Johnson, Wagoner, Horn, Smith, Tippett, Horstman, Toney

Robert E. “B.J.” Johnson, 74, of Barstow, Calif., and formerly of La Grande, died Feb. 15 at his home from complications of colon cancer. A memorial service was held Feb. 24 at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland, Wash. Einan’s Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He was born April 2, 1933, the first of five children, to Alva and Macel Johnson in St. Paul, Ark.

After serving four years as a fighter jet radar technician in the U.S. Air Force and receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to Richland to pursue his collegiate education and follow his dreams of becoming an aircraft pilot.

As time passed and the passion for flying grew, so did his desire to raise a family. In 1957, he married Zana Lea Ellison of Rapid City, S.D., and within the next six years, Steven, Alan, Karen and Sandra were born.

In the spring of 1972 he became the operations manager at the La Grande Airport under fixed base operator Wayne Mitchell, and had the opportunity to fly fire reconnaissance missions for the Forest Service and deliver smoke jumpers to drop targets.

While in La Grande, he became active in the First Presbyterian Church and earned his bachelor’s degree in general studies from Eastern Oregon State College. Seeing an opportunity for diversification, Bob and Zana purchased Joel’s Grocery – a small neighborhood market on the corner of Cedar and Washington.

As the years went by, he had opportunities in the aviation industry to play a part in the startup and management of various charter and commuter airlines. When it was finally time to hang up his wings, he had logged more than 18,000 hours of flying time in various turboprop and corporate jet aircraft. After nearly 45 years in the aviation industry he chose to focus on other hobbies and special interests. Not wanting to let any grass grow under his feet he obtained his commercial driver’s license and logged over 250,000 miles in heavy duty on-highway trucks.

He is survived by brother-in-law, Roland Haney of Richland, Wash.; siblings and their spouses, Bill and Joyce Johnson of Spokane, Wash.; Jim and Peggy Johnson of Atlanta, Ga., and Janice and Malcum Chunn of Richland, Wash.; wife, Zana Johnson of Barstow, Calif.; children and their spouses, Steve and Victoria of Caldwell, Idaho, Alan and Janet of Tigard, Karen and Steve of Chattanooga, Tenn., Sandra and Major Robert “Bob” of San Antonio, Texas; several grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and by his sister, Susie Haney of Richland, Wash., in October 2007.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Healthwell Foundation, which assisted with significant expenses associated with Robert’s cancer treatment, in care of Einan’s Funeral Home, P.O. Box 90, Richland, Wash., 99352.

Terry L. Wagoner, 53, of Athena and formerly of La Grande, died Feb. 23 at his home. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Christian Church in Pendleton with Pastor Mark Mullins officiating. An additional celebration of life will be planned at a later date in La Grande.

Terry was born Oct. 24, 1954, to Paul D. and Barbara L. Newcomb Wagoner in La Grande. He attended area schools and graduated from Imbler High School in 1972. On Aug. 11, 1973, he married Tina Pugh in La Grande. Later that year, he began working for the Union Pacific Railroad. He eventually became a conductor and retired in 2005 due to a disability.

Terry enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing and picking mushrooms in his “secret patch.” Those who knew him say he loved his family, especially his five grandchildren.

Terry is survived by his wife, Tina Wagoner; two daughters, Melissa Wagoner of Stanfield and Kami Combe of Heppner; parents, Paul and Barbara Wagoner of Summerville; grandmother, Essie Wagoner of Summerville; three brothers, Orrin Wagoner of Elgin, Mike Wagoner of Summerville and twin brother, Larry Wagoner of Spokane; sister, Darlene Arritola of La Grande; five grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to any charity in care of the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home, 902 S. Main, Milton-Freewater 97862.

Sandra G. Horn, 69, of Elgin, died Feb. 20 at St. Vincent Hospital in Beaverton of cancer. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m., Saturday at the Elgin Christian Church, 1335 Division St. in Elgin. The Rev. Steve Kirkeby will officiate. Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial luncheon and celebration of life directly following the services at the Elgin Community Center, 260 N. 10th Ave.

Sandra was born Jan. 31, 1939, to Pete and Pearl Wood in Gold Beach. She graduated from Bandon High School in 1958. She worked at the Bandon cheese factory as a teenager during the summers and then at the Bandon Box Factory after graduation.

Sandra married Vance R. Horn Sept. 12, 1959, in Bandon. The couple moved to Elgin in 1967 and raised two children: Jeff Horn, now of Summerville, and Debra Horn-Schram, now of Salem. Vance later died.

Sandra worked at the Stella Mayfield Elementary School as a special education instructional aide for many years during the 1970s and ’80s.

She had been a past member of the Union County Cowbells and belonged to the Ladies Coffee and Birthday Club in Elgin for many years. She was an avid crafter, passing many hours knitting and crocheting. She was baptized into the Catholic faith on Feb. 15, 2008, and attended mass regularly at St. Mary’s Church in Shaw and at the Providence St. Vincent Chapel while in the hospital in Beaverton.

In 1982, she met Larry Gilliam of Elgin, who has been her domestic partner for 26 years. Larry and Sandra moved to The Dalles in 1984 and lived there for several years, eventually moving back to the community they loved, Elgin.

Sandra is survived by her domestic partner, Larry Gilliam; brother, Gary Wood; son and daughter in-law, Jeff and Kristi Horn; daughter and son-in-law, Debra Horn-Schram and Scott Schram; eight grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents; her twin brother, Steve Wood; and husband, Vance R. Horn.

Memorial contributions may be made to Providence St. Vincent Hospital for ovarian cancer research.

Irene W. Smith, 85, of La Grande, died Feb. 23 at a local care center. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, at the Union Cemetery. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.

Irene was born July 2, 1922, to Archie and Eunice (Griffith) Williamson in Brookhaven, Miss. She lived in Seattle for some time before moving to the Los Angeles area of California where she lived for 30 years. In June 1984, she moved to La Grande to be near family. In the early 1990s her daughter, Judith Ann DeLeebeck lost her life in an automobile accident.

Irene was an avid reader.

Survivors include her sister, Vivian Burford of La Grande; half-sisters, DeLeatha Foster, Violet Crosby and Bonnie Johnson, all of Mississippi, and Lou Coulder of Florida; three grandchildren; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her half-brother, Lamar Allen.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Portland.

Jacqueline Marie Tippett, 59, of Joseph, died Feb. 26 at her home. A service begins at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Enterprise Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Burial will be at the Joseph Cemetery. Bollman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jacqueline was born Jan. 23, 1949, to David and Lois Kingsford in Klamath Falls. She grew up in Merrill and in Joseph. She graduated from Joseph High School in 1967. In 1970, she married Benjamin Tippett. She attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and worked at Valley Bronze for 18 years. She loved flowers, and those who knew her say she loved her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Ben Tippett of Joseph; children, Stephanie and her husband, Chad Bryant, Zach and his wife, Mandy Tippett, Seth Tippet and Sarah and her husband, Chuck Roath; father, David J. Kingsford of Enterprise; brother, Steven and Genene Kingsford of Joseph; and sister, Teri and Vaugh Kingsford of Homedale, Idaho. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lois Kingsford.

Memorial contributions may be made to any charity.

Dolores (Dode) Rose Horstman, 77, of La Grande died Feb. 22 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Walla Walla. At her request there will be no public services. Those who wish may sign the guest book on-line at www.danielsknopp.com.

Dolores was born Oct. 20, 1930, to Charles and Velma (Weidman) Marra in Red Oak, Iowa. She was the only child. The family moved to La Grande when she was a teenager.

She attended school in Baker City and La Grande, graduating from La Grande High School with the Class of 1947. In 1950 she married Norman Bud Horstman in La Grande where he worked for the railroad. They moved to Portland in 1951 and were there until 1961 when he was transferred to Seattle. In 1972 they returned to Portland where they lived until returning to La Grande in 2002.

For many years, Dolores was a stay-at-home mom. When her children were grown she re-entered the workforce as a real estate agent, then moved into property management.

Among her many passions were working in her flower beds, tending her garden, playing cards and watching and feeding the birds and squirrels around her home. She loved socializing and was always happy to be invited to the

La Grande High School Class of ’46 lunches. Those who knew her say she was a nice mom.

Survivors include her husband, Norman Horstman of La Grande; children, Dean Horstman of Bainbridge Island, Wash., Doug Horstman of Island City and Karyn Horstman of La Grande; granddaughter, Kendall Horstman of Bainbridge Island; and other relatives.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Association in La Grande.

Hazel Laura Williams Toney, 97, of Baker City, and formerly of Haines and Muddy Creek, died Feb. 25 at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home.

Her graveside funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Haines Cemetery. Visitations will be Monday from noon to 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 to 11 a.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.

Hazel was the sixth child of seven born on April 14, 1910, at Muddy Creek to Harry Chatterton and Ida Belle Davis Williams where she grew up on her family’s ranch. She married Claude Biswell Toney on Sept. 23, 1928. Hazel and Claude celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1978.

Hazel lived at Haines and worked for the Haines Telephone Co., for Walter Heard, H.O. Wiswell and for Vance and Margaret Dix. She also worked at the Circle H Cafe for several owners. She is the descendant of two early pioneer families of North Powder – her grandparents, Lemuel and Amanda Ellen Steward Williams and John Samuel and Susan Dealy Davis.

Survivors include her three children, Larry Toney and his wife, Colleen, of Elgin, Rodney Toney and his wife, Marjorie, and Claudia Gilkison and her husband, Robert, all of Haines; five granddaughters; three grandsons; 27 great-grandchildren; 21 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Ella Williams; and three nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude; and brothers and sisters, Lena May Cavin and her husband, William, Elmer Harry Williams, Maude Susan Neilson and her husband, Neil, Dora Lethlean and her husband, Arthur and Edward Samuel Williams and Russell Williams and his wife, Maxine.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City 97814.