>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Dana L. Gunter, 69, died

April 5 at her son's home in LaPine. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Grandview Cemetery,

La Grande.

Mrs. Gunter was born April 5, 1938, in Spokane, Wash., and was raised in Oregon. She was married to Chester Gunter and lived in La Grande for about 10 years.

She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and had a special relationship with great-granddaughters Mya and Brittany.

Survivors include her children, Ernie of San Jose, Calif., Tom of LaPine, Chester, Dana of La Grande, Eva of Salem and Barbara of Portland; and 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2001.

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Mary Rayburn, 71, of Portland and formerly of La Grande, died April 5. A funeral will begin at

6 p.m. today at Adam's Chapel

in the River View Cemetery, Portland.

She was born Mary Tyschenko Aug. 20, 1935, in Chernin, Ukraine. She immigrated to the United States in 1951, settling in Weiser, Idaho.

In 1955 she moved to

La Grande, where she married Claude Eldon Rayburn in 1956. She was nationalized in 1960 and graduated from what is now Eastern Oregon University in 1964. The Rayburns moved to Portland in 1974.

Passionate about many things, Mrs. Rayburn lived a spirited, full life. She was an active member of the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church and taught school in the Portland School District.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Vivian Ann and Jeffrey Odell; brother, Nick Shur; two grandchildren and one great-grandson. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1998.

Memorials may be made to the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Holman's Funeral Service of Portland.

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Linda Carol Creel, 66, died April 9 at her home in

La Grande. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.

Mrs. Creel was born Aug. 6, 1940, to Harry and Audra Elizabeth (Edwards) Monroe in Rawlins, Wyo. On July 18, 1959, she married Charles F. Creel in Los Angeles, Calif.

In 1967 they moved to La Grande from Evanston, Wyo.

She was a devoted wife and mother and dedicated her life to her family.

Survivors include her husband, Charles Creel; children, Melinda, Janet, Wade, Carol and Jeffrey; siblings, James Monroe, Harold Monroe, Sue Glenn, JoAnn Sieg and Claire Sells; and numerous grandchildren and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Arthur Monroe and Evelyn Dupuis.

Memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or the Cancer Society in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

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Roger C. Lang, 78, of Ontario and formerly of La Grande, died April 7 at an Ontario hospital. A funeral service is planned for

2 p.m. today at the Lienkaemper Funeral Chapel in Ontario. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Ontario.

Mr. Lang was born Dec. 25, 1928. He was a lifelong member of the American Legion and the Elks Lodge. He was a very kind and gentle man to all.

Survivors include his wife, Lois Lang; children and their spouses, Garrett and Meri Lang of Sandy and Karen and Mike Kleng of La Grande; stepchildren and their spouses, Ronald and Linda Catlett of Carson City, Nev., and Judy and Rick Hoyt of Ontario; 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Bill, Wallace, Johnny and Arthur; sons, Ralph and Frank; and three half sisters and two half brothers.

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Kathryn Fae Davis of La Grande and formerly of St. Paul, died April 2 at a local care home.

Kathryn was born in St. Helens to Fae and Lillie Irene (Rich) Harford. Her father died when she was a young girl, and her mother later remarried Tom Blum, who became a big part of her life.

She and her husband, Lester "Sledge" Ernst, owned and operated Ernst Hardware Store in St. Paul until 1964. They had a son, Lester Fae Ernst, who died when he was a young child.

Lester preceded her in death in 1969. On March 10, 1970, she married Joe Davis, and they moved to Summerville in July 1990.

Kathryn enjoyed working in the hardware store with the knickknacks and decorations, and her poodles. She especially enjoyed deer hunting in Paisley, her llamas and flowers, and she loved the blossoming cherry trees in her cherry orchard. Upon moving to Summerville she added feeding the deer

and her horses to her list of enjoyments.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Claudia and Sam Smith of St. Paul; five grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren; and other relatives.

Memorials may be made to the St. Paul Cemetery Association in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

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Roberta Moore Barnes, 64, died April 11 at her home in La Grande. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Grandview Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Roberta was born June 6, 1942, to Charles Edwin and Rita C. (Hazelwood) Moore in Pendleton. The great-granddaughter of Joseph Vey, she spent most of her life in the Pendleton and La Grande area.

She married Daniel Barnes, and they had 15 years together until his untimely death in 1997. Roberta was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary and enjoyed rebating and quilting and liked horses.

Survivors include her siblings, Leland Moore of Bend, Mark Clark of Seaside and Kay Craven of Bend, and other relatives.

Memorials may be made to the Grande Ronde Hospital Hospice in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

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Ewald Albert Kehr, 84, of La Grande, died April 11 at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise. A funeral will begin at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Faith Lutheran Church, 12th Street and Gekeler Lane. The celebration of life for Ewald will also be a celebration of what would have been Ewald and Edna's 63rd anniversary. Burial will follow at the Grandview Cemetery.

Ewald was born March 20, 1923, to Ernst and Hilda (Schroeder) Kehr in Wentworth, S.D., where he worked with his father farming.

In October 1939 he moved to Minnesota, where he met Edna Gieseke. They were married April 16, 1944, in South Branch, Minn., and farmed for the next seven years in Truman, Minn.

In 1952 they moved to Grants Pass, where Ewald was a partner in a logging operation. In 1954 he contracted polio and had to quit logging. After recovering he worked in a plywood mill and construction until he started his own contracting business.

Ewald and Edna moved to La Grande in 1976, where he worked at building as long as his health permitted. He loved woodwork, especially scroll work, and continued making wooden pliers until last winter.

Ewald's biggest enjoyments were to go hunting and fishing with family and friends and his partner in life, Edna. He also enjoyed playing the harmonica. He was active in the Lutheran Church, serving as an elder and Sunday school superintendent, and was a member of the Lutheran Layman's League.

Survivors include his wife, Edna Kehr; children and their spouses, Patricia and Jerry Brown, Daniel and Maura Kehr and Barbara and Gale Seavert, all of La Grande; brother, Ben Kehr of Gaylord, Minn.; and eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, David Kehr, and siblings, Alvin Kehr and Bertha Bruns.

Memorials may be made to the Lutheran Layman's

League or a charity of choice in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh Street, La Grande, 97850.

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Gladys H. Stevens, 80, of La Grande died April 12 at a local care home.

A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Summerville Cemetery Chapel. Loveland Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.

Mrs. Stevens was born Aug. 25, 1926, in Hubbard to Claus T. and Anna (Grand) Isaacson.

She married Richard L. Stevens in Laramie, Wyo. June 14, 1945. Her husband died April 20, 1992.

As a young girl, Mrs. Stevens grew up in the timber camps of Wyoming near Laramie. She was an avid skier and spent much of her time outdoors.

In June 1965, she and her family moved to Oregon, where she resided until her death.

Her hobbies included gardening, hiking, wildlife watching and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Vicky and Ken Bruce of La Grande; sisters, Bernice Craft and Marge Lanman, both of La Grande; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and other relatives. A brother, a sister and a daughter died earlier.