Rita Blanton

Union

1932-2002

Rita Kay Blanton, 70, died Nov. 22 at her home in Union. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Union Cemetery with Pastor Dan Mielke of the Union Baptist Church officiating.

Mrs. Blanton was born April 26, 1932, to Doyle and Ernestine Toy Raybourn in Denver, Colo. She was educated in Denver and on June 26, 1955, she married George Blanton in Las Vegas, Nev. The couple moved to La Grande in 1958. In the mid 1980s they moved to Reno, Nev., and in 1994 they returned to Union. She worked at St. Joseph Hospital until it closed and then for Dr. Paul Stenfield and for Cam Credits. She enjoyed watching artists paint. Her family was the most important part of her life.

Survivors include her husband in Union; children and their spouses, Terry and Dennis Kaneaster of Umatilla, Sheryl Colvin of Newberg, George Blanton III of Union, Charlotte and Allan Hansen of Elgin, Patty Caswell of Union, and Cindy and Rudy Gelowicz of Gresham; 15 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and other relatives. A brother, Charles Raybourn, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to GRH Home Care Service in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.

Jim Logan

A graveside service for Robert James "Jim” Logan, 71, of Hermiston will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Cove Pioneer Cemetery.

Mr. Logan died Nov. 24 at his home. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is handling arrangements. A full obituary will be published later.

Dorothy Jane McCurdy

Summerville

1904-2002

Dorothy Jane McCurdy, 98, of Summerville, died Nov. 24 at Grande Ronde Hospital.

A memorial open house will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Tamarack Springs Ranch, 62024 Tamarack Springs Lane, Summerville.

Mrs. McCurdy was born Nov. 4, 1904, to William Gardner and Annie O’Neil Ferguson Ehrhardt in Sacramento County, Calif. Her grandfather, John Ehrhardt, was a pioneer in Elk Grove, Calif.

She graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1923 and studied journalism at night school for a year.

She married Oren McCurdy on Sept. 5, 1939, in Woodland, Calif. She worked as a title searcher for a title company, as a commercial reporter for Dunn and Bradstreet and as an accountant for the State of California.

She retired in 1955, and in 1961 they moved to Summerville where she and her husband owned and operated the Tamarack Springs Ranch and the Summerville Store and Post Office for a short time. He died in January 1970.

Mrs. McCurdy enjoyed serving private dinners for weddings and banquets at the family ranch.

She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn (Howard) and Jerry Wright of Summerville and Edwina and Kenneth Botzau of Imbler; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; sisters, Violet Ehrhardt of Santa Cruz, Calif., and Mildred Blake of Sacramento, and other relatives.

A brother, Wilbur Ehrhardt, died earlier.

The family requests that contributions, in lieu of flowers, be made to a favorite charity, in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

Lawrence Roberts

Formerly of La Grande

1917-2002

Lawrence Charles Roberts, 85, of Novato, Calif., and formerly of La Grande, died Oct. 19 at the home of his daughter. A military service was conducted with an Air Force honor guard. Burial was at Restland Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Hurst, Texas.

Mr. Roberts was born April 5, 1917, to Charles and Gladys Lloyd Roberts in

La Grande. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1935 and attended the University of Washington in Seattle. He served in the Army Air Corp during World War II flying bombers and cargo aircraft. Among his routes were French Indochina and the Azores. He retired in 1953 as a lieutenant colonel and worked for Bell Helicopter in Texas for 33 years.

Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Michele and Siegmund Damazyn, and two grandchildren, all of Novato; a son, Lawrence Jr. of Flagstaff, Ariz.; two sisters, Bernadene Roberts of La Grande and Olive Olson of Bayview, Idaho, and other relatives.

Sarah Wormuth

Formerly of La Grande

1941-2002

Sarah Wormuth, 60, of Jamestown, N.Y., and formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 8 in Jamestown. Her ashes will be scattered in the Seven Devils Mountains in Idaho.

Mrs. Wormuth was born Dec. 12, 1941, to Levi and Margaret Fulwider Walker in La Grande. She graduated from high school in Wallace, Idaho, and married Robert Schwartz. After a divorce she married Ed Wormuth. She was a caregiver, beginning with neighborhood children and ending with the elderly in private homes.

Survivors include her children, Margi Schwartz of North Pole, Alaska, Mark Schwartz of Sugar Grove, Penn., and Mike Schwartz of Bad Homberg, Germany; a sister, Barbara Gaylord of Kellogg, Idaho; a brother, James Walker of Beaverton, and many other

relatives. A daughter, Robin, three brothers, Lee, Clyde and Robert Walker, and three sisters, Hazel and Sharon Walker and Marjorie Coe, all died earlier.

Jeffery Rushton

La Grande

A memorial service for Jeffery L. Rushton, 21, a student at Eastern Oregon University who died Nov. 21 in his dorm room at Dorion East, will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at South Sherman Elementary School in Grass Valley with Pastor Dan Mielke of The Koinonia House officiating. Memorials may be made to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, 3181 S.W. Jackson Park Road, Portland 97201, or to the Sherman High School Scholarship Fund, 6591 High School Loop, Moro 97039. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of local arrangements. A full obituary will be published later.

Roy Smith

Roy Smith, 80, of La Grande died Tuesday in Boise. Arrangements will be announced later by Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Vivian Hovis

La Grande

Vivian Hovis, 95, of La Grande died Monday at a local care center. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. A full obituary will be published later.

‘Jim’ Logan

Hermiston

1931-2002

Robert James "Jim" Logan, 71, of Hermiston died Nov. 24 at his home. A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. today at Cove Pioneer Cemetery. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Logan was born April 28, 1931, to Robert and Nelle Brown Logan in Seattle. The family lived in Umatilla and then Portland, where he graduated from high school. He married Nelda Jeanne Vogel, who was raised in the Cove area, and worked for Mayflower Transport and CBI Collections. The couple lived in Clackamas until he retired. After his wife’s death, he moved to Hermiston. He enjoyed sports, drawing and watching movies.

Survivors include his daughters, Jackie Logan of Forest Grove and Karla Logan of Hillsboro, two grandchildren and a sister, Kathy Smith of West Linn.

Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association in care of Burns Mortuary, P.O. Box 289, Hermiston 97838.

‘Toby’ Koeff

Baker City

1969-2002

Benjamin Allen "Toby" Koeff, 32, of Baker City died Nov. 22 at St. Elizabeth Health Services after suffering a seizure. Viewing will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, with a vigil service at 7 p.m. A memorial mass will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral with the Rev. Robert C. Irwin officiating. A reception will follow in the parish hall.

Mr. Koeff was born Dec. 25, 1969, to Keith and Sharon Koeff. He attended schools in Mason City, Iowa and graduated from high school in Denver, Iowa. He got his welding degree from Hawkeye Technical in Waterloo, Iowa, and worked for Unverferth Manufacturing in Shell Rock, Iowa. He moved to Oregon in 1996 to be near family. He worked for Step Forward, for a lawn service and for Unverferth Manufacturing in North Powder as warehouseman and truck driver. He lived in North Powder for a short time before moving to Baker City.

He enjoyed fishing, especially with his dad, wrestling, music, stock-car racing and NASCAR racing. He was sometimes known as Gentle Ben. He was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in North Powder.

Survivors include his parents and a sister, Sheri Koeff, all of Baker City, and other relatives. His grandparents, Herschel and Marie Kane of Dunkerton, Iowa, and Gus and Claribel Koeff, of Waverly, Iowa, and an uncle, Delvin Koeff of Nasua, Iowa, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross or any charity in care of Coles Funeral Home.

Thomas Casson

Meacham

1943-2002

Thomas H. Casson Jr., 59, of Meacham died Nov. 22 in La Grande of natural causes. A private burial will be in Pennsylvania. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Casson was born March 7, 1943, to Thomas H. and Esther M. Ritter Casson in Chaster, Penn. He served in the Marine Corps and lived in Hermiston, Boardman, Clackamas, Prineville and Stanfield. He was a security guard for the Umatilla Army Depot for several years and did other security work. He moved to Meacham in 2001. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading and spending time with his dog.

Survivors include a brother, Joseph Casson of Williamsport, Pa., three sisters, Peggy Herman of Collegeville, Pa., Emily Pollock of Montour Falls, N.Y., and Betty Buries of Montoursville, Pa., and other relatives.

Sandra Curry

La Grande

1940-2002

Sandra Curry, 62, of La Grande died Nov. 23 at Grande Ronde Hospital. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Private burial will be at Hillcrest East Cemetery.

Mrs. Curry was born on Oct. 19, 1940, to Vie Millard and Margorie Rose Quiggins Smart in San Diego. She was educated in California and later moved to La Grande. She was a member of the Catholic church and belonged to a fishing club in California. She dearly loved her grandchildren and had their photos covering the walls in her home.

Survivors include her children, Jason, Mark and Darren, seven grandchildren, three aunts, Betty, Ruth and Doris, and other relatives.

Winifred Eads

Formerly of Enterprise

1904-2002

Winifred V. Eads, 98, of Hillsboro and formerly of Enterprise died Nov. 27. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Vineland Cemetery in Clarkston, Wash. Pegg, Paxson and Springer Chapel in Beaverton is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Eads was born Aug. 8, 1904, to John A. and Ora B. Bookout in Enterprise. She graduated from Enterprise High School, and on Oct. 18, 1924, she married Homer L. Eads in Enterprise. The couple farmed for many years on Alder Slope. After her husband’s death in 1964, she lived near her children in Clarkston, in Bellevue, Wash., and in Beaverton. She lived with her daughter and son-in-law in California, Minnesota and Mississippi, and traveled with them in Europe, Canada, Central and South America. After breaking her hip in 2000, she lived at a care center.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, LaVera and Robert Best of Beaverton, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and other relatives. A son, Jack, and her brother, Dee Bookout, died earlier.

‘Frank’ Jones

Formerly of La Grande

1932-2002

Frederick Franklin "Frank" Jones, 70, of Boring and formerly of La Grande died Nov. 25. A private celebration of life will be held. Bateman Carroll Funeral Chapel in Gresham is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Jones was born Oct. 18, 1932, to Frederick and Elinor Jones in Portland. Except for a few years off and on in

La Grande, he was reared and educated in Portland. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Portland in 1950 and from Oregon State University School of Pharmacy in 1956. He married Roberta F. Rowe on March 16, 1963, in Baker City.

He served in the Army and the Army Reserves, retiring as captain in 1968.

He worked as a pharmacist, pharmacy manager and store manager for Payless Drugstores, and at Village Drug Store in Lake Oswego until his retirement in 1997. He was a member of the Elks lodges including those in La Grande, Baker City and The Dalles. He enjoyed traveling in the western states, flower gardening and his grandchildren.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Elizabeth Jones of Boring, a daughter, Shannon Jones of Portland and seven grandchildren. His wife died in 1993.

Memorials may be made to Cooley’s Flower Garden in Silverton in care of Bateman Carroll Funeral Chapel, 520 W. Powell Boulevard, Gresham 97030.

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