Obituaries for the day of December 4, 2009

Published 3:48 pm Friday, December 4, 2009

Horn, Albrecht, Johnson, Price, Nelson, Downing, Mitts

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

Dec. 5 – Sara Horn, memorial service, 11 a.m., Elgin Community Center; potluck to follow

Dec. 5 – Graison Albrecht, service, 2 p.m., Presbyterian Friendship Center

Dec. 5 – Teresa Johnson, memorial gathering, 3 p.m., Union County Senior Center; potluck to follow

Dec. 7 – James Price, celebration of life, 10 a.m., Loveland Funeral Chapel

Joanne Nelson, 69, of La Grande, died Dec. 1 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.

Graison G. Albrecht, 40, of La Grande, died Nov. 26. A service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Presbyterian Friendship Center. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Graison was born May 23, 1969, to Gregory and Mary Lou (Ashby) Albrecht in Baker City. He graduated from Baker High School in 1987 and went on to graduate from OSU in biology and pharmacy. Those who knew Graison say he was a gifted pharmacist in his ability to relate to people.

He married Kristie Grove Dec. 18, 1993.

Those who knew Graison said his children, Hayden and Avery Albrecht, were the light of his life. They enjoyed numerous sports and outdoor activities together. Graison was involved in their lives as teacher, father and friend. He loved attending sports events, cheering in the stands, but most often, he was found throwing pitches, shooting baskets or participating in pingpong showdowns. He devoted his free time to keeping his children busy with family fun.

Graison loved the outdoors and had many hobbies including hunting, mushrooming, arrowheading, kayaking, biking and hiking. He loved music, especially the Dave Matthews Band, and traveled to far-away places to hear them play, most recently New Orleans. Graison loved to travel to new places and once disappeared for hours exploring the ocean floor in Maui.

He is survived by his wife, Kristie of La Grande; children, Hayden and Avery of La Grande; parents, Gregory and Mary Lou Albrecht of Lewiston, Idaho; grandmother, Esther Albrecht of Baker City; brother, Tyson Albrecht of Walla Walla; several aunts and uncles; several cousins; and other relatives.

Maxine Helen Downing, 88, of La Grande and a long-time resident of Pullman, Wash., died Nov. 18. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Maxine was born April 25, 1941, to Clarence and Clella (Stiff) Cox in Belgrade, Mont. She was an alumnus of Montana State University. She was married for 53 years to her lifelong sweetheart, Bud Downing, whom she met as a colleague while working as a county Extension agent for Los Angeles County in California. Together they became members of the Westwood Methodist Church, beginning their lifelong marriage adventure with a wedding ceremony and six-week honeymoon in Mexico.

Maxine was a loyal Cougar fan. Those who knew her say she was known for her generous hospitality and gifts of encouragement and creativity. She was skilled in sewing, cooking, gardening and anything else to do with her artistic talents.

The oldest of six, Maxine loved her role as the big sister.

She is survived by her husband, Bud; daughter, Susan (Len) Zylstra of La Grande; siblings, Adare Stetton and Larry Cox; three grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by both of her parents; and siblings, Vivian, Ernestine and Lloyd (Bud).

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Grande Ronde Hospital Hospice Program in La Grande.

Donald Ray Mitts, 59, died Nov. 25 at Grande Ronde Hospital. No services are planned at this time. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Don was born Nov. 30, 1949, to Roy Oliver and Fairy Mabell (Keys) Mitts in Richland, Wash. He moved to La Grande from Kansas in 1974. He received two Purple Hearts from serving in the Army, and was a member of the VFW and the American Legion. He drove trucks for the state, the Yates and Boise Cascade. He then worked as a diesel mechanic for several years, then drove fuel trucks and did other driving. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and working on cars.

He is survived by his significant other, Catherine Hoyt of La Grande; mother, Fairy Hammerberg of Baker City; sons, Shane Mitts of Sequim, Wash., and Chad Mitts of Port Angeles, Wash.; brothers Jerry Mitts of Haines and Bert Mitts of Spokane, Wash.; sisters, Janet Mitts of West Richland, Wash., and Donna Hardy of Richland, Wash.; several nieces and nephews; and 12 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father; and brothers, Gail and Wayne.

James Price, 81, of Cove, died Nov. 29 at a local care center. A celebration of life will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Loveland Funeral Chapel.

James was born May 3, 1928, to Alvis Wilson and Minnie Florence (White) Price in Owensville, Mo. He was their first born and only son. He had three sisters to follow: Gladys Price Volkman, Betty Gene Price who died at the age of 6 and Faye Maxine Price, who also died at a young age. He lived at home with his parents, working the farm and playing in a band before joining the Army at the age of 22 in 1950, where he fought in the Korean War.

He married Ida Mary Jones while serving and was discharged in 1953 when they had their first daughter, Donna Faye Price Romp. They lived in Sarcoxie, Mo., where he worked in a shoe factory. Jim and Ida had two more daughters while living in Sarcoxie: Dorothy Elizabeth Price Ryckman and Debbie Lee Price Johnson. In 1958 Ida’s parents moved to Pendleton and Jim and family followed. Jim took some schooling and became a TV repairman. They had two more daughters: Diana Lyn Price Golbeneck and Denise Marie Price Foley. Then they finally had a son, Darrell James Price.

Jim hired on at the U.S. Postal Service, where he retired. Jim and Ida were divorced, but were still friends, and he always stayed close with the children. When the children were growing up, every Sunday he would pick them up for church and out for burgers.

Jim married Joyce Johnson in 1973. After retirement, they moved to Cove where they have lived for 20 years. They enjoyed camping.

Jim worked at the parks part time until 2006. He was a member of the Baptist church and a member of the VFW. He liked to keep busy, and those who knew him say he loved people – he could pick up a conversation with anyone. He also liked to travel back to Missouri with his kids. He would visit with his sister, Gladys, and go places doing genealogy and visiting the cemeteries.

The Observer publishes free obituaries as a community service. Obituaries are edited to fit news guidelines. Photos are encouraged. 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.