Donna “Fern” Culley, 90, of La Grande, a former longtime Baker City resident, died April 1, 2006, at the Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande.
There will be a celebration of her life at 11 a.m. Friday at the New Life Center in La Grande. Committal and interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, April 14, 2006.
Fern was born on Sept. 15, 1915, at Enterprise to Arthur and Zella (Millard) Pearson. She was the great-granddaughter of David Kooch, an early pioneer to Wallowa County.
She was a 1934 Enterprise High School graduate. She married Floyd Culley on June 15, 1935. She met Floyd when he came to Enterprise with the Civilian Conservation Corps. Shortly after they were married, they moved to Baker City where Fern spent most of her life. She lost Floyd on her birthday, Sept. 15, 1972. Together they raised three daughters and over the years took in more than 40 foster children, loving each and every one of them.
Fern had many interests, the most important of which were her children and grandchildren. She especially enjoyed her church and her many friends.
Her other interests were oil painting, sewing, gardening, canning and yard sales. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church. Friends and family remember her as a very loving Christian lady who always had the sweetest winning smile for everyone.
Fern worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital and later as a Senior Companion, taking many trips with them to Canada and the Rockies. Her most memorable trip was to Israel and to the City of Jerusalem.
She relocated to La Grande in 1995 to be near her daughter, JoJean. The last two years she had lived at Wildflower Lodge where she loved the other residents and staff.
Three sisters, Mildred Shell, Elaine Crabill and Evelyn Wright, preceded her in death.
Survivors include her daughters and their husbands, Cheryl and Keith Stubblefied of Salem, JoJean and Carl Nelson of La Grande and Jackie and Eddy Dixon of Poulsbo, Wash.; grandchildren, Tami, Rick and Kimberly Stubblefield, Craig and Tony Nelson, Carla Wise, Kaye Sloman, Michelle Robbins and Amanda Dixon; 17 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Her oldest grandson, Brent Stubblefield of Vancouver, Washington preceded her in death by 19 days.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Life Center through Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, OR 97850.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 7, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
