Obituaries for the day of September 30, 2009

Gorham, Bovard, Reel, Miller, Griffin

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

Oct. 1 — Darrell Gorham, celebration of life, 11 a.m., Summerville Baptist Church; potluck to follow, The Oddfellows Hall, Summerville

Oct. 1 — James Bovard, graveside service, 2 p.m., Union Cemetery

Oct. 2 — Wilbert Reel, graveside service, 2 p.m., Enterprise Cemetery

Oct. 4 — Dorothy Miller, viewing, 4 to 6 p.m., Loveland Funeral Chapel

Oct. 5 — Dorothy Miller, memorial service, 11 a.m., Loveland Funeral Chapel

Oct. 9 — Mary Griffin, graveside service, 11 a.m., Hillcrest Cemetery, La Grande

Dorothy E. Miller, 83, of La Grande, died Sept. 28 at her home. A viewing will run from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St. in La Grande. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Darrell Francis Gorham, 64, of La Grande, died Sept. 27 at his home. A celebration of his life will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Summerville Baptist Church. A community potluck will follow at The Oddfellows Hall in Summerville.

Darrell was born May 25, 1945, to Orvan and Dorothy (DuMont) Gorham in Baker City. He graduated from Imbler High School, and on Nov. 6, 1964, he married Tanja Hills in Weiser, Idaho. He worked for the Boise Cascade particleboard plant until he retired in 1993 as a result of a disability caused by multiple sclerosis.

Darrell was a member of the Imbler Christian Church for 25 years and the local MS support group. He enjoyed snowmobiling, golfing, camping, attending family reunions and watching his sons and then grandsons in their activities and sports.

Survivors include his wife, Tanja of La Grande; sons and their wives, Todd and Wendy of La Grande, Scott and Donna of Kennewick, James and Lisa of La Grande and Jason and Angela of Cove; several grandchildren; mother, Dorothy Gorham of Richland, Wash.; brother and sisters-in-law, Wayne and Judy Gorham of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Weldon and Janet Gorham of Richland, Wash., Merrill and Kathy Gorham of La Grande and Mark and Leslie Gorham of Eugene; parents-in-law, Roy and DeLeva Hills of Island City; and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his father, Orvan Gorham; and grandparents, Arthur and Vella Gorham and Tony and Ella DuMont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the GRH Hospice, the Oregon Chapter National MS Society or the Building Fund of the Imbler Christian Church in care of Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.

Wilbert Lee “Pops” Reel, 77, of Enterprise, died Sept. 27 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. A graveside service will begin at

2 p.m. Friday at Enterprise Cemetery. Bollman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

He was born May 8, 1932, to Jesse and Lena Reel in Colby, Wis., the youngest of seven children. He and his siblings all grew up on a dairy farm.

He joined the U.S. Air Force in March 1951 and was a veteran of the Korean War. After his military service, he moved to Southern California. While working as an electrical engineer at Hughes Aircraft, he met and later married Dema Steele on March 22, 1959.

Due to Parkinson’s disease, he took an early retirement from Litton Industries. He later moved to Enterprise.

He was a lifetime member of the VFW. He enjoyed photography, camping, hiking, reading, travel and most of all, his family.

He is survived by his wife, Dema “Dee”; son, Dennis and his wife, Pam; son, Stevie Testerman and his wife, Linda; daughter, Brenda; son, Billie Testerman and his wife, Jill; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Parkinson’s research in care of Bollman Funeral Home.