Obituaries for the day of June 10, 2011

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

June 11 — Merton Wade, memorial services, 11 a.m., Lostine Cemetery

June 25 — Edward Wheaton, memorial service, 3 p.m., La Grande Country Club

July 9 — Alice Eft, celebration of life, 4 p.m., lower Catherine Creek State Park, Union

Wesley C. Shaffer

Summerville

Wesley C. Shaffer, 83, of Summerville, died June 9 at a local care center. A full obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

Clarence G. Red

Formerly of La Grande

1930-2011

Clarence Gene Red, 80, of Moundville, Ala., and formerly of La Grande, died June 8 at Moundville Health & Rehabilitation with family at his side. According to Clarence’s wishes, there will be no memorial service. Magnolia Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

He was born in La Grande in 1930. Gene joined the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of the Korean War. He met the love of his life, Evelyn, on Canal Street in New Oreleans in 1948. The two married in 1949 and were together for nearly 60 years.

After serving in the Navy, Gene settled with Evelyn in Belle Chasse, La., in 1955 and remained there in the home he built until 2005. At that time, the couple moved to Moundville to be near their children. Gene spent 40 years as an auto body repairman and retired in 1995. After retirement, he bought an airplane and pursued his pilot’s license. He took his solo flight in late 1997. Evelyn rode along on a flight around Plaquemines Parish.

Gene was preceded in death by his mother, Zelma; father, James; brothers, James and Eugene; sister, Donna; wife, Evelyn; and granddaugther, Crystal.

Survivors include his daughters, Karen Hunter and her husband, Herman, Robin Watkins and her husband, Barry, and Sheri Tillie and her husband, John; son, Terry Red and his wife, Tracy; 15 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Blanche L. Ware

Formerly of Elgin

1920-2011

Blanche Luella Ware, 91, formerly of Elgin, died June 8 at Regency Hermiston Health & Rehabilitation Center in Hermiston. A graveside funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at the Pleasant View Cemetery in Stanfield. Sign the condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.

She was born March 14, 1920, to Nile Erastus and Ella Bell (Sears) Bennett at Hillsboro. She was raised in Hillsboro. In 1936, she married Harold Wallace there. They moved to Stanfield and then to Elgin in 1945. They lived in Elgin until 1965 when they moved back to Stanfield. Blanche and Harold divorced and she married Gerald Ware on Feb. 26, 1973, in Walla Walla, Wash.

They lived in Stanfield and in Hermiston until Gerald died in 2002. Blanche attended the Church of Christ in Hermiston. She enjoyed crocheting, reading, puzzles and visiting the coast.

She is survived by son, Wayne and his wife, Trula Wallace, of Summerville; a niece; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two great-great-granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Harold Wallace in 1975 and Gerald Ware in 2002; and sister, Lovell Carter in 2008.

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

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.