wallowa. After his return, she continued working. He died in March 1955. As Mrs. Couch continued running the business, she took over the position of … Read more

Biography of Sabe Choate

SABE CHOATE. – A man who had the ability, force of character and perseverance to master two distinct lines of industry as has the subject of this sketch, besides being able to handle successfully the same with added lines of enterprise and to bring prosperity out of it all is surely deserving of the approbation of his fellows, which it is right to say Mr. Choate has received in no unstinted measure, being at the present time one of the substantial and highly respected citizens of Union county. In Fenders county, Tennessee, on April 13, 1825, our subject was born … Read more

Reagan, Martha Jane Mrs. – Obituary

Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon Mrs. Martha Jane Reagan, age 76 years, died at her home in Wallowa, Saturday evening. She was buried Monday in the Lower Valley cemetery, Rev. Jasper Bogue officiated. Mrs. Reagan had lived in Wallowa and vicinity for 37 years. In August she fell and hurt herself and was confined to her bed until death. Wallowa County Reporter Thursday November 28, 1918.

Bradley, Jack – Obituary

Poison Is Fatal To Jack Bradley Well Known Wag and Joker Dies At Joseph—–No Relatives Found Jack Bradley died last Friday night in the Sheets hotel at Joseph, after taking laudanum. He had been drinking heavily a day or so and was taken to the hotel by the authorities. A four-ounce bottle labeled laudanum was found after his death. Burial was in the Prairie creek cemetery on Monday. J.T. Reach, the Joseph undertaker, telephoned and telegraphed to a number of cities in the west, trying to locate a brother reported to be somewhere in this part of the country. His … Read more

Botts, Bernard L. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa county, Oregon Bernard L. Botts a retired farmer and a native of Wallowa County passed away at his home in Lewiston, Orchards Sunday Nov. 6, 1955 at 2:10 p.m. a victim of heart ailment. Son of Bernard B. and Eliza Botts, he was born January 17, 1890 in Flora where he lived until moving to Lewiston in 1951. On June 22, 1917 he was married in Enterprise to Miss Neva Garrett who survives him. Besides his wife he is survived by three sons Bradford, Ashland Oregon, Brady, Enterprise and Delmer, Callahan Calif.; four brothers Otho, Seattle and Fred … Read more

Barton, I. W. – Obituary

Pioneer of 1880 dies at Wallowa Courtesy of Wallowa Sun Another Wallowa county pioneer I.W. Barton, was claimed by death, at Wallowa, June 22, 1928. Mr. Barton was born in Howell county, Missouri, June 13, 1843, being at the time of his demise, 86 years and 9 days of age. Mr. Barton was brought up in Arkansas, married in Illinois and came to Wallowa in 1880. He located a homestead about a mile north of Wallowa, his log claimholder being upon the spot where the Jack Johnson house now stands, between the bridges of Bear Creek and Wallowa river. In … Read more

Reece, William J. – Obituary

William J. Reece died Tuesday evening, Feb. 11, 1936, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E.H. Bonner, at Weiser, Idaho. He had been there only a few days, as his son, Floyd, had taken him there last week from Yakima, Wash., where he had been for some time with another daughter, Mrs. Willard Phillips. Funeral services will be held at the Christian church, Enterprise, tomorrow, Friday, at 2 p.m. and burial will be in the Enterprise cemetery. C.L. Booth has driven to Weiser for the body accompanied by Emerson and Floyd Reece. Mr. Reece was born in Logan county, … Read more

McComas, E. S. – Obituary

One of the largest funerals in the history of the town of Union marked the obsequies of the pioneer editor and politician, E. S. McComas. The funeral was held at Union, Wednesday afternoon, September 6 at 3 o’clock, and was attended by a great gathering of pioneers. The body was laid to rest beside his mother, brother, and son. The deceased leaves a widow, one daughter, an adopted son and three sisters, Mrs. Alice M. Bell of Enterprise, Mrs. Esther E. Pursel and Mrs. Mary R. Thomson of Union. Mrs. Bell received word of her brother’s extermity Saturday afternoon and … Read more