Joyce Pratt

Enterprise

1961-2004

Joyce Pratt, 42, of Enterprise died June 6 from injuries in a motor vehicle accident.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 pm at the Enterprise Christian Church.

She was born on Oct. 19, 1961 in Enterprise to Delbert and Itha Pratt.

Joyce attended private kindergarten in Enterprise for two years, the Joseph schools for nine years, and completed her schooling in Enterprise at age 21.

Joyce had an amazing zest for life. She always amazed people with her wit and captured their hearts with her childlike innocence. She loved to laugh, whether it was watching the "I Love Lucy" show, or telling you that she was wearing your dress, sweater or slippers. Her favorite things were a trip to McDonald’s or the mall.

Joyce loved to travel with her parents. She visited 43 states, Canada and Mexico, as well as cruising the inland passage and the Caribbean. She enjoyed her invitation to the captain’s lounge as they went through the Panama Canal.

Shortly after her birth, when her parents took her to specialists in Portland, they were told to just take her home and love her, and not expect her to survive for more than two years. Yet due to the amazing love and selfless care that her parents gave her, she outlived all medical expectations. She defied all of the odds and blessed many with her life.

Her mother, Itha, died on Dec. 18, 2003.

Survivors include her father, Delbert of Enterprise; sisters and brother-in-laws, Lillian and Doug Edmonds of Philomath, and Susan and David Chriss of Bend; sister Beverly Pratt of Salem; brother and sister-in-law John and Rebecca Pratt of Salem; and nine nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Enterprise Christian Church or Emmanuel School of Religion, where an apartment unit is dedicated in her name in the Emmanuel Village.

James Webster

Formerly of Summerville

1939-2004

James Glenn Webster, 64, of Eagle, Idaho, and formerly of Summerville died June 19 at his home. Funeral services were today at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and burial followed at Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise.

Mr. Webster was born in Roberts, Idaho, and raised in Cobalt, Idaho. He graduated from Salmon High School, attended the University of Idaho and served in the Army, serving as a track radar and a radio repairman. On June 25, 1961, he married Joann Nuss in Anchorage. The couple ran a plumbing and heating contracting business, and in 1978 the family moved to Summerville where they lived for 20 years. The couple retired in 1998 and moved to Eagle.

Survivors include his wife of Eagle; children and their spouses, Jim and Gita Webster of Pendleton, Janene and David McNeal of Eagle and Julie and Carl Beckwith of Mishawaka, Ind.; four grandchildren; his sisters, Kay Akers and Maureen Lee, both of Boise; and a brother, Jayo Webster of Salmon.

Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and School, 5009 Cassia St., Boise 83705.

Juanita R. ‘Nita’ Witty

La Grande

1932-2004

Juanita R. "Nita" Witty, 71 a longtime resident of La Grande, died June 18 at her home.

A celebration of life will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Loveland Funeral Chapel. Following the services, friends are invited to join with the family at Riverside Park for a potluck and time of sharing.

Mrs. Witty was born Aug. 20, 1932, in Drewsey. She was the daughter of Ray and Christian Hennings Masterson. She was raised and educated in Burns and graduated from high school in Burns. She had lived and worked in Burns after high school.

She married Duane Witty on Oct. 7, 1956 in Minden, Nevada. The couple came to the Grande Ronde Valley in the late 1950s and had lived in Elgin, Imbler, and Cove before settling in La Grande. Mrs. Witty had cooked at the Imbler Cafe, the La Grande Sale Yard and the Truck Stop, before beginning work at Fleetwood Manufacturing in 1973. She was a lead supervisor in the cabinet department at Fleetwood, and worked there until her retirement in August of 1995.

She greatly enjoyed camping and spending time on the Snake River, as well as rock hounding and gathering firewood. She enjoyed yard work and her flower garden and was an avid Portland Trail Blazer fan. She also enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Duane Witty; six children and their spouses, Keith and Cami Bebb of Portland and Nona Rudolph also of Portland, Christy and Rick Le Fever, Steve and Tracy Witty, Teresa Johnson and Sam Witty, all of La Grande; 13 grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Her parents and two sisters died earlier.

Memorials may be directed to the Union County Senior Center, in care of the Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande 97850.

Leroy ‘Rusty’ Earl Penner

Formerly of La Grande

1961-2004

SEATTLE Leroy "Rusty" Earl Penner, 43, of Seattle, a 1985 Blue Mountain Community College graduate, died June 4 after a four-year battle against ALS (Lou Gehrig’s) disease.

The funeral was held in Seattle on June 9, at Evergreen-Washelli Funeral Home.

Mr. Penner was born May 30, 1961, at Spokane, to Tom and Wanda Penner. The family moved to Oregon in 1962 when he was 9 months old and lived primarily in Eastern Oregon.

He attended various grade schools throughout the state, attending La Grande schools from 1970 until his graduation from high school in 1979.

Mr. Penner joined the Navy after high school serving until 1982.

He attended BMCC, graduating with an associate degree in electronic technology in 1985.

He married Kym Botts in 1985. The couple were parents of a son, Daniel R. Penner. They were later divorced.

They moved to Seattle in 1985 and Mr. Penner worked in electronics for a short time. He became an electrician’s helper in 1986 and later joined the electrician apprenticeship program and became a journeyman electrician in 1991.

His main claim to fame was that he worked on the second two tallest buildings in Seattle.

Mr. Penner married Christine Meadows at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in 1996.

He enjoyed playing cards, camping , swimming, motorcycle and snowmobile riding. Most of all he enjoyed being with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Christine of Seattle; son, Daniel Penner of Hermiston; stepson, Zachary Smith in Seattle; parents, Tom and Wanda Penner of Pendleton and many other relatives throughout the West.

Memorial contributions may be made to: ALS Association, 6627 S. 191st Place, Suite F-106, Kent, WA 98032.

Warren D. Hutchins

La Grande

1952-2004

Warren D. Hutchins, 51, died June 17 in a motorcyle accident.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Kamiah, Idaho. Burial followed at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Nezperce, Idaho. Trenary Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Hutchins was born November 26, 1952, to Ned and Rosemary Lampolt-shamer Hutchins at Grangeville, Idaho.

In 1958 the family moved to Preston, Idaho where Warren went to high school and then to Boise State College in Boise. In 1977, he moved in La Grande and went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. He was a Union Pacific engineer for 27 years. This was a lifetime dream for him.

Warren loved to golf and was an avid skier in his younger years. He loved to travel, fish and hunt. He also had a great passion for motorcycling and had a Gold Wing that he cherished. His family was very important to him, so he visited his mother often in Kamiah, Idaho. He always remembered birthdays and holidays with special gifts.

He is survived by his mother Rosemary Hutchins of Kamiah, Idaho, his two sisters Linda and Richard Taniguchi of St. Maries, Idaho, Becky and Phillip Eckersley of Westpoint, Utah; five nieces and nephews; and special friend was Ken Stockard and five nieces and nephews. His father and one brother preceded him in death.

Leighton Johnston

Formerly of La Grande

1918-2004

Leighton F. Johnston, 86, of Hood River and formerly of La Grande died June 16 in Hood River. A celebration of life will be held later.

Mr. Johnston was born Feb. 16, 1918, to Victor H. and Martha Fries Johnston in Summerville. He graduated from Imbler High School in 1935 and served in the Army Air Corps. On May 12, 1940, he married Marie V. McManus in Walla Walla. He worked as an electrician and belonged to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for 53 years.

He owned Fairway Electric in La Grande before moving to The Dalles in 1952 where he worked on The Dalles Dam, the Swift Creek Dam and the John Day Dam. After retiring in 1982 he moved to Hood River where he owned and ran Mid-Columbia Mobile Estates.

He was a member of the Mid-Columbia Collectors’ Car Club, the Eagles and the Elks. He enjoyed woodworking and repairing mechanical things, especially antique cars.

Survivors include his wife of Hood River; children and their spouses, Pat and Mike Fowler of The Dalles, Colette and Billy Cox of Wamic, Terry and Stephanie Johnston of Woodburn, and Rick and Annette Johnston of Sandy; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; a brother, Dean Johnston of Union; and other relatives. A sister, Bernice Munhall of Baker City died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital or the Shriners in care of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont, Hood River, OR 97031.

May Mattoon

Formerly of La Grande

1910-2004

Aletha May Clay Mattoon, 94, of Centralia, Wash., and formerly of La Grande died June 24 at a Washington care center. Graveside services will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Island City Cemetery. Cattermole Funeral Home of Winlock, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Mattoon was born May Clay on May 31, 1910, in La Grande, where she lived for 48 years.

Survivors include children, Betty Agnetti of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., Kathleen Fields of Eugene, Joe Vowell of Ryderwood, Wash., and Ed Vowell of Winlock; many grandchildren; a sister, Frances Miller of Fair Oaks, Calif., and two brothers, David Clay of Zapata, Texas, and Wesley Clay of Forest Grove.

Fred Williams

Wallowa

1928-2004

Fred Williams, 75, of Wallowa, died June 21 in a La Grande care center.

A private family service will be held at a later date. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Williams was born Oct. 16, 1928, in Promise. He was the son of Thomas J. and Eliza I. Zumwalt Williams. He was raised and educated in Promise and in Wallowa.

He married Myrtle "Betty" Gilmore in September 1952 in Portland.

Mr. Williams had spent his life working in the woods and logging. He had started out cutting and falling timber, and then drove truck for logging companies and later owned and drove his own truck.

Mr. Williams served his country in the Army, and had received the Army Occupation Medal, the Korean Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Combat Information Badge, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Purple Heart Cluster. He was wounded two times during his service.

Mr. Williams greatly enjoyed the hobbies of hunting, fishing, mushrooming, rafting and the outdoors. Wherever you would see Fred, you would see his beloved "Snoopy" the schnauzer dog. He also loved to spend time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Williams of Wallowa; two children and their spouses, Vickie and Steve Hocker and Cheryl and Bob Taylor, all of Hermiston; three brothers, Merle Williams of Hermiston, Gail Williams of Union and Leonard Williams of Arizona; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in his death by his parents, a son, Steve Williams who died in 1980, two sisters, four brothers and a granddaughter.

Alta Cantzler

La Grande

1921-2004

Alta Cantzler, 82, of La Grande died June 25 at a local care center after an eight-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Layne’s Funeral Home, 16 N.E. Clark Ave., Battle Ground, Wash. Burial will be at the Yacolt Cemetery in Yacolt, Wash. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Cantzler was born Dec. 9, 1921, to John Ashton and Bessie Elma Olson Hammond in Scotia, Calif. She graduated from high school in 1940 and married Lawrence Koegler on June 22, 1940. The couple lived in Longview and Yacolt, Wash. She studied nursing at Lower Columbia Junior College and became a practical nurse in 1954. She coached the Babe Ruth North Clark Team that won the league championship and took second place in the district tournament in 1971. She was chosen to manage the mid-county all-star team.

After her husband died in 1973, she married Frank A. Cantzler on Oct. 15, 1975, in Westport, Wash. He died in 1991. She enjoyed the ocean, fishing, crabbing and

clamming. He died in 1991.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Jan Koegler of Cove; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; four stepdaughters and their husbands, Connie and Mel Vandenburg of Ames, Iowa, Lani and Bruce Stone of Wilsonville, Carol and Jack Frost of Enumclaw, Wash., and Carie Jo and Brian Thomas of Sumner, Wash., and 13 step-grandchildren.

A sister and three brothers died earlier.

Stacy Gorham

Formerly of La Grande

1980-2004

Stacy Lee Gorham, 23, of Hermiston and formerly of La Grande died June 24 at her parents’ home after a long

illness.

A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Monday at the Hermiston Cemetery. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.

Miss Gorham was born July 7, 1980, to Greg and Wren Gorham in Walla Walla. She was raised in La Grande and moved to Hermiston at the age of 11. In 1998 she graduated from Hermiston High School, where she was a member of the marching band for four years.

She was an Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters.

She attended Blue Mountain Community College, Eastern Oregon University and graduated from Boise State University with a degree in psychology.

Survivors include her parents and a brother and sister-in-law, Corey and Mary Gorham, all of Hermiston; grandparents, Jack and Wanda McPherson and Paul Gorham, all of Pendleton, and other relatives. A grandmother, Aloha Gorham died earlier.

Helen Lowman

Formerly of La Grande

1915-2004

Helen E. Lowman, 89, of Forest Grove and formerly of La Grande died June 16 at Providence St. Vincent Hospital in Portland. A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. today at the United Church of Christ in Forest Grove.

A second memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Aug. 7 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., with Sally Wiens officiating.

Mrs. Lowman was born Feb. 10, 1915, to Alvin S. and Minnie A. Linebarger Lowman in Myrtle Point. Her mother died when Helen was 9, and she moved at age 12 with her father and brother, Herbert, to live with their paternal grandparents in Pennsylvania.

She moved to La Grande at the age of 20 at the invitation of her aunt and stayed for over 65 years. She moved to Forest Grove in March of this year to be closer to her son.

She taught piano lessons and performed twice at Eastern Oregon College, first when she was 21 years old and again when she was 62. She was the church organist at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church for 17 years and at the same time for the Episcopal church for eight years.

In New York, she was the pianist with a chamber orchestra whose performance was broadcast over the radio.

She was a member of the American Guild of Organists, and the Symphony Guild.

She married, and after a divorce in 1962, she worked for the Welfare Department and was a caseworker until she retired in 1979.

She was a landlord, poet, theologian and a dedicated mother.

Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Aaron and Sue Feik, of Bothell, Wash., and Dale and Linda Feik of Forest Grove; four grandchildren; three step-grandchildren, and a niece.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Priests for Equality or the music department of the United Church of Christ in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley.