Walt J. Avery

Formerly of Joseph

1927-2004

Walt J. Avery, 77, of Irrigon and formerly of Joseph, died July 25 as a result of cancer. Graveside services will begin at 11 a.m Wednesday at Prairie Creek Cemetery.

Walt was born to John Henry Avery and Celia Frances Moore Avery June 29, 1927, in Lostine.

He worked on several ranches throughout Wallowa County before marrying Joy Frances Bennett of Joseph on Sept. 15, 1948.

Walt and Joy moved to Portland, where Walt worked on several area farms and in the shipyards where he was a member of the Boilermakers Union for many years. In 1972 Walt and Joy moved back to Joseph, where they stayed until 1988 when they purchased a home in Irrigon.

Throughout his life Walt enjoyed hunting, fishing and working with horses. He loved to teach his grandchildren about the hobbies he loved to do. He also enjoyed working on cars. He helped raise all four of his grandchildren and was a great support to his entire family.

He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Violet Kelsey and Shirley Taft of Prosser, Wash.; two brothers, Hank Avery of Pendleton and Larry Avery of Wyoming; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and many cherished friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and four brothers.

The family wishes memorials in Walt’s name be made to Columbia View Community Church of Irrigon, or Vange John Memorial Hospice of Hermiston, in care of Bollman Funeral Home in Enterprise.

Daisy Helen Randall

Lostine and Wallowa

1908-2004

Daisy Helen Randall, 96, of Lostine and Wallowa, died July 13 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital.

Services were held in Blytheville, Ark., and she was buried there at the Dogwood Cemetery, on July 19.

Daisy was born in Steele, Mo., on March 3, 1908, to Edward Lafayette Parks and Vestal Virginia Norris Parks, and was raised in Tennessee.

She moved to Manila, Ark., as a young adult and married Ellsworth Herder at Blytheville, Ark., Nov. 1, 1927. They moved to La Grande, where they had one child, Dorothy. After divorcing Mr. Herder, Daisy and Dorothy moved to Ellensburg, Wash. Daisy married Howard Randall in 1939. They ranched for many years in the Dry Creek area of Ellensburg. In 1947 they moved to Powatka Ridge near Wallowa, later selling that ranch and returning to Ellensburg where they had cattle and some dairy cows.

In 1983, when Howard had health problems, they moved to Lostine to be near her daughter. After Howard’s death, Daisy lived in Lostine and Wallowa. She was active and independent well into her 90s before she required assistance. At age 91, her job at the senior mealsite was to help others onto the bus. She enjoyed being outdoors, walked to most of her destinations and loved cattle and border collie dogs.

Survivors include her daughter, Dorothy Knight of Lostine; step-daughter, Alma Lynn of Seattle; sister and brother-in-law, Lucille and B.A. McCann; brother, Luther Parks of Manila, Ark.; four grandchildren; three great-grandsons and three step great grandsons.

She was preceded in death by her husband, two sisters and four brothers.

Evelyn Pugh

Formerly of La Grande

1922-2004

Evelyn Mae Pugh, 82, of Surprise, Ariz., and formerly of La Grande died July 22 at a care center.

Mrs. Pugh was born May 5, 1922, to James and Mabel Hig-gins in Mount Hood, and adopted by Warren and Lucinda Gibbs. She attended school in Mount Hood and Parkdale, and on Nov. 11, 1941, she married Dayton W. Pugh in Vancouver, Wash. The family moved to La Grande in 1963, and she worked for 20 years as a billing secretary at the La Grande Clinic for doctors Allen, Vanderbilt, Minogue and Frederick. She retired in 1985 and the couple traveled for a number of years before settling in Hemet, Calif. After her husband’s death in 2001 she moved to Surprise.

She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Surprise and the Elks Club in La Grande. She enjoyed traveling.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Ann Earle of Beaverton, Linda and Ernie Hoffman of Surprise, Karen and Arnold Simmons of Oroville, Calif., David Pugh of Vancouver, and Daytine "Tina" and Terry Wagoner of Summerville; 15 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren, several great-great-grandchildren, and other relatives.

Memorials may be made to any hospice organization in care of Camino del Sol Funeral Chapel, 13738 Camino del Sol, Sun City West, Ariz. 85375

Orville Marshall

La Grande

1927-2004

Orville Marshall, 77, of

La Grande died July 27 at his home. A celebration of life will began at 10 a.m. Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 11206 S. McAlister Road in Island City. Private burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Mr. Mar-shall was born Feb. 22, 1927, to Elisha W. and Elva

J. Boyd Marshall in Wallowa. He attended school in Wallowa County and served in the Army. On April 17, 1948, he married Barbara Lester in La Grande. He worked for Eddy’s Bakery, Union Pacific Railroad and the Mount Emily Lumber Company before he began working for the city of

La Grande in the public works department in about 1959. He retired from the city in 1989. After his retirement he helped Goss Motors deliver new cars.

He was a member of the

La Grande Volunteer Fire Department, the Eagles and the VFW. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, tinkering in his garage, working on cars and spending time with his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife of La Grande; children and their spouses, Lyle and Donna Marshall, and Nancy and Roger McCoy, all of La Grande, Bob and Trena Marshall of Spokane, Wash., and Kathleen and Richard Cathy of Boise; brothers, Melvin Marshall of New Plymouth, Idaho, and Elford Young of Central Point; a sister, Georgia Doss of Central Point; 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and other relatives. Two brothers and a sister died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Grande Ronde Home Health and Hospice in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St.

Brenda Merkley

Union

1964-2004

Brenda Merkley, 39, of Union died July 15 at Oregon Health and Science University Hospital in Portland of natural causes. Burial was at the Grove City Cemetery in Blackfoot, Idaho. Hawker Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Miss Merkley was born Aug. 24, 1964, to Blaine and Arlene A. Henderson Merkley in Blackfoot. She graduated from high school there in 1982 and was voted the most athletic girl in her graduating class. She attended various colleges in Oregon where she competed in volleyball and basketball. She earned an associate degree in forestry from Treasure Valley Community College and worked for the U.S. Forest Service for many years in fire and fuels.

She enjoyed fishing, camping and barbecues, and she will be remembered for her love of animals and her kind heart.

Survivors include her parents of Blackfoot; a brother and sister-in-law, Doug and Terri Merkley of Blackfoot, and a twin sister and her husband, Debbie and Jerry Holloway of Merced, Calif.

Linda ‘Lynn’ LaFever

Baker City

Linda ‘Lynn’ LaFever of Baker City died today at her home. She was 51. She was born in La Grande. Arrangements will be announced later by Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel of Baker City.

Josie Halladay

Formerly of La Grande

1918-2004

Josie Halladay, 86, of Hermiston and formerly of La Grande died July 27 at Park Manor in Walla Walla. At her request there will be no funeral. Burial will be at Grandview Cemetery. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Halladay was born April 28, 1918, to Robert and Cora Loveless Luton in La Grande. She attended school in La Grande and married John Robert Halladay Sr. on July 29, 1953. The couple moved to Hermiston in 1955. She was a homemaker and helped on the family farm raising beef cattle until her health began failing. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, canning, her dog Tootsie and spending time with her family.

Survivors include stepsons, John Halladay Jr. of Hermiston, James Halladay of Meacham and Gene Osburn of New Mexico; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her husband, two sons, Martin and Alan Clark, a brother and four sisters died earlier.

Phyllis Purvine

Formerly of La Grande

1921-2004

Phyllis C. Purvine, 83, of Portland and formerly of La Grande, died July 8.

Mrs. Purvine was born July 1, 1921, to Gilbert and Grace Courtright in Union. She graduated from La Grande High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon College and a master’s degree from Oregon State University. She taught for her first year at Mount Carmel School near North Powder, and in Corvallis and Gresham for 20 years. She retired in 1987. On June 4, 1944, she married Julius Purvine in Corvallis. She was a member of the Methodist Church and volunteered for Loaves and Fishes.

Survivors include her husband of Portland; children, Alerita Purvine of Portland, Suzanne McQueen of Gresham, Carol Holm of Eugene, Glenna Marra of Nyack, N.Y., Joyce Standing of Kirkland, Wash., and Ross Purvine of Los Angeles; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and two sisters, Betty Graham and Ruth Holznagel.

Two brothers, Allen and Burr Courtright and a sister, Bernice Warren, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity in care of Bateman Carroll Funeral Chapel, 520 W. Powell, Gresham 97030.

Jack Stephens

La Grande

1932-2004

Jack E. Stephens, 72, of La Grande died July 27 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Private family services will be held later.

Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Stephens was born June 20, 1932, to Clinton and Nancy Redfern Stephens in Cove. He attended school there, and served in the Army. He worked at various jobs and lived in various places including Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. He returned to Union County around 2001. He enjoyed music, art and the outdoors.

Survivors include his sister, Betty Harris of La Grande, and other relatives. A brother and two sisters died earlier.

Carl Elmer

Formerly of Cove

1922-2004

Carl F. Elmer, 81, of Bend and formerly of Cove, died July 11. Niswonger, Reynolds Funeral Home in Bend was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Elmer was born Sept. 23, 1922, to Frank and Margaret Morris Elmer in Cove. He graduated from Cove High School in 1940 and served in the Army during World War II. He worked as a ranch manager in Alicel before moving to Portland where he learned saddlemaking. He established Elmer’s Saddling in John Day in 1960. He served on the Grant County Fair Board and helped establish many rodeos and horse shows. He trained cow-cutting horses and competed throughout Eastern Oregon.

He was a member of both the Christian and Baptist churches in Grant County.

Survivors include children Dennis Elmer and Gwenn Roberts, both of Bend; one grandchild; a brother, Russell Elmer of Cove; and a sister, Wanda Hughes of Grants Pass. A sister died earlier.

Memorials may be made to any charity.

‘Honi’ Anderson

La Grande

1928-2004

La Nita P. "Honi" Anderson, 76, of La Grande died July 27 at Providence Portland Medical Center. Burial will be at the Summerville Cemetery.

Mrs. Anderson was born May 24, 1928, to Walter J. and La Nita Gaskill Person in Portland. She spent many years on the family farm at the foot of Mount Harris and graduated from high school in Portland. She earned a degree in 1972 from Portland State University.

In 1949 she married Jerry Anderson in Portland. The couple were later divorced. She worked at her father’s insurance company and as a secretary at KGW. She started her own public relations company in 1965, and wrote for the Oregon Journal and Willamette Week. She hosted a talk show on KKEY and was editor of the Portland Jewish Review for 17 years.

In the 1990s she moved back to La Grande to care for her mother and stayed after her mother died. She enjoyed writing, reading, politics and listening to jazz.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Jennelle and Jim Wise of La Grande, Morgan Ryan and Michael Smith, and Eric Anderson, all of Portland; one grandchild and other relatives.

Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to the Oregon Chapter of the American Heart Association in care of Holman’s Funeral Service, 2610 S.E. Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland 97214.

Hazel Fink

Formerly of La Grande

1919-2004

Hazel Fink, 85, of Boise and formerly of La Grande died July 28 at a care center. A memorial service will be held later in Boise.

Mrs. Fink was born June 27, 1919, to Thomas Winburn and Anna Palmer Luther in Watson, Colo. She grew up in the Pueblo and Florence areas of Colorado. In the 1940s she moved to California, and on June 26, 1955, she married George Wilbur Fink in California.

She came to La Grande in the 1970s to be near her family, and in 1989, she moved to Boise, to be near other family. She enjoyed watching local horse racing and earlier, before her arthritis became so painful, she enjoyed painting.

Survivors include a son, Nick Morgan of Los Angeles; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; a sister, Wilma Fuller, of Eagle, Idaho, and other relatives. Her husband, four brothers, William, John, Henry and Aaron Luther, two sisters, Dorothy Shook and Mildred Laughlin, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Boise Samaritan Village in care of Daniels Chapel, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande OR 97850.