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

Jacqueline Marie April, 75, of La Grande and formerly of Baker City, died Oct. 7 at a local care center. At her request, there will be no memorial or funeral service. Coles Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. April was born July 16, 1930, to Edward Alvin and Hattie Meyers Davis in Baker City. She grew up in North Powder where her grandparents, John Samuel and Susan Dealy Davis, homesteaded. On July 20, 1968, she married Louis Norman April in Corvallis.

Survivors include children, Linda Robinson of Omaha, Neb., Theresa April of Crabtree, Terri Nichols of Baker City, Calvin Colson, Thomas Colson and Larry Colson; brothers and sisters-in-law, Clayton A. Davis of Seattle, and Kenneth and Mary Davis of Wallowa; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her husband, two sisters, Susie Gorham and Ida Joyce Tippett, and a son, Albert Edward Hingst, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to any charity in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City 97814.

________________________

Velma June Harris, 82, of La Grande died Oct. 15. A reception from 2 to 2:50 p.m. Saturday Oct. 22 will be at the LDS Church on Gekeler Lane. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m.with Bishop George Chadwick officiating.

Mrs. Harris was born Feb. 14, 1923, to William Werner and Madona May Stout Schmidt in Portland. She graduated from Washington High School in Portland in 1940 and worked for the telephone company and the Fred Meyer's store. She attended Brigham Young University and on June 10, 1946, married Harold Reed Harris in the Salt Lake City Temple. She was active in her church and served as stake sports director for young women, served in the Primary for 30 years, and served four missions with her husband.

She enjoyed sewing, cooking, crochet, canning and being with her family, especially encouraging their pursuits in sports and music. She moved to La Grande in 1997, and looked after her husband after he suffered a stroke.

Survivors include her husband of La Grande; children and their spouses, Lynn and Janice Harris, and Mark and Linda Harris, all of La Grande, Paul and Lori Harris of Vancouver, Wash., Dianne and Lynn Payne of Declo, Idaho, and Julie and Daniel Elliott of Sacramento, Calif.; a brother, Werner "Bill" Schmidt of Albany; two sisters, Dolores Grantham of San Diego, Calif., and Virginia Ackerman of Ogden, Utah; 22 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to the LDS Church humanitarian aid fund or the perpetual education fund in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St.

_________________________

James Loyd Siler, 83, of Salem and formerly of La Grande died Oct. 12 at his home.

Mr. Siler was born Oct. 5, 1922, to George Leroy and Maggie Jane Siler in Weston. He was a long-time resident of La Grande and worked for the Oregon Department of Transportation as a bridge supervisor until 1975 when he transferred to Salem. He retired in 1982.

He was a member of a square dance team and enjoyed hunting, dancing and traveling. He traveled south with his wife every winter.

Survivors include his wife, Violet, of Salem; children, Richard, Stanley, Connie and Carla; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two brothers, George and Robert Siler, and two sisters, Thelma and Shirley. Four brothers, Howard, Al, Larry and Clifford, a sister, Evelyn, and a son, James Robert, all died earlier.

___________________________

Alvin M. Josephy Jr., called an "iconic figure in American Indian history," distinguished journalist, World War II Marine Corps combat correspondent, magazine and book editor, pre-eminent historian on the American West and American Indians on behalf of whom he was a tireless advocate, died Oct. 16 at his home in Greenwich, Conn. He was 90.

An open house for friends and family will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Josephy home in Greenwich.

Mr. Josephy, who was a part-time resident of Wallowa County, was born in Woodmere, Long Island, N.Y., on May 18, 1915, and was raised in New York City. He was educated at Horace Mann School where he began his journalism career on the school newspaper interviewing writers of the day including John Galsworthy, G.K. Chesterton and H.L. Mencken, the latter whom he had come to know through his uncle, publisher Alfred A. Knopf.

Josephy, the founding chairman for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, wrote more than a dozen books. He also edited the historical anthology ‘‘Red Power,'' a noted account of the campaign for Indian rights.

Among his books are "The Patriot Chiefs,'' "The Nez Perce Indians and the Opening of the Northwest,'' "Now That the Buffalo's Gone,'' "The Civil War in the American West,'' "The Indian Heritage of America,'' which was a National Book Award nominee, and "500 Nations.'' His book, "A Walk Toward Oregon: A Memoir,'' captures his long and dramatic career through most of the 20th century. It was named one of the top 100 books of 2000 by the New York Times.

In 1955 Josephy met Nez Perce Indians at Lapwai. He was taken by the compelling story of the flight of Chief Joseph and his people, and came to realize that he had to write about it.

Later Josephy bought an acreage outside Joseph, fulfilling a lifelong dream of coming to Oregon.

Josephy and his late wife, Betty, initiated a summer educational day camp there for Indian and local children.

He served as a foreign correspondent in Guatemala and Mexico, where he interviewed the exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky; as an associate editor of Time Magazine and vice president and editor-in-chief of American Heritage Publications.

For almost 50 years he played an active role in supporting American Indians in their struggles for self-determination, treaty rights and sovereignty.

According to Stewart Udall, former Secretary of Interior in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations and for whom Mr. Josephy served as a consultant in 1963-64, "Alvin M. Josephy was a valued friend for over 45 years. From the late 1950s, in his books and articles beginning with his first book for American Heritage on American Indians and their history, until his masterful summation in ‘500 Nations,' he was the most important creative interpreter of the history and culture of Native Americans. His authoritative voice influenced the opinions and actions of presidents and members of Congress. He was always in the forefront of the fight for Indian rights and justice. As a spokesman for Native people he had no peer."

In the late 1960s he was the author of a special report on change in Indian policy for President-elect Nixon, which ushered in the era of tribal self-determination.

Mr. Josephy was a trustee for the Museum of the American Indian in New York and from there was elected founding chairman of the board of trustees of the Smithsonian's new National Museum of the American Indian, a place in which American Indians would tell their own stories and interpret their own culture.

Over the years Mr. Josephy was a Fellow of the American Antiquarian Society, a Guggenheim Fellow and was awarded a doctorate of humanities degree from Albertson College in Caldwell, Idaho. In 1965 and 1968, he received the Golden Spur Award and the Western Writers of America Award of Merit for his book "The Nez Perce Indians and the Opening of the Northwest."

In 1995 he received the Wallace Stegner award at the Center for the American West at the University of Colorado. In 1996 he was presented the Oregon Governor's Awards in the Arts and later the Oregon Book Award for a distinguished career in Oregon letters.

He attended Harvard University for two years but the Depression forced him to leave and accept a screenwriting offer from MGM in California. He returned to New York and in 1936 began work for the New York Herald Tribune as a reporter and several years later with WOR as director of news and special events.

With the onset of World War II, Mr. Josephy moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the Office of War Information as its radio bureau's chief of special events. He joined the Marine Corps in 1943 as a combat correspondent, serving in the South Pacific with the Third Marine Division. Carrying heavy recording equipment, Mr. Josephy covered the battles in Guadalcanal, Guam and Iwo Jima. He received a Bronze Star for his work in Guam when he landed with the advanced troops, recording for the first and only time an on-the-spot account of an amphibious assault in progress. In 1946 he wrote his first book "The Long, the Short and the Tall,'' an account of his Marine Corps experiences.

He is survived by his daughters, Diane Josephy Peavey of Carey, Idaho, Allison Wolowitz of Old Greenwich, Conn., and Katherine Josephy of Enterprise; a son, Alvin M. Josephy III of Olympia, Wash; a brother, Warren Josephy of New York City; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

His wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Peet, died earlier.

________________________

Juanita M. Corey, 85, of Portland and formerly of La Grande died Oct. 12. A graveside service will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday Oct. 22 at Grandview Cemetery.

Mrs. Corey was born Sept. 20, 1920, and spent her childhood with her sister, Glenis, on a dairy farm outside of La Grande. In November 1941, she married William Corey. The family lived on Adams Avenue and she continued to live there after her husband died in 1975. She moved to the Portland area this year to be closer to her family.

She worked full time for General Telephone for more than 25 years, and was known for her apple pies and cinnamon rolls. The pantries of family and friends were always stocked with fruits and vegetables that came from her garden. Even in January her bedsheets smelled like sunshine from hanging outside to dry. Her generosity, quick sense of humor and loving smile will be remembered.

Survivors include sons, Buck Corey and Bob Corey; three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

_________________________

Alice M. Kersey, 85, of McMinnville and formerly of La Grande died Oct. 18 at a care center. A graveside service will begin at 11:30 a.m. Friday Oct. 21 at the Friends Cemetery in Newberg. Macy and Son Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Kersey was born July 7, 1920, to Walter and Dula Cook Weatherly in Newberg. On March 8, 1938, she married Melvin Kersey, and in 1959 moved to La Grande and worked in grocery stores in La Grande and Island City. She returned to McMinnville in 1995. She enjoyed cooking, shopping and playing pinochle.

Survivors include her husband of McMinnville; children, Morgan Kersey of Yamhill; a sister and a sister-in-law, Elsie Gray and Carol Long, both of McMinnville; one grandchild and two great-grandchildren. A son, Ricky Allen Kersey, and two brothers, Raymond and Kenneth Weatherly, died earlier.

________________________

Waldo Ira Lowe, 64, of La Grande died Oct 17, 2005 in a well drilling accident near La Grande. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.

Mr. Lowe was born Oct. 2, 1941, to John Henry and Evelyn Hull Lowe in Litchfield, Minn. He graduated from high school at Miles City, Mont., in 1958, and worked at the Red Rock Hotel in Miles City in the maintenance department before moving to Washington in 1964 where he did farm work. He was a gifted welder and mechanic. In 1975, he began drilling wells, a business he continued for more than 30 years. He was known as one of the top well-drillers in the state.

He was a member of AA and was a mentor for more than 25 years. He enjoyed hunting, reading, playing pool, collecting guns, and in his younger days, working in pit crews for stock car races.

Survivors include his children and their spouses, Glenn and Debbie Lowe of Albuquerque, N.M., and Pam and Justin Cleveland of Fairfield, Mont.; one granddaughter; a brother, John Lowe of Michigan; and other relatives.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to any charity in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

_________________________

Iris Nadine Penton, 75, of La Grande died Oct. 18 at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. A memorial service was held today.

Mrs. Penton was born Feb. 15, 1930, to John and Iola Jobe Jess in Grangeville, Idaho. The family lived for a time at Divide Creek and then moved to Diamond in 1944. She moved to La Grande from 1977. She was known for her cooking and sage advice at the Longbranch, where she worked for more than 20 years. She retired in 2003.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Gail Winegarden of Brush Prairie, Wash., Wayne and Debbie Hughet of Burley, Idaho, Marvina Hoots and Michael Schaffer of California, Melva Rushton and Donny Weber of La Grande, Holly and Keith Walker, Jeff and Teri Walker, and Judy Penton and Dennis Lassley, all of La Grande; 20 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, siblings and their spouses, Marvin and Dovie Jess of Diamond, and Tykie and Ronald McLean of Denio, Nev.; and other relatives. Two sons, Bud Gibson and Wade Hughet, a brother, Joe Gill, a great-granddaughter, Ashley Johnson, and a son-in-law, Dwayne "Ponch" Rushton, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.