Kenneth L. Fordice, 71, a former resident of North Powder and Cove, died Dec. 16, 2006, at Winston.
His graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the North Powder Cemetery. Visitations will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., in La Grande.
He was born on Aug. 28, 1935, at Enterprise to Willard and Lela Gray Fordice. He grew up on a ranch near Flora on the breaks of the Grande Ronde River and later moved with his family to North Powder where he attended school. He married Donna Cox of Haines in 1956. They were later divorced. He later married his loving wife of 20 years, Elsie.
He served honorably in the armed forces, worked on a ranch — which is what he loved most — and then worked as an engineer for the Oregon Department of Transportation for 30 years before retiring.
He and Elsie then moved to Cove to be close to his mother and to help his daughter and her husband on their ranch. He and Elsie recently moved back to Winston. He was greatly loved and will be missed by all who knew him.
Survivors include his wife, Elsie of Winston; his mother, Lela Fordice of Baker City; a son, Tony Fordice of Burns; a daughter, Teena, and her husband, Chuck Ballard of Union; stepdaughter, Lois, and her husband, Dave Foster of Seattle, Wash.; a brother, Keith, and his wife, Judy Fordice of Hermiston; sisters, Myrna, and her husband, Ivan Hale of Montana, and Sandy and her husband, Ron Sanderson of Arizona; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his father, Willard Fordice; and a sister, Donna.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice through Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, OR 97850. To view the obituary, leave a condolence or sign the guest book on-line, visit www.daniels chapel.com.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, December 19, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor