Obituaries for the day of July 25, 2011

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

July 26 — Thelma Mae Draper, graveside service, 2 p.m., Union Cemetery

July 28 — Eileen Sage, memorial service, 11 a.m., Union United Methodist Church

July 30 — Gerald Hinze, memorial service and dinner, 2 to 6 p.m., Tom McDowell Park, Elgin

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

Lawanna Michler

Elgin

Lawanna Marie Michler, 81, of Elgin, died July 24 at her home. A full obituary will be published at a later time. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is handling the arrangements.

Thelma Draper

Union

1921-2011

Thelma Mae Draper, 90, of Union, died July 22 at a local care center. A graveside service will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Union Cemetery.  Arrangements are being handled by Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center.

Thelma was born May 16, 1921, the daughter of Charlie and Cora Anthena (Myers) Huffman in Ava, Mo. She was married in Missouri and the couple traveled by train to Sheridan, Wyo. They later moved to Milton-Freewater, and then on to Nampa, Idaho, before coming to the Grande Ronde Valley.

On Nov. 12, 1989 she married LaVern “Vern’’ Draper in Union.

Thelma loved to dance and enjoyed walking her dog, Snoop.

 Survivors include her husband, Vern Draper of Union; sisters, Ruth Fawcett of Milton-Freewater and Dorothy Vrachnis of Los Angeles; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by sons Fred Partney and Dick Partney and brother Howard Huffman.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Meadowwood Springs Speech & Hearing Camp or a favorite charity in care of Daniels-Knopp, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

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.