David H. Oswald

La Grande

1944-2004

David Henry Oswald, 60, of La Grande, died Sept. 23 at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in La Grande.

David Henry Oswald was the only child of Donald and Velva (Cantrel) Oswald. He was born on Sept. 4, 1944 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in La Grande at a cost of $44.

In his youth, he was active in 4-H and FFA and raised many prize-winning angus beef. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1962. He married Carolyn Christi Hickman on Aug. 12, 1971 and became father to six children. He worked as a carpenter and built his own home on Fruitdale Lane.

He loved the outdoors and spent much time farming wheat, fishing, hunting and cutting wood on Mount Emily. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he found great meaning and joy in serving his creator and his fellow man. He had many special friends in the congregation and looked forward to meeting them at McDonald’s for coffee.

He was a kind, generous and loving husband and father, who will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Chris of La Grande; children and their spouses, Kelly Goodnight and Robert Derichsweiler of Needles, Calif., Coy and Natalie Goodnight of La Grande, Joel and Jeremy Phifer of Springfield, Noel and Regina Oswald of Shepard, Mont. and Gene Oswald and Jessika Holm of Creswell; and eight grandchildren

Those who wish may make a contribution in memory of David Oswald to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande OR 97850.

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Julie Geraci

Formerly of La Grande

1948-2004

Julie Ann Geraci, 55, of Portland and formerly of La Grande died Oct. 2 in Portland of natural causes. A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church. A reception will follow in the parish hall.

Mrs. Gera-ci was born Dec. 9, 1948, to Jules and Ada Nysen in Tacoma, Wash. She graduated from the University of Washington in 1971 with a bachelor of arts degree, and from the University of Cincinnati in 1972 with a master’s degree in education. On Sept. 30, 1972, she married Thomas K. Geraci in Gig Harbor, Wash. She worked for the Center for Human Development, then as a clinical dietician in private practice and for a dialysis clinic in La Grande, and later as a clinical consultant for Genzyme Corporation. The couple moved to Portland in January of this year.

Mrs. Geraci was a member of the Catholic Church, PEO and sang in the Grande Ronde Community Choir.

Survivors include her husband of Portland and soon to be of La Grande; children, Laura M. Geraci of Corvallis, and Travis C. Geraci of Washington, D.C., two brothers, Gary Nysen of Gig Harbor, and Lou Nysen of Pe Ell, Wash., her father of Gig Harbor, and other relatives. Her mother died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the EOU Foundation, 1 University Boulevard,

La Grande, for a scholarship fund for the Community Chorus.

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Edwin Crawford

Cove

1932-2004

Edwin James Crawford, 71, of Cove died Sept. 28 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Walla Walla. A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Oct. 16 at The Place on Buchanan Lane in Island City.

Mr. Crawford was born Dec. 16, 1932, in Arriba, Colo. He attended school in Oregon, and served in the Army during the Korean War. On March 10, 1961, he married Colleen Landis in Portland. The family moved to Cove in 1976 where they farmed and had the Cove General Store in 1984-85. He owned Crawford Construction Company and worked on the remodeling of Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston.

He was a member and Worshipful Master of the Cove Masonic Lodge, a member of the Shriners, chair of the first Al Kader Arabian Horse Show and captain of the Al Kader Mounted Patrol, president of the Gresham Shrine Club in 1974, a life member and first recipient of the Hiram Award of the Grande Ronde Valley Lodge, a life member of the Grande Ronde Valley Chapter of Royal Arch and the Baker Valley Scottish Rite.

He participated in the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show and enjoyed horses, the mountains, camping, backpacking, hunting and telling stories. He believed in making a deal with a handshake and never hesitated to help when needed. One of his last requests was that his horse Spock should be given, along with all its tack, to a children’s cancer camp.

Survivors include his wife of Cove; children and their spouses, Paul E. Landis of Gresham, Carolyn and Doug Lowery of Scappoose, and Cheryl and Mark Townsend of Kennewick, Wash.; extended family, Alan and Tammy Sweet of Pendleton, and Janet and Dana Wood of Portland; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and other relatives.

Two brothers, a sister and a daughter, Melanie Joy, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to the Shriners’ Children’s Hospital or Herring House in care of Herring Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, Wash.

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Douglas Prosch

La Grande

1943-2004

Douglas Lee Prosch, 61, of La Grande died Oct. 5 at Grande Ronde Hospital. There will be no public services.

Mr. Prosch was born June 5, 1943, to Victor and Fern Dicus Prosch in Hutchinson, Kan. The family moved to La Grande in 1949 and he graduated from La Grande High School in 1961. He attended Eastern Oregon College and appeared in a couple of plays on campus. He served for a short time in the Navy.

He played the fiddle, bagpipe, harmonica and drums. During the filming of the movie "Paint Your Wagon" in Baker County he worked in the make-up department, and also appeared as an extra in the movie. He moved to Los Angeles, Calif., and worked as a make-up artist. He later returned to Oregon and worked for many years as a barber in Gresham and Troutdale before moving back to La Grande where he worked with his father in his barber shop.

Survivors include children, Stephanie Pimentel of Hermiston and Chris Prosch of Palm Coast, Fla; three grandchildren; his brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Becky Prosch of Island City; and other relatives. His parents died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Grande Ronde Hospital in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.

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Ruby Nelson

Formerly of La Grande

1921-2004

Ruby Nelson, 83, of Woodburn and formerly of La Grande died Sept. 17. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1036 E. Lincoln St., Woodburn.

Mrs. Nelson was born Ruby Amble in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and married Conroy Nelson in 1941. She lived in La Grande for over 20 years where she worked as a checker at Safeway. She spent the last 30 years in Woodburn.

Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Connie and Dick Taylor; a son-in-law, Dick Seburn; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and other relatives. Her husband, a daughter, Carmen, a brother and two sisters all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to any charity.

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Carolyn Trimble

La Grande

Carolyn Trimble, 52, died Wednesday at her home in La Grande from an extended illness.

Arrangements will be announced later by Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

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Dorothy Craig

Summerville

1920-2004

Dorothy May Craig, 84, of Summerville, died Oct. 5 at her home. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Summerville Cemetery chapel with Bill Miller of Valley Fellowship officiating. A potluck reception will follow at the Odd Fellows Hall in Summerville.

Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Mrs. Craig was born Aug. 12, 1920, to Willie and Hallie Bottles Sanderson in Epsie, Mont. The family homesteaded near Summerville where she attended Dry Creek School and Imbler High School.

She married Thomas Chester Craig on Feb. 11, 1939, in Puyallup, Wash., and spent her life ranching in Summerville. At the recent Oregon State Fair she received the Century Farm distinction. She was proud that four generations currently live on the farm.

She loved the outdoors, picnics, potlucks, being involved in her community and spending time with her family, friends and animals. She was a member of the Elgin Order of Eastern Star and the Summerville Rebekah Lodge. In the past she and her husband had been members of the Indian Valley Promenaders.

She was known for her sense of humor and loyalty.

Survivors include her husband of Summerville; children and their spouses, Dallas and Bonnie Craig of Pleasant Hill, and Steve and Carol Craig of Summerville; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a sister, Wanda Pointer of La Grande; a brother, Billy Sanderson of Elgin; and other relatives.

Memorials may be made to the Summerville Cemetery in care of Daniels Chapel, 1502 Seventh St.

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Sheryl Hug

Summerville

Sheryl Elaine Hug, 53, of Summerville died Thursday at Settler’s Park Assisted Living in Baker City.

Arrangements will be announced later by Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

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Robert Morgan

Union

Robert "Bob" Morgan, 72, of Union died Friday at a Portland Hospital from complications of a stroke.

A celebration of life service is tentatively scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. A complete obituary will be published later.

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Lola Young

La Grande

Lola Young, 93, of La Grande died Friday at a local care center. Arrangements will be announced later by Daniels Chapel of the Valley.