Carlsen, Rosenberg, Smith, Dawson, Lathrop, Sabey, Sipp, Hutchinson, Norton

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

Feb. 18 – Sigrid Jones, funeral service, 11 a.m., LDS chapel, McAlister Lane,

La Grande; visitation one hour prior to service at chapel; burial at Island City Cemetery follows service

Feb. 18 – Jo-Ann Lathrop, funeral service, 2 p.m., Bollman Funeral Chapel, Enterprise; memorial gathering at the Lostine Grange follows

Feb. 20 – Myrna Gail Sabey, funeral service, 2 p.m., Bramlet Cemetery, Wallowa; memorial potluck at Wallowa Senior Center follows

Donald Carlsen

La Grande

Donald Carlsen, 88, of La Grande, died this morning at a local care center. Arrangements will be announced later by Daniels-Knopp Funeral Cremation and Life Celebration Center.

Ramona Rosenberg

Union

Ramona L. Rosenberg, 68, of Union, died Feb. 14 at her home. A complete obituary will be published later. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory will be handling the arrangements.

Irene Smith

La Grande

Irene Smith, 91, of La Grande, died Feb. 14 at a local care center. Arrangements will be announced later by Daniels-Knopp Funeral Cremation and Life Celebration Center.

Lanna Jo Dawson

Formerly of Baker City, Elgin

Lanna Jo Dawson, 56, of Clatskanie and formerly of Baker City and Elgin, died Feb. 11. A funeral service is planned for 10 a.m. Feb. 25 at the Gray’s West and Co. Pioneer Funeral Chapel in Baker City. Burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Baker City.

A full obituary will be published later. Gray’s West and Co. Pioneer Funeral Chapel of Baker City will be handling the arrangements.

Jo-Ann Lathrop

Enterprise

Jo-Ann Lathrop, 75, of Enterprise, died Feb. 12. A funeral service is planned for 2 p.m. Friday at the Bollman Funeral Chapel in Enterprise. A gathering of family and friends at the Lostine Grange will follow the ceremony.

A full obituary will be published at a later time. Bollman Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Myrna Gail Sabey

Cove, formerly of Wallowa

Myrna Gail Sabey, 68, of Cove and formerly of Wallowa, died Feb. 12. A funeral service is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday at the Bramlet Cemetery in Wallowa. A memorial potluck at the Wallowa Senior Center will follow the ceremony.

A full obituary will be published at a later time. Bollman Funeral Home of Enterprise will be handling the arrangements.

Clayton Sipp

Baker City

Clayton Arthur Sipp, 73, of Baker City, died Feb. 12. A celebration of life is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at the Baker City First Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.

A full obituary will be published later. Gray’s West and Co. Pioneer Chapel will be handling the arrangements.

Patsy Reeves Hutchinson

La Grande

1937-2011

Patsy Reeves Hutchinson, 73, of La Grande, died Feb. 10 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 22 at the La Grande Presbyterian Church, under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel. Friends are invited to attend a luncheon at the Friendship Center immediately following the service. Private family interment will take place at Grandview Cemetery.

The last of six children, Patsy was born Oct. 11, 1937, to Ernest and Florence Reeves in Umatilla. She attended grade school and graduated from Umatilla High School. Having earned scholarships to attend college, she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Eastern Oregon College.

While attending EOC, she lived with the M.J. Goss family, caring for three of their children and working summers at Goss Motor Co. in the parts department. While working there, she met the love of her life, R.J. “Shorty” Hutchinson. On Aug. 18, 1958, they were married in Winnemucca, Nev.

Originally hired to teach all elementary grades in the one-room schoolhouse in Perry, Patsy was transferred to Greenwood Elementary School when Perry was consolidated into the La Grande school system.

Patsy taught for 15 years at Greenwood Elementary School, then transferred to Willow Elementary, where she taught for 18 years.

In 1991, after 33 years of teaching, Patsy retired. She was always happy when she was working with children. In 1987, she had been awarded “Teacher of the Year” by the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity.In 1992, she was recognized in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” as one of the “Best Teachers in America, selected by the Best Students.”

Patsy was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for 40 years.She belonged to the La Grande Education Association, Oregon Education Association and the National Education Association. After retirement, she became a member of the La Grande chapter of the Oregon Retired Educators. For many years, health permitting, she attended a weekly “Koffee Klatch” with a group of her retired teacher friends.

Patsy and Shorty liked RV camping with friends and spent many weekends boating and fishing at Wallowa Lake. They snowmobiled in the mountains of Eastern Oregon and made several trips to ride in the Yellowstone National Park area. She had a great interest in wildlife and enjoyed afternoon drives along the foothills, looking for birds and animals.

Patsy will be remembered for her kindness. Her philosophy was “It’s best to find the good in people and overlook any bad.” She was a loving and devoted wife, companion, step-mother and grandmother. For more than 50 years, she enjoyed a very special friendship with college friends Betty Hyde, Janis Keffer and Barbara Carter Nash, as well as her close teaching associates, Jewel Koopman, Marilyn Lester, Kay Juniper and many others.

She was blessed to have wonderful neighbors, the Teddy and Kathy Nickerson family, who gave her so much loving care and attention, throughout her last years.

Patsy was preceded in death by her parents and an older sister, Dottie Stephens, all of Umatilla. Survivors include her husband of 52 years; her “special loving caregivers,” sister Norma Busler of Umatilla and Norma’s daughter Dawn “Sis” Watts of Pullman, Wash., who spent many months at her side during her illness; stepdaughter and husband, Christie and Johnnie Sanders of Portland; siblings and their spouses/caregivers, Harold Reeves, Bennie Reeves and Maxine Marcum, Rita Jean and Dan Creamer;brother-in-law, Alva Stephens; one granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grande Ronde Hospital Home Health Hospice, the Friday Backpack Program, the Shop with a Cop Program or any fund of choice, in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande 97850.

Frances Norton

Lostine

1943-2011

Frances J. (Murphy) Norton, 67, of Lostine, died Feb. 11. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Lostine Cemetery. Arrangements are under the care of Bollman Funeral Home (Enterprise).

Frances was born Dec. 20, 1943, to Frank J. and Hilma (Rich) Murphy in Enterprise. She graduated from Wallowa High School in 1962 and in 1965 married Clarence L. Norton in the Wallowa Catholic Church.

Frances was a homemaker and also held a variety of jobs. She did restaurant work and was employed by First State Bank of Elgin (in Wallowa), Dougherty Logging and Norton Welding. She also worked as the bookkeeper and secretary for Coleman and Christman Moffit Bros. in Lostine.

She was a member of the Wallowa Christian Church and of the VFW Auxiliary.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents; numerous aunts and uncles; sisters-in-law, Mary Horton, Dorothy Kuba and Marge Fincher; and brothers-in-law, Dick Norton and Don Hanson.

Survivors include her husband; son and daughter-in-law, Krag and Kim Norton, of Lostine; siblings and their spouses, MaryAnn and Don Woodword of Wallowa and Fred Murphy of Boise; sisters-in-law, Agnes Roberts of Enterprise and Juanita Hanson of Elgin; aunt, Margaret McClain of Joseph; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and two grandsons.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

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.