Obituaries for the day of June 17, 2009

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

June 19 — Betty Smithe, funeral, 11 a.m., Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center; burial, Grandview Cemetery

June 19 — Naedean Barnes, memorial, 5 p.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Elgin

June 20 — Marvel Eaves, memorial, 2 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Enterprise; burial, Enterprise Cemetery

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

John Alfred Martin, 85, of Knoxville and formerly of La Grande, died June 15.

Family and friends will meet by 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel and proceed to Highland Memorial Cemetery for a 1 p.m. graveside service with the Very Rev. John C. Ross, Dean, and the Rev. Cannon Thomas J. Rasnick officiating.

John was a member of St. John’s Cathedral. A graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in electrical engineering and an M.S. in physics, he worked for more than 43 years with Oak Ridge National Laboratories in the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility. John published many articles in the IEEE Nuclear Science Transations and received  the IEEE Nuclear Plasma Sciences Society Merit Award for outstanding contributions to the field of particle accelerator science and in particular sector focused cyclotrons.

John was a technical sergeant with the U.S. Army serving during World War II.

John is survived by his wife of 60 years, Laurie Powell Martin; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Roy and Eva Neill Martin of La Grande; and sister, Mrs. Elmer Peck of La Grande.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to St. John’s Cathedral, 413 W. Cumberland Ave./P.O. 153, Knoxville, TN 37901 or St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in La Grande 97850.

Myrtle Joan Hayes Moffit, 78, of Enterprise, died June 11 of natural causes at her home. A family memorial gathering will be held following cremation. Bollman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Myrtle was born Feb. 21, 1931, to Hugh and Bessie (Vernon) Hayes at the family home on Bear Creek, near Wallowa. She attended Wallowa Grade School and graduated from Wallowa High School in 1950.

She married Bryce D. Moffit Feb. 13, 1954, in Salem.

After her husband’s graduation from the University of Oregon’s dental school in Portland, the couple spent two years in Anchorage, Alaska, where Bryce served in the U.S. Army and where their son was born. They moved to Enterprise in 1958, where Dr. Moffit practiced dentistry for 43 years and Myrtle was a  stay-at-home mother.

Myrtle was a member of the Elks and volunteered with Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed birdwatching, flower gardening, fishing and touring the country in search of wildflowers, mushrooms and huckleberries.

Survivors include her son, Charles Moffit of Enterprise; brothers, Hugh Hayes of Salem, Eugene Hayes of Wallowa, Thomas Hayes of Wallowa and Patrick Hayes of Milwaukie; sister, Betty Rysdam of Elgin; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Bryce Moffit; parents, Hugh and Bessie Hayes; and brothers, Vernon Hayes, Bud Hayes and Jerry Hayes.

Elizabeth C. “Betty” Walk, 92, formerly of La Grande, died May 20 in Springfield. No service is planned. Englands Memorial Chapel in Eugene was in charge of arrangements.

Elizabeth was born Sept. 1, 1916, to Milton H. and Helen T. Carter in Walla Walla. She married Ronald Walk June 9, 1940, in Pendleton.

She graduated from Eastern Oregon Normal School in La Grande and taught at Greenwood School in La Grande from 1953 until her retirement in 1974.

Betty and Ron were married for 51 years. Ron died Oct. 4, 1991.

Survivors include a daughter, Helen Ruth Carman of Springfield; son, Ronald of Sunriver; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Celia Arrieta Holady, 82, formerly of La Grande, died June 9. Autumn Funerals and Cremations in Tigard is in charge of arrangements.

Celia was born Oct. 15, 1926, the first child of Steven and Rose Arrieta in Boise. Celia was a first-

generation American daughter of Basque immigrants from Spain. Growing up, Celia did not speak English. When she was 8, she moved with her family to May Park and later to Island City and attended Greenwood Elementary School. She went on to La Grande High School and graduated in 1945.

During high school, Celia worked in an ice cream shop in the afternoons and at the theater during the evening. She saved her money to take flying lessons. Celia was ready to fly solo when she decided that college tuition was a better use of her money, so she enrolled at Eastern Oregon College of Education with the idea of becoming a teacher.

At Eastern Oregon she met Floyd Holady, a returning World War II Navy veteran. They were married in August 1947 and moved to Ukiah. In 1952 both finished their degrees in La Grande and began teaching in the Portland area.

One year later, the family moved to Pendleton, where Celia taught in the elementary schools.

Then the family moved to Portland and Floyd went to dental school while Celia cared for their children.

In 1962 the family moved back to Pendleton where Floyd started his dental practice. Celia returned to teaching in the local elementary schools and also taught English for the community college GED program. She managed her husband’s dental practice. Celia also sold real estate and was an electrologist.

Celia enjoyed traveling and shopping. Trips to Taos, N.M., and throughout the southwestern U.S., with stops along the way at Basque restaurants, became a habit for her and Floyd. Previously Celia had been to Europe, including Spain to visit family. Now she and Floyd traveled to Asia and Africa. Celia also made local trips, especially to thrift stores.

Celia is survived by her husband, Floyd; children, Kim, Kaye, Jill, Guy and Mark; five grandchildren; one cousin; one niece and one nephew.