James L. Vencill

La Grande 1923-2019

James L. Vencill, 95, of La Grande, died July 11 at his home. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 19 at Eagle Point National Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center.

James was born Oct. 30, 1923, in Sutherland, Nebraska, to Charles and Victoria (Gray) Vencill. He spent most of his life in Medford and graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1942. He served in the U.S. Navy.

In 1944, James married Noweta Havnier, who preceded him in death in 2005. He worked as a mechanic for the U.S. Forest Service. James was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Lions Club and enjoyed being outdoors, including hunting and fishing.

Surviving relatives include his sons, Stuart Vencill of Joseph, Gary Vencill of Eugene and Alan Vencill of La Grande; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by six siblings.

Holly Borne

North Powder

Holly Borne, 39, of North Powder and Baker City, died Aug. 5 at Juniper Meadows Adult Foster Care in Baker City. An obituary is forthcoming. Arrangements are under the direction of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Ira J. Kannard

La Grande

Ira J. Kannard, 101, of La Grande, died Aug. 3 at a local care facility. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 8 at Hillcrest Cemetery. An obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is handling the arrangements.

Mary G. Averill

La Grande

Mary G. Averill, 80, of La Grande, died Aug. 5. An obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory will be handling the arrangements.

Lillian L. (Kralicek) Moore

Formerly of La Grande 1922-2019

Lillian Laurine Moore, 96, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande, died July 28. There will be a private family celebration, and Lillian will be laid to rest beside her husband at Willamette National Cemetery.

Lillian was born Dec. 7, 1922, in Dickinson, North Dakota, to Joseph and Mary Kralicek. From a very young age, she worked on the family-run farm, most of which was done by hand without today’s farming mechanization.

During World War II, Lillian worked in the shipyards as a welder, one of many “Rosie the Riveter” girls. On Oct. 5, 1946, she married Gerald “Jerry” Moore, and they had two sons.

Lillian lived in Boston and in Portland, Union, La Grande and Baker City. Lillian worked hard taking care of her family and loved ones. She also provided housekeeping services for several clients for many years. She was a member of the Oregon State Extension Service.

Lillian enjoyed gardening, cooking, preserving and spending time in the mountains. Even in her 90s, she would go outside to walk with her ski poles. Memorable dates in her life included the births of her grandchildren and all of their accomplishments.

Lillian was known to recite “The Serenity Prayer” and she lived by the philosophy that “Love is the most important emotion in existence, the thread that holds all together and allows any of us to overcome life’s obstacles.” Lillian’s legacy is the steadfast belief of the importance of family and the love and nurturing that best supports it.

Surviving relatives include her sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Sandy Moore of Haines and Douglas and Kristi Moore of Veneta; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Jerry Moore, in 2012.

Memorial donations may be made to Heart ‘n Home Hospice’s Opal Foundation in care of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, PO. Box 543, Halfway 97834.

Condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.

Wilba “Sue” E. (Wolfe) Gerber

Formerly of Elgin 1936-2019

Wilba “Sue” Ettamarie Gerber, 83, of Milwaukie and formerly of Elgin, died Aug. 3 at Providence Hospital in Milwaukie. A viewing will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 9 at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center in La Grande. A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Elgin Cemetery.

Known as Sue, she was born Jan. 16, 1936, in Grand Junction, Colorado, to Charlie Martin and Gladys Elizabeth (Lee) Wolfe. On March 25, 1955, she married Louis Emery Gerber Sr. in Dayton, Washington, and they made their home in Elgin.

Sue was a homemaker and mother and worked in the fields and Boise Cascade. She was a member of the Elgin Nazarene Church and the Milwaukie Covenant Church. Sue enjoyed baking cakes, crocheting, knitting, cooking, gardening, reading, fishing, camping and canning. She won many blue ribbons for her pickles at the Union County Fair.

Surviving relatives include her son and daughter-in-law, Louis and Robin Gerber of La Grande; daughter and boyfriend, Colleen Kai and Jason Hayes of Troutdale; daughter and son-in-law, Kathrine and Bruce Litchfield of Milwaukie; sister, Trudy Duffy of Elgin; and 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis.

Carl ‘Steve’ Bolin

La Grande

Carl Stephen “Steve” Bolin, 67, of La Grande, died Aug. 7 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A funeral will be held at 4 p.m. Aug. 12 at the First Baptist Church. An obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is handling the arrangements.