Robert Wirt McClure Jr., 75, of Umatilla and formerly of La Grande died May 6 at his home after a short illness. Burns Mortuary in Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. McClure was born April 7, 1930, to Edna and Bob McClure in San Diego, Calif. He graduated from LaJolla High School and pursued his education by correspondence courses. He served in the Naval Reserve and on March 18, 1967, he married Anne Graham in Pomoroy, Wash. He worked as a food-processing and design engineer for corporations such as Bird’s Eye, Ore-Ida, Frito Lay and Green Giant, and retired after 45 years. He enjoyed big-game hunting, fishing, gathering mushrooms, the mountains and streams of Eastern Oregon, and being with his friends and family.

Survivors include children, Robert McClure of Arlington, Wash., Terry McClure and Don McClure, both of La Grande, Tina Christiansen of Rockaway Beach, and Rita Moxley of Cove; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. A younger brother, Don McClure, and a daughter, Ann Marie, died earlier.

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Roy Elton Crowson, 78, of Elgin died May 3 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Loveland Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements

Mr. Crowson was born Feb. 9, 1927, to John and Violet Davidson Crowson in Chatfield, Min. He served in the Army with the Army Airborne from 1953-55. He was a master mechanic and master welder. He married Beverlee Ekedal and together they provided foster care to 32 children in Minnesota before moving to Oregon in 1980.

His legacy is a personal example that contributes to the prosperity of those who follow him.

Survivors include children; Victor Sash of Rochester, Minn., David Sash of Burnsville, Minn., Wendy Barrows of Salem, Mark Sash of Seattle, Wash., and Jennifer Sublet of Walla Walla; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and siblings, Alan Crowson of Anchorage, Alaska, Ross Crowson of Dow, Ill., Gary Crowson of Okanogan, Wash., Jim Crowson of Milville, Minn. and Gordon Crowson of Rochester, Minn., and Brenda Adler and Ida Stremka, both of Wisconsin. His wife and a son, Bradley, died earlier.

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Eileen May Johnson, 91, of La Grande died May 7 at a local care center. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 12 at Daniels Chapel with Pastor Frank Humber of the Summerville Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow at the Summerville Cemetery.

Mrs. Johnson was born April 19, 1914, to William and Mable Johnston Bull in Summerville. She graduated from La Grande High School and from Eastern Oregon Normal School. In her early years she tied fishing flies for income and also picked hops. On July 13, 1951, she married Bert Johnson in La Grande.

For many years she worked as a secretary for the Union County Health Department and was Registrar of Vital Statistics for Union County. She retired in 1979. She lived most of her life in the Grande Ronde Valley, and most recently lived at the Evergreen Rehabilitation Center.

She was a member of the Legal Secretaries’ Association, a pinochle club and the Red Hat Society. In their younger years she and husband belonged to the La Grande Square Dance Club.

Survivors include a son, Gene Noland of La Grande; a step-brother and his wife, Creston and Dovey Shaw of Alicel; neices and nephews and their spouses, Robert and Linda Kuchler of La Grande, Garth Bull Jr. and Judy Bull, both of Pomeroy, Wash., and Marion and Bobby Stuckman of La Grande, Cresta and Rein DeLint of Alicel, and Janet and Paul Rudd of La Grande; and other relatives. Her husband, a sister, Gail Kuchler, a brother, Garth Bull, and a step-sister, Elaine Smith, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Ostomy Association in care of Daniels Chapel.

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Shirley JoAn Petersen, 68, of La Grande died May 10 at her home. A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. Burial will follow at the Island City Cemetery.

Mrs. Petersen was born Aug. 20, 1936, to Grover Eugene and Pearl Borgerson Fulkerson in Plentywood, Mont. She graduated from Eastern Montana College, and on Dec, 28, 1958, she married James Petersen in Plentywood. They lived in Salem and in Santa Cruz, Calif., before settling in La Grande in 1967.

She worked part-time for Sandy’s Fashions and Herman Trailer Sales before she began work for Eastern Oregon State College in the registrar’s office. When OHSU established the nursing program in 1979, she became the program office manager, and retired in 1996.

She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Soroptimist Club, the Grande Ronde Hospital Auxiliary and two bridge clubs. Earlier she had been a Brownie leader. She was a card shark and enjoyed playing cards, watching sports on television, especially tennis, reading murder mysteries, watching crime shows, camping with her family and attending school band concerts where her grandson played in the band. She especially liked the Jazz Band Concerts at La Grande High School.

Survivors include her children, Joni Petersen-Simonis and Kris Petersen, both of La Grande; one grandson; a brother-in-law and his wife, Terry and Jill Petersen of Salem; a sister-in-law and her husband, Nancy and Joe Hubber of Helena, Mont.; her mother-in-law and her husband, Elizabeth and Jiggs Iwen of Billings, Mont.; and other relatives. Her husband, a son, Randall Petersen, her brothers, Eugene and Clinton Palmer Fulkerson, and sisters, Marjorie Robke and Maren Fulkerson, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the LHS Band Boosters or any charity in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

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William Albert "Bill" Davis Jr., 46, of New Plymouth, Idaho, and formerly of La Grande died May 1 of natural causes while working in Pacific City. Memorial services were held in Fruitland, Idaho. Pacific View Funeral Home in Lincoln City was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Davis was born Sept. 14, 1958, to William and Jackie Brown Davis in Spokane. He attended school in La Grande. On June 25, 1977, he married Loretta Kyle in Cambridge, Idaho. He worked with his father setting up and repairing manufactured homes in Fruitland, Idaho, operating heavy equipment for a gold mine in Battle Mountain, Nev., and transporting manufactured homes in Weiser, Idaho.

He established a wildland firefighter water-tending business, and was a volunteer firefighter in New Plymouth. Most recently he worked in road construction for McCafferty-Whittle of Portland. He also hauled Christmas trees to the Home Depot stores for Holiday Trees Inc.

He was a self-taught guitarist and played in a local band for many years. He enjoyed, hunting, fishing, riding his ATV, snowmobiling and being with his family. He loved all animals, especially his little rat terrier, Smutley.

Survivors include his wife of Fruitland; children and their spouses, Amanda and Jason Coombs of New Plymouth, and Nikki and Darin Brandt of, Adrian; four grandchildren; his parents and a grandmother, Dorothy Brown, all of La Grande; siblings and their spouses, Iky and William Cross of Winnemucca, Nev.; Ray and Bobbi Davis of Middleton, Idaho, and Justin Davis of New Plymouth; and other relatives. Other grandparents, two uncles and a brother-in-law died earlier.

Contributions may be made to a memorial fund at the Farmers’ & Merchants’ State Bank, 1850 Whitley Dr., Fruitland, 83619; (208) 452-7101.

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Necha Boswell, 70, of Elgin, died May 11 at a local care center. At her request there will be no public service.

Mrs. Boswell was born Jan. 3, 1935, to Dick and Marjorie Bussear Boswell in Elgin. She attended school in Elgin and later worked as a cattle rancher. She enjoyed creatures great and small.

Survivors include her children and their spouses, David and Linda Matteson of Umatilla, Gary and Marti Matteson of Prineville, and Dell and Candy Tarbell of Boise; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and other relatives. A sister, Rowena Boswell, died earlier.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Association in care of Daniels Chapel, 1502 Seventh St.