Obituaries for the day of March 2, 2010

Leah Lassley

La Grande

Leah Lane Lassley, 55, of La Grande, died Feb. 26 at her home. Services will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Damascus Road Community Church, 905 C Ave.,

La Grande. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

Theodore McLaughlin Jr.

La Grande

Theodore McLaughlin Jr., 73, of La Grande, died Feb. 22 at Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Baker City. Services will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Summerville Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Hastings

Formerly of Elgin

1931-2010

Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Jeanne Hastings, 79, of Arlington, Wash., and formerly of Elgin, died Feb. 25 in Arlington, Wash. A memorial service will begin at

1 p.m. Saturday at the Marysville Church of the Nazarene, 8240 64th St. NE, Marysville, Wash. Weller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Elizabeth was born Jan. 18, 1931, to Lester and Marian Fox on the family farm in Union County. Betty graduated as salutatorian of her Elgin High School class in Elgin and then attended Eastern Oregon University at La Grande where she met her husband, Dale H. Hastings. The Hastings lived near Boyd for six years on a dryland wheat ranch, then moved to the Othello, Wash., area where they developed two irrigated farm units and then moved to the town of Othello.

Betty worked at the Credit Bureau and as a secretary at Othello High School. After working 25 years for the weekly newspaper, Othello Outlook, as office manager, she retired and moved to Western Washington to be near family. While in Othello she was member of the Othello Christian Church and served as organist for several years. She was a member of various other organizations. In Western Washington she became a member of the Marysville Nazarene Church and served as greeter.

Surviving Betty is her husband, Dale Hastings of Arlington, Wash.; sons, David and his wife, Chris Hastings, of Mill Creek, Wash., and Gregory and his wife, Julie Hastings, of Medina, Wash.; sister, Doris Winter of Enumclaw, Wash.; five grandchildren; one niece; and one nephew.

Eugene ‘Gene’ Marr

Wallowa County

1912-2010

Eugene “Gene” Murl Marr, 97, of Wallowa County, died Feb. 27 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bollman Funeral Home in Enterprise followed by a graveside service at Enterprise Cemetery.

Gene was born Aug. 27, 1912, to Odell Marr and Effie Cole in Joseph. Gene was a 1931 graduate of Joseph High School. After his graduation, Gene worked for Pacific Power and Light as a lineman, sometimes checking lines from horseback. He kept the job until he retired after 45 years.

Gene married Mildred Miller of Enterprise in 1939 and they had a son, Gary, in 1940.

After retirement, Gene and Mildred moved to Imnaha where they remained until health concerns forced them to return to Enterprise. The last few years he lived at The Alpine House in Joseph.

Gene was a charter member and past exalted ruler of the Enterprise Elks BPOE 1829. Gene was a member of the Enterprise Volunteer Fire Department, the Enterprise School Board and the Wallowa County Wranglers (Gene designed the drills for this horse team).

Gene was an avid sports fan and loved high school, college and professional sports. Gene was a high school basketball referee in the ’40s.

Gene was an avid hunter and packer and was active with Hells Canyon Mule Days. He was a long-time volunteer and was a grand marshal for Chief Joseph Days. Gene was an avid horse trader.

Gene is survived by his son, Gary Marr, and his wife, Carol; two grandsons and their wives; two great-grandchildren; and a cousin. Gene was preceded in death by his father, Odell Marr; mother, Effie Cole; wife, Mildred Marr; and longtime companion, Evelyn Playfair.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wallowa Valley Healthcare Foundation.

Helen L. Tuddenham

La Grande

1913-2010

Helen Louise Tuddenham, 96, of La Grande, died Feb. 24 at her home. A celebration of life dinner for the family will take place at a later date. Loveland Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Helen was born March 21, 1913, in Ozone Park, Long Island, N.Y. She grew up and spent her adult years in Babylon, Long Island, N. Y.

She married Theodore “Teddy” Tuddenham, and together they celebrated their 65th anniversary. In 1997 after the death of her husband, Helen relocated to La Grande to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Marge and Henry Woodford, who provided care for her.

Her grandchildren and their spouses were also caregivers to Helen: Carolyn Erickson and husband, Leonard, Gail Ainsworth and husband, Gary, and Matthew Woodford.

After high school graduation Helen, being skilled at shorthand, worked as a stenographer for Lilco, Long Island Lighting Co. Later she worked for many years as a cook for the Babylon School system. She also volunteereed, including with the American Red Cross.

During Helen’s years in Babylon she enjoyed the beautiful ocean beaches and the bay with all the fishing, clamming, crabbing and swimming. She especially enjoyed their sailboat and sailing on the Great South Bay. During the cold weather, she enjoyed reading, knitting and crocheting.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Marge and Henry Woodford; three grandchildren and their spouses, all of La Grande, and five great-grandchildren.

Lon T. Whitley

La Grande

1948-2010

Lon T. Whitley, 61, of La Grande, died suddenly Feb. 23 at his home. No services are scheduled at this time. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

Lon was born Aug. 13, 1948, to Lowell and Elaine (Coleman) Whitley in Portland. He was a truck driver and never married.

He was a guitar player, rode Harleys and was a handyman. Those who knew him say he could build and fix anything. He loved swimming and spending time in the outdoors.

Lon was survived by his mother, Elaine Livingston of

La Grande; son, Jason Whitley of La Grande; brother, Ray (Dee) Whitley of Wickenburg, Ark; and stepdaughters, Leah Lassley of La Grande, and Cheryl and her husband, Joe Venutolo, of La Grande.