Obituaries for the day of August 18, 2011

Juanita J. Clum

Formerly of Elgin

A graveside service for Juanita J. Clum, who died Aug. 14 in Pendleton, will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at the Elgin Cemetery.

Juanita was 88 and a former long-time resident of Elgin. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements.

Josephine O’Brien

Formerly of La Grande

1924-2011

Josephine O’Brien, 87, formerly of La Grande, died Aug. 12. A memorial and celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at her son’s home, 1282 Third No. 56 in Pioneer Mobile Home Estates, Lafayette. Pastor Ron Smith will be officiating. A potluck luncheon will be served. Burial was at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. To leave private online condolences, visit www.macyandson.com.

She was born March 13, 1924, in La Grande to Sabin and Etta Alexander. She lived most of her life in Oregon.

In the early 1940s, she had her own gospel singing radio show. She married Raymond Ridgeway in 1943 and had a son, Robert, and a daughter, Mary Jo. Eleven years later, she married Patrick J. O’Brien and had a son, Kevin, who preceded her in death at the age of 25.

Josephine loved doing crossword puzzles, reading, singing, traveling and watching football. She was a member of the Sweet Adelines singing group.

She is survived by her son, Robert Ridgeway of Lafayette; daughter, Mary Jo Milroy of Salem; sister, Rosemary Gilson of Vancouver, Wash.; five grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Henderson House in Josephine’s name in care of Macy and Son Funeral Directors.

Aretha ‘Retha’ B. Reese

Baker City

1944-2011

Aretha “Retha” B. Reese, 67, of Baker City, died Aug. 11 at her home. A visitation will run from 2 to 6 today at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Her funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Gray’s West. Vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Jesse Whitford of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate.

She was born June 29, 1944, in Baker City to Eli Hue E. and Delphia Ophelia (Harkness) White.

She graduated from Baker High School in 1963 and married Floyd W. Reese on April 6, 1968.

She worked in child care and as a housekeeper and was a homemaker. She enjoyed gardening, admiring her yard of flowers and fishing and camping in the outdoors.

Retha really loved cooking and dancing to country music and always enjoyed talking about the happenings of the past and present. She was an avid member of the Baker City Christian Church.

Retha is survived by a son, Jeffery Reese and his wife, Shannon, of Baker City; a daughter, Jodi DeCristo of Peoria, Ariz.; grandson and a granddaughter; siblings, Daisy Ashford and her husband, Herman, of Albany, Katherine Shurtleff of Oregon City, Ruben White and his wife, Janiece, of Prairie City, Ben White and his wife, Judy, of Spokane, Wash., Beulah Roberts of Baker City and Teddy White of Baker City.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Wayne White; two sisters, Dorothy Petty and Rosie Miller; and a son-in-law, Chris DeCristo.