Obituaries for the day of September 2, 2009

McFarland, DeGrofft, Eyre

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

Sept. 4 — Kathryn McFarland, graveside service, 11 a.m., Wallowa Cemetery

Sept. 5 — Lee DeGrofft, service, 2 p.m., Masonic Lodge, Joseph

Kathryn Ann McFarland, 88, of La Grande, died Aug. 27 at a local care center. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at the Wallowa Cemetery.

A full obituary will be available later.

Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of the arrangements.

Nellie Roberta Eyre, 93, of La Grande, died Aug. 30 at a local care center. Services will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Belcrest Memorial Park & Mausoleum Chapel, 1295 Browning Ave. S, Salem. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

Nellie was born Jan. 30, 1916, to Olive and James Franklin Carter in Mulvane, Kan.

After graduating from Salem High School, she married Ralph Melson Eyre on Sept. 26, 1937, and worked for the telephone company in Salem for a time. She was very active in the Evangelical United Brethren Church and First Presbyterian Church in Salem.

She was an excellent pianist and organist. Her hobbies included knitting, sewing, needlepoint work, reading and gardening. Cooking was her specialty, especially her apple pie, cinnamon rolls and molasses cookies. She also loved traveling all over the United States in their motor home and loved her trips abroad.

She and Ralph took their three children and their spouses on a cruise after their family honored them with a 50th wedding anniversary gathering at First Presbyterian Church in 1987. The entire family flew to Hong Kong, then Bangkok and cruised through the Indonesian islands, flying home from Singapore.

Before her death, Nellie was cared for by Sue and Dennis Stubblefield of Union.

She is survived by her sons, Earl Eyre and his wife, Barbara, of Klamath Falls and Ralph Eyre and his wife, Debbie, of Union; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sister, Jean Johnson of Riverside, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph M. Eyre; parents; brothers, Les Carter, Melvin Carter, John Carter, Neil Carter; sister, Margaret Carter; and daughter, Roberta Doreen Eaton and Roberta’s husband, David Eaton.

Memorial contributions may be made to Union Gospel Mission, 345 Commercial St. NE, Salem 97301.