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

Creighton Burl Kooch, 66, of Enterprise, died March 20 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. Funeral services took place March 23.

Creighton was born Sept. 7, 1940, to Raymond and Wiletta (Kirkman) Kooch in Enterprise. He grew up on lower Prairie Creek at a time when the neighbors raised their children and socialized together and were a close group. Creighton attended Pratt School and finished his grade school education in 1954. He once told his wife that if he had known then what he knew now, he would never have ridden his bike to town; he would have stayed on Lower Prairie Creek.

Creighton graduated from Enterprise High School in 1958. A natural athlete, he competed in football, basketball, boxing and track and set the state record in the high hurdles for many years. He felt honored to play in the 1958 Shrine Game for the East Team.

After attending OTI in Klamath Falls for one year, he returned to Wallowa County. He married Sally Thompson in 1961, and the couple had two daughters, Kristine Dawn and Kimberly Dian.

Creighton began a masonry business in 1968 and continued to work until the time of his death.

He was passionate about his work, his animals and his fam-ily. Creighton and his second wife, Cheryl, enjoyed traveling and showing their Clydesdale horses and being on their home place just outside of Enterprise where they have lived and worked for the past 22 years.

Survivors include his wife, Cheryl of Enterprise; children and their spouses, Kris and Doug Sterns of Yakima, Wash., and Kim Riste of Seattle; stepchildren and their spouses, Harley Tucker of Portland, Kerri Tucker of Boise and Sherri and Wes Kilgore of Enterprise; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials may be made to Wallowa Memorial Hospital in care of Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W. Main, Enterprise 97828.

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Earlene Marie Nelson, 46, of La Grande, died March 19 of natural causes at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A private family celebration of life is planned for a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Earlene was born June 27, 1960, in La Grande. She was educated in various places in Eastern Oregon and graduated from the La Grande Business College.

Most recently she worked for the Northeast Oregon Housing Authority. She loved to read and loved animals. At one time she participated in league bowling.

Survivors include her mother, Doris Cox of La Grande; sisters, Leona Cox of

La Grande and Karen Clair of Pendleton; four nieces and nephews; and numerous other relatives. She was preceded in death by brothers, Eugene Shafer and Frank Shafer.

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Norma Ellen (Erickson) Rogers, 85, died March 25 at her home in Elgin. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Elgin Church of the Nazarene, 11th and Birch. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Mrs. Rogers was born Jan. 17, 1922, to Lawrence and Emma I. (Bickford) Hawes in

La Grande. She graduated from La Grande High School and in 1941 married Manuel Erickson in Idaho. The marriage ended in divorce, and in 1947 she married Ernest Rogers in La Grande. He preceded her in death in 1992.

Mrs. Rogers worked first as a waitress and later as a certified nurses aide in a nursing home in Tacoma, Wash.

She returned to Union County in 1981. She was past president of the Eagles Auxiliary. She was an avid yard saler and enjoyed working in her flower garden, dancing and going to senior meals on the bus. In her later years she enjoyed sitting outside and watching the wildlife and animals.

Survivors include her sons, Fred Erickson of Elgin, Shannon Rogers of La Grande and Chuck Rogers of La Grande; siblings, Phyllis Hayter of Canby, Ruby Hohn of Arizona, Doris Goodin of Myrtle Creek, Kenneth Hawes of Portland and Ronald Hawes of Seattle; 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Rogers, and a son, Gary Erickson.

Memorials may be made to the Elgin Nazarene Church youth group in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

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Leola Mary Baker, 83, of Central Point and formerly of Elgin, died March 27. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Elgin Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Memory Gardens Mortuary of Medford.

Mrs. Baker was born June 15, 1923, in Elgin, where she was raised. She married Delmar Baker, and they owned and operated a real estate business in La Grande.

She was a member of Eastern Star and the Fraternal Order of Eagles #259 in La Grande. She also was a Grey Lady volunteer at Grande Ronde Hospital many years ago. She enjoyed collecting plates, yard work and hunting.

Survivors include her children, Sheree Rabourne of Central Point and Gary Baker of Hermiston; sister, Ila Colson of South Carolina; and one grandson.

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Dustin Clark Coulter, 33, of Portland and formerly of La Grande, took his life on March 26. A memorial service is planned for 7 p.m. March 30 at the First Baptist Church in La Grande, 1702 Sixth St. A private family interment will take place at a later date.

Known as Dusty, he was born April 21, 1973, in Corvallis and was raised in both Salem and La Grande. After high school he worked various jobs in La Grande until moving to Portland in August 2006.

Dusty enjoyed video games, outdoor family activities, sporting events and supporting the Oregon Ducks. He loved his kids and spending time with them.

Survivors include his wife, Heather Coulter; children, Owen, Emma, Isabella and Olivia Coulter; stepchildren, Ashley and Amber Taylor; parents, Bob and Sue Coulter of Cove and Marilyn and Doug Smyres of Salem; siblings, Robb Coulter of Salem, Scott Coulter of Cove and Leah Coulter of Cove; and other relatives.

Memorials may be made to the La Grande First Baptist Church NoSu Fund or to Shelter From the Storm in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh Street, La Grande 97850.

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Norma E. Barton, 76, of Joseph, died March 26 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital in Enterprise. Per her request, there will be no services. Arrangements are under the direction of Bollman Funeral Home, Enterprise.

Mrs. Barton was born May 6, 1930, to Jesse and Inez (Morgan) Crader. She graduated from Joseph High School and on Oct. 5, 1951, married Selwyn L. Barton.

For many years she worked at Carolyn Roundy's grocery store and Bud's Hardware in Joseph, but her most rewarding occupation was as wife and mother.

Survivors include her children and their spouses, Janice and Ron Shirley of Lostine and Jess and Trisa Barton of Joseph; sisters, Gladys Nobles of Enterprise and Nadine Henry of La Grande; and four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Selwyn, in 2000.

Memorials may be made to Wallowa Memorial Hospital or a charity of choice.

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Charles Johnson, 63, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande, died March 25 at OHSU in Portland.

A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. April 16 at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane, in Baker City. Arrangements are under the direction of Gray's West & Company Pioneer Chapel, Baker City.

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Robert Leon Heyduck, 88, of Portland and formerly of Elgin, died March 15. He was laid to rest in Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.

Known as Rob, he was born June 20, 1918, to Benjamin and Lela (Park) Heyduck in Elgin. He was raised in Elgin and graduated from Elgin High School. On June 9, 1939, he married Nova Henderson of Elgin.

He served in the Navy from 1943 to 1945 and was stationed in Hawaii. He and Nova lived in Bremerton for a short while after they married, then moved to Portland, where they have lived since.

Mr. Heyduck always enjoyed attending the Elgin Alumni Banquet and visiting classmates and friends. He also loved to come back to Elgin and go deer hunting and camping.

Survivors include his wife, Nova of Portland; daughter, Sue Johnston of Salem; one granddaughter; brother, Gordon Heyduck of Seattle; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his siblings Merle Heyduck, John Alvie Heyduck and Bernice Puckett.

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Sgt. John Scott Stephens, 41, formerly of La Grande, died March 15 in Tikrit, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his patrol came under attack.

Known as Scott, Sgt. Stephens was born May 16, 1965, to Gene and Jo Stephens in Prineville. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1983. While in high school he played baseball and football and competed as a wrestler and a swimmer.

Growing up, he enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping and beating his sister at water-skiing.

After attending college, he joined the Army as a medic in 1985. On Aug. 11, 1988, he married his wife, Beatte, in Germany, and they had three children, Brian, Cheryl and Darren.

Sgt. Stephens coached baseball at many of the bases where he was stationed, and in Germany led the Army team to the European championship.

He loved baseball, working with children, teaching and learning. He earned a degree in teaching and an associate's degree in computer science while in the Army. He planned to come back to La Grande to get his master's at Eastern Oregon University when he retired.

Survivors include his wife, Bea; children and their spouses, Brian and Klylie Reddington of Fort Rucker, Ala., Cheryl and Brian Ellis of Fort Bragg, N.C., and Darren Stephens of Germany; three grandchildren; parents, Gene and Jo Stephens of La Grande; sister, Michelle Flowers of Hermiston; grandmother, Gayle Stephens of La Grande; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.