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News Obituaries Obituaries for the day of June 24, 2011
Obituaries for the day of June 24, 2011
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Jennings, Klaus, Richmond
LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS June 25 — Leona Baxter, celebration of life, 1 p.m., Union County Senior Center June 25 — Edward Wheaton, memorial service, 3 p.m., La Grande Country Club June 25 — Ruby Davis, memorial service, 2 p.m., Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witness, La Grande June 27 — Wilma Klaus, service, 2 p.m., Island City Cemetery July 6 — Justine Parks, memorial service, 10 a.m., First Presbyterian Church, La Grande July 9 — Alice Eft, celebration of life, 4 p.m., lower Catherine Creek State Park, Union
La Grande
Formerly of La Grande
A service will begin at 2 p.m. Monday at the Island City Cemetery. A complete obituary will be available later. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.
La Grande 1925-2011
Avril Lee Drinkwater was born Nov. 12, 1925, the first child of George Smith Drinkwater and Velma Minnie (Stingley) Drinkwater in Noti, Lane County. She had two younger sisters, Joan Laura and Carolyn Sue. She attended Noti Grade School and graduated from Elmira High School in 1943. She lived in Santa Cruz, Calif., while getting training with Western Union. In Medford, she worked for Western Union as a teletypist at Camp White, an Army training base in Jackson County during World War II. She also lived at Bremerton, Wash., while employed with Western Union as a teletypist during the war. Avril married Merton “Mert” Alvin Richmond May 25, 1946, in Eugene. Merton and Avril celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2011. They lived in Noti until 1974, when they moved to La Grande. Avril enjoyed deer hunting. Mert said that she was a good shot and always filled her tag. She loved to go camping. She was an avid bowler, winning many awards. She enjoyed clay target shooting and duck hunting. She was a 4-H leader in her earlier years. Avril enjoyed family weekend and holiday trips spent camping and hunting and collecting American Indian artifacts in Central and Eastern Oregon. She knitted blankets for her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed reading and collecting cookbooks and loved cooking fish and meat dishes. She participated in the Union County Home Extension and was a member of the Moose Lodge earlier in her life. She and Merton played cards, cribbage and dominoes with friends. She enjoyed shopping and went to the grocery store every day. Throughout the years, she looked forward to gathering with her two sisters for lunch and shopping outings. Shortly before she died, she said her favorite hobby and activity was “her husband.” She considered marrying her husband, Merton, and raising her three boys, her greatest achievements in life. She loved her grandchildren and had fun “spoiling” them when they would come to stay with her when they were young. They would get to pick out their own cold cereal and a new coloring book and stay up and watch “Nick at Nite” together. Avril is survived by her husband, Merton Alvin Richmond; two sons, Greg LeRoy Richmond and his wife, Mary Anne, of La Grande and Bradford Ryan Richmond and his wife, Patricia Elaine, of Cove; one sister, Carolyn Sue Woodruff of Eugene; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 18 nephews and nieces; and numerous cousins. Avril was preceded in death by her son, Scott Lane Richmond; grandson, Micah Sterling Richmond; sister, Joan Laura Drury; father, George Smith Drinkwater; mother, Velma Minnie Drinkwater; paternal grandfather, William Lawrence Drinkwater; paternal grandmother, Florence Naomi Smith; maternal grandfather, Lane V. Stingley; and maternal grandmother: Laura Alcynda (Hill) Stingley. In lieu of flowers, Avril wished that donations be made to Oregon Trail at Blue Mountain Crossing Interpretive Park in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande, 97850. Make checks payable to the USDA Forest Service.
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