Baker City, Oregon
Gregory Allan Groshens, 42, of La Grande, and a former Heppner resident, died recently of natural causes at his home in La Grande.
A memorial service will be scheduled later at Heppner. Disposition was by cremation.
Mr. Groshens was born on Dec. 23, 1961, at Heppner to Victor L. and Judy Darnielle Groshens. He was a 1981 Heppner High School graduate. After graduation, he entered the U.S. Navy to begin a 17-year career as a Seabee. He was proud to serve his country and received several meritorious commendations while he was stationed at Adak, Alaska; MuMurdo, Antarctica; San Jose, Calif.; and Corpus Christi, Texas. As a Seabee he operated heavy equipment, which helped with the relief effort after Hurricane Andrew in Florida as well as another project involving a natural disaster in the Philippines.
After he was honorably discharged, he returned to Oregon in 1998 where he drove truck for Swift Transportation and Hale Trucking in Hermiston, Gary Smith Trucking in Baker City and Eastern Oregon Fast Freight of La Grande until the time of his death.
He enjoyed spending time in the mountains and he loved to fish. He was an avid watcher of old movies and was very good at trivia on the subject. He liked to spend time with his extended family and will be greatly missed by all.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Judy; brother, Scott W. Groshens; paternal grandfather, Vic Groshens; and maternal grandparents, Burt and Eunice Darnielle.
Survivors include his father and stepmother, Vic and Wanda Groshens of Baker City; brother, Harry Groshens, and his wife, Laura, of Pendleton; niece, Nicole Groshens of Pendleton; nephew, Brandon Groshens of Pendleton; stepbrothers, Steve and Lynne Hawkins and Scott Hawkins of Baker City; grandmother, Virginia Groshens of Hermiston; stepgrandmother, Mary Boyd of Baker City and special aunt, Jo Irvin of Irrigon.
Memorial contributions may be made to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland through Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, OR 97850. To view the obituary, sign the guest book or leave a condolence on-line, visit www.danielschapel.com
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, May 7, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
