Wasco County OR

Gerking, Samuel – Obituary

Samuel Gerking, covered wagon pioneer of 1862, died yesterday evening at 3:50 at the family residence, 1314 Washington Street at the age of 84 years after having lived in The Dalles for about 19 years. He came here from Umatilla County. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon from Crandall’s. Interment will be in the Odd Fellows Cemetery. No announcement was made today of the minister who will officiate or of pallbearers for the services. Samuel Gerking was born in Indiana, November 24, 1844. He crossed the plains in 1862 and settled in Umatilla County. He lived … Read more

Lee, Joseph Roscoe – Obituary

Joseph Roscoe Lee, resident of Baker county 1904 to 1956, died November 14, at the family home in Forest Grove. He was born March 22, 1880 in Dallas, Oregon, where his father J.D. Lee was born in 1849. J. Roscoe attended Portland schools except enrollment in Independent Academy, The Dalles, 1888-1892, and attended Willamette U. and Capitol Business College, Salem. He was married to Myrtle Guttersen in 1914 at St. Paul, Minn. In Baker county he had a dry good store, farmed in Eagle Valley and in later years ran an insurance agency. His wife was a teacher and co-school … Read more

Maxwell, Adele – Obituary

Adele Maxwell Died at Age 95; Noted School Teacher 50 Years Adele Powell Maxwell 95, whose life was school teaching in the small communities of this Eastern Oregon region, but whose later years were on a ranch near Vale, died March 17, 1991, at the Columbia Basin home in The Dalles. Graveside service was held Thursday at Haines Cemetery, with her grandson, Rev. Dan Grady of Portland, the pastor. Her death closed a long chapter in the history of this country dating back to 1835 in the East when her father was born. But her life was Burnt River Valley … Read more

Phegley, Charles W. “Chuck”, Jr. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Charles W. “Chuck” Phegley Jr., 72, a longtime Baker City resident, died Aug. 13, 2004, at a Boise hospital. There will be a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the church. Viewing will be for family only. Disposition will be by cremation through Gray’s West & Co. Crematory. Chuck was born on April 14, 1932, at The Dalles to Charles Wesley and Leolia Pear Phegley. Graduating from … Read more

Biography of Rev. Gustavus Hines

REV. GUSTAVUS HINES. – Gustavus Hines was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 1809. On his mother’s side he was descended from the Carvets and Wilkensons of the old Massachusetts colony, and on his father’s from the Hopkinns of Rhode Island, all names of the highest respectability and even celebrity in the early history of New England. Governor Carvet of Massachusetts colony, and Stephen Hopkinns, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, were of the same families. he grew to his majority in the county of his birth, and in 1832 removed to Cattaraugus county, in the … Read more

Wart, William, Sr. – Obituary

Promise, Oregon William Wart Sr. William Jay Wart Sr., 75 of Rt. 1, Weston, died May 28, 1985, at St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton. The graveside service was at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Enterprise Cemetery, Enterprise, Ore. The Rev. Edward Morrison officiated. Wart was born July 21, 1909, in Baker, Ore., to Louis and Florence Wilcox Wart. The family moved to Promise, Ore. in 1913. He attended Enterprise schools and then worked with his father and area farmers on Alder Slope, near Enterprise. On Dec. 20, 1935, he married Olive “Dollie” P. Heskett in Enterprise. He worked as a … Read more

Grisham, Ira C. – Obituary

Ira C. Grisham, 51, a former resident of Maupin and a retired rancher of that section died at 8 o’clock Sunday morning following a dinner at his home on Friday evening when poison food was consumed. Mr. Grisham’s wife, Nettie, is seriously ill, as is Mr. and Mrs. Perry Strong, now confined in The Dalles Hospital. All are reported in better condition but unable to leave their beds as a result of the family dinner. According to the facts given by the guests and by Mrs. Grisham after they had taken sick, meat pie, beans, and canned beets had constituted … Read more

Sullivan, Sean Richard – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Sean Richard Sullivan, 27, of La Grande and formerly of The Dalles died Aug. 14 in Riggins, Idaho, following an automobile accident. A Mass of Christian Burial was held today at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church with burial at the Island City Cemetery. Mr. Sullivan was born June 15, 1979, to Joseph Patrick and Toni Gaye Walker Sullivan in Portland. He graduated from The Dalles High School in 1998, and from Eastern Oregon University this year with a degree in Rangeland Management. He worked at various jobs, including at D&B Supply and the auction yard. … Read more

Varney, Inez Lavera – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Inez L. Varney, former resident of Enterprise, died March 15, 1980 at the Dalles General Hospital, The Dalles, Oregon. She was born Jan. 12, 1922 in Enterprise, Oregon and married Otis Varney on December 23, 1941. She attended the Enterprise Community church and was a member of the Lay Elks, BPOE #1829. she received her 20 year pin from the Eagle Cap Auxiliary Post #4307,VFW. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 18. Burial was in the Enterprise cemetery. Survivors include her husband, Otis of Troy; a son, Dennis L. Varney of Selhah, Washington; a daughter, Donna Aschenbrenner of … Read more

Biography of Francis Xavier Paquet

FRANCIS X. PAQUET. – Francis Xavier Paquet, son of Joseph Paquet and Marie Madaline Godant, was born in the parish of Saint John, about thirty miles west of Quebec, at the junction of the Jacquarka river with the St. Lawrence. Joseph Paquet was a stonemason by trade, but lived on a farm and took jobs of stonework. He was the father of eighteen children, nine boys and nine girls. F.X. Paquet, the sixteenth child in order, was born on the fifteenth day of January, 1811. He learned the trade of shipbuilding at Quebec, being apprenticed to Peter Labbe when not … Read more

Chappelle, Georgia Emma – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Georgia Emma Chappelle, 85, of The Dalles and formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 17. A funeral begins at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center in La Grande. Georgia was born July 31, 1922, to James W. and Myrtle Lafatame (Wale) Vickers, in Searcy, Ark. She was raised and educated in Arkansas and married Jasper Chappelle on Dec. 10, 1945, in Waldron, Ark. They came to Oregon in the early 1950s. Those who knew her say Georgia had a fun-loving spirit. She loved dancing, singing and yodeling. She won many ribbons in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Homer McFarland

HOMER McFARLAND, – Mr. McFarland, one of our most able young men, was born at The Dalles June 22, 1865, the youngest son of J.C. McFarland, and a nephew of E.B. McFarland, who was one of the oldest settlers of The Dalles, and one of her most substantial citizens. He received his early education at the Wasco Academy, attending until his nineteenth year. In 1885 he came to Lexington, Oregon, where he has been engaged in the general merchandise business ever since. This enterprise was the first of its kind in that town; and the firm, in which he holds … Read more

Hess, Gertrude Jean – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Gertrude Jean Hess, 59, of 123 Union St., Walla Walla, died June 21, 1981 at Portland’s St. Vincent Hospital. Mrs. Hess was born July 19, 1921, in Criterion, Oregon to Peter and Birtha Herling Kirsch. She attended Criterion and Maupin schools and graduated from Oregon State University in Corvallis. She married W. John Hess June 9, 1946. She was a teacher in Enterprise and a homemaker. She was a member of Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, Christian Womens Club and Engineers Wives. Mrs. Hess is survived by her husband, at home; three sons, Dan and Mark … Read more

Biography of M. R. Hathaway

M.R. HATHAWAY. – Among the brightest and most popular men on our coast is M.R. Hathaway, adjutant-general of Washington. His character, frank and genial, is strengthened also by a manly reserve and modesty which cause every honor bestowed upon him to repose with double dignity. He was born in Kerkimer county, New York, in 1823. Fitting himself as teacher, he found employment in Wayne county. While still but a youth, he removed with his father to Michigan, where his labors alternated between teaching, and opening out a farm. In 1848 occurred his marriage, Miss Maria Smith, of La Porte county, … Read more

Bork, Ivan Richard – Obituary

Ivan Richard Bork, 84, a resident of The Dalles, since 1966, died at a local care center on Saturday, July 21, 2001. He was born May 30, 1917, in Flora, Oregon, the oldest of eight children to Ira H. and Lora (Moys) Bork He was the grandson of early Wallowa County pioneers, Rudolph and Bertha Bork, who came from Germany in 1885 and settled in Wallowa County as United States citizens in 1891. Ivan was married to Leola Surber on June 23, 1940, in Enterprise, by the same Justice of Peace, A.B. Conway, that had married their parents, Ira and … Read more

Boydstun, Ramona Lee “Mona” Harlin Mrs. – Obituary

Ramona Lee “Mona” Boydstun, 62, of The Dalles, a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 4, 2005. A family service will be scheduled later. There was a private cremation at Win-quatt Crematory. Interment was at The Dalles Threemile Odd Fellows Cemetery. She was born on Oct. 18, 1942, at Denver, the third of four daughters born to Carl Robert and Sybil Grace Wayman Harlin. She grew up in Baker City and was a 1960 Baker High School graduate. She married Robert Boydstun on June 12, 1960, at Baker City. They had lived at The Dalles for 35 years. Mona was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hugh N. George

HUGH N. GEORGE. – Hugh, the eldest of the three sons of Presley and Mahala George, and not the least distinguished among the three eminent brothers, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, November 9, 1828. He was educated at Granville College and followed the profession of teacher for nearly thirteen years. He as one of the prominent educators of Oregon in early times, and was twice elected school superintendent of Linn county. He was admitted to practice as an attorney in 1863, and for a time was editor of the Albany Journal. In 1864, after an exciting canvass, he was … Read more

Biography of Edmond Pearcy

Edmond Pearcy, whose history is one of close connection with the pioneer development of the state as well as its latter-day progress and prosperity was born in Bedford County, Virginia, on the 22d of March 1832, and is of Scotch and Dutch descent. His ancestors were early settlers of Virginia, and for many years the families were represented in Bedford County. His father, Nicholas Pearcy, was born there, and having arrived at years of maturity he married Rebecca Hardy, a native of Maryland. They became the parents of twelve children, eleven sons and one daughter, and of the number but … Read more

Stone, Monsignor William Sherald – Obituary

Monsignor William Sherald Stone, 85, of The Dalles, and a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 15, 2001, at his home. Office of the Dead will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday. Both services will be at St. Peter Catholic Church in The Dalles. Interment will follow at The Dalles St. Peter Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements are under the care of Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home. Monsignor Stone was born April 28, 1916, at Athena, the sixth of seven children of Dr. Alvin Bernard and Gertrude Ann (Burnham) Stone. … Read more

Chastain, Liberty ‘Lib’ Pleasant – Obituary

Services for Liberty (Lib) P. Chastain, 65, Harper, who died Wednesday [November 16, 1966] were held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Bertelson-Lienkaemper Memorial Chapel in Ontario with Mr. Elwood Flock officiating. Interment followed at Valley View in Vale. Mr. Chastain was born July 4, 1901, in Juniper Flat, near Tygh Valley, Ore. He moved to the Harper area from Seattle in 1931 and had lived on the same ranch at Harper since that time. He was a member of the Oregon Cattleman’s Association. He married Marie V. Fahy, August 21, 1922, in Ontario. He was a member of the … Read more