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

Vinita M. Fischer, 87, a longtime Wallowa County resident, died April 30 in Portland. A funeral service will begin at

1 p.m. Thursday at Bollman Funeral Home, Enterprise. Burial will be at the Enterprise Cemetery.

Vinita was born Sept. 4, 1919, to Lee and Arlie Cook in Enterprise.

On July 29, 1938, she married Otis Fischer in Lewiston, Idaho. They spent the majority of their life together in Enterprise.

A homemaker when her children were young, Mrs. Fischer later worked for many years at the Enterprise Post Office. Following retirement, she enjoyed her home, caring for her cats and visits from family and friends. She lived three years at the Alpine House in Joseph and the last three years at a Memory Care Center in Portland.

Survivors include her children and their spouses, Maxine Van Slyke and Bud and Jean Fischer; one granddaughter, two stepgrandchilren and two great-grandchildren; brothers, Wayne Cook and Wilmer Cook, both of Enterprise; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, one brother and two sisters.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the Enterprise First Baptist Church in care of Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W. Main, Enterprise 97828.

__________________________

Gertrude Ida Davis, 94, formerly of La Grande, died April 29 at Hospice House in Kennewick, Wash. A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Summerville Cemetery. Viewing will be available from 9 a.m to noon prior to the service at Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande.

Mrs. Davis was born Feb. 15, 1913, to John Thomas and Pearl Caroline (Foster) Shields in Sumpter. On Oct. 14, 1935, she married Rolla Mack Davis in Weiser, Idaho. They had been married for 59 years at the time of his death.

Until retirement, Gertrude was a nursing assistant at Valley View Manor. She loved to read, enjoyed oil painting and made many afghans over the years for each of her grandchildren. She loved to swim at the swimming pool in Baker City.

Survivors include her children and their spouses, Larry and Myrna Davis of Gresham, John and Terry Davis of Elgin, Keith Davis of Florida, Christine and John Showalter of Ketchikan, Alaska, and Pamela and Roy Quintero of Kennewick; sister, Lavina Balch of Baker City; and 16 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by siblings, Foster Shields, Jack Shields, Fay Liden and Junia Love, and a granddaughter, Amanda Gurr.

__________________________

Mahlon Bruce Beels, 94, of La Grande, died April 30 in La Grande. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Mr. Beels was born March 30, 1913, to William and Alice (Albert) Beels in Witten, S.D.

He married Irene Skibinski Aug. 2, 1936, in Witten. He worked in the county clerk's office in Witten until he and his wife and five-month-old daughter, Judy, moved to Portland.

During World War II he was a welder, building ships in the Portland shipyard.

In the 1950s he moved with his family to Elgin to go into business with his brother. In the 1960s he started a cabinet-making business in La Grande with his son-in-law.

After retiring, Mahlon volunteered in the Union County Senior Lunch Program when it started in the basement of the old Salvation Army Church. His years of service included fundraising to help build the present Union County Senior Center, serving on various county-wide advisory committees, traveling to Washington, D.C., at the request of Sen. Bob Packwood for senior advocacy and providing many hours of labor in maintaining and building cabinets.

He was the recipient of a Union County Volunteer of the Year award for his efforts.

One of his greatest joys in life was his family and the occasions that brought them together.

His survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Wavel Hunt of Summerville; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren; and one niece. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, and siblings, William and Alice.

Memorials may be made to the Union County Senior Center in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

__________________________

Glen Franklin Bates, 77, formerly of La Grande and Union, died May 1 at his home in Baker City. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Gray's West & Company Pioneer Chapel, Baker City. Viewing will be available from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday May 4 at Gray's West.

Mr. Bates was born Dec. 23, 1929, to John Leon and Hazel Ernestine (Gilbert) Bates in Baker City. He was raised in Baker and graduated from Baker High School in 1949. Following high school, Mr. Bates spent four years in the Navy as a Seabee.

On Sept. 30, 1955, he married Joan Himmelberger. They spent 52 years together, raising two children.

In 1958 Glen graduated from what is now Eastern Oregon University with a bachelor's degree. He continued his education at Stanford University and the University of Wyoming.

Mr. Bates taught at Union High School for eight years. He then moved on to work for C.P. National, becoming a division manager.

He was a board member of Oregon Trail Electric, a Past Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge #338, member of Rotary in Baker and La Grande — serving as the 1978-1979 president of the La Grande Rotary — and served on the committee of the Eastern Oregon University Foundation from 1978 to 1991.

Glen loved the outdoors, especially going to his cabin on East Eagle to snowmobile. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting with his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Joan Bates of Baker City; children and their spouses, Frank and Riza Bates of Dallas and Josie and Frank Hermann of Baker City; two grandchildren; siblings and their spouses, Henry Bates of Baker City, Nancy and Harvey Fee of Baker City and Susan and Lee Derrick of Payette, Idaho; and brother-in-law, Clayton Young of Baker City. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Carol Young.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of choice in care of Gray's West & Company, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City 97814.

__________________________

Rowena Almarene Simmons, 89, of La Grande, died May 3 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. Viewing will be available from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday May 7 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, followed by a service beginning at 2 p.m.

Mrs. Simmons was born April 19, 1918, to Orien Rupert and Sarah Almarene (Gardener) Saunders in Cove. She attended school in Cove and La Grande. After high school she studied at a community college and then worked as a bookkeeper for Ford Motor Company, Dr. Gregory and Eddy's Bread and also as a salesperson in ladies wear.

She was a member of the Mountain Home LDS Church and the La Grande Second Ward. She enjoyed reading and doing crafts.

Survivors include her sons and their wives, Larry and Freda Simmons of Cove and Lee and Betty Simmons of La Grande; daughters, Shirley Simmons of Cove and Marlene Kenerson of Las Vegas, Nev.; brother and sister-in-law, Grant and Phyllis Saunders of Cove; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and other relatives.

Memorials may be made to the LDS Family History Center in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh Street, La Grande 97850.

__________________________

G. Murline White, 65, of Wheaton, Ill., and formerly of Cove, died suddenly last week. Services will be today at Abram & Son Home for Funerals in Berwyn, Ill., with private inurnment following.

Mrs. White graduated from Cove High school in 1960. She was married to the late Rogers L. Murline for 27 years.

She was honored at the B.R. Ryall YMCA in Glen Ellyn, Ill., as a Volunteer of the Year recently.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Susie and Harry Beck of Lakewood, N.J., and Wendy and Steve Holguin of Fountain, Colo.; a grandson and a brother and sister-in-law, David and Vicky Cassoway, and a brother, Daniel Gassoway. Another brother, John Gassoway, died earlier.