Obituaries for the day of March 17, 2009

Obituaries for the day of March 17, 2009

Clarence E. Lippert

La Grande

Clarence Edward Lippert, 69, of La Grande, died March 13 at a local care center. A complete obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Maurice W. Ford

Union

1916-2009

Maurice William Ford, 93, of Union and formerly of Payette, Idaho, died March 13 at his home. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Maurice, also known as Morris or M.W., was born Jan. 22, 1916, to William Bucy and Della (Cartwright) Ford in Washington Court House, Ohio. He was the second oldest of six boys. He graduated from Madison Mills High School in 1935.

Being an adventurer, he left Ohio, first traveling east. Upon meeting a new friend from Idaho, he headed west to Idaho in 1936. He worked various farm and ranch jobs. Those who knew him say he was a very hard worker, and capable of handling large teams of horses and any and all farming equipment.

In 1937, he began working in the Grande Ronde Valley from Island City to Elgin and up into the Enterprise area. He returned in the fall to southern Idaho working there and traveling.

In 1941, he married Frieda York in American Falls, Idaho. The two of them bought and ran various ranches in the Rockland Valley, Salmon area and at Parma and Weiser, Idaho. At each ranch they would work together to clear and level the land, provide new or improved irrigation and plant new crops. In 1970 they moved to Payette, where he started a land leveling business, Ford Soil Movers.

He enjoyed fixing up his cabin site, writing his memoirs and having them published in “Adventures of An Idaho Cowboy.” He enjoyed his grandchildren, working with his horses and mules, fishing, hunting and just scouting about. He was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed visiting and was involved at Prison Ministry at Snake River Corrections in Ontario. He was a longtime member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 2002, he and his wife moved to Union.

Maurice is survived by his wife, Frieda of Union; twin brother, Charles R. and his wife, Betty Ford, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; son, William “Bill” and his wife, Marilyn Ford, of Payette; daughters, Karen and her husband, Jesse Westbrook, and Gayla and her husband, Steve Skeen, of Union; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and other nieces, nephews and relatives.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Howard, Bob, Dave and Kenneth Ford, all of Ohio.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grande Ronde Home Health Hospice in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande 97850.

Wilma J. Markham

La Grande

1943-2009

Wilma June (Wright) Markham, 65, of La Grande died unexpectedly March 14 after a short illness at Grande Ronde Hospital. A funeral service will begin at 1 p. m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Island City.

Public viewing will run from noon to 12:30 p.m. at the LDS Church with family viewing to follow. Dedication of the grave will follow the service at Summerville Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Wilma was born Sept. 30, 1943, to Claude and Marjorie (Owsley) Wright in La Grande. She attended Fruitdale School and La Grande High School.

She married Ed Markham Sept. 23, 1963. They later divorced but remained friends.

Wilma was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many callings in the church. She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

She very much enjoyed reunions with friends and family. She loved going into the mountains to pick huckleberries. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandchildren and watching their many activities.

Survivors include her children and their spouses, Mike and Linda Markham of Banks, Laura and Chris Wagner of Imbler and Tim and Cari Markham of

La Grande; 13 grandchildren; three foster-grandchildren; brother, Don Wright and his wife, Jennette, of La Grande; sister, Dorothy Dungey and her husband, Ralph, of Keizer; sister-in-law, Sharon Wright of Salem; and many other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Richard Wright.

Irene H. McFetridge

Enterprise

1916-2009

Irene Herzog McFetridge, 93, of Enterprise, died peacefully March 14 at the Wallowa Valley Care Center. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Thursday at Bollman Funeral Home. The funeral mass will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Katherine’s Catholic Church in Enterprise.

Irene Mary Herzog was born Jan. 7, 1916, to Henry and Mary Herzog on OK Gulch near Enterprise. She grew up on several farms in Wallowa County including some on OK Gulch, Elk Mountain and Three Lakes.

Irene graduated from Enterprise High School and married Wayne McFetridge Oct. 21, 1936. The couple lived on Upper Prairie Creek for several years before moving back to the McFetridge Ranch near Enterprise.

Irene lived on the ranch for nearly 60 years. She and Wayne raised a family of nine children. The two older boys, Darrell and Larry, stayed on the ranch with Wayne and Irene.

Irene was a devout Catholic. She enjoyed teaching catechism for many years and belonging to the Alter Society. She was also a member of the Cow Belles and was very interested in all happenings of Wallowa County.

Those who knew Irene say they’ll remember her as a devoted ranch wife who loved to help work cattle, garden and raise flowers. They say she was known for fixing delicious dinners for hay crews and managing any emergency that arose.

Her family says they enjoyed eating Irene’s buttermilk pancakes and listening for her squeaky shoes down the hall. They say she had a delightful sense of humor and loved to play games and cards.

She is survived by her sister, Josephine Nielsen; sisters-in-law, Marjorie Johnson and Betty Herzog; son-in-law, David and his wife, Cathy Barber; and children, Darrell and his wife, Marlie McFetridge, Larry (Davise) McFetridge, Evelyn McFetridge, Mike and his wife, Mary McFetridge, Kay and her husband, Tom Forest, David and his wife, Janet McFetridge, and Shannon and her husband, Oscar Ramos; 23 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne; two daughters, Mary Anna and Teresa; parents; three brothers; and three sisters.

Maxine F. C. Stuart

Cove

1918-2009

Maxine Frances Conley Stuart, 90, formerly of Cove, died March 14 in La Grande. A service will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Daniels-Knopp, Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. Committal and interment will follow at the Island City Cemetery.

Friends may call for viewing between 2 and 4 p.m. Tuesday at Daniels-Knopp.

Maxine was born Dec. 2, 1918, to J.F. and Sarah (Gray) Conley in Cove. She attended Shanghai, a one-room grade school, and graduated from

La Grande High School with the Class of 1936. She graduated from Stephens College in Missouri and the University of Washington.

Those who knew Maxine say she was from true pioneer stock. She was the last surviving granddaughter of A.B. Conley who was known as the “Wheat King” of Northeast Oregon. Her father, J.F. Conley, came to Oregon with a wagon train when he was 9 years old, arriving in Union County in 1874.

Maxine lived most of her life on the home place in Cove, built by her parents in 1901. Conley Farms is a Century Farm and has been operated by the family for more than 115 years.

Maxine was married to Eugene Winters and Dr. Robert Stuart. Both marriages ended in divorce.

Maxine especially loved her home and family. She would often reminisce about the large family gatherings and picnics with the Gray, Miller, Jasper and Conley families. She also enjoyed reading, playing bridge and watching sports on TV. In her later years she enjoyed traveling a lot.

Maxine was very active in Eastern Star and was a life member of Cherry Chapter No. 177 in Cove. She belonged to the Daughters of the Nile and Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.

She is survived by a niece, Mary Jane and her husband, DeeWayne “Sonny” Johnson, of Cove; and a great-niece, great-nephew and a great-great-niece, all of Cove. She was preceded in death by her sister, Vina Ross; brothers, Grant, Merrell and Virgil Conley; and a nephew, Frank Conley.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland 97239-3009.