Rose Druist

La Grande

Rose M. Druist, 88, of La Grande died Sunday. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Jessie Brown

Elgin

Jessie Brown, 81, of Elgin died Sunday. A complete obituary will be published later. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

‘Catherine’ Shelton

La Grande

1909-2004

Rose "Catherine" Shelton, 94, of La Grande died Jan. 22 at a local care center. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Island City. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery.

Mrs. Shelton was born June 3, 1909, to Frank and Margaret Belle Wildman Buckley in Butte, Mont. She came to La Grande at the age of eight and was raised by an aunt. She graduated from La Grande High School in 1928, attended Eastern Oregon Normal School, and later graduated from Oregon Normal School in Monmouth.

She taught school in rural Elgin where she boarded with the Orie Becthel family, and at Lower Cove School where she boarded with Charlie and Verdie Gray.

On March 4, 1933, she married Lester Shelton in Enterprise. The couple lived on a farm in Lower Cove from 1933 until they moved to La Grande in 1989. She became a member of the LDS Church at the age of 91 and attended the La Grande Third Ward. She enjoyed feeding birds and deer, growing beautiful flowers and had a great love for cats and dogs.

Survivors include her daughter, Barbara Applebee of La Grande; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Ray Buckley, of La Grande; and other relatives. Her husband died earlier.

Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to the LDS Missionary Fund or the Blue Mountain Humane Association in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.

Alma Lipscomb

La Grande

Alma Lipscomb, 79, of La Grande died Monday at Grande Ronde Hospital.

Services are pending, and a full obituary will be published later in The Observer.

Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of local arrangements.

Loran Caldwell

Kamela

1943-2004

Loran F. Caldwell Jr., 60, of Kamela died Saturday near his home of natural causes.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Burns Mortuary in Hermiston. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of local arrangements.

Mr. Caldwell was born Sept. 30, 1943, in La Grande to Loran F. Caldwell Sr. and Irene L. Allen. He graduated from high school in The Dalles. After his schooling, he served his country in the Navy during the Vietnam War from 1960 until his discharge in 1966.

After his service, he was a laborer for Labor Union Local No. 121 before he purchased the Meacham Store & Deli.

He married Janet L. Vedder on March 27, 1997, at Winnemucca, Nev. He continued to own and operate the store until the time of his death.

He enjoyed hunting and mushrooming, story-telling, snowmobiling, and a special dog named Gizmo. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge, and the American Legion Lodge No. 2909.

He is survived by his wife of Kamela; four step-children, Robert Williamson of La Center, Wash., David Williamson of Columbus, Ga., Greg Williamson of Vancouver, Wash., and Janell Bishop of Kamela; four sisters, Ethelyn Baker of Hermiston, Rosetta Medlock of Meacham, Colleen Pope of San Diego and Kay Hays of Madison, Wis.; 10 step-grandchildren; one step-great-granddaughter; 10 nieces and nephews; and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews. His brother, George Johnson, died earlier.

John Murdoch

North Powder

1922-2004

John Murdoch, 81, of North Powder died Jan. 19 in Oreana, Idaho, where he had gone after the death of his son, Dennis, in a car accident Jan. 11. The funeral took place this morning at the Haines Methodist Church.

Mr. Murdoch was born Jan. 24, 1922, to John "Scotty" and Esther Hvidberg Murdoch in Fruitland, Idaho. He graduated from Haines High School in 1940, and served in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. On Feb. 13, 1943, he married Barbara Daugherty in Weiser, Idaho. The couple ranched for several years, and then purchased the Chevron service station in North Powder, which they ran for 36 years.

He enjoyed the outdoors and his mules. He dearly loved his family and never failed to let them know.

Survivors include his wife of North Powder; two daughters, Donna and her spouse, Ernie Dias, and Lora Murdoch and her significant other, Doug Fialkowski; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Elizabeth Eide, of Paradise, Calif.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the North Powder School Athletic Program, P.O. Box 10, North Powder 97867, or to any charity.

Edna Buoy

Elgin

1915-2004

Edna W. Buoy, 88, of Elgin died Jan. 25 at her home. Viewing will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Musgrove Mortuary, 3745 W. 11th. Ave. in Eugene. A graveside service will follow at the Gates Cemetery in Crow. A celebration of life will also be held for her daughter, Marilyn Buoy, who died in June 2002.

Mrs. Buoy was born Dec. 27, 1915, to Thomas W. and Lena Bell Beeney Hapner in Bozeman, Mont. She graduated from Springfield High School, and attended the University of Oregon. On May 27, 1939, she married Floyd A. Buoy. She was a homemaker, and two years after the death of her husband in 1974 she moved to Elgin to be near family.

She was a member of the Christian Church in Glenwood, and enjoyed gardening and spending time with her family.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Connie and Mike Short of Elgin, and Thomas and Carol Buoy of Oregon City; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Four brothers, four sisters, a daughter, Marilyn, and a great-granddaughter, Kerry, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in care of the Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St.

Leonard Watterson

Prairie City

1928-2004

Leonard Watterson, 75, of Prairie City died Jan. 17 in La Grande at the home of his son.

At his request there will be no funeral.

Mr. Watterson was born March 30, 1928, to Gale Pryce and Hester Boyce Watterson in Ellensburg, Wash., and went to school in various parts of Washington, Idaho and Oregon. His parents were farmers who finally settled in Baker City.

He served in the Army Air Forces from 1945 to 1947 and married Shirley Thompson on Aug. 12, 1949, in John Day. The couple lived in Baker City until 1951 when they moved to Bates, where he worked for the old Oregon Lumber Co. and Edward Hines Lumber Co. until the mill closed. The family moved to Prairie City in 1976, and he worked at the mill in John Day. He retired in 1990 after working nearly 40 years for the same company as a millwright and diesel mechanic.

He enjoyed work, friends and family, deer and elk hunting, picking huckleberries and fishing Strawberry Lake.

Survivors include his children, Dennis Watterson of La Grande, Neil Watterson of Boise and Vickie Bowles of Springfield; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three sisters, Wanda Willis of Maupin, Ester Cody of Ontario and Margaret Nelson of Black Diamond, Wash.

His wife and four brothers, Fred, Howard, Lester and Lee Watterson, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to hospice organizations in Grant or Union counties in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St.

Berniece Brown

Formerly of La Grande

M. Berniece Brown, 76, of Hood River and formerly of La Grande, died Wednesday at a care center. A memorial service will be held in La Grande later. A full obituary will be published by Loveland Funeral Chapel.

Effie Cole

La Grande

1907-2004

Effie Naomi Cole, 96, of La Grande died Jan. 27 at her home. At her request there will be no public service. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Cole was born April 20, 1907, to Logan and Nannie B. Hooper Huggins in Columbia Falls, Mont. She attended the University of Washington, and on May 31, 1941, she married Stacy Cole in Montana. She worked

for many years as the county health nurse. She enjoyed travel worldwide.

Survivors include her husband of La Grande, good friend Bryan Higgason and other relatives.

Glen Hylton

Formerly of La Grande

1925-2004

Glen L. Hylton, 78, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande died Jan. 24 at St. Elizabeth Care Center. A memorial service will be announced later.

Mr. Hylton was born Dec. 3, 1925, to Alex and Susie Wakefield Hylton in Enterprise. He attended school in La Grande and served in the Navy during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific.

On Dec. 15, 1946, he married Dorothy Mae Fihn in La Grande. The couple lived in Astoria, where he worked for Pacific Northwest Bell as a lineman, and moved to Baker City in 1951. He continued with Pacific Northwest Bell as an installation and repair technician, and retired in 1982.

He was a member of VFW Post 3048 and The Telephone Pioneers of America. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, traveling in his RV, woodworking, doing projects, working in the yard and being with his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife and a daughter, Glenda Hylton, of Baker City; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Doris and Lee Biser, Leona Ward and Bob Johnston, all of Boise, and Bettie and Jim Bramer of Fresno, Calif.; four grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Nikki and her husband Russ Rankin of Baker City and other relatives. A son, Bill Hylton, and a sister, Wilma, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, the American Alzheimer’s Association, the Eastern Oregon Chapter of the American Diabetes Association or the Oregon Humane Society in care of Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, P.O. Box 726, Baker City 97814.

Leoma Simmons

Elgin

1920-2004

Leoma N. Simmons, 83, of Elgin died Jan. 27 at her home. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Harvesters Church of the Nazarene, 11th and Birch in Elgin with Pastor Fred Laeger officiating. A private burial be in the Elgin Cemetery.

Mrs. Simmons was born April 28, 1920, to Walter C. and Amy Hovey Dallas in Iosepa, Utah. She married Rolin C. Simmons and came to Elgin in 1947. She owned Elgin Hardware and Building Supply, and later worked as a caregiver.

She was a member of the Church of The Nazarene, where she helped with the vacation Bible school. She was a member of the Elgin Women’s Service Club, and helped out at the Elgin Stampede. She received an outstanding service award for her work on community projects. She enjoyed reading, crafts, picnicking, camping, playing Yahtzee and taking photos. She will be remembered for her big Sunday gatherings and dinners, and always remembered her grandchildren with ice cream.

Survivors include her children and their spouses, Marvalene "M.J." Simmons of Crested Butte, Colo., Phillip and June Simmons of Big Rock, Tenn., Judith Hulse of Pendleton, and Randy and Shelly Simmons of La Grande; a sister, Nola Hodge of Redding, Calif.; 17 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and other relatives.

Her husband, a daughter, Janice Sannar, two sisters and seven brothers all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St.

John Brasch

Cove

John Brasch, 86, of Cove, died at a La Grande care center Thursday. Arrangements will be announced later by Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Paula Hammond

Formerly of La Grande

1947-2004

Paula Dianne Hammond, 56, of Lebanon and formerly of La Grande, died Jan. 28 of natural causes. The funeral will begin 11 a.m. Monday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., with the Rev. Frank Cooke officiating. A private burial will be in the Island City Cemetery.

Mrs. Hammond was born April 6, 1947, to Robert and Barbara Jean Sharp Cash in La Grande. She was raised in the La Grande area where she also raised her three children as a single mother.

She volunteered in pre-school classes and eventually became a teacher’s aide. She worked for Head Start for about 12 years, and during the summer months she worked in the kitchen at a nursing home. Later she provided in-home care for the elderly. On Aug. 4, 1993, she married Alfred Hammond.

The couple enjoyed fishing, camping, going for drives and just spending time together. Her favorites pastimes included going to yard sales, reading, cleaning, making freezer jam, playing slot machines and spending time with her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband of Albany; children, Dianne Barricklow and Deborah Ledridge, both of Lebanon, and Barbara Shorten of Oregon City; her father of La Grande; two brothers, James Cash of Indiana and David Cash of La Grande; a sister, Kathleen Freels of Tigard; eight grandchildren; and other relatives. Her mother died earlier.

Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made at any US Bank to the Paula Hammond account or in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley to help defray the cost of medical expenses.

Albert Hopkins

Summerville

1908-2004

Albert B. Hopkins, 95, of Summerville died Jan. 29 at Grande Ronde Hospital. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Summerville Cemetery Chapel with a graveside service following.

Mr. Hopkins was born Sept. 29, 1908, to the Rev. Benjamin Franklin and Mary Ann Green Hopkins in Texarkana, Ark. The family moved to La Grande in 1929 when his father was assigned to the Methodist Episcopal South Church on North Fir Street. He was in the first class at Eastern Oregon Normal School in 1929. On May 7, 1932, he married Phyllis Nadine Munn in Baker City. The couple taught for seven years at the Oregon Trail School south of Nyssa. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Idaho at Caldwell in 1938, and and from 1939 to 1946 he was a teacher, coach and superintendent at Imbler. For the next four years he was the superintendent at Union.

He earned a master’s degree at Oregon State University in 1948 and a doctorate from the University of Oregon in 1955. He was chosen to be dean of education at Montana State University-Havre in 1952 and two years later he joined the faculty as dean of education at Montana State University-Billings, where he retired in 1975.

After retirement he returned to his farm near Summerville, which had purchased during World War II. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing and working with cattle and chickens. He particularly enjoyed cutting his winter firewood. He was actively engaged in his farm work until two years ago.

Survivors include his wife of 71 years, two sons and their spouses, Doran and Fran Hopkins and Gerald and Mary Hopkins, all of Summerville; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Olin Hopkins of Salem, Utah; and two sisters, Edith Hopkins of Baker City and Dorothea Weinmann of Redmond. Four brothers and three sisters all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Elgin Methodist Church in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.

Margaret Huber

Formerly of La Grande

1916-2004

Margaret Meeks Huber, 87, of Provo, Utah, and formerly of La Grande died Jan. 28. The funeral will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the Rock Canyon Chapel, 2445 N. 650 East in Provo. Viewing will be from Monday from 9 to 10:15 a.m. before the funeral. Burial will be in the Midway City Cemetery.

Mrs. Huber was born Jan. 31, 1916, to Robert Arthur and Matilda Nielsen Meeks in Bicknell, Utah. On Oct. 26, 1949, she married James Russell Huber in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He died in 2001.

She graduated from Brigham Young University and taught home economics at Salem Junior High and Granite High School. She worked for the Utah State University Extension service as a clothing and interior design specialist. Later she taught high school home economics in La Grande for more than 20 years.

She was a member of the LDS church and served as ward and stake Relief Society president in La Grande; on a mission in Chicago, with her husband on an international mission to Israel as special representatives, and as missionaries in the Mesa, Ariz., Temple Visitor Center.

She was an exceptional cook and gracious host. She delighted in entertaining others and making them feel welcome in her home.

Survivors include children and their spouses, David and Debra Huber of Glenwood, Md., James and Donna Huber of West Jordan, Utah, and Lowell and Joan Huber of Fort Wayne, Ind.; 11 grandchildren; three sisters, Gladys Mathis of Price, Utah, Mary Bishop of Orem, Utah, and Arthur Cooper of Flagstaff, Ariz. Besides her husband, two sisters, Cora Elizabeth Meeks and Romania Meeks Wise, died earlier.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sundbergolpinmortuary.com .

Bonnie Osborn

Formerly of La Grande

1933-2004

Bonnie J. Osborn, 70, of Lewistown, Mont., and formerly of La Grande died Jan. 24 after a long illness. Memorial services took place Friday at Lewistown United Methodist Church. Interment of ashes will take place later at Whitelake Cemetery in Whitehall, Mich.

Mrs. Osborn was born Dec. 15, 1933, to Lester and Vivian Engin Moore in Muskegon, Mich. On June 25, 1954, she married Ted Osborn at Muskegon. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in 1962, and earned a master’s degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.

She was the director of nursing at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon until 1980, when the family moved to La Grande. She worked at Grande Ronde Hospital until 1984, when she moved to the University of Texas Hospital in Tyler, and in 1988 to the Rogue Valley hospital in Medford. In 1992 she moved to Salem and began working with the state’s workers compensation resolution program. In 1994 she began teaching pediatric nursing at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, and in 1996 she became director of nursing at Central Montana Medical Center. She taught at Montana State University-Northern-Lewistown until she retired in 2003.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church, the Lions Club, the Fergus County Port Authority, the American Nurses Association and was past president of the Montana Nurses Association. She enjoyed teaching, hunting and fishing.

Survivors include her husband of Lewistown; children and their spouses, Karen and Jim Bonjemoor of Hartland, Wis., Jean and Neil Flanders of Montague, Mich., and Mark and LuAnn Osborn of Whitehall, and six grandchildren. A grandson and a brother died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Central Montana Hospice or the Susan Komen Foundation in care of Creel Funeral Home, 603 W. Main St., Lewistown 59457.

William Rickert

Wallowa

1940-2004

William L. Rickert, 63, of Wallowa died Jan. 27 at his home of natural causes. A private family gathering will be held in the future.

Mr. Rickert was born Aug. 29, 1940, to William and Ethal Simpson Rickert. He graduated from Corbett High School in 1958 and worked as a logger. He married his wife Shirley on Oct. 15, 1988, in Veneta. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his wife of Wallowa; children, William Rickert of Wallowa, Jeff Rickert of Enterprise and Sam Rickert of Joseph; stepchildren, Kimberly King of Eugene and Tony Sargent of Virginia Beach, Va.; one grandchild; two sisters, Vicki Espenel of Newberg and Betty Kimbley of Gresham and other relatives. His first wife, Sharon, and a brother, Darrel Rickert, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the MS Society in care of Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W. Main St., Enterprise.

Edna Wolfe

Wallowa

1923-2004

Edna June Wolfe, 80, of Wallowa, died Jan. 25 in Spokane.

A rosary was said Friday at Bollman Funeral Home in Enterprise. The funeral Mass was this morning at St. Katherine’s Catholic Church.

Mrs. Wolfe was born June 5, 1923, to Louis and Mary Audet in Enterprise. She was raised on the family sheep ranch on Lower Prairie Creek. There she learned the value and rewards of hard work and frugal living as well as the joys of faith in God, family members said.

She graduated from Enterprise High School and from a business college in Portland. On Dec. 3, 1946, she married Wayne S. Wolfe of Wallowa. The couple raised two sons, Gordon and David, on their ranch near Wallowa, where Mrs. Wolfe was an invaluable helpmate to her husband through all their years together.

Survivors include her husband; a son and daughter-in-law, Gordon and Rebecca Wolfe of Wallowa, and a daughter-in-law, Lucy Wolfe of Vancouver, Wash.; four grandchildren; and three sisters, Laidee Ann Gent of Aurora, Colo., Josephine Whitaker of Enterprise and Marguerite Laeger of Baker City. A son, David, a sister who died in childhood, and a brother, Doria Audet, all died earlier.