Daggett, Stephens, Bruce, Case, Savage, Still

Alta Mae (Reece) Daggett, 89, of Joseph, died July 28 at the Wallowa Valley Care Center. A private family service will be held at Prairie Creek Cemetery Saturday. A full obituary will be available later. Bollman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lorine A. Stephens, 79, of La Grande, died July 31. A full obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Catherine Marie Bruce, 96, of La Grande, died July 29 at her home. A family graveside service will be held at the Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.

Catherine was born Aug. 13, 1911, to Michael and Anna (Hildebrand) Delich in Kansas City, Kan. After high school she worked for Bemus Bags in Kansas City. A friend took her on a blind date with Warren C. Bruce, and he proposed on that first date. Catherine thought he was crazy, but married him six weeks later on July 30, 1932.

Her husband hitchhiked to Oregon and found it so beautiful that he returned to Kansas and brought his wife to the state to live. They built their first home out of spare lumber left around the railroad tracks. She learned to cook in the railroad camps her husband worked in at Telocaset and Kamela.

Those who knew her say she was a good and simple woman who enjoyed traveling. She was extremely talented at embroidery work and was known for her sense of humor. In recent years her main focus was her great-grandchild, Chance.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Lee Simmons of La Grande; daughter, Shirley Simmons of Cove; sister, Margie Bloom of Osage City, Kan; three grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband; four sisters and four brothers; nieces; and special friend, Ginny Orlowski.

Memorial contributions may be made to the GRH Home Health/Hospice in La Grande.

Afton Hirst Case, 86, of La Grande, died July 27 at a local care center. A private dedication of the grave will take place at the Hillcrest Cemetery with family. A memorial service will be held in September at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center.

Afton was born Oct. 31, 1921, to James Hirst and Pearl (Bowthorpe) Thompson in Union. On Jan. 24, 1948, she married Gerald Franklin Case in La Grande. He preceded her in death in 1996.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she was active with the Relief Society and served as secretary to Primary and Mutual. After her husband’s retirement they spent winter months in Quartzite, Ariz., for many years. They enjoyed fishing and she loved crafts of all kinds.

Survivors include her sisters, Athella King of Seattle, Della Hughes of Coulee Dam, Wash., and Lawana Peck of La Grande; numerous nieces and nephews; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by sisters, Nelma Thompson, Wilma Anderson and Mildred Strong.

Memorial contributions may be made to any charity.

Jesse James Savage, 52, of Lostine, died July 24. A celebration of life potluck begins at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lostine Grange. According to his wishes, his ashes will be scattered in a few of his favorite hunting spots and at his property on the Snake River, a place he considered his second home. Bollman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jess was born Sept. 3, 1955, in Nampa, Idaho, to Ed and Marjorie Patton Savage. He grew up in Wallowa County and graduated from Wallowa High School.

Jess was employed in many fields in his life. He worked for the railroad, as a millwright and as a contractor, he owned Savage Door Co. He also loved his work as a logger.

Jess loved hunting, fishing, driving in the hills and anything involving the outdoors. He was a good cook and enjoyed cooking for others. He was known to be able to fix anything. Constantly active, he just couldn’t sit still, those who knew him say.

Jess is survived by his sons, Chad Savage of Wallowa and Clint Savage of Pendleton; stepsons, Mike Tillery of Lostine and Jake Tillery of Wallowa; mother, Marjorie Savage of Elgin; his companion of almost four years, Lori Woll; siblings, Sundae Wood of Elgin, Don Thompson of Elgin, Frank Thompson of Shasta Lake, Calif., and Victor Savage of Pendleton; and numerous grandchildren and step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father and a sister.

Pamela Kay Still, 61, died July 30 at her home in Cove following a courageous battle with brain cancer.

Funeral services begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1308 Washington Ave., La Grande 97850. The Rev. Larry Loftus will officiate. The services will be followed by a meal at the Presbyterian Friendship Hall. Burial will follow at the Cove Cemetery.

Relatives and friends are welcome at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande, on Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m.

Pamela was born May 20, 1947, to Dorothy Bo and Lowell Albert Wolfe in Paris, Texas. She was raised in Broken Bow, Okla., where she attended grade school and high school. She played the flute and achieved the rank of first chair. Pam was a member of Glee Club, National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Future Teachers of America and Future Homemakers of America. She attended Girls State. Pam was a majorette in the band and band queen attendant.

She enjoyed reading and writing poetry. Pam attended Oklahoma State University and received a bachelor of science degree in family relations and child development in 1969.

In 1967, she married David B. Still. The couple was married for more than 40 years. Upon graduation from Oklahoma State University, the Stills moved to Rock Springs, Wyo. Pamela was director of a daycare center there until the birth of her daughter, Tasha, in 1973. The Stills moved to La Grande in April 1974.

She began her career in La Grande as director of 4-C council in 1977. She subsequently worked for the State of Oregon in several capacities including employment specialist, CSD case worker, contracted employee for children’s services, and most recently as lead vocational rehabilitation counselor.

She was co-owner/vocational counselor for Eastern Oregon Vocational Ability Consultants. For a period of time, Pam owned a wellness/weight management center called Health Plus in La Grande and Baker City.

Pamela was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church. She served as a deacon and children’s Sunday school teacher.

Pam was previously a member of the Soroptimist club. She was musically talented and for a time, played flute for the Grande Ronde Symphony. Pam enjoyed reading, shoe shopping and playing with her granddaughter, nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her husband, David Still of Cove; daughter and her husband, Tasha and Bryon Allen; a granddaughter; mother, Dorothy Bo Wolfe of Broken Bow, Okla.; siblings and their spouses, Linda and Gary Still of Broken Bow, Okla., David and Jill Wolfe of St. Peters, Mo., James and Kirstin Wolfe of Portland and Kim and Leon Smith of Winchester, Ky.; nieces and nephews; mother-in-law, Virginia Still of Wright City, Okla.; and sister-in-law and husband, Mary and David Haug of Livingston, Mont. Pamela was preceded in death by her father, Lowell Albert Wolfe.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grande Ronde Valley Habitat for Humanity.