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

Howard Eugene Shirley, 78, formerly of La Grande, died May 4. Viewing will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Brush Hills Ward in Salem, where services will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.

Mr. Shirley was born May 17, 1928, to John and Cleo Shirley in

La Grande. He married Carla T. Jensen on Aug. 1, 1951, at the Logan Temple in Utah. She preceded him in death in July 2005.

Howard was a survival instructor in the Air Force. He worked as a truck driver, insurance agent and woodstove retailer. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Survivors include his children, Kathi Leon, Barb Villa, Sharon White, Ron Shirley, Norm Shirley, Debbie Neilson and Mike Shirley; 25 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; and brothers, Cliff and Bob.

Arrangements are under the direction of Restlawn Funeral Home in Salem.

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Ruth W. Comstock, 91, of Cove, died May 7. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, La Grande. Committal and burial will follow at the Cove Cemetery.

Mrs. Comstock was born May 27, 1915, to Emma Josephine (Mahler) and Henry Odd Willhoit Sr. in Iowa Park, Texas. She graduated from high school in Kilgore, Texas, and then attended Kilgore State College.

During World War II she worked for the Goodyear Tire Company in Pensacola, Fla., and was a USO singer.

On Aug. 23, 1945, she married Roy Comstock in La Grande. They lived in Tulsa, Okla., and in Iowa before returning to the Grande Ronde Valley in the spring of 1949.

Mrs. Comstock was a member of the Methodist Church, a Lady Elk and a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary. She loved to sing and sang for many weddings through the years. She enjoyed crafts, crocheting, ceramics and sewing.

In her younger years she was a member of a bowling league. She was also a member of the Mt. Fanny Grange, the Cove Sportsman's Club and Cherry Chapter, Order of Eastern Star. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother and was devoted to her family.

Survivors include her husband, Roy Comstock of Cove; children and their spouses, John Comstock of Salem, David and Pam Comstock of La Grande, Nancy Comstock of Albany and Joyce and George Hyland of Sandy; niece, Lea Dailey, of Sisters; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and other relatives. She was pre-ceded in death by her siblings, Jack Willhoit, H.O. Willhoit and Nell Carpenter.

Memorials may be made to the Sandy Relay for Life in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

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John Paul Edvalson, 89, died April 25 at his home in Baker City. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Baker City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with burial to follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Cole's Mortuary in Baker City.

He was born Aug. 1, 1917, to Carl Patrick and Cecilia (Isaacson) Edvalson in Union. The twelfth of 14 children , he was raised on the family farm on Catherine Creek and graduated from Union High School in 1935. He was a participant in Union High School's judging team at the Pacific International Livestock show in Portland.

After graduation, he worked on the family farm then moved to Baker and worked at the Oregon Lumber Company on the green chain.

Mr. Edvalson joined the Army in January 1942 and became a member of the 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion. His unit participated in the Allied invasion of Italy. They were also in France and Germany, where they helped liberate Dachau.

After being discharged, Mr. Edvalson returned to Baker to resume employment at the Oregon Lumber Company.

He married Angela Amelia Smurthwaite July 26, 1946, in Boise, Idaho. They were later sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.

Mr. Edvalson was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and worked for many years in the Boy Scouts of America as a Scout Master and later an Explorer leader. He received the Scouter's Key Award as an adult leader in 1960.

After the Oregon Lumber Company closed he worked for Edward Hines Lumber Company in Bates from 1961 to 1975 and in John Day from 1975 until he retired in 1979.

He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing and hiking. He especially enjoyed backpacking trips in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area. He was also a rock hound, collecting many specimens of petrified wood and other gems and minerals. He enjoyed gardening and was well known in his neighborhood for his flowers and vegetables.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Timothy J. and Dana J. (Trusty) Edvalson of West Linn; two granddaughters; sister, Ada Dungan of Sacramento, Calif., and several brothers and sisters-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Perpetual Education Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or to Habitat for Humanity.

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Patrick M. Stitzel, 51, died May 3 of natural causes at his home in Union. A celebration of life will be begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show Grounds in Union. The service will be followed with a gathering and potluck at the EOLS Clubhouse. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel in La Grande.

Known as Pat, he was born Oct. 3, 1955, to Marion and Alice Stitzel in La Grande. He lived in Union all of his life, graduating in 1973 from Union High School, where he participated in 4-H and FFA activities as well as football and basketball.

He was married to Nancy Clark from 1974 until 1980, and his son, Travis, was born in 1975.

Pat met Laurie Bird Davis in 1980, and they were married May 25, 1983, in The Dalles.

His younger years were spent riding saddle bronc horses at rodeos. He went as far as Louisiana with his friends in 1981. He became paralyzed in a saddle bronc accident in 1982.

The accident made him a stronger and more self-reliant person, never slowing him down. He continued riding after that, team roping and team penning. Pat again had a serious accident as a pick-up man at a rodeo in 1995, but after healing continued on without missing a beat.

He was a familiar face on Thursdays at the sale yards in La Grande, buying and selling for many local farmers and ranchers. He also worked for Terry Trailers and Hoff Lumber companies.

He participated in the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show in various positions, including director, arena director, stall manager and court chaperone and carried the American flag at grand entries through 2006.

Horseracing was his passion, and his best buddy Bill Ricker helped make that possible right up until his death. He raced his beloved "Zee Chulupa" as recently as April 29. His daily routine included visits twice daily at The Hut and Gravy Dave's restaurants in Union for coffee and "church" with his regular congregation of buddies.

Pat was a dedicated deer and elk hunter with pals John and Katelyn Hefner. He especially enjoyed camping and traveling with his wife, Laurie.

Some of the highlights of his life were his four trips to board a plane and fly to Alaska to spend time with his brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Jeanne Stitzel.

Survivors include his wife, Laurie; sons and their spouses, Travis and Kelsey Stitzel of Cove, Cory Davis and Deanne Mallon of Union and Dustin and Amanda Davis of Meridian, Idaho; five grandchildren; parents, Marion and Alice Stitzel of Union; siblings and their spouses, Mike and Jeanne Stitzel of Valdez, Alaska, and Tina and Bill Taylor of Pendleton; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; and special buddies, Ty, Spanky and Cranky Cookie.

Memorials may be made to any Community Bank.

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Merle Elaine Swindall, 87, of La Grande, died May 8. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Funeral Chapel.

Merle was born Feb. 7, 1920, to Benjamin and Nora (Steven-son) Pittsley in Eugene.

She was married to Martin Monroe Bowser, who preceded her in death in 1950. She later married Larry Gene Swindall, who preceded her in death in 1979. She spent most of her life in the Eugene area until moving to La Grande five years ago to be near her daughter.

She enjoyed sewing, reading and working crossword puzzles. She liked to make things and enjoyed taking walks.

Survivors include her children and their spouses, Sandra and Phillip Young of La Grande, Martin and Katrina Bowser of Eugene and Fredrick Jon Swindall of Portland; siblings and their spouses, Lester and Doris Pittsley of Eugene

and Melba and Lyle Stedman of Eugene; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and other relatives.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

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Edith Charlotte Emma Clark, 82, of La Grande, died May 7 at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise, the result of a stroke. A celebration of life will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Loveland Funeral Chapel,

La Grande. Pastor John Schraan, Zion Lutheran Church, will be assisting with the service. A reception will take place afterward at the Masonic Lodge in La Grande for family and friends.

Known as Edie, she was born March 23, 1925, to Albert Matysiak and Emma Blank in Berlin, Germany, the youngest of five children. She attended school in Berlin but completed her American high school diploma in 1967 by attending night school.

Edie was drafted into the German Army at the age of 18 toward the end of World War II. She served as a teletype operator until she and her company surrendered to the Americans in order not to be captured by Russian soldiers. Having quickly learned English during her captivity, Edie was able to find work with the Americans once she was released.

She first worked as a chambermaid and then, because of her command of English, became the secretary for several American officers. While she was working for the Americans during the American Occupation of Germany she met her first husband, Kenneth Greene.

Edie married Ken in 1948 and traveled aboard a troop ship to her new country as a German war bride. They settled in Ken's hometown, Hornbrook, Calif.

Edie obtained her American citizenship as soon as she was able and remained a proud American citizen throughout her lifetime. After living in other California towns, they moved to Oregon in the late 1960s.

Edie and Ken had two children and divorced after 25 years of marriage.

By that time, Edie had moved to La Grande. She worked for Lynch Motor Co. for many years as the automotive bookkeeper. Edie married longtime La Grande resident Larry Clark in 1979, and they had almost 16 years together.

Edie belonged to various local organizations, including the Order of Eastern Star Hope Chapter No. 13, Emblem Club No. 518, Eagles Auxiliary, Hospital Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Beta Sigma Phi and TOPS. She was a longtime Pink Lady volunteer at Grande Ronde Hospital and was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church for many years.

Survivors include her children, Trish Neal of Coos Bay and Art Clark of La Grande; three granddaughters and seven great-grandchildren, including three soon to arrive from Haiti and China. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings; a son, Robert L. Greene; and husband, Larry Clark.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Grande Ronde Hospital Foundation.

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John L. Gunnels, 72, of Milton-Freewater and formerly of La Grande, died May 9 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Monday at the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home in Milton-Freewater, with Roger and Vivian Jorgensen officiating. Concluding services and burial will be in the Milton-Freewater Cemetery.

Mr. Gunnels was born April 15, 1935, to Leslie H. and Marjorie (Blair) Gunnels in Ava, Mo. He attended school in Ava until he was a teenager, at which time his family moved from Missouri to the Milton-Freewater area.

Mr. Gunnels served in the Army in Korea. On Dec. 27, 1955, he married Betty Lou Brown in Walla Walla. After his discharge from the service, he returned to Milton-Freewater and worked as a welder for Key Equipment until the late 1960s.

In the early 1970s he began logging with his brother Herman.

The family then lived in

La Grande. Mr. Gunnels sold his portion of the business, but he continued driving log truck until retiring in 1991, when he moved back to Milton-Freewater. He then bought and sold cars, worked at flea markets and helped his daughter at the Old Town Restaurant.

He loved camping and visiting with friends. He also enjoyed playing cards and the game Aggravation.

Survivors include his children, Rhonda Sartin of Milton-Freewater, Susie Corbin of Pendleton and Johnny Gunnels of Imbler; sister, Louise Clark of La Grande; close friend, Erma McLoughlin of Milton-Freewater; 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife in 2001 and his brothers, Herman and Otis Gunnels.

Memorials may be made to the St. Mary Regional Cancer Center in care of Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home, Milton-Freewater.

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Rose Peters, 85, of Elgin died at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande May 10, 2007. Arrangements are being handled by Loveland Funeral Chapel. A celebration of life service will be conducted at the Chinook Senior Center in Chinook, Mont., Wednesday.

She was born in Riverton, Wyo., March 10, 1922, to Alexander and Katherine E. (Mill) Fischer, one of four children. She was raised and educated in Zurich, Mont., and married Henry J. Peters in Chinook in 1939.

They had two daughters. She moved here in 2005 from Havre, Mont.

Mrs. Peters enjoyed dancing, crocheting, embroidering, crafts and loved to clean and pick up her house.

She is survived by her two daughters and their spouses, Lilyan and Jim Hale of Elgin and Rita and Ronald Ash of South Portsmith, Ky. She was preceded in death by her sisters Emma Block, Lidia Steeley and Hil-dagard Pate, a brother, Leroy Fischer, as well as a very special friend, Swede Erwin Carlson.