Obituaries

Leslie Michael Kemp was born on September 23, 1936 in Brainerd, Minnesota, the youngest of four children. When he was five, he and his family moved to Minneapolis where little Micky started school.
In 1946, they moved to Great Falls, Montana, by train. In 1947, they moved to Vanport, Oregon. Vanport at the time was...

Nancy Polvi, 84, passed away on November 23, 2025 at Settlers Park Senior Living in Baker City. A Celebration of Nancy's life will be held Spring of 2026, date and time to be announced.
Nancy was born on October 6, 1941 in La Grande, Oregon to parents Carl and Mildred Byron. She was the second of four children....

Donna Lee Cable passed peacefully at the age of 90 on November 10, 2025 in Monmouth, Oregon.
Donna Lee Snow was born July 9, 1935 in St. John, Washington to Harry & Della Snow.
In the 1940's their family moved to Echo, Oregon where Harry worked as a farmer. Donna enjoyed her small town upbringing. She graduated...

Paul Richard Cason, born on the same property as he lived in Elgin, on June 19, 1935 to Paul Richard and Wilma Alice (Hill) Cason. He was raised and educated in Elgin, graduating with the Elgin high school class of 1954. He then attended Western Oregon University in Monmouth where he received his teaching...

Marjorie Yvonne Hockensmith was born to Wesley Howard "Bill" Hockensmith and Martha Ellen Terney Hockensmith on the third of February,1938 at St. Anthony's Hospital in Pendleton, OR. She had one brother, Robert, who passed away in 1951 at just 16 years of age - a victim of polio.
Marj was raised on a wheat ranch in...

John Philip (Phil) Kline was born on June 19, 1939, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Allen and Lorene (Fleming) Kline, and grew up in nearby Carlisle. He grew into a man who was compassionate yet stubborn as an ox when it mattered, he was fair-minded and able to see all sides of an issue. He didn't take himself too seriously...

Alan Harry Keffer, 88, of Island City, passed away on Monday, November 17, 2025 at Providence St. Mary\s Hospital, Walla Walla, WA. A Celebration of Life will be held in May, 2026.
Alan was born on February 26, 1937 in La Grande, Oregon to Leslie and Edna Mae (Wilson) Keffer. He resided in La Grande, OR; Portland,...

LaVonna Rae Griffin, 92, of Pendleton, passed away on November 3, 2025, surrounded by family.
LaVonna was born on December 15, 1932, in Yuma, Colorado. Throughout her childhood she lived in Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and California. LaVonna met Delbert V. Griffin at Gem State Adventist Academy in Caldwell, Idaho,...

Staci Leigh O'Brien-Kunz was born August 26, 1967, in Prosser, Washington, to Thomas and Jeanette O'Brien. She died November 9, 2025, at the age of 58.
She was raised in Prosser, Washington. Staci moved to Pendleton to attend college at Blue Mountain Community College. She earned an Associate of Arts in Business...

Former long-time La Grande resident Charlie Zartman passed away peacefully on Nov. 12, 2025, in Gig Harbor, WA, only 13 days after his wife, Joan Zartman, had also passed away. Married 62 years, he didn't want to be without her. His daughter Kendra and son David were by his side as he passed. He was 87.
Charlie was...

Melvin Wayne Lawyer, 93, of North Powder, Oregon, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on Saturday, November 1, 2025. A memorial service will be held on November 22, 2025~1 p.m. at the Community Church in North Powder with an interment to be held at the North Powder Cemetery. Immediately following the...

Betty Marlene Thompson, 84, of Wallowa, Oregon, passed away peacefully surrounded by family. She was born in Pendleton, Oregon, and raised on a homestead on the Echo Meadows. A proud graduate of Echo High School, Class of 1958, Betty carried her hometown spirit with her throughout her life.
After high school, Betty...