Cove, Oregon
Russell W. Elmer, 85, of Cove died Aug. 18 at his home. Viewing will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. The funeral will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the LDS Chapel, 11206 S. McAllister Road in Island City. Burial will follow at the Summerville Cemetery.
Mr. Elmer was born Jan. 19, 1921, to Frank and Margaret Meroney Elmer in Lower Cove. He graduated from Cove High School in 1940, and attended welding school in Portland.
On Nov. 10, 1946, he married Norma Jean Roulet of Elgin. They lived in Imbler and Alicel before moving to Lower Cove.
He was a farmer and co-founder of Blue Mountain Grass Seed Co. He served on the Union County Commission from 1970 to 1974. He enjoyed hunting and packing into the Minam with horses and mules. He enjoyed flying and bought his first airplane in the 1960s. Since then, he flew multiengine planes, helicopters and gyrocopters.
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many leadership positions. He dedicated his life to serving others.
Survivors include his wife, Norma Jean; a sister, Wanda Hughes of Grants Pass; children Trudy Hassinger of Cove, Doris Grossnickle of Portland, Susan Wesley of Laie, Hawaii, Patti Wise of Woodland, Wash., and Steven Elmer of Shelburne, Vt.; 21 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Grande Ronde Hospice or LDS Family History Center in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel.
The Observer Online, Obituaries for the week ending Aug. 26, 2006, Published: August 28, 2006