Frances Marie Tubbs, 98, of La Grande, died Sept. 7 at home surrounded by her loved ones. Memorial details will be announced later. A private burial will be held at Grandview Cemetery in La Grande. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Frances was born Sept. 17, 1908, to J.B. Smith and Clara A. (Stohl) Smith in Reger, Mo., the oldest of three. Her family moved to the La Grande area when Frances was 6 months old. She married Oregon State Police Officer Willard A. Tubbs on April 14, 1937, at the United Methodist Church in La Grande. They briefly lived in Arlington where Willard died on June 21, 1939. Frances returned to La Grande to raise their two daughters, Sonia C. B. (Tubbs) Cook and Willadean D. (Tubbs) Stonelake. She never remarried.
Frances was active in the community and was a member of the United Methodist Church. She retired from the Union County Assessor’s office in 1975. She was actively involved in the Rebekkah Lodge, the Pleasant Grove Grange and the Neighborhood Club. As a life-long animal lover, Frances was a founding member and volunteer of the Grande Ronde Humane Society. She loved to spend her time helping others and being with her family. Frances also enjoyed traveling, visiting family in many states and traveling to Europe and Canada.
Frances is survived by her daughter, Willadean Stonelake of Bend; a niece; two nephews; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by sisters Freda Brittingham and Amy Beaumont; and a daughter, Sonia.
It was Frances’ wish to see the Grand Staircase at Eastern Oregon University’s Inlow Hall restored and reopened as a benefit to the entire community. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to support the restoration fund. Checks may be made out to Eastern Oregon University Foundation/Frances Tubbs Memorial Fund and mailed to the Eastern Oregon University Foundation at One University Blvd., La Grande 97850. For more information, call Curtis Greenfield in EOU University Advancement at 962-3740.
La Grande Observer – Obituaries For The Week Ending September 15, 2007 Published: September 17, 2007