Lenn Pierson, 91, of Claremont, Calif., and formerly of La Grande, died July 11 at his home. A celebration of life will be held in the future. He requested that his ashes be scattered over Klickitat, Wash., overlooking the Columbia Gorge.

Mr. Pierson was born Feb. 22, 1915, to Elva and Winfred Pierson in Geneva, Neb. The family moved to La Grande in 1925, and in 1950 moved to Island City. His father, who worked for Mount Emily Lumber Co., taught him to fly. He graduated from La Grande High School and then from Oregon State University with a degree in geology. He was a member of the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity, and taught high school math and science at Grants Pass and Medford, giving plane rides to the students with the highest grades.

He served as a civilian flight instructor in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and married Eleanor Forbes, a control tower operator, in 1942 at Claremont College. He joined the Air Transport Command, and ferried military aircraft in the U.S and in Asia.

He founded Pierson Flying Service at Cable Airport, and spent 15 years teaching flying. He took charters to Alaska, Mexico and other places. He worked as a test pilot, a corporate pilot and a charter pilot, taking customers to Europe and Asia.

He taught all of his children to fly. His oldest daughter earned a private license and flies for pleasure; his youngest daughter is a captain for Southwest Airlines.

He was known as a great storyteller.

Survivors include his wife of Claremont; children, Cynthia Schleicher of Arizona, Jan Pierson Stevenson of Oregon and Douglas Pierson of Arizona; and a brother, Jim Pierson of Oregon. Another son, Forbes Pierson, a brother and a sister all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern California, 150 W. First St., Suite 2, Claremont, Calif. 91711.

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Dale Erwin Evins, 52 of La Grande died July 30 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Viewing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church in Island City.

Mr. Evins was born Aug. 18, 1953, to Raymond and Evangeline Kendall Evins in Ontario. The family moved numerous times before settling in La Grande. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and played baseball for the San Diego Padres organization in the early 1970s.

He recorded numerous songs at the studio of Buck Owens in Bakersfield, Calif., and married Cyndi Habiger on June 22, 1986, in La Grande. He drove log trucks, and enjoyed hunting, fishing and watching his sons play baseball.

Survivors include his wife of La Grande; children, Kacey Evins, Trent Evins and Jeremei Evins, all of La Grande; a brother, Ray Lee Evins of Ontario; sisters, Marla Nevill of Buckley, Wash., Nadine Pulse of Grand Ronde; and other relatives. His parents; four sisters, Kathy, Pam, Gayla and Arileen; and a brother, Andy, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to any charity in care of Daniels Chapel.

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Delvin Starner, 54, of Lostine died July 26 at his home of natural causes. Bollman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Mr. Starner was born Feb. 23, 1952, to George and Gladys Tanner Starner in North Bend. The family moved to Lostine where they lived on a farm and ran Starner Lumber Co. for many years.

He graduated from Wallowa High School in 1970, and married Carol Goller of Wallowa in December of that year. He helped in the family business with his father and brother until 1982 when he was disabled in an accident. Earlier, he had served as the mayor of Lostine.

He enjoyed wood-working, camping, outdoor activities and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Kellie and Joshua Obendorf of Homedale, Idaho, Andria and Shane Dunham of La Grande, and Joshua Starner of Welches; siblings and their spouses, Joan and Buddy Crist of La Grande, Sharylin Starner of Puyallup, Wash., George Starner of Umatilla; a brother-in-law, Melvin Wilks of Genesee, Idaho; six grandchildren and other relatives.

Contributions to the family may be made to at any branch of Community Bank.

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Geraldine N. Metcalf, 85, of La Grande died July 31 at a local care center. A private service will be held.

Mrs. Metcalf was born Aug. 19, 1920, to Lewis and Lucille Strange Ansell in Burley, Idaho. She married Robert Metcalf on Dec. 24, 1937, in La Grande, and worked at US Bank for 20 years.

She enjoyed tole painting and traveling.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Paul and Bert Metcalf of Summerville, and Keith and Kathy Metcalf of Umatilla; a brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Thelma ansell of La Grande; five grandchildren; and other relatives.

Her husband; two brothers, Gerald and Phillip; four sisters, Lula Harlow, Phillis Cochran, Florence Payne and Harriet Nygord; and a grandson, Kevin Metcalf; all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital in Portland in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St.

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Michael Gene Cleveland, 34, of La Grande died Aug. 1 at Grande Ronde Hospital of natural causes. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday Aug. 5 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.

Mr. Cleveland was born July 25, 1972, to Robert and Deborah Beickel Cleveland in Medford. The family moved to Pendleton and then settled in La Grande in 1973. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1990 and from Eastern Oregon State College in 1995.

On Aug., 30, 2003, he married Elizabeth Canfield in La Grande. He worked for Boise Cascade as a stacker operator and was the current president of the union local. He enjoyed sports, playing baseball and basketball, hunting, fishing and being with his family.

Survivors include his wife of La Grande; children, Zoe and Gillian Cleveland of La Grande; his parents of La Grande; cousins, Scott Allen and Brad Allen of La Grande and Adria David of Kuna, Idaho, and other relatives.

Contributions may be made to the family at US Bank or in care of Daniels Chapel.

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Mary Ellen "Kelly" Jederberg, 81, of La Grande died Aug. 1 at her home. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday Aug. 5 at the LDS Church on Gekeler Lane. Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Hendrickson was born June 19, 1925, to William and Alveretta Shaffer Hendrickson in La Grande. She married Warren W. Jederberg, and worked for the General Telephone Co. She retired as chief operator, trafic operations.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in the children’s and women’s auxiliaries. She and her husband served a two-year mission as temple workers in the Boise Temple. She worked in church genealogical programs and served as records extractor, library worker and teacher.

She enjoyed singing in the church choir, listening to music and being with her family. Her greatest joy was each new great-grandchild who came into the world, and cared for several of them as infants and toddlers.

Survivors include her husband of La Grande; children and their spouses, Kelly and David Tolman, Warren and Mary Jederberg, Grant and Ginger Jederberg, Timothy and Sherri Jederberg, Rebecca and Stan Lupkes and Steven and Debie Jederberg; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Margaret Allen of La Grande and Helen Garrett; and other relatives. Three brothers, Reed, Grant and Ray Hendrickson; and two sisters, Maida and Meg Turoski; all died earlier.

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Wynona Eleen "Elaine" Brown, 75, of Cove died July 31 at her home. The funeral will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 8 at the LDS Church in Union. Viewing will begin at noon at the Church before the service. Burial will follow at the Cove Cemetery.

Mrs. Brown was born Nov. 16, 1930, to Norma Eleen Poormon in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She graduated from Enterprise High School in 1948, and married Gerald A. Brown of Joseph. They had a ranch on Upper Prairie Creek and moved to Union County where he worked for the General Telephone Co. She worked at the Ascension School, Ivan’s Food Store in Union and briefly attended Eastern Oregon State College until she became a school secretary for the Union School District. She retired in 1995. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and most recently served as Primary secretary.

She enjoyed working with children, watching her grandchildren play sports, having lunch with family and traveling.

Survivors included a brother and sister-in-law, Virl and Dianna Basim of Arlington, Wash., three children and their spouses; Debra Brown and Clark Noble of Ontario, Michael and Vicki Hill Brown of Cove, and Tyrone and Julie Brown Danburg of Amherst, Neb.; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and other relatives. Her husband died earlier.

Memorials may be made to GRH Hospice or any charity in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.

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George Edward Evans, 86, of La Grande, died Thursday at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Monday at the Summerville Cemetery.

Mr. Evans was born on Dec. 10, 1919 in Bartlett, Neb., to Charles Sydney and Grace Lorenz Evans. He moved to La Grande at the age of 8 with his family and graduated from La Grande High School.

During World War II he served in the 94th Infantry in Europe with the Army. He was in four major battles and received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Mr. Evans married Virginia "Peggy" Courtney Stewart in Walla Walla on Oct. 19, 1950. He worked for the Mount Emily Lumber Mill for 13 years. He later returned to work for the Union Pacific Railroad, which he had worked before going into the military. He retired as a Union Pacific Railroad Engineer on Dec. 10, 1982.

Mr. Evans was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the American Legion and the La Grande Eagles. He loved to fish and do wood work for his family.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy of La Grande; son and his wife, Michael E. and Rae Evans of Umatilla; daughter, Nancy Baber of Joseph; sister, Frances A. Case of Aloha; three granddaughters, Lindsey Ruth of Hermiston, Janice Graves of Baker City and Cresta Kelso of Vale; two grandsons; six great grandsons and four great granddaughters and other relatives.

Memorials may be made to the Oregon Cancer Society in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

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A memorial service for Chad Michael Hickey, 28, of Eugene and formerly of La Grande will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday Aug. 6 at Jasper Park near Springfield. A potluck will follow. Musgrove Family Mortuary in Eugene is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Hickey died July 31 in Eugene.

He was born Oct. 17, 1977, in La Grande to Jim and Wanda Hickey. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1995. He was a standout soccer player and played several other sports.

His family said he was a "solid, compassionate provider, amazing father and husband, golf legend and soccer star," and that he was loyal, dedicated, willing, loving and generous.

Survivors include his wife, Miriam, and son, Kellen; parents, Jim and Kaye Hickey of Corvallis and Wanda and Larry Shaw of Wenatchee, Wash.; siblings and step-siblings, Nick Hickey of Eugene, Curt Dellwo of Spokane, Dan Shaw of Portland, Nathan Shaw of Olympia, Wash., Mandy Cline of Newberg and Carolyn Kramer of Seattle; grandparents, James and Helen Peters of La Grande, Gerolee Hickey of Walla Walla, and Pat and Charlotte Rankin of La Grande; and other relatives.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to memorial fund in his name at the Oregon Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 77002, Eugene 97404-0145.

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Loretta Susan Noble, 85, of Beaverton and formerly of Cove, died Aug. 2 in Hillsboro. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7, at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Burial will follow at the Cove Cemetery. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6.

Mrs. Noble was born April 11, 1921, near Cassville, Mo. to George and Lula Stansberry Craft. She attended one year of high school before she began working. During World War II she worked for Boeing in Wichita, Kan. On Sept. 25, 1943, she married Harold Clifton Noble.

The family lived in Jenkins, Mo., and in Fossil for two years, before moving to Cove. She was a homemaker and attended Dorcas at Calvary Baptist Church.

The couple moved to Beaverton in 2001 to live with their daughter Frances and her husband, Richard Jacklin. She enjoyed quilting, church potlucks, cooking, writing letters, reading and playing Skipbo.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Carol June Noble, Frances and Richard Jacklin and Karen Collins, all of Beaverton, Cecil and Lilas Noble of Huntington, Linda and Michael Dow of Hawthorne, Nev., and Patrick and Darra Noble of Aloha; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and other relatives. Her husband; a sister, Norma, and brothers, Lonnie and Johnnie, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Washington County Hospice in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th St.