Obituaries for the day of July 1, 2009

Pemberton, Stoop, Wyckoff, Scroggin, Spear

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

July 2 — Carl Pemberton, celebration of life, 2 p.m., Loveland Funeral Chapel

July 2 — Nadean Stoop, graveside service, 11 a.m., Island City Cemetery

July 3 — Dwight Wyckoff, memorial service, 3 p.m., Wallowa Methodist Church

July 5 — Charlie Scroggin, celebration of life, 2 to 4 p.m., 65301 Imbler Road, Alicel

July 10 — Kevin Osterloh, celebration of life, 2 p.m., La Grande High School

Dwight Wyckoff, 88, of Roseburg and formerly of Wallowa County, died June 18 in La Grande. A memorial service will begin at 3 p.m. Friday at the Wallowa Methodist Church.

Hilda Byrd Chamberlain, 84, formerly of Elgin and La Grande, died June 15 after an extended illness. She was living at Bayshore Health Center in Duluth, Minn., at the time of her death.

A memorial service was held in East Wenatchee, Wash., with private burial at Chelan Fraternal Cemetery. Precht Rose Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Hilda was born May 29, 1925, to Overton “Obe” and Gladys (Duncan) Scott near Elgin. She graduated from Elgin High School and Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland where she met and married Robert “Bob’’ Byrd. They married in 1946. Bob died in 1989.

In 1995, Hilda married Carl Chamberlain. He died later that year.

After contracting Alzheimer’s, Hilda returned to Elgin and later lived at Wildflower Lodge in La Grande before moving to Duluth.

Hilda is survived by her sister, Sara May Horn of Hermiston; daughters, Annette Byrd-Kennedy of Elgin, Christina Byrd of Wenatchee, Wash., and Maria Vodden of Duluth; two grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Warren and Howard Scott; sister, Hazel Jones; husbands; daughter, Kathleen Myers; and grandson, Zen Sullivan.

Carl E. Pemberton, 72, of Union, died June 28 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande.

Carl was born Aug. 5, 1936, to Clarence Edward and Nancy Ellen (Richards) Pemberton in Brooks. He was the second youngest of seven children. He entered the Air Force in December 1957, and was honorably discharged in April 1958.

He married Lynne Charlotte Smith in August 1957, and they were divorced in 1975. He then married Hazel Jean Jackson in September 1977. They lived in the Eugene/Willamette Valley Area. Jean had six children of her own. They had eight grandchildren and two step-children and three step-great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his children, Ernest and his wife, Rhonda Pemberton of Union, Diana and her husband, Michael Tannlund, of Winnemucca, Nev., Scott and his wife, Debbie Dyche, of Whidbey Island, Wash., Cheryl L. Tannlund of La Grande, and Leslie and her husband, Michael Land, of Cheyenne, Wyo.; sister, Edith L. Willemchen of Molalla; brothers, James B. Pemberton of Grants Pass, Ray E. Pemberton of Oregon City and Glen M. Pemberton of Oregon City; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Carl was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel; parents; sister, Lois L. Curtis; and brother, Dean L. Pemberton.

William Douglas “Doug’’ Spear, 81, formerly of La Grande and a longtime professor at Eastern Oregon University, died at his home in Tigard on Memorial Day, May 25. A celebration of life will be held. Burial will be at Willamette National Cemetery. Autumn Funerals and Cremations in Tigard is in charge of arrangements.

Doug was born Jan. 19, 1928, to William McLelland Spear, M.D. and Elsie Doak Spear. He attended University Elementary School and graduated from University High School in Iowa City, Iowa.

During his senior year, Doug was president of the U-High student body and was the All-State football captain, ROTC commander and sang the role of the Major General in U-High’s Gilbert and Sullivan production of the “Pirates of Penzance.”

He was a trumpet soloist, arranged music for the U-High dance band and loved Glenn Miller’s music. He was the recipient of myriad honors and awards including an appointment to West Point.

At the age of 16, Doug enrolled at the University of Iowa where he earned his B.A, M.A. and Ph.D. He was a graduate assistant for four years in the political science department. Further study was done at Yale University, University of Edinburgh, Scotland and the universities of Illinois and Wisconsin. He served in the U.S. Army.

After meeting at the University of Edinburgh, Mary Ann Jensen and Douglas Spear married Aug. 15, 1954, and traveled to La Grande where Doug served as professor of political science at Eastern Oregon University. His career spanned 40 years.

He was a skilled arbitrator, negotiator and public speaker. Those who knew Doug say he dedicated himself to educational, charitable and community interests, serving positions in city government, church, Rotary International, boards and commissions.

He had a weekly radio program of classical music for the Grande Ronde Symphony and later a weekly television program on world events.

Former students remember him as a wise counsel with personal integrity who enjoyed teaching such diverse courses as world politics, constitutional and environmental law, urban studies and the political novel.

In 1984, Doug was one of five professors honored for excellence in teaching by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education.

Despite distances, Doug cared for his parents. In retirement, Mary Ann and Doug enjoyed numerous trips to Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and Australia.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann; daughters, Kerry Spear and Kippe Spear; two grandchildren; the family of his brother, William James Spear; the Ryman, Klockar and Froste families of Sweden; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Kirsten, a student in Uppsala, Sweden.

Stella “Nadean” Stoop, 89, of La Grande, died June 25 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Island City Cemetery. This service will also include the committal for her grandson, Woody Albers.

Stella was born July 17, 1919, to Burl and Vera Lois (Mires) Conley in La Grande. She spent much of her school age years on her stepfather’s ranch outside of Baker City. She married James H. Stoop Jan. 13, 1972, in Sandy. He preceded her in death.

Stella worked for Bonneville Power in Portland, first as a telephone operator and later as an office supervisor until her retirement. She moved to La Grande more than 20 years ago from the Portland area. She was involved with the Emblem Club and the Lions Club.

She loved gardening and her grandchildren. She had strong bonds with her pets, especially dogs, Katie and Danny. She loved the Grande Ronde Valley.

Survivors include her children and their spouses, Charles “Chuck” and Katherine Stoop of Cave Junction and Sue Albers and Greg Franklin of La Grande; two grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her grandson, Woody Albers.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Shelter in care of Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande.