Irene Stuart

La Grande

Mass of Christian Burial for Irene "Tu Tu” DeVos Stuart, 79, of La Grande will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church with Father Hank Albrecht officiating. Private interment will be held later.

Mrs. Stuart died Aug. 5 at her home after a short illness. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements.

Her obituary was published in Saturday’s Observer.

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Keith Delaney

Formerly of Union

A graveside service for Keith Delaney of Pacific City and formerly of Union will begin at 11 a.m. Aug. 21 at the Union Cemetery with the Rev. Jerry Peters officiating. A celebration of life and potluck barbecue will follow at the home of Wythel and Ken Aldrich, 57958 Godley Road in Union. Participants are invited to bring a salad or dessert.

Mr. Delaney, 69, died May 24 in Pacific City.

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Ruthe C. Kovach

La Grande

1920-2004

Ruthe C. Kovach, 83, of La Grande died Aug. 7 at her home. At her request, there will be no services held. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Ruthe C. Kovach was born on Sept. 22, 1920, the daughter of William Lewis and Mary Veronica (Gillganon) Dusen-berry in Junction City. She attended school in Weiser, Idaho where she graduated with the class of 1938. Afterward, she moved to Lewiston, Idaho, where she attended the school of nursing and worked in St. Joseph Hospital in Lewiston.

In 1945 she enlisted in the United States Army nurses corp, where she served as a second lieutenant during World War II, she was honorably discharged in 1946. After her service to her country, she worked for the Atomic Energy Commission in Los Alamos, N.M., before finally settling in the Grande Ronde Valley, where she worked as a nurse at the St. Joseph Hospital in La Grande. On July 28, 1948 Ruthe married Jeff Kovach, DVM, in La Grande. Together the couple lived in their farmhouse in the valley.

Ruthe enjoyed crafts, horses, helping her husband with the veterinary clinic and most of all spending time with her family.

She is survived by her husband; children, F. Michael Kovach Jr. and Dr. Nicholas Lee Kovach, both of Bellevue, Wash.; Dr. Peter Anthony Kovach of Eugene, and Rebecca Jo Sullivan of La Grande; three grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by brothers, Ray and Bob Dusenberry, and a sister Regina Barrett.

Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Ruthe Kovach to the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh Street, La Grande, 97850. To view the obituary, sign the guest book or leave a condolence on-line, visit www.danielschapel.com .

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Metta Pitman

Haines

1919-2004

Metta D. Pitman, 85, of Haines died Aug. 8. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. in Baker City, with Pastor Roger Scovil of the Christian Church officiating. A luncheon at the Baker City Christian Church, 2998 Eighth St., will follow.

Mrs. Pitman was born June 8, 1919, to Elva Carl and Rosella Lewis Perry in Nampa, Idaho. She graduated from high school in Meridian, Idaho, and graduated from Albion Normal School in Idaho with a teaching certificate in 1939.

She married Chester W. Sater in 1939. After a divorce she married John Pitman on Aug. 19, 1949. She taught school in Baker City, at Brooklyn, Churchill, North Baker and South Baker elementary schools, from 1945 until her retirement in 1981.

She enjoyed reading, flower gardening, picking huckleberries, needlework, playing cards, traveling and being with her family. She was a member of the Eastern Star, Ester Chapter, and was very active at both the local and state levels.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Chester and Linda Sater of La Grande, and Jack and Arlyne Sater of Lolo, Mont.; a stepdaughter and her husband, Marilyn and Kendal Brinkerhoff of Pangutich, Utah; two brothers and their wives, Jack and Pat Perry of John Day, and Earl and Joann Perry of Lowman, Idaho; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

Her husband and a brother, Everett Perry, died earlier.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or any charity in care of Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City 97814.

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Daniel Mellish

Union

1922-2004

Daniel Grossvener Mellish, 81, of Union and formerly of Umapine died Aug. 4 at Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles. A memorial service will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Umapine with Pastor Tim Gray officiating. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Mr. Mellish was born Nov. 20, 1922, to John Edward and Jessie Wood Mellish in Letonia, Ohio. He moved to California in the late 1930s and entered the Merchant Marines in the early 1940s. He married his wife Miriam on May 15, 1946, in Carlsbad, Calif., and lived in Vista and Escondido, both in California, Cave Junction, College Place, Wash., and Umapine, before moving to Union to be near his daughter.

He was a member of the Tri-cities Mid-Columbia Merchant Marines Chapter and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He participated in Maranatha Mission projects in many foreign countries.

Survivors include his wife of Union; children, William Mellish of California, Daniel and Paul Mellish, both of Walla Walla, Michael "Jim" Mellish of Arizona, and Esther Miracle of Union; 21 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and three sisters. A son, John Bruce Mellish, died in 1998.

Memorials may be made to the Missions Project of the

La Grande Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2702 Adams Ave., 97850.

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Frieda Stauffer

Union

Frieda Stauffer, 90, of Union died Wednesday at her home. Arrangements will be announ-ced by Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

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‘Gene’ Duncan

Baker City

1938-2004

Roscoe E. "Gene" Duncan, 65, of Baker City died Aug. 11 at his home. A vigil Rosary will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City. A memorial Mass will begin at 11 a.m. Monday with the Revs. Jim Stephens, Robert Irwin and Camillus Fernando concelebrating.

Mr. Dun-can was born Oct. 12, 1938, to Rock and Ruth Duncan in Baker City. He attended Keating School, St. Francis Academy, Oregon State University, Gonzaga University and Eastern Oregon College. He served in the Army and on Nov. 15, 1961, married Mary Claire Mont-gomery. The couple lived on the ranch in Keating Valley until 1964 when they moved to Baker City.

He was a born salesman, and started his own business, Duncan Wholesale. He worked at Farmterials and Lumberman’s until his retirement. He enjoyed life and played as hard as he worked. After a 14-hour work day, he spent hours coaching kids in the evening. He spent 25 years refereeing basketball, including the 4A boys’ and girls’ state tournaments. He enjoyed the mountains, hunting, camping and being with his family.

He was a member of the Elks Lodge and Knights of Columbus for 44 years, and for several years he was a member of the Drum and Bugle Corps. He served as president of both baseball associations, Little League and Babe Ruth.

Survivors include his wife of Baker City; children and their spouses, Hugh Duncan, Colleen and Ken Downing, and Matt and Jennifer Duncan, all of La Grande, and Kathy Duncan-Casper and Donald Casper of Wallowa; his sisters, Emmy Ann Bellows of Ontario and Sr. Kay Marie Duncan of Baker City; five grandchildren and other relatives.

Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Association or St. Francis de Sales Choir Loft Fund in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City 97814.

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Jack MacGregor

Formerly of La Grande

1932-2004

Jack Edward MacGregor, 72, of Seal Beach, Calif., and formerly of La Grande died Aug. 11 in Long Beach, Calif.

Mr. MacGregor was born July 5, 1932, to Edward Herbert and Ellen Buchanan MacGregor in La Grande. He attended Island City School and La Grande High School, and served in the Marine Corps from 1951 to 1954, including one year in the Korean War. He married Rosann Andrews on Dec. 29, 1952, in Santa Monica, Calif. He enjoyed traveling in a motor home and visiting family and friends.

Survivors include his wife of Seal Point; children, Charles Edward MacGregor of Dana Point, Calif., and Elysa Ellen MacGregor of Long Beach; four grandchildren; siblings, Barbara Pabst and Tom MacGregor, both of Vancouver, Wash.; aunt Jean Walker and Greg of La Grande; and other relatives.

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Estol Hanford Moore

Formerly of La Grande

1912-2004

Estol Hanford Moore, 91, of Forest Grove and formerly of La Grande died Aug. 10 at a hospital in Hillsboro. A private memorial was held in Forest Grove.

Mrs. Moore was born Sept. 1, 1912, to Verne Ray and Mabel Thompson Sly near Creswell. She graduated from the University of Oregon and Oregon Normal School. On May 29, 1943, she married Earl Mark Hanford. In 1946 the couple moved to La Grande, where he had a radio repair shop and later a two-way radio shop. After his death in 1971, she married Bill A. Moore on Dec. 27, 1982, and moved to Forest Grove in 1984. He died in 1987.

She worked as a secretary in public libraries in Boise and in La Grande, and as a teacher in Harper, Union and Canby. Her last position was as a librarian at Central and Riveria schools in La Grande.

She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and the United Methodist Church. She enjoyed reading, gardening, keeping clippings on various subjects, sending cards, donating to causes and visiting the senior center.

Survivors include two daughters and their husbands, anne and Gary Olson of Portland, and Marcia and Robin Loney of Hillsboro; and one grandchild. A brother died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the library of your choice or to Nature Conservancy of Oregon in care of Autumn Funerals and Cremations, 12639 S.W. Winterview Drive, Portland 97224-0701.