John Clymer, 67, of La Grande died Feb. 25 at Providence Saint Vincent Hospital in Portland. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be in Dallas, Texas, with a local memorial service at a later date.

Mr. Clymer was born Jan. 30, 1938, to John and Ida Clymer in Dallas, Texas. He grew up there and graduated from Rice University, New York University and the University of Michigan with advanced degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. He worked for Bell Laboratories and AT&T in New Jersey and overseas.

In 1972 he married Joanne Druist in South Euclid, Ohio. The couple lived in New Jersey for a number of years and moved to La Grande in 1990, where he worked in the La Grande City Planning Department until his retirement. He was an avid reader and enjoyed computers and photography.

Survivors include his mother of La Grande, and a brother, James Clymer, of Huntington Beach, Calif. His wife died in September 2004.

Memorials may be made to any charity in care of Loveland Chapel, 1508 Fourth St.

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Nicholas Everett Simonis, 95, of La Grande, died Feb. 26 at a local care center. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 3 at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church with Father Hank Albrecht officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Mr. Simonis was born Feb. 22, 1910, to John and Bertha Sheehan Simonis in North Powder. On Dec. 25, 1958, he married Beth Hewitt in La Grande. He worked as a truck driver for Consolidated Freight Lines and then for the subsequent owners of that company until his retirement. He was a member of the Catholic Church and the Eagles’ Lodge, and enjoyed pinochle, bowling and working in his garden.

Survivors include his daughter, Arlene Baldwin of Orem, Utah; eight grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren and other relatives. His wife and a daughter, Mary, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Catholic Youth Group in care of Daniels Chapel.

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Lovene H. Case, 85, of Alicel, died Feb. 27 at Grande Ronde Hospital. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, March 4, at the First Christian Church with the Rev. Mark Schlessman officiating. Burtial will follow at the Island City Cemetery.

Mrs. Case was born Jan. 31, 1920, to Storey and Agnes Maroney Morris in Lower Cove. She attended the Frosty School and graduated from La Grande High School in 1937. On May 29, 1940, she married Wren Case at the family home. She attended secretarial school and worked for a time at Norton Clothing Store. She was a 4-H Leader in cooking and cooked for Camp Elkana for 14 years and also at the Cove Christian Camp. She was a member of the Rusty Wheels Car Club and the First Christian Church, where she belonged to the Women’s Fellowship and led a Bible study. She enjoyed the mountains and going to the family cabin on Mt. Harris.

Survivors include her husband of Alicel; children, Jerry Case, Stan Case and LaDella Wood, all of Alicel; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Manford Morris of Lower Cove; sisters, Phyllis Smith of North Powder and Della Ehrenburg of New Jersey; and other relatives. A grandson, Micha Wood, and brothers, Raymond, Mason and Judson Morris, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Association or any charity in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

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Ruby Annie Patterson, 95, of La Grande died Feb. 26. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday March 3 at Summerville Cemetery. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Patterson was born Oct. 2, 1909, to August and Margaret Klien Behrens in Summerville. She attended Dry Creek School and graduated from Imbler High School in 1920. She attended business school in La Grande and worked for Eddy Bakery, and later for Farnum Motor Supply and Repair. During World War II she was a depot agent for Union Pacific Railroad. She married Bob Patterson. The family moved to Hood River in the 1950s where he worked the Hood River Railroad and she was assessor for Hood River County until her retirement. She moved back to La Grande where she lived at Wildflower Lodge. She was a member of the Hood River Episcopal Church, and enjoyed trips to the cabin and ocean at Long Beach, Wash.

Survivors include her sister, Nellie Teeter of Imbler; and other relatives. Her husband, a sister, Edith Champan Weiss, and brothers, Ed, Art and Fred Behrens, all died earlier.

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Donald Eugene Curtis, 51, of Wallowa died Feb. 23 at his home of natural causes. A memorial service will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday March 5 at the Wallowa Odd Fellows’ Hall with a potluck dinner afterwards. Bollman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Curtis was born June 16, 1953, to Roy Laverne and Jessie Lee Collins Curtis in Enterprise. He graduated from the Seventh-day Adventist School in Enterprise and attended Gem State Academy, Treasure Valley Community College and Clackamas Community College. He married and divorced Dee Jarmin and Gayle Lyman, before marrying Leslie Henderson. He worked as a truck driver, mechanic and welder. He enjoyed guns, reloading and visiting his friends.

Survivors include his wife of Wallowa; children, Margret Curtis of Enterprise and Ronald Curtis of Wallowa; five grandchildren; his parents; brothers, Roy Curtis of Kila, Mont., and Roger Curtis of Enterprise; and other relatives.

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Harold West "Shorty" Lathrop, 85, of Joseph died Feb. 27 at his home. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday March 5 at the First Baptist Church in Enterprise. Burial will follow at the Prairie Creek Cemetery in Joseph. A reception will be held afterwards at the Joseph Baptist Church. Bollman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Lathrop was born Feb. 11, 1920, to Louis and Hazel Lathrop in Wallowa. He attended Leap School and graduated from Enterprise High School. He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II in the Pacific and afterwards spoke fondly of the scenery and people of Fiji and the Philippines.

On June 30, 1949, he married Nellie E. Bird in Joseph. They ranched on the Snake River, on Parsnip Creek and Sheep Creek Hill, and in 1954 on Prairie Creek. In 1966 the family added a ranch on Joseph Creek. He helped organize the Joseph Baptist Church where he taught Sunday school and served as deacon for many years.

He was named Grassman of the Year in 1981 and Cattleman of the Year in 1993 by the Wallowa County Cattlemen’s Association. He never sought attention or accolades but was admired for his character and business ability. He enjoyed the simple life, hunting, fishing and working with his family, especially the little ones.

Survivors include his wife of Joseph; children and their spouses, Harold "Mike" and Annette Lathrop, Robert Lathrop, Jeanne Lathrop, and Linda and Rodney Botts; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brothers, Quentin, Emra "Duke," Melvin of Lostine and Wayne Lathrop of Enterprise; sisters, Marcel Walker of Union, Mary Lou Huffman of Hermiston, and Alice "Sally"Akin of Lostine; a brother-in-law, Henry Bird of Joseph, a sister-in-law, Suzanne Dryden of Auburn, Wash.

Memorials may be made to the Joseph Baptist Church.

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Mildred Ott, 95, of La Grande died Feb. 28 at a local care center. Burial was at the Summerville Cemetery. A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday March 5 at the Summerville Cemetery Chapel.

Mrs. Ott was born Aug. 25, 1909, to Morton and Hattie Bloom Wolverton in Lostine. She graduated from high school in Echo in 1926, and married Francis "Bum" Ott. The couple settled in Summerville where they ran a service station and farmed. In 1958 she moved first to Pendleton and then Forest Grove. She moved to La Grande in 1997. she was a seamstress and enjoyed gardening, traveling and being with her family.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Gwenn and Don Houtz of Summerville; three grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Her husband, a son, Donald, a brother, Morton Wolverton, and three sisters, Leona Cunnington, Neva Staats and Vera Young, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Summerville Cemetery Chapel fund in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St.

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Pauline Redman, 87, of Portland and formerly of North Powder died Feb. 23. Burial was at the Willamette National Cemetery. Peake Funeral Chapel of Portland was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Redman was born Dec. 9, 1917, to William and Rose West in North Powder. She graduated from Powder Valley High School in 1935, and in 1940 she married Lloyd "Bud" Redman. she worked as a welder on Liberty Ships during World War II.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Steve and Rita Redman, and Dave Redman; five grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Roy Redman, all of Portland, and a sister-in-law, Marge Redman of Canyon City; and other relatives, including Gary Webster of La Grande. Her husband, two brothers, don and Howard West, and two half-sisters, Inis and Cora, died earlier.

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Phyllis Jean Blackman, 67, of La Grande died March 3 of natural causes. A memorial service will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday March 6 in the gym at Island City School.

Mrs. Blackman was born Jan. 4, 1928, to Guy and Elva Williams Moss in La Grande. She attended school in Island City and La Grande, and on Dec. 23, 1945, married Walter R. Blackman. She was a descendant of the pioneer McAlister family. She worked for many years at Bohnenkamp’s Hardware and La Grande Paint and Glass.

She was a member of the Quilt Questers club and enjoyed trips to the family cabin on Stubblefield Mountain east of Elgin, excursions in the mountains, hunting, fishing, picking huckleberries, making pies, sewing and quilting.

Survivors include children, Randy and Ellen Blackman, Walter and Leslie Blackman, Tom and Betty Blackman, Bart Blackman and Amy, Elva and Mitch Emmons and Teresa and Ken Moody; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; in-laws, Clara Huff, Bob and Ethel Blackman, Kathy Sanderson, Pat Hardwick and Buck Hardwick. Her husband and two great-grandchildren died earlier.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Quilt Questers in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.

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