>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Ella Irene Daggett, 84, died Dec. 17 at Wallowa Valley Care Center in Enterprise. Funeral services were held Dec. 22 at Bollman Funeral Home with private graveside services at Joseph Prairie Creek Cemetery following.

Ella was born Dec. 31, 1922, to Edna (Harris) and Edgar Garrett in Mabton, Wash. She moved with her parents to several locations in the Northwest and attended Kennewick High School before moving to Joseph. She worked for local grocery stores in Joseph and worked for 24 years with the Joseph Post Office as a rural mail carrier before retiring.

Ella married Charlie Daggett on Feb. 7, 1940. They raised five children, Charles "Tom" Thomas, Edna Mae, Ruby Irene, Richard "Dick" Harold and Harry Wayne. The family lived in Elgin and La Grande because of Charlie's employment with Boise Cascade. Their marriage ended in 1984.

Ella enjoyed crocheting, knitting and crafts. She donated many crocheted afghans to local fundraisers, and made one for each of her immediate family members. The honors she received as a member of the Rebekah Lodge, especially life membership, was very important to Ella. She enjoyed volunteering for the Chief Joseph Days in the rodeo ticket booth for years. As a member of the Alpine Twirlers, she square danced locally and out-of-town with her husband. She spent many days away from home making herself available to help with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they were born. Attending the local coffee group was a daily routine when she was in town until her later years.

Survivors include sons, Tom Daggett and his wife, Geri, of La Grande, Dick Daggett of Tucson, Ariz., Harry Daggett and his wife, Ginger; daughter, Ruby Winegar and her husband, Jerry, of Joseph; sisters, Opal Hudkins of Spokane, Wash., and Cleta Carson; brother, David Garrett and his wife, Betty, of Kennewick, Wash.; 15 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. Ella was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters; and daughter, Edna Mae Bornstedt McKinnis.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wallowa Valley Care Center in Enterprise in care of Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W Main St., Enterprise 97828.

Published Dec 24, 2007

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Violet K. Foltz, 94 of La Grande died at her home on Dec. 22 of natural causes. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory. A viewing will precede the service from noon to 1:30 p.m.

She was born June 7, 1913, to Clyde and Virgie Bell Robinson in Lower Cove. The family traveled all over the Northwest when Violet was young because her father worked for Pacific Fruit.

Violet married Leonard Foltz in Salem in the mid-1930s. They purchased a truck stop at Poplar Grove between Rufus and The Dalles. They later sold the truck stop and bought a cherry orchard in Cove where they remained for over 45 years.

Violet worked for St. Joseph Hospital and also the old Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande as a registered nurse. She also worked for a short while at Valley View Nursing Home, now called Evergreen Vista.

She enjoyed cooking, entertaining, gardening, sewing, knitting, crocheting, camping and fishing. She was an avid reader. Violet also had a great love for animals. She was a proud member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in La Grande.

She is survived by nieces, Carole Stockton, Terrill Robinson and Sue Groff, all of Cove, Patricia Robinson of Pendleton and Shelly Simmons of La Grande; nephews, Jack Saunders of Weiser, Idaho, and Tim Saunders of Middleton, Idaho; brother-in-law, Grant Saunders of Cove; and sister-in-law, Mimi Robinson of Cove. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and siblings, Billie Elizabeth, Robert, Clifford, Forest, Delbert, Patricia and Phyllis.

Memorial contributions may be made to Valley of Peace Television in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory 1508 Fourth Street, La Grande 97850.

Published Dec 26, 2007

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Paul J. Yost, 87, died Dec. 19 in Enterprise after battling cancer for eight years. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Enterprise Cemetery.

Paul was born Sept. 18, 1920, to Durbin and Anna Yost in Osage, Saskatchewan, Canada. The family moved to Pullman, Wash., when Paul was 6 years old. After graduating from Pullman High School in 1939, he moved to Wallowa County, working on the Johnson Stock Ranch.

He married Gladys Lathrop, a third generation native of the county. She preceded him in death in 1987 after 45 years of marriage.

Paul and Gladys started ranching on their own in 1952 on Lower Prairie Creek. They were joined in managing the ranch by their son James in 1969. In the early 1970s, they expanded their holdings to include ranch land in the Chesnimnus country where Paul loved to spend time. A typical Wallowa County rancher, he worked into his 80s, until he no longer could get it done

Paul was a 4-H leader for more than 20 years, and served on several boards of directors during his lifetime of service. He was named Wallowa County Father of the Year, and was selected for the Wallowa County Stockman and Grassman of the Year awards.

Paul loved hunting, fishing and just plain working on the ranch, especially when that work involved the Chesnimnus. He was a voracious reader of Western novels. He enjoyed traveling, particularly a last trip to Canada with son James to revisit his Saskatchewan birthplace.

Survivors include sons, James, Jay and his wife, Jane, Dave and his wife, Marianne; several grandchildren and their spouses; and eight great-grandchildren.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife Gladys; sisters, Lora Johnson and Myrtle Lane; half-brother, Arthur Yost; father, Durbin; and mother, Anna.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wallowa County 4-H, or Wallowa County FFA in care of Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W Main St., Enterprise 97828.

Published Dec 26, 2007

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Amy Lynne Hoyt, 50, of Mina, Nev., and formerly of Eastern Oregon, died Dec. 19 in an automobile accident in Mineral County, Nev.

A memorial service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Union Baptist Church in Union. The service will be officiated by her brother, Doug Hayes.

Amy was born on Oct. 5, 1957, in Bend. She was raised in Central Oregon and graduated from Redmond High School before moving to Eastern Oregon, where she met and married David Hoyt of Union. They had three children together. In 1997, Amy moved to Mina, Nev., where she lived until her death.

Those who knew her say Amy was a free spirit and lived life to the fullest. She loved spending time with her family and friends and especially enjoyed being a grandmother to her five grandchildren. She was anxiously awaiting the arrival of a sixth grandchild that is due Jan. 15, 2008.

Survivors include her parents, Forn and Arva Lynne Hayes of Enterprise; children, Amos Hoyt of Beaumont, Calif., Gabriel Hoyt of Banning, Calif., and Arlee Anderson of La Grande; siblings, Doug Hayes of Caldwell, Idaho, Dan Hayes of Portland, Susie McElroy of Olympia, Wash., and Sam Hayes of Enterprise; longtime boyfriend, Jim Meyer of Mina, Nev.; five grandchildren; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, George and Faye Hayes, and Kermit Zierlein and Clara Smith.

Published Dec 27, 2007

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Robert McCarthy, 81, of La Grande died on Dec. 22 after a long illness. Services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at the La Grande Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Robert was born on June 30, 1926, to Leo and Dorothy McCarthy in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended schools in Ohio and served in the U.S. Army in World War II. After the war he worked in several newspaper plants as a pressman.

In 1982, Robert married Gloria Leary and they just celebrated their 25th anniversary. Upon retirement, the couple moved from southern California to La Grande, to be near family in 1991. During his retirement, Bob enjoyed camping and was a member of the Grande Ronde Wheeler Motor Home Club.

Bob also enjoyed reading, participating in the local Seventh-day Adventist church activities and volunteering for Grande Ronde Hospital. Those who knew him say Bob will be remembered for his desire to serve God through his service to people.

Bob is survived by four children from a previous marriage, Mike, Corie, Leslie and Pat; wife, Gloria McCarthy; stepchildren, Bill Leary and Heather Blaire; and 12 grandchildren. Robert was preceded in death by two siblings and two grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grande Ronde Hospital Hospice.

Published Dec 27, 2007

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Inez W. Denning died Dec. 20 in Salem after an extended illness. Funeral services were held on Friday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center.

Inez was born on April 16, 1924 in Dayton, Wash., to Melvin and Florence Marks. The family moved to Cove when she was a young child. She married Keith D. Denning on June 28, 1942. They owned and operated a log trucking business until 1993. Inez worked at St. Joseph Hospital, as a waitress in Joseph and for Dr. Well in Elgin.

She was a member of a bowling league for many years. She traveled all over the United States to tournaments. She and her husband, Keith, made numerous trips to Hawaii and overseas on vacations.

She enjoyed gardening, cooking for her family, sewing, bowling, shopping and buying shoes. She also enjoyed her horses, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of the Cove Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In 2004 she moved to Salem where her daughter resides. She lived at The Woods Assisted Living in Salem.

She is survived by her sons, Jerry Denning of Yakima, Wash., and Johnny Denning of Cove; daughter, Judy Taylor of Salem; 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Keith Denning; brothers, Hubert, William and Duany Marks; parents, Melvin and Florence Marks; grandson, Michael Denning and great-grandson, Austin Morgan.

Published Dec 29, 2007

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Theodora K. Schoedl, 92, of La Grande, died Dec. 22 at a local foster care home. At her request, there will be no services. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory is handling the arrangements.

Theodora was born June 29, 1915, one of five daughters to Dr. Kurt and Luise (Schneider) Hobold in Auerbach, Germany. She was educated in Germany as a kindergarten teacher.

On March 14, 1936, she married Johann Schoedl in Darmstadt, Germany. They had three children, Hans-Kurt, Klaus and Heide-Lore. Johann Schodl died on Sept. 1, 1941, in Russia. Her later union with Hermann T. Bogenstahl produced two daughters, Brigitte and Marie-Luise.

Theodora immigrated with her three daughters to the United States in 1960 to join her two sons in Southern California. Before moving to La Grande, she lived mostly in California except for a short time in Nevada.

Her greatest joy was her flower gardens, and everything to do with nature and the arts. She very much loved the varied beauty of this country and enjoyed going for drives in the fall to look at the colors.

She is survived by her sons and their wives, Hans and Johanna Schoedl of Fallbrook, Calif., and Klaus and Norma Schoedl of Temecula, Calif.; daughters and their husbands, Heide and Gary Walden of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Brigitte and Jerry Horton of Union and Marlu and Robert Kimball or Maui, Hawaii; sisters, Elfriede Schmitt of Mannheim, Germany, and Ursula Haecker of Sao Paolo, Brazil; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews around the world.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Else Steinberg of Bad Wildungen, Germany, and Hildegard Moschutz of Buenos Aires, Argentina; and grandson, Scott M. Walden of Honolulu.

Published Dec 29, 2007

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Lorraine Ada Vance, 84, of Joseph, died Dec. 22 due to complications from diabetes at Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls. A funeral service begins at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Joseph Baptist Church with vault interment to follow at the Joseph Cemetery.

Lorraine was born to Clarence and Selma Nelson in a log cabin in Burnt Fork, Wyo., on June 21, 1923. When Lorraine was 5, her grandmother, Laura, came to care for the family. Lorraine graduated from high school in Heber, Utah, as valedictorian in 1941. After attending Bob Jones College for one year, she returned to Ogden, Utah, to work at the Ogden Defense Depot.

She married Robert Ostler Vance on Aug. 9, 1946. When Robert entered Christian ministry, Lorraine threw herself into life as a pastor's wife, supporting Robert and nurturing the lives of the people in the congregation she served. The couple ministered in Ustick, Idaho, from 1954 to 1961. From 1961 to 1963, they served at Washington Heights Baptist Church in Ogden, Utah.

The couple moved to Joseph where they served at Joseph Baptist Church until Robert's death in 1993.

In 2004, Lorraine moved to Klamath Falls and lived at Crystal Terrace, where she continued to make friends and stayed active in her religion. Even at the end of her life, she thanked everyone who entered her hospital room to help her. Lorraine loved beauty, art and nature and combined the three passions in her paintings, in cards she made with pressed flowers and in other crafts of many kinds.

She is survived by her brother, Wayne Nelson and his wife, Mary of Santa Fe, N.M.; sister, Irma Ast and her husband, Don, of Ogden; children, Harold Vance and his wife, Marcia, Patricia Petrovich and her husband, Andrew, and Sherri Vance; daughter-in-law, Fran Vance and her husband, Paul; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; son, Paul; and grandson, Tim.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Joseph Baptist Church in care of Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W Main St., Enterprise.

Published Dec 29, 2007