OBITUARIES FOR OCTOBER 6 – 11, 2003
Published 12:00 am Monday, November 3, 2003
Donna Cater
La Grande
1910-2003
Donna Elizabeth Cater, 93, of La Grande died Oct. 3 at Grande Ronde Hospital. At her request there will be no public service.
Private interment will be at the Island City Cemetery.Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Cater was born Jan. 14, 1910, to William and Cora Hummell Sneary in New Philadelphia, Ohio. She attended a business college, and in 1933 she married Robert Everett. After a divorce she moved La Grande in 1948, and in 1954 she married Charles Cater. She worked as his legal secretary until his retirement.
She was a member of the La Grande Country Club and several bridge clubs. She enjoyed working crossword puzzles, fishing, hunting and camping.
Survivors include her husband Charles of La Grande; children, David Everett of King City and Patricia Bagley of Roseville, Calif.; seven grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and other relatives.Two brothers, Chester and Donald Sneary, and two sisters, Freda Gowins and Maidie Walcott, died earlier.
William Howes Phinney
1914-2003
William Howes "Tud" Phinney, 89, of Cove died Oct. 3 at a local care facility.
Viewing will be held today from 4 to 6 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Calvary Baptist Church in Cove with the Rev. Marcus Carpenter officiating. Interment will follow at the Cove Cemetery.
Mr. Phinney was born on May 11, 1914, to William Columbus and Mabelle Louise (Gammons) Phinney in Caldwell, Idaho.
After attending schools in Idaho he married Gladys V. Frisby. After raising three children, the marriage ended in 1982. He moved to Cove from San Diego in 1960. Mr. Phinney was a rancher and raised swine and cattle. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge and was an avid fisherman and loved to dance. He enjoyed bowling and watching the Cove Panthers play football.
Survivors include his children and their spouses, Charles and Jo Phinney of Cove, Louise and Gene Evans of Cove and Bill and Yeanie Phinney of Green Valley, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren; a sister, Mabelle Sanderson of Cove; his companion, Jonnie Corbett of Cove and other relatives and friends. Two brothers, a sister and three granddaughters died earlier.
Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Mr. Phinney to Cove Quick Response in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.
Charles B. Vaughn
Elgin
1919-2003
Charles B. Vaughn, 84, of Elgin died Oct. 4 at his home.
Burial will be at the Hayfork Cemetery in Hayfork, Calif.
Mr. Vaughn was born in Redding, Calif., on Oct. 11, 1919, to Ray and Luella Blair Vaughn. He was the second of four children. He lived in Trinity County and drove a logging truck until his retirement.
He married Eulenna "Lennie" Corley of Ione on April 3, 1965. They later lived in Boardman and Irrigon. They moved to Elgin a couple of years ago to be closer to family.
He enjoyed playing cards with his wife. He also enjoyed animals, photography, family photos and bowling in his younger years.
He is survived by his wife in Elgin; his stepdaughter Cheryl Coe and her husband Kenneth; two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Maxine Freitas and Brenda Ritchie and her husband Wyvon Ritchie all of Redding, and many nieces and nephews.
His brother Bill Vaughn died earlier.
Loveland Funeral Chapel of La Grande is in charge of the arrangements.
Harland Struck
La Grande
1937-2003
Harland La Forest Struck, 66, of La Grande died at his home on Oct. 5.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley with Kemit Knight of Damascus Road Mini-stries officiating. Fraternal services will be under the auspices of the La Grande Elks Lodge No. 433. Committal and full military honors will follow at Grandview Cemetery.
Mr. Struck was born on Feb. 18, 1937, to Grant and Jennie Ione (Perry) Struck in La Grande. In 1955 he graduated from La Grande High School and later served in the U.S. Navy, the Seabees, the Army and the National Guard. He served during the Vietnam War and the Gulf War and retired from the military.
Mr. Struck was a self-employed carpenter and loved woodworking. He was a member of the La Grande Elks Lodge, the American Legion and the VFW. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, bowling and golf and loved his dogs.
Survivors include his wife, Darlene (Gilstrap) Struck of La Grande; children and spouses, Tony and Michelle Struck of La Grande, Tom and Cathy Struck of Clackamas, Tim and Cassie Struck of Gladstone and Brad and Martina Struck of Boise; stepchildren, Brenda and Scott Williams of Walla Walla and Curt Gilstrap of Denver; 11 grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law, Gordon and Connie Struck of La Grande and Monte Struck of Portland; and other relatives and many friends. His parents and a sister, Elaine Myer, died earlier.
Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Mr. Struck to the Grande Ronde Hospital Hospice in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.
Walter Glen Pennington
La Grande
1923-2003
Walter Glen Pennington, 80, a lifetime resident of La Grande, died Oct. 4 at a local care facility.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Island City Cemetery. Viewing will be held today from 4 to 6 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley.
Mr. Pennington was born on Sept. 29, 1923, to Wesley Lawrence and Katie (Wilson) Pennington in La Grande. He graduated from La Grande High School and in 1951 he married June Stiner Coles in La Grande. She died in 1988.
Mr. Pennington worked on the oil crew for the Oregon State Highway Department for 35 years. He loved his work and was a devoted employee of the state. He and June loved their cats.
Survivors include his sisters, Ruth Roulet of Elgin and Mildred Hays of Enterprise; brother, Roy Pennington of La Grande; stepdaughter, Kathy Victor of Wallowa; one stepgranddaughter and other relatives and friends. A brother, Lawrence Pennington, died earlier. Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Mr. Pennington to the Grande Ronde Hospital Hospice in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande.
Alice Masters
Formerly of La Grande
1919-2003
Alice E. Masters, 84, of King City and formerly of La Grande died Oct. 2. A memorial service will begin at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Calvin Presbyterian Church in Tigard.
Mrs. Masters was born Jan. 13, 1919, to Robert and Clara Hanson Hughes in Philomath. She graduated from Oregon State College in 1942 and on the next day married Forrest Masters of Corvallis who was in the Navy. The couple spent the next five years at naval air bases in California before moving to
La Grande where they lived for 45 years. The couple moved to King City in 1992. She was a homemaker. She worked for five years as Christian education director and secretary of the La Grande Presbyterian Church. She was a member of Calvin Presbyterian and PEO.
Survivors include her husband of King City, children and their spouses, Stephen and Lynn of Portland, Lowell of Las Vegas, Larry of Phoenix, Ariz., four daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Calvin Presbyterian Church, the American Cancer Society or Hospice of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Portland in care of Autumn Funerals and Cremation, 12639 S.W. Winterview, Tigard 97224.
Herman Gunnels
La Grande
1944-2003
Herman Lee Gunnels, 58, of La Grande died Oct. 6 in Reno, Nev. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A celebration of life will begin at 3 p.m. Friday at the First Christian Church, 901 Penn Ave.
Mr. Gunnels was born Oct. 20, 1944, to Leslie and Marjorie Blair Gunnels in Ava, Mo. He served in the Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis. On March 16, 1962, he married Carol Mayberry in Walla Walla. The couple moved to Starkey in 1975, and in 1980 to La Grande. He owned Gunnels Brothers Inc., a logging company, and loved his work in the woods.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge and enjoyed salmon fishing, vacationing, visiting the casinos in Reno and Las Vegas, four-wheeling and being with his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Gunnels; children and their spouses, Sandi and Frank Anderson, Ginger and Danny Webster, Lois and Doug Yearous and Lynn and Jeff Elliott all of La Grande; nine grandchildren; a brother, John Gunnels of Milton Freewater; a sister and brother-in-law, Louise and Dick Clark of La Grande; and other relatives.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or any charity in care of Daniels Chapel.
Bonnie Miller
Enterprise
1925-2003
Bonnie J. Miller, 78, of Enterprise died Oct. 7 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the Enterprise Community Church with a private vault interment at the Enterprise Cemetery.
Mrs. Miller was born July 13, 1925, to William "Cub" and Florence Burleigh McCubbin at the home of her grandparents, James and Lora Burleigh in Enterprise. She graduated from Enterprise High School in 1943, and married Robert J. "Tex" Miller on Aug. 28, 1946, at the Enterprise Community Church.
She worked for many years as the office manager for Dr. Sharff. After his retirement she worked for Boise Cascade in Joseph until her retirement in 1987. She was a member of the Friday Lunch Bunch, the VFW Auxiliary, the Community Congregational Women’s Fellowship, the church choir and PEO, Chapter R. She enjoyed camping, volunteering and was a loving mother, grandmother and friend.
Survivors include her husband of Enterprise; children, Michael and Donald of Enterprise, and Janelle of Pendleton; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Gerry and Judy McCubbin of Portland, and Richard and Marilyn Miller of Keizer, and other relatives.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s research, the community church or Wallowa Memorial Hospital in care of Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W. Main St., Enterprise.
Payton Steinbeck
Formerly of Enterprise
1988-2003
Payton Hadley Steinbeck, 15, of Kalispell, Mont., and formerly of Enterprise died Oct. 6 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center as a result of an accident. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Cloverleaf Hall in Enterprise.
Payton was born April 5, 1988, to Nathan and Klista Steinbeck in Sacramento, Calif. He attended school in Enterprise through the ninth grade. He was an honor student and never knew a stranger. He was always surrounded by friends, either shooting hoops, playing their guitars or listening to music. He participated in cross country, track, football, basketball, baseball and golf, and was on both the Little League and Babe Ruth all-star teams. He enjoyed snowboarding, water skiing, camping, hunting, fishing and traveling. The family visited Florida, Mexico, Alaska, Arizona and Colorado.
Survivors include his parents and twin sister, Kelsey, all of Kalispell; grandparents, John and Margaret Steinbeck of Kenai, Alaska, and Bill and Judie Stark of Hermiston; great-grandparents, Don and Jennie Smith of Sun City West, Ariz., and Pete and Betty Trump of Elgin; and other relatives. A grandfather, Roger Nedrow of Enterprise, died earlier.
Lula E. Harlow
Lula E. Harlow, 95, of La Grande died Thursday at a local care home. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hillcrest Cemetery.
A full obituary will be published later.