Sharon Chase

La Grande and formerly

of Elgin

1943-2003

Sharon Chlo Chase, 60, of La Grande and formerly of Elgin died June 6 at

St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise after a brief illness. A memorial service and celebration of life will begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Christian Life Center, 14th and Alder streets in Elgin. Cloverdale Funeral Home in Boise is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Chase was born March 10, 1943, to Bill and Willa Hickman in Gassville, Ark. In June of 1959 she married Loyce Pickard. After a divorce she married Ron Chase on Dec. 20, 1969, in Sacramento, Calif. In 1970 the couple moved to McKinleyville, Calif. The couple then moved to La Grande in 1974 and to Elgin in 1976. They were later divorced. She moved to La Grande to be close to family. She enjoyed antiques, sewing, being around animals, especially horses, and being with her family.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Jeffrey Chase, Scott Chase, Franklin and Jenny Chase; one grandchild; her mother, an aunt, Velma Smith, and a brother, John M. Hickman, all of La Grande, and other relatives. Her father died earlier.

Contributions may be made to Frank Chase, 62101 Chandler Loop, La Grande 97850.

Vera Hearing

Island City

1919-2003

Vera Wetzel Hearing, 84, of Island City died June 13 at her home. A gathering for family and friends will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at the Elks Lodge, 1124 Washington Ave. At her request there will be no viewing. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Hearing was born April 15, 1919, to Lewis I. and Floy Wells Wetzel in Pendleton. She attended Riveria Elementary School, La Grande High School, Eastern Oregon Normal School and Drapers School of Commerce, and on Sept. 5, 1975, married Ross Hearing in Newport. She worked for Consolidated Freightways and at one time headed the Red Cross blood drawings.

She was a member of the Grande Ronde Hospital Auxiliary, serving as president, the La Grande Country Club, where she was president of the Women’s Auxiliary for two years and also president of the Golf Club, the first and only woman to hold that office. She had a multitude of friends and belonged to several birthday and bridge clubs. She enjoyed reading, gardening, golf and bridge.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Sandy Babic of La Grande; step-daughters, Elizabeth Oliver of Enterprise and Sylvia Hearing of Portland; one granddaughter; a sister, Floy Matthews, of Beaverton; a brother-in-law, Virgil A. Choate, and other relatives. Her husband died in 2000, and two sisters, Louise Choate and Virginia Lewis, also died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Grande Ronde Hospital Hospice, P.O. Box 3290, La Grande 97850.

Ross Paxton

Formerly of Union, Elgin and La Grande

1931-2003

Ross Elwin Paxton, 72, of Edgewater, N.J., and formerly of Union, Elgin and La Grande, died June 14. At his request there will be no public service. Burial will be at the Elgin Cemetery.

Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Paxton was born Feb. 3, 1931, to Charles Alford and Belle Tracy Paxton in La Grande. He attended grade school in Elgin and high school in Union. He was co-editor of the Bobcat Yearbook and illustrated the cover that was used for many years. He attended college in Seattle from 1949 to 1951 and served in the Army in the Korean Conflict. Afterward, he attended college in Albuquerque, N. M., and finished his education in New York City.

He was a natural artist and musician. He worked as an illustrator for the YCNR Art Agency in New York until his retirement. Some of his accounts included the cotton campaign, Vogue patterns and Estee Lauder. He enjoyed traveling and writing and had several articles in the Valley News in Elgin. He had researched the genealogy of both sides of his family.

Survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, William and Betsy Paxton of Union; and other relatives. A sister-in-law, Anne Paxton, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Union Bobcat Foundation in care of Daniels Chapel, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

‘Pete’ Pearson

Baker City

1929-2003

Henry D. "Pete" Pearson, 73, of Baker City died June 15 at his home.

A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. today at the North Powder Cemetery.

Coles Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Pearson was born Nov. 13, 1929, to Frank and Olive Davis Pearson in North Powder. He was the quarterback of the 1946 North Powder football team, which suffered only one loss, which was to the eventual state champion. He enjoyed trapshooting and won numerous trophies throughout the Western United States including the Oregon State Singles Championship in the Amateur Trapshooting Association and the Singles Championship in the Pacific Trapshooting Association in the 1980s.

He enjoyed all types of hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. One of his favorite pastimes in the summer was horseback riding. A trip to the Wallowa wilderness for fishing in the high lakes was an annual event.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Edna, of Baker City; children, Frank of Milwaukie; Terry of Baker City; Ann McGranahan of Wilsonville; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three sisters, Grace Rowett, Barbara Baker and Phyllis Fettig.

Memorials may be made to the Baker County Chapter of the American Red Cross in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City 97814.

Connie Strom

Formerly of La Grande

1933-2003

A graveside service for Connie Lee Strom, 70, who died June 10 will begin at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Grandview Cemetery. Mrs. Strom lived in La Grande for 39 years. Pegg, Paxson and Springer Funeral Chapel in Beaverton is in charge of arrangements.

Nettie Fuller

Baker City

1915-2003

Nettie Lee Fuller, 87, of Baker City died June 16 at her home. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hughes Lane in Baker City, with Bishop David Richards of the Second Ward officiating. Viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City 97814. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande at 12:30 p.m. Friday. A reception will follow at the LDS Stake Center on Gekeler Lane.

Mrs. Fuller was born Oct. 13, 1915, to O.W. and Zoe Edson Bandy Whittenberg in Detroit Lakes, Minn. The family moved to Eugene where she graduated from high school. In 1945 she married G. Lowell Fuller in Baker City. The couple ran the Fuller Insurance Agency until 1962, when they sold the agency to their son, Larry. They ran a cattle ranch on Pocahontas Road until her husband died and she moved into town.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stake president of the Relief Society for six years, and later head of the German Extract Program. She enjoyed drawing, cooking, sewing, quilting, teaching and spending time with her many grandchildren.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Dr. Dee and GeorgAnna Fuller of La Grande, Larry and Linda Fuller of Umatilla, Gary Fuller of Pleasant Valley, Sonya Givens who is serving her mission in Australia, and Zoe Anne Spriet of Baker City; 23 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Her husband, a brother, Jack Whittenberg, a sister Martha Whittenberg, and a son-in-law, Harley Spriet, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Pathway Hospice or a charity of choice in care of Coles Funeral Home.

Shannon Halvorson

Formerly of La Grande

1982-2003

Shannon Lee Zimmerlee Halvorson, 20, of Prineville and formerly of La Grande died June 13 in an accident in Albany while attending a conference of the Volunteer Firefighters Association. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Assembly of God Church in Prineville. Viewing will be from 4 to 8 p.m. tonight and Friday at the Prineville Funeral Home.

Mrs. Halvorson was born Aug. 12, 1982, to Richard and Heidi (Buce) Zimmerlee in La Grande. She lived in Rome, Hermiston, Monument and Terrebonne. She was home-schooled until the fifth grade and graduated from the Crook County Christian School. In 1999 she married Jeff Halvorson.

She earned a certificate in Medical Assisting from Central Oregon Community College and worked for Central Oregon Family Medical Clinic and then Pioneer Health Care Center. She was a volunteer for the Prineville Fire Department and had completed her wildland firefighter training. She also had volunteered with the Deschutes County Shots for Tots, the Crook County blood drive and the 4-H equestrian club.

She enjoyed visiting her family on Rudio Mountain, the ocean, snowboarding, cooking, horses, fishing and boating.

Survivors include her husband and son, Garrett, both of Prineville; her mother and stepfather, Heidi and Mike McCrary of Anchorage, Alaska; her father of Terrebonne; a brother, Jamie Zimmerlee of John Day; grandparents, Barbara Weatherford Buce of Seattle and James and Vivian Zimmerlee of Prineville, and other relatives.

Memorials may be made to COBRA at 1266 N.W. Newport Ave., Bend 97701.

‘Ginger’ Horrell

Elgin

1931-2003

LeVerne "Ginger" Horrell, 72, of Elgin died June 12 at her home following a short illness. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the Elgin Cemetery. Viewing will be from 3 to 6 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.

Mrs. Horrell was born Jan. 17, 1931, to Kenneth and Eunice Hendren Poteete in Derby, Okla. The family moved to Washington and later settled in Milton-Freewater, where she graduated from high school. On April 28, 1963, she married George Horrell in Carson City, Nev. The couple made their home on a ranch in Elgin. She enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping and hiking.

Survivors include her husband of Elgin; a son, Greg Horrell of Elgin; a brother, Emmett Poteete of Milton-Freewater; two half-sisters, Joanne Harris of Pendleton and Phyllis Thom of Kennewick and other relatives.

Contributions may be made to a memorial fund in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Beth Simonis

La Grande

1919-2003

Beth May Simonis, 83, of La Grande died June 16 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla.

A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church with Father Hank Albrecht officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. Viewing will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday followed by a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.

Mrs. Simonis was born Sept. 22, 1919, to William and Elvina Halliday Hewitt in La Grande. She attended school in Pendleton and Meacham, and on Dec. 25, 1958, she married Nicholas Simonis in La Grande. The couple lived in La Grande until 1994 when they moved to Umatilla.

In 2000 they returned to La Grande.

She was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, the Eagles Auxiliary and the Pinnacle Club at the Union County Senior Center. She enjoyed traveling, bowling, fishing, camping and the outdoors. In her earlier years

she enjoyed dancing. She crocheted afghans for all of her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband of La Grande; stepdaughter, Arlene Baldwin of Orem, Utah; eight grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren and other relatives. A daughter, Mary Simonis, a sister, Beryl Hewitt, and two brothers, Floyd and Harry Hewitt, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in care of Daniels Chapel.

Elizabeth Waite

La Grande

1918-2003

Elizabeth H. Waite, 84, of La Grande died June 16 at a local care center. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the LDS Stake Center, 1802 Gekeler Lane. Viewing will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St.

Mrs. Waite was born Dec. 29, 1918, at Hillspring, Alberta, Canada. She graduated from La Grande High School in 1937 and attended Brigham Young University and Eastern Oregon Normal School. She taught at High Valley School and married Elden Waite on March 22, 1939, in Walla Walla. She later received her master’s degree in education.

She had lived in Pendleton for a short time until about 1954 when she moved back to La Grande. She taught at Riveria, Central and Greenwood schools and retired in 1980. She was a member of the LDS Church, the American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority, the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, and both T.O.P.S and K.O.P.S. clubs. She enjoyed reading, sports and spending time with her family.

Survivors include her husband of La Grande, children and their spouses, Ronald and Gwendolyn Waite, Wayne and Penelope Waite and Reed and Debra Waite, all of La Grande, Dennis and Peni Waite of Pilot Rock, Richard and Martha Waite of Alpine, Utah, and Alan and Christy Waite of Weiser, Idaho; 45 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Joyce Lawson of Bozeman, Mont., Mary Lou Victor of Enterprise and Edythe Roedel of Boise; and a brother, George Hendrickson of La Grande. Two sons, a brother, two sister and a grandson all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the LDS Family History Center in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel.

Eleanor Browne

Eleanor Browne of La Grande, died Wednesday at a local care center. Arrangements will be announced later by Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Joyce Weitlauf

Union

Joyce M. Weitlauf, 66, of Union died Thursday at her home. Viewing will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., with a recitation of the Holy Rosary to begin at 7.

The funeral will begin at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Union. Burial will follow at the Union Cemetery.

A full obituary will be published later.