Joe S. Huffman, 86, of Walla Walla and formerly

of Wallowa County, died Dec. 16 at the Park Manor Nursing Home in Walla

Walla. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in the chapel of

the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home, 902 S. Main St, Milton-Freewater.

Graveside services will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Friday at the Lostine

Cemetery in Lostine.

Joe was born Feb. 26, 1921, in Armin, Wallowa County. He was

the fifth of 10 children born to Victor and Vina Huffman. He attended

country schools in the area. During World War II, Joe enlisted in the

Navy and served his country until his honorable discharge in December

1945.

He returned to the Wallowa country and later married Jean

Warnock of Lostine in Lewiston, Idaho, on Sept. 7, 1949. Their three

daughters were born in Wallowa County where the couple owned and

operated a ranch on Prairie Creek for many years. After selling the

ranch in 1971, Joe and Jean moved their family to Milton-Freewater.

Joe worked for Couse Creeks Ranches for many years and also

for Ferguson Cattle Co. Joe spent most of his life tending livestock.

His favorite time of the year was when the cows were having

their calves. Joe loved the new life – the calves, the colts and the

grass and flowers – of the spring.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jean at the home in

Walla Walla; three daughters and sons-in-law, Joanne and Bill Ebding,

Janice and Dennis Groom and Joyce Nelson and Joe Ybarra, all of the

Walla Walla area; brother, Nide Huffman of Island City; five

grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Post

No. 24 through Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home, 902 S. Main St,

Milton-Freewater.

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Shirley Anne Gorbett, 76, of Cove, died Dec. 19 at a local care

center. A celebration of life begins at 1 p.m. today at the First

Baptist Church, 1702 Sixth St. in La Grande. Loveland Funeral Chapel

and Crematory is handling the arrangements.

Shirley was born on Sept. 14, 1931, in Bakersfield, Calif., to

Charles and Gladys (Cunningham) Thomas. She married Homer Gorbett in

June 1973, in Fresno, Calif. She was a member of the First Baptist

Church of Enterprise. Shirley moved to Cove from Wallowa 25 years ago.

She volunteered to do senior taxes, was a volunteer at the Cove

Library, was a member of the Wallowa County Cowbells and a member of

the Cove Gardening Club. Shirley enjoyed oil painting, especially

Western art, photography and quilting.

She is survived by her husband, Homer; son Jere and his wife,

Susan Pearson, of Puyallup, Wash.; stepchildren, Becky Story of Cove;

Kelvin and his wife, Marie Gorbett, of Hermiston; Jerry and his wife,

Tanya Gorbett of Juliatta, Idaho; sisters, Frances Benson of Santa

Cruz, Calif., and Patsy Watson of Colorado Springs, Colo.; numerous

grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was

preceded in death by her parents and son, Richard Pearson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grande Ronde Home Health Hospice, P.O. Box 3290, La Grande 97850.

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Lynn Gregory, 68, of Elgin, died Dec. 20 at his home. A service will begin at 2 p.m.

Dec. 26 at the Elgin Christian Church. Burial will follow at the

Elgin Cemetery. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration

Center is in charge of arrangements.

Lynn was born on July 12, 1939, to Theo and Sylvia (Lewis)

Gregory in La Grande. He was educated in La Grande until his senior

year when the family moved to Walla Walla. After graduating from high

school he served with the Special Forces of the United States Navy. On

Sept. 25, 1961, he married Marie Williams. After his honorable

discharge they moved to Athena and in 1968 they moved to Elgin. He

worked for Boise Cascade doing various jobs, his last running a skidder

saw.

He loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting and camping. He

enjoyed woodworking and belonged to a Good Sam Club. Those who knew him

say he loved his kids and grandkids.

Survivors include his wife, Marie of Elgin; sons and their

spouses, Doug Gregory and Colleen of Elgin, Troy and Sherry Gregory of

Post Falls, Idaho, and Kevin and Sheila Gregory of Elgin; brother, Bob

Gregory of La Grande; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and

other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents and

sister-in-law, Helen Gregory.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association of Oregon, 7420 SW Bridgeport Road Suite 200, Tigard 97224.

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Betty Marjorie Ragsdale, 86, of La Grande, died Dec. 20 in Walla

Walla. Recitation of the holy rosary will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday at

Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502

Seventh St. The Mass of Christian burial will begin at

2 p.m. at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church on Thursday. Burial will follow at the Hillcrest East Cemetery.

Betty was born on Nov. 4, 1921, in Callaway, Neb., to Anna

Molgard and William P. Lauridsen. She graduated from Callaway High

School in 1939. That fall she enrolled at Eastern Oregon College. She

graduated with her degree and teaching certificate and immediately took

a position in Ontario.

She stayed there for 3 1/2 years. She married Donald Charles

Ragsdale in March 1944 and accepted a teaching position in the La

Grande School District. Those who knew her say she spent 39 years

sharing her love of education with the region’s students. She enjoyed

walking with her dogs and reading.

Survivors include her sister, Kathryn May of Fort Worth,

Texas; cousin, Floris Soles of Charles City, Iowa; daughters, Frances

Ragsdale of Chatfield, Minn., and Donna and her husband, Doug Perkey,

of Cottage Grove; and two granddaughters. She was preceded in death by

her husband in 1965 and her brother, Dr. James Lauridsen from Port

Huron, Mich.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Association.