Draper, Brogoitti, Byron, Dean, Morgan Sr., Siler

Elna Draper

La Grande

Elna Draper, 93, of La Grande, died April 20 at her home. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center is in charge of the arrangements.

Marion H. Brogoitti

La Grande

1921-2011

Marion Hughes Brogoitti, 89, of La Grande, died April 3 at a local care center. A gathering for family and friends will run from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center.

Marion was born July 1, 1921, to Hill and Frances (Bender) Hughes in Pendleton. She was a horsewoman and served as queen of the Pendleton Round-up when she was young. Those who knew her say she was the first woman on the high school tennis team and was an alternate for the Olympic Swim Team.

After her marriage to Robert Allen Brogoitti, they moved from Helix to La Grande. She was a businesswoman and was best known for her real estate business.

She enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing. The family owned a cabin at Wallowa Lake. She was a member of the Soroptimist Club as well as the Realtor’s Association and a bridge club. She was active in the Oregon State Parks Association and fancied herself a riflewoman.

Survivors include her children and their spouses, Allen and Cathy Brogoitti of La Grande, Pat and Vicky Brogoitti of La Grande and Jeannie and Roger Burt of Portland; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband on April 5, 2009, and an infant grandson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the GRH Hospice or Union County Search and Rescue in care of Daniels-Knopp, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

Mildred P. Byron

Formerly of La Grande

1923-2011

Mildred Pearl Byron, 88, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande, died April 19 in Baker City. A visitation will run from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Coles Tribute Center. A graveside service will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City with Pastor Dave Deputy of Calvary Baptist Church officiating. A reception will follow at the Calvary Baptist Church.

Mildred was born Feb. 19, 1923, to Daniel and Mary (Jaycocks) Murchison in La Grande. She married Carl Byron in February 1940 and they had four children. She worked as a retail clerk and enjoyed sewing and crafts.

Mildred is survived by her son, Norval Byron and his wife, Margaret, of La Grande; daughter, Nancy Simrell-Polvi of Baker City; son, Larry Byron and his wife, Pat, of Nampa, Idaho; daughter, Caron Williamson of Baker City; 13 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Alzheimer’s Association in care of Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place St., Baker City 97814.

Byrl E. Dean

La Grande

1921-2011

Byrl Edward Dean, 89, long-time La Grande resident, died April 16 at an assisted living center.No public services are planned at this time. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center is in charge of the arrangements.

Byrl was born May 4, 1921, the only child of Byrl and Agnes (Clancy) Dean in Keating. Byrl was raised on a ranch in the Keating Valley and was educated in Baker City.

On Oct. 10, 1942, he married Barbara Morrison in Weiser, Idaho. Byrl entered the U.S. Navy and served in World War II. After his honorable discharge in 1945, he worked in The Dalles and later Pendleton before moving to La Grande to work for Ford’s Tire Service (now Commercial Tire).

Later, he and his brother-in-law, John Morrison, became partners in JandB Trucking, a logging company.

After retiring, Byrl and Barbara enjoyed traveling to Yuma, Ariz., during the winter months every year until their health prohibited it.

Barbara preceded Byrl in death on April 14, 2008, after nearly 66 years of marriage.

Byrl was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in La Grande. He also belonged to the Elks Lodge, American Legion and the Eagles Lodge.

Survivors include his sons and daughters-in-law, David and Mary Lou Dean of La Grande and James and Dianne Dean of Salem; five grandsons; one great-grandson; and other relatives.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Grande Ronde Retirement Residence Activity Fund, 1809 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, 97850.

Dr. William D. Morgan Sr.

Imnaha

1917-2011

Dr. William Douglas Morgan Sr., 93, of Imnaha, died peacefully March 19 at his home. Doug lived his last years under the care of his sons and daughters. Private burial services were held April 2 at Enterprise Cemetery. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. May 7 at Community Congregational Church in Enterprise.

He was born Aug. 28, 1917, to William Clifford and Annie (Smith) Morgan at home on Coos River near the town of Marshfield. He grew up on a dairy farm on the Coos River. He attended Coos River High School and graduated in 1935.

He was a student at Washington State College. In 1940, he graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine. On Aug. 25, 1940, he married Betty May Walker in Mount Vernon, Wash. The couple traveled to Baker and Wallowa counties where Doug vaccinated cattle for the government. He started a veterinary practice in South Bend, Wash. They moved to Coos Bay in 1942. This is where several of the Morgan children were born.

In 1950, Doug and Betty moved to Enterprise where he bought a veterinary practice. His brother, Phillip, joined the practice in 1951 until 1955. Doug practiced veterinary medicine in Wallowa County for more than 50 years. He became known to many as Doc Morgan.

When they retired, he and Betty moved to Imnaha, a place they dearly loved. They enjoyed traveling all over Oregon, Washington and western Canada. Their days were spent stopping here and there so Doug could fish while Betty would hunt for arrowheads. He was an avid fisherman and he hunted deer and elk. He loved watching the birds outside his home beside the Imnaha River.

Doug served as the mayor of Enterprise for several years and was named Father of the Year in 1970 by the Cow Belles of Wallowa County. He was a member of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association and also served as president and as a board member. He was a member of the Enterprise Community Church and the Enterprise Elks Lodge. He was an Al-Kader shriner and a 33rd degree Mason. He attended church at Imnaha while he lived there.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Betty Morgan; oldest son, Bill Morgan; granddaughter, Tina Wagner; brother, Phillip; sister, Wilma; and both parents.

He is survived by daughter-in-law, Rosemary (Sue) Morgan; nine children and their spouses, Hank Morgan of Imnaha, Mike Morgan and his wife, Linda, of Arco, Idaho, Sam Morgan and his wife, Dora, of Enterprise, Mary Morand and her husband, Paul, of Hartland, Mich., David Morgan of San Diego, Calif., Ruth Price and her husband, Richard, of Enterprise, Susan Wagner and her husband, Larry, of Enterprise, Tom Morgan of Portland, Rose Douglas and her husband, Paul, of Port Orchard, Wash.; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Home Health through Wallowa Memorial Hospital, The Shriners Hospital or any charity.

Violet Siler

La Grande

1929-2011

Violet Siler, 82, of La Grande, died April 19 at a local care center in La Grande. Her memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Song Community Church.

Violet was born March 21, 1929, to Robert K. and Nancy (Rice) Moseley at Yakima, Wash. Throughout her life, she lived at Halfway, Baker, La Grande, Salem and Pendleton. She attended school in Halfway. After graduation, she married James L. Siler and they became the parents of five children.

Violet worked as an aide at the state hospital in Pendleton and also in Salem. She enjoyed reading, crosswords and traveling. She said that her greatest achievement was her children.

Violet is survived by her children and their spouses, Connie and John Bluhm of Hermiston, Richard Siler of Battleground, Wash., Stanley Siler of Salem and Carla and Bill McCall of La Grande; brother, Fred Moseley of Las Vegas; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 31 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James; her parents, Robert and Nancy; son, James Robert Siler; and her brothers and sisters, Ben Moseley, Dave Moseley, Joe Moseley, Lee Wise and Dora Nelson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel.

The Observer publishes free obituaries as a community service. Obituaries are edited to fit news guidelines. Photos are encouraged. Paid space is available for families who would like to include more information. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center posts unedited obituaries at www.danielsknopp.com, and Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory posts obituaries at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.