Clever, Farrow, McKague, Sunderman

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

Aug. 14 – Loraine Sunderman, graveside service, 3 p.m., Summerville Cemetery

Aug. 14 – Nancy Wortman, dedication of the grave, 3 p.m., Island City Cemetery; celebration of life, Island City City Hall

John J. Clever

Cove

John J. Clever, 67, of Cove, died Aug. 10 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise.

A full obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Vern L. Farrow

La Grande

1923-2010

Vern Leslie Farrow, 87, of La Grande, died Aug. 8 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. At his request there will only be a private graveside service with family. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.

Vern was born May 30, 1923, to Eugene Duane Farrow and Julia Catherine Loomis Farrow in Seattle. He graduated from Franklin High School in Seattle in 1941.

He enlisted for pilot training in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and flew 32 combat missions with the 7th Photo Reconnaissance Group of the 8th USAAF in England and France through VE Day. He remained in the German occupation and was discharged with the rank of captain in 1947.

Later he served two years in the Alaskan Air Command at Ladd AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska, during the Korean War.

Vern earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Seattle University and an Ed.D. degree from the University of Oregon. He taught at both Western Michigan University and the University of Oregon before coming to La Grande as principal of the Ackerman Laboratory School and faculty member at Eastern Oregon State College (now Eastern Oregon University) in 1976.

He completed a 32-year career in education and retired in 1988. During his years of teaching, he was active in many professional, fraternal and military organizations including the National Education Association, Phi Delta Kappa, the 8th Air Force Historical Society and American Legion.

Vern and his beloved wife, Ruth Harer Farrow, met while they both were assigned to the headquarters of the European Air Transport Service in Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1946. They were married on Aug. 23, 1947, in Seattle.

Vern and Ruth shared much travel and were avid flyers, having made many extensive cross-country flights throughout the United States in their own airplane.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth of La Grande; daughters, Penny Susan Daniels of Meridian, Miss., and Eugenie Denise Espinoza of Hesperia, Calif.; four grandchildren; and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Leslie Diane Farrow; and a granddaughter.

Charles ‘Chuck’ McKague

La Grande

1920-2010

Charles Earl “Chuck” McKague, 90, of La Grande, died Aug. 8 at Vista Specialty Care in La Grande. He requested that there be no funeral service.

Charles was born June 10, 1920, one of four children to Herschel and Myrtle (Wood) McKague in Carthage, Mo.

In July 1938, he married Jean Cox in Nampa, Idaho. They had three children and helped raise Charles Kearney who lived with them for many years.

Charles joined the Civilian Conservation Corp in the 1930s, and in 1944, enlisted in the U.S. Army, fighting in the South Pacific during World War II. He was twice wounded, which affected his hearing for the rest of his life. He was honorably discharged in December 1945.

Before and after World War II, Charles worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and retired in 1982 after 42 years of service. At one time he owned a farm in Stanfield and a restaurant in Milton-Freewater.

Charles belonged to the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion and the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 3362.

He enjoyed many outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, camping and snowmobiling.

He loved to dance. In his later years, nothing gave him more joy than his dogs and cats. He loved feeding the birds and squirrels outside his window.

In 1975, his beloved wife, Jean, died in Portland. Charles married Mary Ellen Busey in February 1981 and was proud to raise her youngest daughter as his own.

Those who knew him say he lived a life full of accomplishments and had a wealth of friends.

Charles is survived by his wife, Mary; daughter, Judie and her husband, Pasco Arritola, of La Grande; step-daughter, Joanie Busey of Wilsonville; three other step-children; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Jean; an infant son; son, Charles Richard “Dick” McKague; and dear friend and stepfather, Dwight King.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Association in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory.

Loraine R. Sunderman

La Grande

1915-2010

Loraine Ruby Sunderman, 95, of La Grande and formerly of San Marcos, Calif., died July 30 at her home following a short illness.

A graveside service will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at Summerville Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Loraine was born May 8, 1915, to Theodore and Bertha (Emrich) Scheer at Madison, Neb. She graduated from Madison High School, and on May 7, 1937, she married Arthur Henry Sunderman. They farmed for the next eight years, and then moved to Columbus, Neb., where they ran their own business for the next 25 years.

In 1967, they moved to La Grande, and in 1972 they moved to Brookings. They retired to San Marcos.

Loraine enjoyed gardening and playing bridge with her friends, and she delighted in her family.

She is survived by her son, Robert of La Grande; two grandsons; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and three siblings, Ronald, Ted and Kathryn.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to La Grande United Methodist Church Choir Fund or Grande Ronde Hospice in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel.

The Observer publishes free obituaries as a community service. Obituaries are edited to fit news guidelines. Photos are encouraged. Paid space is available for families who would like to include more information. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center posts unedited obituaries at www.danielsknopp.com, and Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory posts obituaries at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.