Witherrite, Tuey, Hershberger, Johnston, Prout

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

April 16 – Lyal Witherrite, celebration of life, 2 p.m., Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center; burial, Union Cemetery

April 17 – Alice Tuey, services, 10 a.m., Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande

Mary Hershberger, 88, of Enumclaw, Wash., and formerly of Union County, died April 8 at Auburn, Wash. A service was held this morning at Weeks Funeral Home, Buckley. A graveside service will begin at 2:30 p.m. today at Summerville Cemetery. Weeks’ Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Those who knew Mary may sign the online guestbook at www.weeksfuneralhomes.com.

Mary was born Oct. 10, 1921, to Perry and Cora Martin at Bedford, Pa. She married Al Hershberger Feb. 11, 1939, in Winchester, Pa. Al was the mayor of Imbler.

The couple spent a lot of their time remodeling homes. Mary enjoyed gardening and her grandchildren.

Survivors include her sons, Lee and his wife, Linda Hershberger, of Enumclaw, and Dennis and his wife, Jerri Hershberger, of Hamilton, Mont.; daughter, Darlene and her husband, Rocky Glidden, of Republic, Wash.; sisters, Jannie Powers of Venice, Fla., Ethel Rita Weyant of Shellsburg, Pa., and Patricia Foor of Bedford, Pa.; brother, Charles and his wife, Betty Martin, of Jackson, Mich.; nine grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, E. Allen Hershberger May 27, 1998.

Verlie Lenore Johnston, 89, of La Grande and formerly of Portland, died April 4 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Riverview Cemetery in Portland.

Verlie was born Aug. 30, 1920, to Harold Frederick and Myrtle Elizabeth (Franklin) Warner in Monitor. She was raised and educated in Portland.

In 1945 she married Emerald Vincent Gilmore. He preceded her in death in March 1957. In September 1958 she married William Harold Johnston in Portland. He preceded her in death in September 2005.

Verlie worked as a seamstress doing alterations. As a lifetime member of the Genealogical Forum of Oregon, she was interested in genealogy and Oregon history. Many of her hours were spent volunteering at the Genealogical Forum Library in Portland. She was also a member of the Oregon Historical Society and enjoyed gardening.

Survivors include her son, Bob Gilmore of La Grande; daughter, Beth Gilmore of

La Grande; stepson, Jeff Johnston of Bend; stepdaughter, Janet Estes of Washington state; sister, Betty McKennon of Raymond, Wash.; two cousins; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by son James Jay Gilmore in 1990.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Genealogical Forum of Oregon in care of Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

Merlin Prout, 82, of La Grande, died March 19 at his home in La Grande.

Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory was in charge of arrangements.

Merlin was born April 6, 1927, to Jasper and Leona (Dale) Prout of Joseph.

Merlin was married six times in his 82 years. His first marriage was to Elaine Wolford. They had two sons, Donel Eugene Prout Ganna and Larry Glen Prout Ganna, both of Richland, Wash. His second marriage was to Beaulah Kennedy, and born to them was daughter, Gayla Marie Prout. The third marriage was to Betty May Jennings. The couple had a son, Jerry Lee Prout of Pullman, Wash. The fourth marriage was to Edie Meyers, and the fifth was to Jean Pranchuk of Los Angeles. Merlin’s final marriage was to Rosa Brothers. All of the marriages lasted a short time.

Merlin served in the Navy and worked as a butcher in Joseph. He moved to La Grande and worked as a groundskeeper for Eastern Oregon College. In his retirement years, he mowed lawns for local businesses and managed a local trailer park for a friend, Phil Hergert. He enjoyed fishing and hunting throughout the years.

He was preceded in death by five sisters and brothers: Willard “Wick” Prout, Raymond Prout, Dorothy Prout Griffin, Gwendlene Prout Beier and Jay Prout; and a daughter, Gayla Marie Prout of Elgin.

Family members say they wish to acknowledge the life lessons they learned from Merlin: After a lifetime with pain of having siblings and not knowing who they were, Merlin’s family understands how important truth is.

Lessons resulting from anger and destruction taught the family to raise their own children with love and attention. As a final tribute of respect to the spouses and mothers who shared lives with Merlin, family members request that any memorial contributions be made to Shelter From the Storm, P.O.Box 173, La Grande 97850.

Lyal Junior Witherrite, 88, of Union, died April 12 at a local care center. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center,

1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. Committal and interment will follow at the Union Cemetery.

He was born May 9, 1921, to Lyal L. and Sylvia (Whitman) Witherrite in Enterprise. During World War ll he served with the U.S. Army. On Jan. 14, 1944 he married Clare Tschetter in Huron, S.D.

In 1945 they moved to La Grande. In 1951 they moved to High Valley, and in 1985 they moved to Union. He was a member of the Union VFW and the NRA. He enjoyed his horses and collecting many things, especially rocks and bottles of all types. Lyal also enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Clare Witherrite of Union; daughters and their husbands, Pat and Alvin Hixson and Dori and Phil Hickman, all of

La Grande; five grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; brothers, Jerry Witherrite and Weldon Witherrite, both of Imnaha, and Orson Witherrite of Tri-Cities; sister, Reta Mae McVey of Elgin; and numerous nephews, nieces and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Constance Haley on Nov. 19, 1971; and by a great-grandson, Dylan Hickman on April 6, 2009.

Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW High Valley Post 4060 in Union in care of Daniels-Knopp.