Ernest James Simonis, 87, a lifetime resident of North powder, died Saturday at his home.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Grays’ West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Gary Pall and Laura Falkner will officiate. Vault interment will follow at the North Powder Cemetery.
Mr. Simonis was born July 11, 1896, in North Powder to Wolf Creek pioneers Matt and Matilda Harrison Simonis.
He attended school at Wolf Creek and married O’Lena Johnson in La Grande on Oct. 29, 1917. He worked on the railroad and farmed.
He was a member of the Disabled Veterans of World War II. For the past 17 years he was sexton for the North Powder Cemetery and also owned a monument business.
He loved to fish, garden and pick huckleberries.
He is survived by his wife of North Powder; sons Keith Simonis of North Powder, Vernon Simonis of Nampa, Idaho, and Elvin Simonis of Union; brother Lawrence Simonis of Portland; sisters Ellen Timpy of Union, Ethel Fallett [Follett] of Elgin and Eunice Smith of North Powder; 17 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, a sister and both parents.
Friends who wish may contribute in his memory to a charity of their choice. This may be done through Grays’ West and Co. Pioneer Chapel.
The Observer; La Grande OR;
Tuesday, February 14, 1984; Page 5.