Obituaries for the day of December 21, 2011

FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

Dec. 21 — Orpha Mae Plett, funeral, 2 p.m., Elgin Church of the Nazarene; burial, Summerville Cemetery

Dec. 27 — Lillian Herrmann, celebration of life, 10 a.m., Union County Senior Center

Dec. 27 — Waide Wells, service, 10 a.m., Nazarene Church, Elgin; graveside service, Elgin Cemetery

Waide W. Wells

Elgin

1923-2011

Waide Warren Wells, 88, of Elgin, died Dec. 17 at Vista Specialty Care. A service will begin at 10 a.m. Dec. 27 at the Nazarene Church in Elgin. A graveside service will follow at the Elgin Cemetery.

Waide was born Aug. 23, 1923, in Elgin to Lionel and Clara (Brummond) Wells. Waide grew up in Elgin and graduated from Elgin High School.

He moved to Seattle after school and worked for Boeing until he joined the military. He served in the United States Army as a fuel tank truck driver from 1943 to 1945. Waide married Genevie Long in 1947, and they moved to Kamela where he worked for the railroad on the maintenance crew. 

In 1951 they moved to La Grande and he worked for Lynch Motors in the parts department. He was later given the opportunity to run the Meacham Store, which had gas pumps and a wrecker service at that time.

In 1957, they moved and Waide worked for the Pendleton flour mill for six years. Finally in 1962, they moved back to Elgin to help on the Long family farm. Waide worked for Boise Cascade in Elgin from 1966 until his retirement.

Waide enjoyed being with his family. His favorite activities were cutting firewood, hunting, fishing, working and spending as much time as possible outdoors.

Survivors include his wife, Genevie of Elgin; sister, Edna Flanery of La Grande; daughter, Janice and her husband, Dick Becker, of Boise; son, Mark and his wife, Angi Wells, of La Grande; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by two brothers, Manuel (Swede) Erickson and Milton Erickson; and his sister, Martha Cross.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any charity in care of Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande.

Noretta A. Smith

La Grande

Noretta A. Smith, 96, of La Grande, died Dec. 16 at Wildflower Lodge from complications following pneumonia.

She was born Oct. 31, 1915. Survivors include her son, Nicholas L. Smith; and two granddaughters.

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.