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Wallowa County Obituaries

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Mrs. Billie Fagin, Joseph Fagin, and Mrs. Ivan Vance went to Wallowa, Friday called by the death of a relative, Mrs. T.H. Fagan, who was a pioneer resident of the Leap country. Mrs. Fagan died in a hospital at Walla Walla and was fifty seven years of age.

Mrs. Fannie Dailey returned to her home at Freewater, Wednesday. She accompanied the body of her mother, Mrs. Ella Fagan, from Walla Walla to Wallowa, for burial there last Saturday. Mrs. Dailey has been visiting a sister, Mrs. Reynolds, near Enterprise during the past few days.

Mr. G.T. Fairchilds received the sad news last Friday evening that his son, Lewis, had died at 6:45 that morning in a hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Mr. Fairchild left Wallowa a few days before Christmas for a visit to his old home in Tenn. He stopped a few days in Colorado and got as far on his way as Memphis. No details have been received of his death but it is supposed that he was taken ill enroute and was taken to the hospital where he died. He was a very jovial young man and had many friends through out the valley.

     Lewis Fairchild was born in Sneedfield, Hancock county, Tennessee, August 6, 1890 and died at Memphis, Tennessee, January 3rd, 1919, being (28) 8 years old, 4 months and 27 days of age. He was the son of Mr. And Mrs. G. J. Fairchild of Wallowa, Oregon and came to this county about 19 years ago with his parents.
     He left Wallowa, December, 21 for a visit to his old home in Tennessee. After stopping a few days at Fort Collins Colorado, he proceeded on his way. He wrote to his family from Fort Collins, that he had a bad cold. The next heard from him was a telegram from Memphis, Tennessee announcing his death.
     He leaves his father, and mother, two sisters, Mrs. Cora Wolfe and Miss Margarett Fairchild of Wallowa and two brothers, John and Jake of Wallowa. Lewis was popular with all who knew him and enjoyed a large circle of friends who with the family mourn his untimely going. Many neighbors and friends sympathize with his loved ones in their sorrow. The body arrived at Wallowa on Jany. 10th and after a short funeral service at the grave conducted by Rev. Bogue, the remains were laid to rest in the Wallowa cemetery.

Wallowa County Reporter
Thursday January 16, 1919

Floyd Fanning

     Floyd Fanning, of Wallowa, died Saturday, March 1, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande following a long illness. He was 74.
     Mr. Fanning, son of Henry Clay and Catherine Petersen Fanning, was born June 7, 1905, at Carman-Gay, Alberta, Canada.
     Mr. Fanning was married on April 18, 1936 at Walla Walla, Wash. to the former Hilda Juanita Ticer, who survives him.
     Mr. Fanning was employed by the Oregon State Highway Department for 13 years, and also worked for the Bunker Hills Mines in Kellogg, Idaho, before moving to Wallowa County in 1945.
     Mr. Fanning also was employed by the Wallowa Saw Mill and Wallowa Memorial Hospital until his retirement in 1970.
     Mr. Fanning was a member of the Milton-Freewater International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), Lodge #202, for 53 years. He also was a member of the Stanley Lodge # 113, for 18 years.
     Mr. Fanning is survived by his wife, of Wallowa; daughters, Geraldine Huffman, of Hayden Lake, Idaho; Maxine Wyatt, of La Grande and Paline Keefer, Chattaroy, Wash.; son, Blaine, of Wallowa; brother, Roy, of Nanton, Alberta, Canada; 13 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
     Graveside services are scheduled at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Wallowa Cemetery, with the ritual services by IOOF #202 of Milton-Freewater. Bruce Hill will officiate, with interment at Wallowa Cemetery to follow.
     The family has requested that those wishing to make donations in Mr. Fanning's name do so to the American Cancer Society c/o Bollman's Funeral Home in Enterprise.

Grace Lee Farr, 91, a pioneer resident of the Flora area, died in Milton-Freewater on Wednesday, July 9, 1980. She had been in failing health about a year.
     She was born on Nov. 17, 1888, in La Grande, the daughter of James Jackson and Bell Martin Berner. The family moved in the spring of 1889 to Fora, where Mrs. Farr lived until last August when she moved to Milton-Freewater.
     On Dec. 12, 1912, she was married to Claude Cole in flora; he died on May 10,1944. On September 20, 1950, she married Walter Farr in Lewiston, Id. He preceded her in death on May 1, 1962.
     She loved farm life, her garden and the out-of-doors, always finding time to create afghans, quilts and aritificial flowers.
     Services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, at the Bollman Chapel with J. Maynard Norvell officiating.
     Soloist Kathy Miller sang "In The Garden" and "Peace In The Valley." Wanda Sorweide was organist.
     Bearers were Keith Mathews, Jim Sturm, Bryce Sturm, Spencer Bacon, Elmo Curry, and Delbert McCall.
     Interment was in the Enterprise Cemetery.
     Survivors include one sister, Mrs. Orvel (Lovilla) Austin, Lewiston, Id.; and four nieces. Wanda Sturm of Milton-Freewater, Anna Belle Wolfer of Livermore, Cal., and Margaret Mathews and Wilda Fern Johnson, both of Spokane, Wash.
     Those who wish may contribute to the Wallowa County Heart Fund or the Wallowa County Cancer Fund in her memory care of Bollman Funeral Home, Enterprise.

     Mrs. Jennie Fay died suddenly sometime during last Thursday night, at her home at the southeast border of Enterprise.  She lived alone except for Harley Hensley, her grandson, a school boy.  He got up Friday morning, started the fire and began breakfast, then went out to do some chores.  He looked into his grandmother’s room before he went out and saw her lying in bed.
     When she was called later, it was found she was dead.  She seems to have passed away without waking, as she lay composed as if in sleep.
     For some time Mrs. Fay had been suffering from heart trouble.  On Monday she complained to Dr. C. A. Ault that there was a pain in the region of her heart and she was short of breath.  He warned her to do no hard work and urged that she always have some one near, as there was no telling when her heart might give out.  This heart trouble is believed to have caused her death.
     Mrs. Fay was 64 years old and was born in Pennsylvania.  She moved to Illinois, then to Missouri and to Union county.  Thirty years ago she and her husband moved to Wallowa county.  Until 8 years ago they lived four miles north of Wallowa.  R. M. Fay, her husband, died there 14 years ago.  Eight years ago Mrs. Fay took up a homestead near the Elza Makin farm, and had lived since near Enterprise.  Last winter she spent in California visiting relatives.
     The children who survive are Walter Fay, who is in Mexico; Miss Helen Edith Fay, Ashland, Oregon; Mrs. Elizabeth Shumaker of Santa Barbara, California; Mrs. Mamie McKinney of Vollmer, Idaho; and Mrs. Clara Weaver of Los Angeles.  Mrs. Mc Kinney and Miss Fay came to Enterprise as soon as informed of their mother’s death, and Mrs. Weaver reached the city this week.  Mrs. McKinney had to hasten back to Idaho because her husband is ill.
     Brief funeral services were held at G. M. Gaily’s undertaking rooms Tuesday evening, and the body was taken to Wallowa yesterday morning for burial.

     Memorial services were conducted by the Bollman Funeral Home Monday at 1 p.m. at the Wallowa Christian Church for Mrs. Lula Ann Finley who passed away Saturday, May 7, 1966 at Wallowa Memorial hospital. The Rev. Orville Mick officiated and Mrs. Nyoda Scott was organist and soloist, singing "Beyond The Sunset" and "Beautiful Isle Of Somewhere".
     Honorary pallbearers were Hilbert Murrill, W. A. Richman, J. W. Rounsavell, Marion McCrae, Wm. Collins, Russell Temple, Bernard Livingood, Frank Renfrow. Casket bearers were Joe Wise, Melvin and Don Scott, Jay Rugg, Fred J. Zielke, and Pat Rankin. Graveside services and interment was at 4 .m. in the IOOF cemetery at Milton Freewater where her husband had been buried.
     Mrs. Finley was the daughter of Daniel and Mary Wynn and was born May 28, 1876 in Henry county, Tenn. On March 29, 1893 she was married at Murray, Ky., to Henry L. Finley and the couple lived in Kentucky until coming to Wallowa county in 1910. In 1942 they moved to Milton-Freewater to live until his death on March 14, 1955. Since then she had lived in Wallowa county. She was a member of the Christian church. She had been in failing health for the past year.
     Survivors include three daughters; Mrs. Hesrchel (Lillie) Scott, of Wallowa, Mrs. Ercell (Mary) Richman, of Troy, and Mrs. Alex (Louise) Dawson, of Portland; three sons, Daniel, of Milton-Freewater, Wynn of Rosalia, Wash., and Sherman of Yokohama, Japan; two sisters, Mrs. Della Elkins, of Paris, Tenn., and Mrs. Fannie Elkins, of Cuero, Texas; one brother, Felix Wynn of Bloomington, Texas; eight grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

     Mrs. C.A. Fisk died at La Grande last Thursday, Feb. 28. Services were held Sunday afternoon from the Booth chapel with Rev. Howard Stover officiating.
     Nellie May Marks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Marks, was born at Sweet Home, Oregon, on March 29, 1879. When she was 11 years of age she came with her parents to Wallowa county, the family locating on the Imnaha river. She continued to live in Wallowa county most of her life.
     On Dec. 30, 1902, she was united in marriage to C.A. Fisk. To this union were born one daughter, Mrs. Josie Fruitts of Elgin, and three sons, Ormal Fisk of Imnaha, Pat Fisk of Antelope, Ore., and one son who died in infancy. Mr. Fisk died June 14, 1930.
     Also surviving are seven brothers and two sisters; Tom Marks of Enterprise; Alfred, Charlie, Ira, Joe and Jake Marks of Imnaha, Arch Marks of Union, Mrs. Anna Denney of Imnaha and Mrs. Frank Shevlin of Joseph.

Mrs. Andrew Forbes

     Mrs. Andrew Forbes passed away at the Enterprise hospital yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1936.  She had come from the family home at Flora a few days before an operation and her heart was not strong enough to carry her thru.  Strength ebbed steadily until the  end came.
      Funeral services will be held at the Methodist church in Flora tomorrow afternoon and burial will be beside her parents in the Flora cemetery.
      Frances Ann Matthew was born in Clay County, Missouri, May 22, 1878, a daughter of John Elry Matthew.  The family came west when she was a small girl and lived a year at Fern Hill, Washington.  A year later, in 1892, they came into the wilderness of northern Wallowa county.  She was married to Mr. Forbes Jan. 6, 1987.  The ceremony was performed by Mr. Jess Conley, a neighbor and friend.
      Mr. Forbes had taken a homestead where they lived some time, and more recently they made their home in Flora for a time.  The homestead  is still owned by Mr. Forbes.
      Mrs. Forbes is survived by her husband and four daughters, Mrs. Esther Lampkins, Mrs. Blanche Botts, Mrs. Beulah Berner and Mrs.  Myrtle Wulff, all of the north end, and by four brothers and sisters: James S. Matthew of St. Helens; Mrs. Lucy M. Dooly of Nelson, B.C.; John Fredrick Matthew of Sunnyside, Washington; and Mrs. Eulah Devin of Cul de Sac, Idaho.  All the daughters were with their mother when she passed away.
      Mrs. Forbes was a faithful member of the Methodist church of many years. She was loved in the whole country side for her kindness and  helpfulness, and was a woman of high character and superior intelligence.

     Mrs. Susan D. Forbes died Friday at 11 a.m. at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. E. Warden. She came to Enterprise last July to make her home with her daughter. A succession of colds and the rigor of winter proved more than her frail body could endure and she succumbed to a bronchial attack quite suddenly.
     Mrs. Forbes was born in Ohio in 1835 and died in Enterprise, Oregon April 4, 1919. She was married to W. I. Forbes at the age of 18 and to this union were born nine children, seven of whom preceded her in death.
     Her husband died July 1914 and was buried in Moundridge, Kansas to which place her body was taken Tuesday by her two remaining children, Mrs. W. E. Warden and J. W. Forbes of La Grande. There she will be laid for her final rest beside her husband and her oldest daughter with whom she made her home until her daughter's death about a year ago.
     For many years a consistent Christian and a member of the Methodist church the influence of her noble life still abides.

Arando Ford, aged 71 years, died very suddenly from heart disease at the home of his son near Zumwalt, last thursday afternoon, August 5th. He was brought to Enterprise Thursday night and burial was made in the Enterprise cemetery Saturday evening. He leaves three daughters and two sons. The two sons, Dan Ford of Zumwalt and F.N. Ford of La Grande, and Mrs. J.H. Carroll, a granddaughter, of La Grande, arrived on the late Saturday evening train to attend the funeral.

     The six year old daughter of Mr. And Mrs. B.M. Ford died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Pratt last Friday morning. The burial services were conducted at the Enterprise cemetery by Rev. Cooper Saturday fornoon. Mr. Ford is the blacksmith at Imnaha.

Mrs. Carrie Poley Foster

     Mrs. Carrie Poley Foster died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. S. L. Magill in Lostine, September 22, aged 71 years, nine months and six days. She was born near Auburn, Ill., and at the age of 16 years joined church and has been a faithful christian ever since. She was married March 9, 1864, to B. O. Foster, who died and was buried at Ashland, Ore., 5 years ago. After a brief funeral service held at Lostine, the remains of Mrs. Foster were taken to Ashland and interred beside her husband. Frank Foster, a son, of Dunsmuir, Cal., came a few days before her
death, and accompanied the remains of his mother to Ashland. In addition to the son Frank, daughter Mrs. S. L. Magill, another daughter, Mrs. Stuart Magill, residing at Princeon, Ill., 3 brothers and two sisters survive to mourn the death of a loving mother and sister. A. J. Poley of Enterprise is a brother, and Mrs. H. T. Mitchell of Prairie Creek is a sister.
     For many years Mr. and Mrs. Foster were identified with the best interests of Lostine and Wallowa county. Almost from its organization she was a teacher and an active worker in the Lostine Union Sunday School and was zealous in every good work.

     Joseph and community were shocked to learn of the passing of Roscoe Foster Wednesday morning at the Enterprise hospital although he had been in ill health for several months. He leaves his wife, Lola; two daughters, Annamay of Joseph and Mrs. Raymon Beach (Arlene) of Medford; two brothers, Lyle and "Punch" of Joseph; and one sister, Mrs. Nellie Boner, of Portland. A more complete obituary will follow next week.

        J. J. Fowler, father of W.W. Fowler of Enterprise, died suddenly of heart disease last week in his room in a Spokane hotel.  W.W. Fowler was greatly shocked to hear the news on Friday and left at once for Portland, where his father’s body was taken for burial.  The father was here in November, leaving on the tenth.  He was robust and appeared in the best of health and did not look more than 55 years of age although he was 62.
        The senior Mr. Fowler was a sales man for the Clarke, Woodward Drug company of Portland.  He had represented the house on the road for 25 years and was considered the dean of the traveling men of Portland and the most able salesman in his line in the northwest.
        He was born in Illinois and came across the plains to Oregon with his parents in 1852.  For many years he kept a general store at Glencoe.
        His wife had been dead for some years.  Six children survive:  Mrs. C. W. Michael, Dr. O. S. Fowler, Frank F. Fowler of Portland, W.W. Fowler of Enterprise, Reatha and Howard Fowler of North Yakima, Wash.
        Immediately after his sudden death, reports in the Portland paper sought to connect it with a number of fatalities resulting from partaking of poisoned drink of some kind at North Yakima.  There was no truth whatever in this.  Mr. Fowler had been indisposed for some time, but had just returned to work.

     Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, October 6, for King Samuel Francis, who passed away at the Enterprise hospital Saturday, October 4, 1941, following an illness of several months.
     He had been a member of the Christian church since early in life. E. E. Callahan, pastor of the Christian church, was in charge of the service, and music was furnished by Mrs. Donna Dixon and Mrs. Helen Kay and Mrs. C.F. Johnson.
     Pallbearers were G. W. Franklin, G. E. Long, Fred McFetridge, Harlan Green, I. L. Cornwell and Wm. Hahn, and interment was in the Enterprise cemetery.
     Mr. Francis was one of 11 children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Francis, and was born in St. Clair county, Mo., January 30, 1862, later going to Cedar county, Mo., where he spent his boyhood days. In March of 1886 he came to Wallowa county, homesteading in the Trout creek district where he resided for several years. From that time on Mr. Francis made his home in the county with the exception of three years in Washington, one in Yakima and two in Dayton. For 16 years he lived on Prairie creek but in 1932 made his home on a farm about two miles south of Enterprise.
     On October 12, 1891, King Francis and Alabama Weaver were united in marriage and to this union five children were born, all of whom survive. Mrs. Francis passed away October 3, 1930.
     Mr. Francis is survived by the following daughters, Minnie Bowman, Mary Shaver, Effie Baker, Nelly Spicer, Lora Mawhin, all of Enterprise; 20 grandchildren and three great grandchildren; three brothers, John, James and Charles of near Roscoe, Mo.; two sisters, Mrs. Salina Ruckman, of Yakima, Wash., and Mrs. Ellen Yates of Red Lodge, Mont. Three cousins living in Wallowa county are S. F. and Ira G. Pace and Mrs. J. A. Eggleson.
     Mr. Francis was an upright, honest citizen, always a hard worker and has been prosperous and optimistic.
     He was very fond of fishing, hunting, and other past times and lead a very active life in his old age.

     We wish to express our sincere appreciation to our friends and neighbors who so kindly gave their help and sympathy in our recent bereavement; also for the beautiful floral offerings. - Family of King Francis.
 

     This obituary had Mr. Francis's will printed after it. If you are family and would like the rest of the obituary please contact me. - Janine

     Samuel K. Francis, a pioneer in Wallowa county, died in Portland, Oregon, at the home of his nephew M. K. Boatman, Thursday, July  20, of ailments due to old age.  The body was brought to Lostine, where the funeral was held from the home of a nephew, Geo. D. Wood.  Rev. W. S. Crockett conducting the services; Burial was in Lostine cemetery.
     The deceased was born in Spottsylvania county, Va., Dec. 23, 1824.  He moved with his father's family to Missouri in 1845.  He came over the Oregon trail by ox team to the Willamette valley in 1859, accompanied by his sister, Mrs. Mary Boatman, and her two small sons.  They settled first near Salem, but in 1861 he came to Grande Ronde valley and ten years later he moved into this valley near Lostine when there were but very few settlers here.  He continued to reside there until 1909 when he removed to Portland with Mr. Boatman, with whom he made his home for the last 30 years.  He never married.  Of his father's family, only one sister survives, Mrs. Louise E. Pace of Enterprise.
     Mr. Francis did his share in the pioneer work of this valley and amassed a comfortable competence.  He was a man noted for his strict integrity and had the respect of all who knew him.

     W. T. Franks died at Lostine last Saturday, February 28th, from a relapse of the influenza. He had almost recovered from a severe attack but got out too quick. He had been in the blacksmith business until about a year ago when he sold out. He leaves a wife and five children to mourn his death.

     Marjorie Della (Reece) Frasolas, born May 5, 1900. She died at the Umatilla hospital on March 24, 1975 at the age of 74. Mrs. Frasolas was a resident in the Hermiston Umatilla area since 1936. She was a member of the Auxiliary and the Pocahontas.
     Survivors are two daughters; Mrs. Don Allstott of Hermiston and Mrs. Jay Huson of Adams, Ore.; brothers are Amos Reece of Port Orchard, Wash., and Emerson and Wayne Reece of Enterprise; sisters are Mrs. William Phillips of Wapato, Wash. and Mrs. Earl Bonner of Weiser, Idaho, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
     Funeral services were Thursday, March 27, at 11 a.m. in the Burns Mortuary Chapel. Rev. Sam Crothers of the Presbyterian Church officiated and burial was in the Hermiston Cemetery. Attending the funeral services from Enterprise were Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Reece, Mr. and Mrs. Emerson and Macel Reece.

     Word was received here Monday night, that J. A. French, prominent resident and early county official of this county had passed away December 30 at White Salmon, Wash. C. L. Booth left Tuesday morning to bring the body to Enterprise for burial.
     Funeral services will be held at the Chapel Thursday, January 2, at 2:00 o'clock.

     Memorial services are being held this afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Bollman Chapel for Mrs. Cora Ellen Freudenberg who passed away on Monday June 24, 1968 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital where she had been a patient of only a short time. Casket bearers will be Fred Himelwright, James Myers, E. F. Cool, Henry Klages, W. H. Miller and M. Keith Wilson; and vault entombment will be in the Enterprise cemetery. Mrs. Freudenberg was the daughter of James H. and Hattie E. Fisher, and was born in the Leap area on August 30, 1906.
     On Dec. 25, 1939 she was married at Enterprise to William R. Freudenberg, who survives her. She was a member of Hurricane Creek Grange No. 608, Wallowa County Cowbells, and an active worker and leader in the 4-H programs. Other survivors include a daughter, Nancy Jean Freudenberg of Joseph; four sisters, Mrs. Frank (Iva) Downing, Mrs. John (Alta) Stein, Mrs. William (Ethel) Downing, and Mrs. Julius (Myrtle) Aleson, all of Enterprise; and three brothers, Harry Fisher of Spokane, Bruce and Ira Fisher of Milton-Freewater.

     Theodore S. Frost, died Sunday, March 15, at the hospital at a Grande, the fifth victim of the fire at Evans which cost the lives of his sister, Mrs. J. W. Shelts, and her three children. He was 21 years old. Mr. Shelts, who also was painfully burned about his hands and lower arms, is recovering.
     It will be remembered that Frost had gone out of the house when the early morning explosion of a heating stove set fire to the frail cottage at Evans. He hurried to it and tried to enter a window to rescue his sister and the children, and fell forward into the blazing room. Shelts had to help him out, and his body was badly burned. It was thought at first he would recover but his injuries proved more extensive and serious than believed. He was taken to the La Grande hospital by the railroad company by which he had been employed.
     Mr. Frost is survived by five sisters and his father and one brother. They are: Mrs. F. R. Carey, North Fork, Nebr.; Mrs. E.B. Yarbrough, North Bend; Mrs. R.R. Graves, Clyde, Wash.; Mrs. Oscar Christianson, Salem; Mrs. Bonnie Frost, Snohomish, Wash.; Terrence Frost, North Bend, Ore.

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