Obituaries for the day of August 1, 2011

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

Aug. 1 — Cecile Lay, service, 2 p.m., Joseph Cemetery

Aug. 13 — Theodore Hooey, celebration of life, 3 p.m., American Legion Post 43, La Grande

Aug. 13 — John J. Gregory, graveside, 11 a.m., Wallowa Cemetery

Douglas A. Laing

Cove

Douglas A. Laing, 70, of Cove, died July 31 at a local care center. A full obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

Noel V. Gorham

Formerly of North Powder

1928-2011

Noel Vaughn Gorham, 83, formerly of North Powder, died July 16 at his home.

Close family and friends were present during the services with military honors at Riverside National Cemetery July 21, where his ashes reside in the Columbarium with his wife of 62 years.

Noel was born May 3, 1928, in North Powder. He lived with his dad, Stonewall Volney Jackson Gorham, and mom, Allie Mae (Gilkison), and three brothers and five sisters.

Noel retired from the U.S.  Coast Guard on July 1, 1966, as a senior chief yeoman with 20 years of service. He previously served in the U.S. Navy from Dec. 15, 1947, to March 17, 1950. During his naval career, in 1948-49, he was assigned to assist with the great Berlin Airlift, stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, to provide the devastated German citizens with food and supplies. Noel fell in love with a beautiful young German fraulein, Martha Elisabeth “Elly” Sziegle, and they married in Germany on July 20, 1949, and remained happily married until Elly’s death on June 27, 2010.

Noel enjoyed the Gorham family reunions every year in La Grande for the opportunity to play music with his family. He played guitar, harmonica and accordion and also recorded many of the family music sessions. He was an artist and inventor, crafting tools, motors, wood boxes, bowls, cups, frames, furniture, cabinets and guitar stands. He was also a self-taught horticulturist with more than 500 varieties of exotic houseplants, shrubs, roses, succulents and cacti. He also took care of two California desert tortoises for more than 45 years. The tortoises bred three babies.

He was known for being organized and believed that everything had its place. Those who knew him say he was at peace with himself and was very proud and independent.

Noel is survived by his daughter, Renee and her husband, Mark Gerber, of Chewelah, Wash.; son, Jeffrey and his wife, Cynthia Gorham, of Bowie, Md.; two granddaughters; and one grandson.

The Observer publishes free obituaries as a community service. Obituaries are edited to fit news guidelines. Photos are encouraged. Paid space is available for families who would like to include more information. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center posts unedited obituaries at www.danielsknopp.com, and Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory posts obituaries at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.