Union, Oregon
Fern Mae Erwin, 82, of Union, died Jan. 5, 2001, at the Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande.
There will be a Celebration of Life service at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Union United Methodist Church. The Rev. Ernest Smith will officiate. There will be a concluding service at the Union Cemetery.
Mrs. Erwin was born on May 3, 1918, on the homestead at Telocaset. She was the daughter of William and Susie Briggs Baxter. She graduated from Union High School. She married Hugh Gerald Erwin on Sept. 26, 1936, at La Grande.
She was the second oldest member in church history of the Union United Methodist Church and a member of the United Methodist Church Women Caring Helpers. She also was a senior meals volunteer.
She greatly enjoyed her family, camping, traveling, gardening and bingo. She was known as having a servant’s heart to her family and to her fellow man. She was continually giving of herself and went out of her way to help others. She was always putting the needs of others before herself.
Survivors include her husband, Hugh Gerald Erwin of Union; sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Barbara Erwin of Otis and Richard and Jan Erwin of Baker City; daughters, Leah Lewis of Baker City and Donna LaVerdure and her husband, Joseph, of Pendleton; 12 grandchildren, Lori Robinson, Gail Powers, Darcy Bruijn, Kimberly Hulser, Melanie Zemmer, Mickey Lewis, Randy Lewis, Jeff Erwin, Doug Erwin, Brian Erwin, Kevin LaVerdure and Amanda LaVerdure; 13 great-grandchildren; a brother, Roy Baxter of Everett, Wash.; and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Earl and Lawrence Baxter.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Union United Methodist Memorial Fund through Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, Ore. 97850.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 12, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
