George (Dock) Cussins Passes at LaGrande
George Oscar (Dock) Cussins, for 53 years a resident of Wallowa county, died at the Grande Ronde hospital yesterday morning as the result of a heart ailment which had followed a siege of bronchial pneumonia suffered by Mr. Cussins last winter. Last Thursday Mr. Cussins was taken to the hospital by his nephew, Roy Gastin, and his condition gradually grew worse until the end came.
No funeral arrangements had been made late yesterday, pending the arrival of a sister and brothers.
Mr. Cussins was born in Beatrice, Neb., in September, 1870, and when a lad of 17 came to Wallowa. He first landed on Alder Slope and engaged in sheep herding, working for several sheep men, among them the late Jonathan Haas.
He saved his earnings and with Frank Cook as partner went into the sheep business, but that was prior to the depression of 1893, and during those hard times they lost their sheep.
After this misfortune Mr. Cussins worked as a herder and laborer again until 1900 when he and his brother-in-law J. B. Gastin, purchased the 683 – acre ranch in the Lower Leap which had since been his home. In 1924 Mr. Gastin died and since that time Mrs. Gastin, her son Roy, and Mr. Cussins, had continued operating the farm and he had made his home with his sister and nephew.
Mr. Cussins is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Gastin of Wallowa, and Mrs. Tom Jacob of Imnaha, and four brothers, Dan and Norris of Lostine, Arthur of Enterprise, and Joe of Nebraska. Norris is a patient in the Walla Walla hospital recuperating from a recent operation. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Rites Held For George Cussins
George Cussins, Wallowa County, who passed away in the hospital at LaGrande last week, were held in graveside services in the Wallowa cemetery last Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock, with Rev. E. E. Callahan, pastor of the Christian church at Enterprise, officiating.
Pall bearers were L. W. Minor, F.(?) A. Bakke, Martin Peterson, Joe Rounsavell, C.A. Hunter and Bruce Cox.
Mr. Cussins was born September 25, 1870, and died June 19, 1940, making his age 69 years, eight months and 24 days.