Obituaries for the day of November 10, 2011

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

Nov. 12 — Vera Culver, 10 a.m., Loveland Funeral Chapel

Nov. 12 — Ross Downing, noon, VFW Hall, Enterprise

Nov. 12 — Gary Bangs, service, 1 p.m., Union Cemetery

Gary Bangs

Union

A service for Gary Bangs, who died Oct. 11, will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Union Cemetery.

Gary was 69 and lived in Union. Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home helped with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to help his family with his medical bills. Donations will be accepted at Sterling Bank or in care of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.

Willis F. Ketchem

Cove

Willis F. Ketchem, 75, of Cove, died Nov. 9 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A full obituary will be available later. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

Vera N. Culver

Elgin

1928-2011

Vera Nadine Culver, 83, of Elgin, died Nov. 6 at Robin’s Nest Adult Foster Care Home in Elgin. A celebration of life for Vera will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at Elgin Cemetery.

Vera was born March 31, 1928, in Enterprise to Harold and Josephine (Fisk) Fruitts. She was raised on the Divide between Imnaha and Big Sheep Creek. She married Lavon Culver on Oct. 24, 1944, in Elgin.

They raised three children and occasionally, Vera worked at the sale yard. Vera loved crocheting, quilt-making and gardening. She raised horses and enjoyed ranching and hunting.

Vera is survived by her children and their spouses, Carlene and Merrill Cox, Gale and Carolynn Culver and Rex and Arlene Culver, all of Elgin; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lavon; her parents, Harold and Josephine; two grandchildren, Todd Culver and Ann Janette Cox; and her siblings, Aubrey Fruitts, Arthur Fruitts, Frank Fruitts, Loretta Fitzgerald, Hazel Sherwood, Jean Fruitts and Patty Jo Leany.

Albert C. Wood

Cove

1917-2011

Albert Carl Wood, 94, of Cove, died Nov. 8 at a care home. At the request of the family, there will be no services. Burial will be at Cove Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Albert was born June 8, 1917, in Midvale, Idaho. His parents were Charles and Eva (Gray) Wood. On May 23, 1939, he married Evelyn Blank in Weiser, Idaho. Albert served on the Cove City Council and was the fire chief for many years.

He is survived by his daughter, LaWanda Laing of Cove; sister, Frances Lurtz of Redondo Beach, Calif.; and a granddaughter, grandson and great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn; his sisters, Dorothy Miller and Nellie Morris; and brother, Earl Wood.

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.