Obituaries for the day of April 9, 2009

Sherman Shinsel

La Grande

Sherman “Ray” Shinsel, 82, of La Grande, died April 9 at a local care center. A complete obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Jay L. Vess

La Grande

Jay L. Vess, 88, of La Grande, died April 6 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A full obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Gordon Johnson

La Grande

1929-2009

Gordon Marion Johnson, 79, of La Grande, died April 3 at his home. A memorial service will begin at

2 p.m. Saturday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. A potluck at the senior center will follow the service.

Gordon was born Nov. 3, 1929, at Farnam, Neb. He was a farm boy and lived in Nebraska until 1958 when he moved to Greeley, Colo., where he operated a service station and then went to work in a large meat packing company. You can take a boy off the farm, but not the farm out of the boy, so in 1972 he moved with his family to La Grande and farmed until he retired.

Gordon was a quiet person who loved to travel and visit his daughters and parents. Two highlight trips were three months in Alaska and a trip to the East Coast. In 2006 he suffered a stroke and had declining health since that time.

Survivors include his wife, Elen; five children, Lorinda and her husband, Don Blakely, of La Grande, Dana and her husband, Sid Snow, of Litchfield, Neb., Lyle Johnson of La Grande, Dale and his wife, Robin Johnson, of La Grande and Jenell and her husband, Mike Howland, of Cottage Grove; 14 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother, Raymond Johnson of Wallowa; and numerous other relatives. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents and a sister.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Union County Senior Center.

Dr. Derrell Lindsay

Formerly of La Grande

1920-2009

Dr. Derrell Alexander Lindsay, 89, of Pendleton and formerly of La Grande, died April 3. Memorial services will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 12th Street and Gilliam in Pendleton. A viewing will run from 11 am. to noon at the church. Pendleton Pioneer Chapel, Folsom-Bishop is in charge of arrangements. Derrell was born April 2, 1920, to Lionel and Bertha Lindsay, the oldest of seven children in

La Grande. He graduated from La Grande High School and went on to graduate from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, also graduating from the University of Oregon Dental School with a D.M.D. He served in the Army as a 2nd lieutenant in Medical Administrative Corps.

Dr. Lindsay served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Australia and Texas.

He married Thelma A. Sutherland of Provo Dec. 16, 1948. They are the parents of two daughters, Carolyn Lindsay Southworth of Camano Island, Wash., and Leslie Ann Arbogast of Portland.

Dr. Lindsay practiced dentistry in Pendleton for 32 years.  He served as president of the Oregon Dental Society, and was an active member of the Rotary for many years.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was called to serve in the capacities of bishop, stake president and regional representative of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Along with his wife Thelma, he served a year and a half mission in the New Zealand Temple.

He was known as an excellent speaker, an outdoor enthusiast, a wise and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and a man of good character and honor.

He is survived by his wife, Thelma; daughters, Carolyn and Leslie; brothers, Edwin, David and Vern; sister, Mary Diana; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Phyllis B. Smith

North Powder

1935-2009

Phyllis B. (Morris) Smith, 74, of North Powder, died April 5 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Home in La Grande. The graveside service will follow at the North Powder Cemetery. A dinner is planned in the multi-

purpose room of Powder Valley Elementary.

Phyllis was born Jan. 17, 1935, the youngest daughter of Elmer and Agnes Morris in Cove. She attended school in

La Grande and Cove where she eventually graduated.

Soon after graduation, she met and married Merlin W. Smith of North Powder. They were married 48 years. He preceded her in death on April 6, 2003. She began work as the deputy clerk at North Powder School District in 1964. After 26 years with the school, a stroke in 1990 forced her to leave that position and spend her remaining years at home.

Survivors include her sons, Sherwood and his wife, Kerri and Gareld and his wife, Stephanie; sister, Della Ehrenburg; six grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the North Powder Community Partners or any charity in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel 1508 Fourth St., La Grande 97850.

Dora L. Trullinger

Enterprise

1928-2009

Dora Lorraine Trullinger, 80, of Enterprise, died April 3 at her home. Private burial will be at the Enterprise Cemetery. Bollman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Dora was born June 8, 1928, in Tipperary, Iowa. She grew up in Carlisle, Iowa, and graduated from Carlisle High School.

Dora was a foster parent and a preschool and nursery school teacher and director. She was a member of the Enterprise Baptist Church. She enjoyed fishing and bird watching; she especially loved watching quail. She also enjoyed deer hunting with her sons. She loved all her pets through her life.

Survivors include her husband, James Trullinger of Enterprise; children, Thomas W. Dockery and his wife, Katie, of Seattle, David J. Dockery and his wife, Becky, of Joseph, Robert M. Dockery, and his wife, Debra, of Pamplico, S.C., Douglas Benton and his wife, Cookie, of Prineville, and Kathleen L. Taylor of Enterprise; brothers, Ray Corum of Santa Cruz, Calif., and Richard Witmer of Indianapolis, Ind.; ex-husband, Robert W. Dockery of Grants Pass; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Turner; brother, Joseph Corum; parents, Raymond Corum and Twila Homsher Corum; and foster parents, Dade Huckleberry and Media Huckleberry.

Memorial contributions may be made to the senior meal program or to the food bank at Wallowa County Community Connections.