Ernest I. Smith

Formerly of Union

Rev. Ernest Irving Smith, 76, formerly of Union, died July 21 in Sequim, Washington.

Smith served the Union/Cove Methodist Church and, after retirement, the North Powder Methodist Church. An obituary is forthcoming. A memorial service is planned for a later date.

Faith J. Westenskow

Formerly of Union County

Faith June (Lee) Westenskow, 93, formerly of La Grande, Imbler and Elgin, died July 7 in Gresham. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 9 at the Summerville Cemetery Chapel. Interment will follow. A viewing will be announced later. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center.

Joshua A. Chaffee

Elgin

Joshua A. Chaffee, 37, of Elgin, died July 4. A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. July 27 at the Elgin Stampede Hall. Casual dress is preferred by the family. Loveland Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.

Larry L. Fincher

Elgin

Larry Lee Fincher, 78, of Elgin, died July 22 at Grande Ronde Hospital. An obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory will be handling the arrangements.

Leo Gorbett

Cove

Leo Gorbett, 85, of Cove and formerly of Wallowa County, died June 15. A celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. July 27 at Red Bridge State Park, Highway 244, followed by a potluck. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels-Knopp Funeral Home.

Martha S. Martin

Enterprise

Martha Susan Martin, 72, of Enterprise, died July 19 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. A graveside service will be held at noon July 25 at the Wallowa Cemetery, with interment to follow. An obituary is forthcoming. Arrangements are entrusted to Bollman Funeral Home.

Randy E. Williams

Union

Randy E. Williams, 63, of Union, died July 22 at his residence. An obituary is forthcoming. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory will be handling the arrangements.

Kathryn A. (Hiatt) Merrick

Union

1951-2019

Kathryn “Kathy” Ann Merrick, 68, of Union, died July 19 at her residence. A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Union Baptist Church.

Known as Kathy, she was born April 10, 1951, in Prairie City, to Robert and Louise (Voigt) Hiatt. She resided in Fox, Baker City, Klamath Falls, Mt. Vernon, Hermiston and Union. Kathy attended Long Creek Elementary School and Long Creek High School, then went on to what is now Eastern Oregon University. She married Steve Merrick on June 16, 1973, at the Long Creek Community Church.

Kathy was a substitute teacher in various school districts. She enjoyed reading, gardening, sewing, quilting handwork, and crafts.

Surviving relatives include her husband, Steve; children and their spouses, Paul and Terra Merrick of Gladstone, Missouri, and Amy and Ken McCants of Union; sisters, Mary Bennett of John Day and Donna Esser of La Grande; brother, Bob Hiatt of La Grande; six grandchildren; and 12 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Louise; brother-in-law, John Esser; father-in-law, Leroy Merrick; and mother-in-law, Jean Merrick.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.

Kevin S. Harvey

Formerly of La Grande

1964-2019

Kevin Scott Harvey, 55, of Dufur and formerly of La Grande, died July 18. A celebration of his life will be held at 2:30 p.m. July 27 at the Cove Ascension School.

Kevin was born Jan. 27, 1964, in Portland, to John and Sharon (Sample) Harvey. He resided in La Grande; Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Lewis, Washington; Nampa, Idaho; Fort Vancouver, Washington; and Dufur. Kevin attended La Grande Middle School and graduated from La Grande High School. He married Constance Anne Morrison.

In La Grande, Kevin was employed at Albertsons and P & L Associates. He served in the U.S. Army for 22-1/2 years, 15 of which were with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he was a national trainer for rigging and cranes. Kevin received numerous awards during his years with the Army. He also received the prestigious Recruiting Ring and the highest award given for recruiting, the Glen E. Morrell Award.

His family always came first, but Kevin also enjoyed hunting, fishing, old cars and barbecuing. He loved to cook and wanted everyone to enjoy his food.

Surviving relatives include his wife of 36 years, Constance; son, John Harvey of Pendleton; daughter, Jammie Harvey of Dufur; parents, John and Sharon Harvey; brother, Sean Harvey of La Grande; brother and sister-in-law, Erik and Soni Harvey of La Grande; sister and brother-in-law, Kelley and Steve Gray of Caldwell, Idaho; father-in-law, Raymond Burgett of Cove; five grandchildren; eight nieces and nephews; and aunts, Betty Harvey and Diana Campbell.

He was preceded in death by his uncle, Mike Harvey; “mom”/mother-in-law, Patricia E. Burgett; and grandparents, Emery and Frida Sample and Art and Elinore Peppin.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.

Myrna L. (Abel) Stertz

La Grande

1949-2019

Myrna Lorraine Stertz, 69, of La Grande, died July 13 at her residence. At her request, there will not be a service.

Myrna was born Sept. 14, 1949, in Pendleton, to Glenn and Lorraine (Whaples) Abel. She attended St. Joseph’s Academy and Pendleton High School and resided in California and Oregon. She was married to Michael Stertz.

Myrna worked as a secretary for what is now Eastern Oregon University and the City of La Grande. Her hobbies included modeling, horses and genealogy research. She also enjoyed volleyball and baseball and was a member of the American Legion. Myrna was a great person and beloved friend to many, including animals.

Surviving relatives include her husband, Michael Stertz of La Grande.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.

Richard “Sonny” Hagenah

Lostine

1943-2019

Richard “Sonny” Hagenah, 75, of Lostine, died July 19 at Saint Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, Idaho, after an unfortunate accident. A funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Aug. 3 at the family ranch in Lostine (83702 Highway 82), followed by a celebration of life and a potluck barbecue.

Known as Sonny, he was born Oct. 7, 1943, in Lewiston, Idaho. He graduated from high school in Anatone, Washington, then served in the military until a family emergency brought him back to the family ranch in Paradise.

In 1970, Sonny moved to Wallowa County, where he established his own roots, raising his family and surrounding himself with lifelong friends.

Sonny worked and cared for his family and friends up to the day he died. He was a memorable man who will be missed and never replaced.

Surviving relatives include his wife, Jeanne Hagenah; daughter and son-in-law, Jamie and Tommy Higgins; twin daughters, Pam and Angie Hagenah; two grandchildren; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Mark and Becky and Casey and Gail.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Marcella.

Sharon L. (Burford) Calhoun

La Grande

1941-2019

Sharon L. Calhoun, 78, of La Grande, died July 19 at her home. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. July 26 at the Union Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center.

Sharon was born Feb. 5, 1941, in La Grande, to Alvin and Opal (Barnhart) Burford. She graduated from Union High School in 1959. Sharon worked as the clerk at the Summerville Post Office until her retirement in 1982.

Sharon loved spending time with her family and grandchildren. In her younger years, she enjoyed softball, volleyball, bowling and hunting. Sharon enjoyed rides in the mountains and was an avid reader. She was a member of the Methodist Church.

Surviving relatives include her children and their spouses, Daren and Jodi Hafer Calhoun of Summerville and Renee and Dan McCoy of Umatilla; brother, Larry Burford of Union; sister, Jane White of Union; and five grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Community Connection of Northeast Oregon or to the Arthritis Foundation.

Mary Lou Dean

La Grande

July 1, 1939 – July 20, 2019Mary Lou Dean, 80, of La Grande, passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at a local care facility. At her request, there will be no service.

Mary Lou was born on July 1, 1939 in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Clyde and Dorthy (Daudt) Caldwell. She resided in Klamath Fall, OR 1939-1966 and La Grande, OR 1966-2019. She graduated from Klamath Union High School in 1957. She was married to Robert Crapo 1960-1967. In 1970, she married David E. Dean.

Mary Lou was employed with the Klamath County Assessor’s Office 1963-1966. When she moved to La Grande, she worked for the Abstract & Title Company 1967-2006. Mary enjoyed gardening and especially her rose garden. She was the President of the Oregon Land Title Association 1989-1990, Soroptimist Woman of the Year 1997-1998 the La Grande Legal Secretary of the Year 1978-1979. She was a life member of the Soroptimist of La Grande and a member of the La Grande Presbyterian Church.

Mary Lou is survived by her husband, David; son, A. Ray Crapo (Cathy) of La Grande; step-son, Jonathan Dean (Patty) and grandson, Jordan Dean of Phoenix, AZ; brother-in-law, James Dean (Dianne) of Salem, OR; 2 step-grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Dorthy and sister, Rosalie Jamison.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Soroptimist International of La Grande, PO Box 3202, La Grande, OR 97850.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.