Missouri

Van Blokland, Icis L. – Obituary

Icis L. Van Blokland, 91, of Tigard and formerly of La Grande, died Tuesday, Dec 25, 1990, at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland. A private family interment service was held Friday at the Island City Cemetery. A memorial service will be held later. Mrs. Van Blokland was born Aug. 21, 1899, at Kansas City, Mo., to Haskell and Letitia (Halstead) Bryant. She moved to Island City in 1912 and married Ray Van Blokland on Oct. 14, 1924. He died in 1949. Following her husband’s death, she moved to La Grande where she lived until moving to Tigard in 1987. She … Read more

Breshears, William Reuben – Obituary

Pioneer Succumbs After Illness – Made Wagon Trek With Parents  William Reuben Breshears, 83-year-old retired farmer and railroad man, died at 5:15 a.m., today at a local hospital after a long illness. He was born October 1, 1860, in Dallas County, Missouri, and had lived in Wallowa and Union counties for 67 years, having crossed the plains in an oxen-drawn covered wagon in 1878 with his parents, when he was 17. He settled in the Elgin district and farmed there for about 35 years before he started working for the railroad. After 28 years he retired from railroading at the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Martin Kite

Martin Kite, of Virginia, was of German descent. He married a Miss Cheeley, of Virginia, by whom he had George and Kitty, and several other children whose names we could not obtain. George and Kitty both live in Warren County. Mr. Kite settled in that county in 1835, and built a mill on Charrette creek. The lumber, from which most of the fiat-boats of that period were built, was sawed at Kite’s mill.

Grider, Waitsville – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Grider Laid To Rest Vetern Buried Yesterday With Family and Friends Attending Funeral services were said yesterday over the remains of Waitsville Grider who died early in the week. Three generations, descendents of the deceased, were in attendance at the funeral. Death resulted from cancer. Waitsville Grider was married to Minerva S. Beard August 1st, 1851, in Adair county, KY. He was born and raised in that section and their home was made there for a time, later moving with his family to Watson, MO., in September, 1878. Then he went to Caldwell, Kansas, from … Read more

Baker, Mary Jane – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Mary Jane Baker, 74, of Meacham, died today in a local hospital after a long illness. She was born April 15, 1860, in Missouri, and had been a resident of Meacham for 47 years. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Frank Hanlin of La Grande; a son, James B. Baker of Kamela, and four grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, in the Snodgrass Funeral Home with Rev Mark A. Talney officiating. Internment will be in the Masonic cemetery, beside her husband who died last March, La Grande Evening Observer, La Grande, Union … Read more

See, Nancy Ann – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Mrs. See Buried Pioneer Woman Laid to Rest at Summerville Yesterday the body of Mrs. Ben See was laid to rest in the Summerville Cemetery. Mrs. See was one of the pioneer women of this valley coming here in the fall of 1865 from Missouri, shortly after her marriage. She was the daughter of James M. and Elizabeth Moore Hammack. On the 22nd of December she would have been 71 years of age. She is the mother of eight children, seven of whom are living to mourn her demise. The funeral was from the home … Read more

Fisher, Lillian – Obituary

Fisher, Lillian Succumbs After Lengthy IllnessLillian May Fisher died at her home at 1208 Seventh street about 3:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon after a long illness. Funeral services will be held at the Methodist church at Cove Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock with Rev. C.C. Callahan, of Union, in charge. Burial will follow in the Cove cemetery, with Snodgrass and Zimmerman in charge of arrangements. Born in Isadora, Mo. Jan. 19, 1884, she was 53 years, 11 months and 25 days of age. She leaves her widowed husband, Charles; two sons, John K. and Charles Richard, both seniors at Oregon State … Read more

Fisher, Sarah J. – Obituary

Sarah J. Fisher Pioneer, Passes On Here Today Sarah J. Fisher died about 1:30 o’clock this morning at 1501 U avenue. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Summerville chapel. The body was taken to the Snodgrass and Zimmerman mortuary. Mrs. Fisher, born in Sullivan county, Missouri, March 2, 1859, was 77 years, 11 months and seven days of age, and was among the early pioneers of Oregon. She crossed the plains with her parents, Mr. And Mrs. Hiram McDonald with ox teams in 1864, landing in Linn county where they lived until 1872. She moved … Read more

Darr, William – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon William Darr of Elgin and a brother of Mrs. Ella Patten of Joseph, passed away Wednesday morning of last week after a short illness, and funeral services were held Friday from the Christian church in Elgin, with Ray Hug in charge. Mr. Darr was born in Missouri September 2, 1874, and came to Elgin Rest of article missing Source: Enterprise Chieftain, Enterprise, Oregon, January 18, 1940 Contributed by: Sue Wells Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor

Melton, Charles T. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Charles T. Melton, 73, of Union died May 24 at his home. Mr. Melton was born Dec. 29, 1932, to Frank and Rose Klepzig Melton in Dixon, Mo. He was a farmer, and married his wife, Deloris, on Nov. 12, 1960, in Reno, Nev. Survivors include children, Mindy Melton of Union, Marcia Wisdom of La Grande, Donna Melton of Seattle and Teresa Melton of Stoneville, N.C. Loveland Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements. The Observer Online, Obituaries for the week ending June 10, 2006, Published June 8, 2006

Peterson, Harry Leo – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Harry Leo Peterson, 73, of La Grande died May 28 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla. At his request there will be no services. Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Peterson was born Feb. 17, 1933 to Harry and Lilie Mae Nicholson Peterson in Mountain Grove, Mo. He attended school in Visalia, Calif., and went on to electronic school in Los Angeles, Calif. On June 6, 1957, he married Mary Ford in Las Vegas, Nev. He worked in television electronics and then as a supervisor with USA Petroleum Corp., retiring about 1977. … Read more

Boly, Jemimah, Mrs. – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Death Of Grandma Boly Mrs. Jemimah Boly, one of the aged pioneer settlers of this section, died at her home on the Flat, Sunday morning at 7 o’clock. She was born in Missouri in 1818, and in company with her husband and children emigrated to the Pacific coast at an early day. She was the mother of 12 children, only four of whom survive her. She had been a conscientious member of the Christian church for many years, and the funeral services were conducted by Rev. Benton, pastor of the Christian church here. She was laid to rest … Read more

Erwin, Hugh Gerald – Obituary

Union, Oregon Hugh Gerald Erwin, 95 of Union died June 21 at Grande Ronde Hospital. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Monday June 26 at the Union United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the Union Cemetery. Mr. Erwin was born Oct. 25, 1910, to Hugh and Bertie Largent Erwin in Adrian, Mo. He worked on ranches in Pendleton, Summerville and North Powder, and graduated from Powder Valley High School in 1929. On Sept. 26, 1936, he married Fern Baxter in La Grande. The couple lived in Union for many years, and he worked for the Oregon Highway Department … Read more

Nantz, Glen Leroy – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon Glen Leroy Nantz, 73, a former longtime North Powder resident, died March 17, 2006, at Mountain Grove, Mo. He was born and raised in North Powder. His funeral was today at Mountain Grove, Mo. Buzz Brown of Elk Creek Church officiated. Glen was born on March 23, 1933, at North Powder, where he was raised. He married Rosanne Montgomery on Dec. 29, 1963. They had two children. His wife is at home at 331 South Wall, Mountain Grove, Mo. Glen worked as a logger and for Union County Road Department in La Grande. He had … Read more

Melton, Charles T. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Charles T. Melton, 73, of Union died May 24 at his home. Mr. Melton was born Dec. 29, 1932, to Frank and Rose Klepzig Melton in Dixon, Mo. He was a farmer, and married his wife, Deloris, on Nov. 12, 1960, in Reno, Nev. Survivors include children, Mindy Melton of Union, Marcia Wisdom of La Grande, Donna Melton of Seattle and Teresa Melton of Stoneville, N.C. Loveland Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements. The Observer Online, Obituaries for the week ending June 10, 2006, Published June 8, 2006

Harrison, Hazel – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Hazel Harrison, 93, of Yuma, Ariz., and formerly of La Grande and Island City, died July 6. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Friday July 14 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Yuma. Mrs. Harrison was born June 19, 1913, to Henry and Flora Herrmann in Hester, Mo. She was raised in Island City, and graduated from La Grande High School. She married Howard Bousquet, and after his death, Albert Harrison. He also died earlier. She worked at the Umatilla Ordnance Depot in the early 1940s, and at the Yuma Proving Grounds from 1963 until her retirement … Read more

Noble, Loretta Susan – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Loretta Susan Noble, 85, of Beaverton and formerly of Cove, died Aug. 2 in Hillsboro. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7, at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Burial will follow at the Cove Cemetery. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6. Mrs. Noble was born April 11, 1921, near Cassville, Mo. to George and Lula Stansberry Craft. She attended one year of high school before she began working. During World War II she worked for Boeing in Wichita, Kan. On Sept. 25, 1943, she married Harold Clifton … Read more

Abell, Wendell H. – Obituary

Island City, Oregon Wendell H. Abell, 81, of Island City died Saturday at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Boise. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Island City Cemetery. Mr. Abell was born Dec. 23, 1924, to George and Josephine Graham Abell in La Grange, Mo. He had polio as a child. The family made three trips to Oregon before finally settling here. He began working in a lumber yard in Portland at the age of 16. On … Read more

Hays, Clarence Edward – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Clarence Edward Hays, 84, of Elgin died Sept. 22 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Elgin Cemetery. A dinner will follow at the Elgin Community Center. Mr. Hays was born Oct. 7, 1921, to Luther and Ellen Bennett Hays in Baker City. The family lived in Missouri, Washington, Idaho and Oregon. He served in the Navy during World War II, and on Sept. 2, 1951, he married Beverly Case … Read more

Landers, Wilbur Paul – Obituary

Island City, Oregon Wilbur Paul Landers Wilbur Paul Landers, 96, died in Wenatchee, Wash., Oct. 15. Funeral services will take place at the LDS Church in Island City at 1 p.m Saturday. Viewings will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel and noon until 12:50 p.m. Saturday prior to the funeral. Burial will be at the Grandview Cemetery following the services. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Home and Telford’s Funeral Home. Mr. Landers was born Aug. 21, 1910, near Leadwood, Mo., to John and Essie Landers. His family moved to Oregon when he … Read more