Edward Raymond "Bud" Brown, 85 of La Grande died May 19. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday May 24 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 25 at Hillcrest Cemetery with Bishop Wes Rampton of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officiating.

Mr. Brown was born Nov. 16, 1919, to Walter R. and Anna Windows Brown in La Grande. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1939, and moved to Burbank, Calif., where he worked for Douglas Aircraft and served in the Army during World War II. He moved the Longview, Wash., where he worked as a plumber’s assistant for a short time before returning to La Grande where he had several jobs until his retirement 1982. He was a member of the American Legion, and enjoyed fishing and traveling.

Survivors include his two cousins, Richard Hawes of Walla Walla, and Evelyn Richey of La Grande; a brother-in-law, R.C. "Reg" Gipson of Island City and other relatives. A sister, Lucille Marie Gipson died earlier.

Memorials may be made to any charity in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

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Richard Bunting, 79, of Portland and formerly of La Grande died May 16. A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday May 29 at the First Christian Church, 1315 S.W. Broadway in Portland.

Mr. Bunting was born Nov. 30, 1925, to Clyde and Gladys Carlson Bunting in La Grande. He graduated from La Grande High School. In 1946 he graduated from the University of Oregon and married Dorothy Claire Carlson. They moved to Boise where he was vice president of the family firm, Bunting Tractor Co. He served as chair of the county Democratic Party and as state committee chair. In 1963 the family moved to Portland where he was co-founder of the Tire Factory. He was a board member of the Northwest College of Art and Alano, and served as a deacon at the First Christian Church. After his wife died in 1981 he joined the Peace Corps as a small-business consultant in Micronesia. He enjoyed flying, music, history, the arts and a good joke.

Survivors include his companion, Christie Lan; children and their spouses, Fredricka Bunting of Chicago, Ill., Claire and Jim Williams of Kentfield, Calif., Brant and Colleen Bunting of Eugene, and Molly and John Wilson of North Powder; and five grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, Alano of Oregon or Northwest College of Art in care of Young’s Funeral Home, 11831 S.W. Pacific Highway, Tigard 97223.

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Jay Calvin Skillings, 49, of Pendleton and formerly of Wallowa died May 14 at his home of natural causes. A small service is planned at Promise on Sunday May 29.

Mr. Skillings was born Feb. 22, 1956, to Ike and Luella Skillings in Enterprise. He graduated from Joseph High School and served in the Army in Korea and Germany, before moving to Pendleton. He was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include siblings, Verna Mudie of Ione, Anitta Skillings of Lynnwood, Wash., Vicki Nepple of Portland and Rick Skillings of Wallowa.

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Lorene "Babe" Folsom, 79, of Yakima and formerly of La Grande died May 9. There will be no public service. Keith and Keith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Folsom was born Feb. 4, 1926, to Everett and Elionide Cote Duncan. She worked for many years as a waitress in Huntington, serving breakfast for the crews of the Union Pacific Railroad. She married George Folsom and lived in La Grande for many years. She enjoyed playing pinochle, working crossword puzzles and fishing. She was a survivor with a big heart, a keen sense of people and a great sense of humor. She was a member of TOPS.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Carole Folsom-Hill and Steve Hill of Yakima, Kayo and Tina Oakley of Bend; a stepson, Jon Folsom; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her husband died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Yakima Interfaith Coalition, La Casa Hogar, 106 S. Sixth St., Yakima, Wash. 98901.

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Vallis Luella Washburn, 90, of Heppner and formerly of Elgin died May 11. Sweeney Mortuary was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in the Heppner Masonic Cemetery.

Mrs. Washburn was born June 15, 1914, to Charles Newton and Marvel Minnie Miller Jones in Heppner. She graduated from Heppner High School and attended Eastern Oregon Normal School. On Oct. 9, 1935, she married Norman O. Washburn in Heppner. They ranched and had several mobile-home parks in the 1980s, including one in Elgin. She had a real estate license and retired in the late 1970s.

She was a member of the Elgin Christian Church, and enjoyed creative stitchery, pretty dishes, flower gardening, traveling and being with her family.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Valnora and G.L. Weaver of Brookings, Janet Petersen of Brush Prairie, Wash., John and Gloria Washburn of Tillamook, Charles and Kathy Washburn of Elgin, Jody and Don Jenks of Tangent, and Jean and Ken Nieman of Las Vegas, Nev.; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Floyd Jones of Heppner, Loma Mae Chalfant of Morristown, Ind., and Lois Graybeal of San Ramon, Calif.; and other relatives. Her husband, a son-in-law and two brothers, Paul and Marcel Jones, all died earlier.

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Edward Blaine Ross, 80, of Tomah, Wis., and formerly of La Grande died Jan. 7 at a care center. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday May 31 at Hillcrest Cemetery. He will be buried beside his father, who was the last Spanish American War veteran in La Grande. Loveland Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Ross was born March 22, 1924, to William E. "Sarge" and Clara Ross in Springfield, Ohio. He attended school in La Grande and served in the Navy during World War II as a radar technician aboard the USS Idaho, the USS Frederick G. David and the USS Taussig. He married Delores Davis but was later divorced. He lived many years in Milwaukee, Wis., where he owned a service station, and worked in the cardboard-box manufacturing industry.

Survivors include two daughters, Deanna Ross of Medford and Debra Dean of Bend; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brothers, Donald Ross of Molalla and Benjamin Ross of Foley, Ala.; and other relatives. Two sisters, Lucille Berndt and Helen Ross, and a grandson, Ryan Ross, died earlier.

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Marguerite Bessie "Madge" Hibbs, 97, of La Grande died May 17 at Grande Ronde Hospital. At her request there will be no public service.

Mrs. Hibbs was born Dec. 9, 1907, to Harry and Bella Elman in La Grande. She married Ivel R. Hibbs who died in 1971.

Survivors include cousins, Jerry Cantrell of Haines, Norman McKenzie of La Grande, Donna Mathson of Pendleton, and Russell Weeks of Union. A sister ,Gertrude Kinkead, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to any charity in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.

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Verniece E. Grende, 86, of North Powder died May 19 at her home. Burial was at the North Powder Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Grende was born July 6, 1918, to Edward and Laura Bell Luney McKeen in North Powder. She was raised and educated in North Powder. She enjoyed carpentry, repairing lamps, music, singing and playing the guitar.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Judy and Steve Nelson, and Ernie Grende, all of North Powder, and Marilyn and John Cherry of Milton-Freewater; nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

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Gertrude Ella "Peggy" Lovely, 91, of La Grande died May 25 at her home. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Grandview Cemetery.

Mrs. Lovely was born Sept. 7, 1913, to Daniel and Ella Bachelor Peterman in Cove. For most of her life she lived in the Grande Ronde Valley, where she was a homemaker. She married Walter Scott Lovely on Dec. 16, 1937, in Walla Walla. He died on May 18.

She was a past member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Eagles Auxiliary. She enjoyed gardening, fishing, spending time with family and friends, and dancing the waltz with her husband.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Dale Mattson of Island City; a sister, Violet Carroll of Stanfield; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and other relatives. Three brothers, Garold Peterman, Vern Peterman and Frank Peterman all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to any charity in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

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Virgil Dudley Cribbs, 87, of La Grande, die May 25 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley with the Rev. Vernon Slippy of the Grande Ronde Community Church officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Mr. Cribbs was born Nov. 11, 1917, to Pearl and Mary May Hixon Cribbs at Lovell, Wyo. In his younger years he drove cattle over the Great Divide. In 1939 he moved from Montana to Mill City, and in 1941 he married Velma Suverson. In 1956 he moved first to Enterprise and then a few months later to La Grande. He ran his own logging company for many years and was later employed by the Lathrop logging business. In 1968 he married Claire Stillman.

He was a member of the Elks and the Oregon Log Trucking Association. He attended Grande Ronde Community Church and enjoyed attending shooting, hunting, traveling through the mountains of Eastern Oregon and visiting family.

He was a true gentleman, family members said, and was respected by his family, friends and fellow workers.

Survivors include his wife of La Grande; children and their spouses, Larry and Shirley Cribbs of Island City and Sharyn and Marvin Nunn of La Grande; stepchildren and their spouses, Edith and Bob McGee of Eminence, Ken., and Dorothy and Art Keener of Clarkston, Wash.; five grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Leona and Joe Smith of Hotchkiss, Colo.; and other relatives. Three siblings died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Lions’ Eye Bank in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh Street, La Grande 97850.

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Kristofer K. Kennedy, 37, of Milton-Freewater and formerly of La Grande, died May 25 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla.

Mr. Kennedy was born Oct. 17, 1967, to Kimber K. and Donna J. Mitchell Kennedy in La Grande. He lived his entire life in Union and Umatilla counties.

He graduated from Elgin High School and attended Wyoming Tech where he graduated with an associate degree. He worked in heavy construction and residential remodeling.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, long walks in the mountains and traveling

Survivors include his companion, Debbie Haskins; a son, Kyle Kennedy, of Milton-Freewater; his mother of Monmouth; his father of Elgin; a brother, Klifford Kennedy, a sister, Katherine Butcher of Fairbanks, Alaska; grandparents Ron and Norman Kerby of Milton-Freewater; and other relatives.

Memorials may be made to the Kyle Kennedy Education Fund through Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home, 902 S. Main, Milton-Freewater 97862.