La Grande, Oregon
H. Clayton Fox, 90, died March 31 at his home in La Grande. A funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in La Grande. Private burial will be at the Summerville Cemetery. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande.
Mr. Fox was born Dec. 18, 1916, to Clay and Lelah (Day) Fox in Imbler.
After graduating from high school he attended what is now known as Oregon State University. During his senior year his father became ill and he had to forgo his education to help take care of his parents and sister. He eventually went back and received a degree in agriculture in 1983 at the age of 67.
In 1936 he won the National 4-H Championship for his all-around contributions to 4-H. In 1960 he was a national advocate for the Fescue Growers. For more than 50 years his primary contribution to the community was his involvement with the
4-H program. He sponsored the Oregon dinner at the National 4-H Convention for many years and provided hundreds of scholarships to 4-H and FFA students who went on to college in the field of agriculture.
Mr. Fox was also active on the Extension Service Advisory Board, the Imbler City Council, the Jackman Foundation, the South 40 Club, the Wheat League, the Cattleman’s Association and the Farm Bureau and Grange. He was the Grand Marshal for the Union County Fair in 1987 and was interviewed and appeared on television for Modern Maturity magazine.
He also contributed time and financial support to many organizations, including the NE Oregon Heritage Foundation, the Union County Museum, Fort Walla Walla, the restoration of the Imbler Methodist Church building and the restoration of Hot Lake Springs.
On April 25, 1987, he married Loree Buckingham in Salem. They traveled together throughout the United States and to the four corners of the earth.
Survivors include his wife, Loree Fox of La Grande; stepchildren, Carol Bierly-Bond of Long Beach, Ken Bierly of Salem, Anita Lee of Salem and Rufus Bierly of Portland; and several stepgrandchildren, cousins and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Fox, and stepson, Art Bierly.
Memorials may be made to the 4-H Leaders Association Foundation in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.
The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending April 7, 2007 Published: April 7, 2007