Obituaries for the day of July 22, 2009

McDaniel, Pointer, Purcell, Schultz, Connolly, Conaway, Doles, Huntsman, McLain, Riddle

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

July 23 — Barbara McDaniel, celebration of life, 2 p.m., New Song Community Church, la Grande

July 24 — Wanda Pointer, funeral service, 10 a.m., Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center; burial, Summerville Cemetery

July 24 — Sharon Purcell, memorial service, 2 p.m., Elgin Stampede Hall

July 25 — Barbara McDaniel, graveside services, 11 a.m., Enterprise Cemetery

July 27 — Cynthia Schultz , celebration of life, 11 a.m., Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center

July 27 — Ray Connolly, services, 11 a.m., Enterprise Christian Church

Aug. 22 — Ruth Conaway, graveside service, 11 a.m., Grandview Cemetery

Ruth Lorene Carter, 89, of La Grande and formerly of Long Creek, died at a local care center July 19 at La Grande.

Graveside services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Long Creek Cemetery. A viewing will be held at the Long Creek Community Church from 9 to 10 a.m. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth Carter was born June 23, 1920, to Joseph and Nell (Parrish) Green in Hood River. On April 15, 1940, she married Robert “Bob” Lincoln Carter in Walla Walla. They owned and operated cattle ranches in Long Creek, Mount Vernon and Prairie City. They raised Hereford cattle and sold bulls and breeding stock throughout the Northwest. Good cows and good cow dogs were their stock and trade.

In May 1980 they moved to La Grande to be near family. Ruth was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Order of Eastern Star in John Day.

Survivors include daughters, Jacqueline Burnette and her husband, Fred, Volla Kay Loveland and her husband, Jim, Lavita Ann Hutchison and her husband, Kenney, and R. Nellie Hibbert and her husband, Richard; 12 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and two sisters, Colleen Simmons and Elouise “Tootsie” Simmons.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice in care of Daniels-Knopp, 1502 Seventh Street, La Grande 97850.

Malin M. Doles, 75, of Summerville, died July 19 at a local care center. At his request there will be no services, but condolences may be sent to Ina Doles, Grande Ronde Retirement Residence, 1809 Gekeler Lane, La Grande 97850 or the online guestbook may be signed at www.danielsknopp.com.

Malin was born Dec. 4, 1933, to Frank and Grace (Bolick) Doles in Fromsberg, Mont. Malin moved with his family to Summerville in 1945 and graduated from Imbler High School in 1953. He volunteered for service in the Army, spending about a year of his enlistment in Germany. After receiving an honorable discharge, he married Ina Glee Wilmoth Feb. 22, 1959, in Cove and became an apprentice lineman with California Pacific Utilities.

He later worked at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington before returning in 1963 to the family farm in Summerville where he began a 32-year career as a car man and later a relief car and derrick foreman with Union Pacific Railroad in La Grande.

His UP co-workers recall Malin’s hard-working habits combined with a keen sense of humor that resulted in many good-natured pranks being played on others and himself. Some co-workers remember, in particular, Malin’s amazing combination of strength and technique that allowed him to lift a set of boxcar wheels by himself.

After retiring from the railroad in 1995, he continued to work with a private firm operating heavy machinery on the clean-up of railroad derailments. His love for mechanized equipment led him to restore several older bulldozers and tractors, including a World

War II vintage R4 Caterpillar and a D4 Cat. He often used his equipment to plow neighbors’ driveways after winter snowstorms and to assist friends in the completion of construction projects.

Perhaps Malin will be best remembered by his many friends for the kindness he offered, his willingness to assist those in need and his good-natured teasing and enjoyment of being teased in return.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ina; son, Don Doles and his wife, Linda Doles and their two children, all of Sweet Home; son, Craig Doles of Hermiston; sister, Sharon Pulliam of Needville, Texas; and a cousin. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Denise Diane Doles, who died as an infant in 1960, and Dara Diane Doles, who died in 1989 at age 21.

Marell Waite Huntsman, 92, of Boise, died peacefully in her sleep July 17 at her home.

Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at the Boise Cherry Lane LDS Chapel, 3020 Cherry Lane. Friends may visit with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Relyea Funeral Chapel and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at the church prior to the services. Burial will be at the Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Marell was born July 27, 1916, to Appy Leo Waite and Christiana Ella Whiting Waite at Mount Glen. She grew up in the La Grande area with five of her brothers. She also had two half-brothers. She graduated from La Grande High School in 1933 and Eastern Oregon Normal School in 1935 with a life-time teaching certificate.

She taught school for five years in a one-room school house where she was principal, teacher and custodian. She boarded with her students’ families and earned $75 a month, which she thought was an extravagant wage. She served an LDS mission in the Great Lakes area.

She married Conrad C. Huntsman April 3, 1942, in the Salt Lake Temple. They became the parents of 10 children — five daughters and five sons. They raised their family in La Grande. She and Conrad moved to Boise in 1984 to work in the Boise Temple.

Marell was always active in the LDS Church and worked for 25 years as a teacher in the Guide Patrol (Scout) program, plus she taught in other church organizations. She and her husband worked in the Boise Temple for over 20 years.

She enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren play in various sporting events. She was a big fan of Eastern Oregon State College football (while her son played) and of BSU football and basketball. She traveled many miles to attend family members’ special events. She enjoyed gardening and canning and freezing her produce. Her frozen raspberry jam was the best and she shared freely.

Marell is survived by her daughters and sons, Janice Green of Boise, Joyce (Douglas) Higley of Emmett, John (JoAnn) of Athena, Kathleen (Wayne) Jensen of Sutherlin, David (Elizabeth) of Baker City, E. Christine (Gerry) Rogalsky of Boise, Vaughn (Elaine) of Rock Springs, Wyo., Loren (Shelly) of Lyman, Wyo., and Donna Huntsman of Boise; 51 grandchildren; 71 great-grandchildren (with four on the way); and a half-brother, Russell Waite of Pendleton.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Conrad; her son, Warren Frank; one grandson; and three great-grandchildren.

David Ross McLain, 81, of La Grande, died July 17 at his home. At his request there will be no service.

David was born Aug. 18, 1927, to Amos H. and Amy (Hulse) McLain in La Grande. He graduated from La Grande High School and then Eastern Oregon College with a degree in education. He served with the Army during World War II and the Korean War. In 1954 he and Leona Tetrick, also of La Grande, were married in Yakima.

He lived all of his life in La Grande, doing what he loved most, driving trucks. He drove for Cenex and then for Bowman Trucking Inc., logging well over a million miles of accident-free driving, never missing a day of work. He retired in 1997.

Survivors include his wife, Leona of La Grande; four children; Cory McLain of Portland, Greg McLain of La Grande, Tamara Stanley of Pendleton and Talia Welch of La Grande; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Joyce Bak of Yakima and Laura Hayes of Baker City; and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his sister, Doris Grant.

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

Wanda Fay Pointer, 84, of Island City, died July 18 at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise, Idaho.

A viewing will run from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. A funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Daniels-Knopp. Burial will follow at Summerville Cemetery.

Wanda was born Dec. 24, 1924, to Willie Wilson and Hallie Jane (Bottles) Sanderson in Summerville. She attended Dry Creek School and graduated from Imbler High School. On June 30, 1945, she married Robert Pointer in Baker City. They lived in Summerville until 1956 when they moved to La Grande.

In 1972 they moved to Island City. She was a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. She enjoyed huckleberry picking, camping, fishing and going to the mountains. She loved her flowers and was an exceptional cook, especially her pies. She enjoyed sewing and spending time with her family and grandchildren. Many who knew her considered her the sweetest person they ever met.

Survivors include her husband, Robert Pointer of La Grande; children and their spouses, Bev and Dan DeLashmutt of La Grande, Melvin and Jan Pointer of La Grande and Chuck and Susie Anderson of Elgin; daughter-in-law, Alana Pointer of La Grande; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her son, Adrin Pointer; sisters, Evelyn Ramsey and Dorothy Craig; and brothers, Donald, Kenneth and Billy Sanderson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Diabetes Association or St. Alphonsus Medical Center in care of Daniels-Knopp.

Sharon Ann “Ms. Kitty” Purcell, 60, of Elgin, died July 18 at her home.

A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the Elgin Stampede Hall.

Sharon was born June 15, 1949, to Donald A. and Juanita (Norton) Hanson in La Grande. She worked in the maintenance department of Union Pacific Railroad until her medical retirement in April. She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, the mountains and spending time with her family.

Survivors include her mother, Juanita Hanson of Elgin; daughters, Heidi Ann Purcell of Pilot Rock and Heather M. Scott of Elgin; one grandson; sisters and their husbands, Frances and Bruce Ellis of La Grande and Donna and Larry Hays of Elgin; brother and sister-in-law, Chris and Wanda Hanson of Joseph; and other relatives.

Memorials contributions may be made to any cancer charity in care of Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande.

Karen J. Long Riddle, 64, of Hermiston and formerly of La Grande, died July 20 at her home. A graveside funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Hermiston Cemetery. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.

Karen was born Feb. 27, 1945, to Robert and Joyce Carlson Fitzgerald in La Grande. She was raised there and attended school in La Grande. She completed beauty college in Pendleton and worked as a hairdresser, owning and operating several salons. She worked for the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Department as a dispatcher for a time.

Karen married Robert L. Riddle Jr. Nov. 12, 1988, in Reno. They lived in Heppner until the mid-1990s when they moved to the farm in Hermiston where they have lived since. Karen enjoyed cooking, canning, farming, clamming, the outdoors and spending time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Riddle of Hermiston; son, Rich Long Jr. of Vancouver, Wash.; daughters, Shannon Lancaster of Echo and Andrea Long of Portland; step-sons, Charles Riddle of Hermiston, Christopher Riddle of Hermiston and Terry Riddle of Lexington; step-daughters, Robin Diquist of Lexington, Twyla Petershon of La Grande and Rhonda Cummings of Hermiston; four grandchildren; and 16 step-grandchildren.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter, Brittany Lancaster; and two brothers, Jack and Kerry Fitzgerald.

Memorial contributions may be made to John Memorial Hospice, 1050 W. Elm St., Suite 220, Hermiston 97838.