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Laurence's Jewelry owner Donna Laurence has mixed feelings about closing the longtime La Grande business. (The Observer/PHIL BULLOCK).

Bill Rautenstrauch

The Observer

One of downtown La Grande's oldest businesses is getting ready to close its doors forever.

Laurence's Jewelry, founded in 1947, will be out of business by the end of this year, according to owner Donna Laurence.

"I've got some real mixed feelings about it," Laurence said this week. "I feel bad about closing a 60-year-old store, but none of the grandkids want it and I feel like it's time I tried something else."

In another day and time, the store at the corner of Adams Avenue and Depot Street did brisk business with locals.

When people needed to buy a birthday, wedding, anniversary or holiday gift, they were sure to stop in.

But Laurence said times have changed and things aren't as good as they used to be.

"I love the business. But it's a difficult business. With the total competition, the Internet, television, it isn't easy for the small shop anymore. And having a Wal-Mart in town hasn't helped," she said.

When Harold and Raema Laurence started the jewelry business shortly after World War II, they started small. They located first in a cramped retail space between the Granada Theater and what is now Olde Towne Mercantile on Adams.

"It was crowded. It was a one-case store with two people working in it," Donna said.

Harold took classes in watch and jewelry repair. He also joined the Oregon Watchmakers Association, serving a term as president.

He learned how to make parts for watches that didn't work. He learned how to make timepieces tick again.

Raema became his apprentice, showing great aptitude for an occupation that had always been dominated by males.

"She was the second woman in Oregon to become a watchmaker," Donna said.

The jewelry store grew, and eventually the Laurences moved into the building the store now occupies.

They shared the first floor retail space with The Mode beauty salon. Then in 1974, they bought the building and became the sole occupants.

Harold and Raema's two sons, Jack and Eric, learned the business. Eric moved to Louisiana, where he operated his own shop until he was tragically killed in a boating accident.

Jack stayed on in La Grande. He became the store's manager when Harold went to work full-time as a Farmer's Insurance sales agent. Eventually, Harold and Raema retired. Today they live in an apartment above the store.

Jack met Donna Hermann during the 1968 Union County Fair. The couple were married in 1969.

For many years, Jack took care of the jewelry and watch repair business while Donna worked other places, mostly as a retail salesperson.

Jack had plenty of excellent help in longtime Laurence employees Erma Bates and Nancy Rutherford. But by 1990, Bates was retired and Rutherford moved away.

"Jack needed help, and I was available," Donna said. "I'd always been good at selling, so coming to work here was easy."

She has worked in the store ever since, with circumstances making her the chief executive officer.

In 2001, Jack was diagnosed with cancer. He took treatments in Boise, with Donna at his side.

Family members Lori Laurence Dalton and Sharyn Nunn worked in the store, holding the business together while Jack fought his losing battle.

He died after an eight-month struggle with the disease.

Donna said she will never forget the kindness shown by the La Grande community during the trying times.

"People have been very supportive and loving. I couldn't have asked for a better place to live," she said.

With help from her mother, Myrna Hermann, and employees Shannon McKone and Christine Winde, Donna has run the business since Jack's passing.

But she feels now is the time to get out.

Al Johnson, a long-time La Grande watch repairman, still does some work for the store, mostly on pocket watches and clocks.

But the majority of watch and jewelry repair jobs that come in have to be sent out. And the problem of competition from global conglomerates remains.

"They buy by the gross. I buy by the piece," Donna said.

On the upside, Donna is only 55 and has plenty of energy.

She said she is by no means through with work.

"I need to go do something else while I'm young enough," she said.