RECORDS AND MORE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020
THE OBSERVER — 3A
OBITUARIES
Elvin A. Williams
1934-2020 • Island City
Elvin Arthur Williams,
86, of Island City, died Dec.
6 at Grande Ronde Hos-
pital. No service is planned
at this time.
Elvin was born April
2, 1934, in La Grande, to
Claud Sr. and
Viva (Higgins)
Williams. He
resided in La
Grande and
Hermiston and
in Colorado,
Germany,
Pennsylvania,
Illinois, Iowa
and Montana.
He served in
the U.S. Army,
including time in Okinawa,
Japan. He was married to
Phyllis Marie Young until
her passing in August
2020.
Elvin was employed
with the U.S. government
as an ammunition spe-
cialist. He enjoyed hunting,
fi shing, camping, fal-
conry and racing pigeons.
He was a member of the
Good Sams Club and the
Masons.
Surviving relatives
include his children and
their spouses, Elvin Jr. and
Lynn Williams of Spring,
Texas, Cathy and Neal
Dietz of Sunrise, Florida,
and David Williams of La
Grande; brother, Tim Wil-
liams of Basin, Montana;
brother and sister-in-law,
Terry and Theresa Wil-
liams of Sand Point, Idaho;
sister, Tammy Williams
Bartos and husband, Bruce,
of Granberry, Texas; 15
grandchildren and 10
great-grandchildren; and
many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in
death by his wife, Phyllis;
parents, Claud and Viva;
and grandson, Cody
Williams.
Online condolences
may be made to the family
at www.lovelandfuneral-
chapel.com.
Henry ‘Hank’ J. Simonis
1929-2020 • La Grande
Henry “Hank” James
Simonis, 91, of La Grande,
died Dec. 7 at his residence.
A graveside service will be
held Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. at Hill-
crest Ceme-
tery. Attendees
must wear a
mask and prac-
tice social dis-
tancing to meet
COVID-19
guidelines.
Known as Hank, he
was born May 26, 1929,
in Telocaset, to Perry and
May (Miller) Simonis. He
also lived in Union and
La Grande. Hank mar-
ried Ruby Bailey of Burley,
Idaho, on July 27, 1949.
Hank started hunting at
age 15. Over the years he
killed many deer and elk,
fi ve moose and one buffalo.
Please follow guide-
lines regarding face cov-
erings and social dis-
tancing at all services.
Dec. 12 — GREG
WIECK: 10 a.m. Mass,
St. Katherine of Siena
Catholic Church, Enter-
prise; interment follows
at Enterprise Cemetery.
Dec. 17 & 18 —
VELVA FULTON:
4-6 p.m. Dec. 17 visita-
He got his fi rst horse, Dixie,
when he was about 15 and
had one or more horses till
he was 80. He broke horses
for some years.
Hank worked for Boise
Cascade for 21 years.
He and Ruby lived in La
Grande for seven years and
purchased a farm in Ladd
Canyon and lived there for
seven years. Later, they pur-
chased another farm at Hot
Lake. They raised hay and
wheat and had 300 head of
cattle. They had two cattle
drives a year, and Hank’s
horses were put to good use.
Hank’s heart was really in
the mountains and on his
horse. He felt at peace there.
Hank and Ruby had
three children whom he
helped teach to work, and
they all had work to do on
the farm. Hank wanted the
work to be done right and
his way and he would let
the kids know this. He was
always a hard worker and
could fi x and fi gure out how
to fi x many things.
Hank and Ruby enjoy
riding snowmobiles and
motorcycles and were able
to see a lot of country.
Hank was a member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints and held
callings in the church.
Surviving relatives
include his wife, Ruby;
son and daughter-in law,
Ron and Cindy of La
Grande; son, Rick of La
Grande; daughter and son-
in-law, Karen and Robert
of Longview, Wash-
ington; brothers, Wayne
of La Grande and Joe of
Libby, Montana; and nine
grandchildren and 21
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in
death by his parents, Perry
and May, and brothers,
Ernest, James and George.
Online condolences
may be made to the family
at www.lovelandfuneral-
chapel.com.
Gerald F. Rimbey
1930-2020 • Formerly of La Grande
Gerald Francis Rimbey,
90, formerly of La Grande,
died Dec. 3 at his home
in Reedsport after an
extended illness. A memo-
rial service will be held
tion, Loveland Funeral
Chapel; 2 p.m. Dec. 18
graveside service, Island
City Cemetery (service
streamed live at www.
lovelandfuneralchapel.
com).
Dec. 19 — LEEROY
MOSCHKAU: 11 a.m.
celebration of life (in
person, by invitation
only), Faith Lutheran
Church, La Grande (ser-
vice streamed live at
www.lovelandfuneral-
chapel.com).
— Calendar cour-
tesy of Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande
in the La Grande area at
a later date. His cremains
will be placed in the Island
City Cemetery.
Gerald was born June 3,
1930, in La Grande, to Wil-
liam Lee and Maude Eliza
(Bennett) Rimbey. He grew
up in La Grande and grad-
uated from La Grande High
School in 1948. He married
Aleta Mae Breshears on
Dec. 31, 1950. To this union
his two daughters were
born. They later divorced.
Gerald worked at several
different jobs, including
for the La Grande Fire
Department and Martin
Bows in Washington, and
he piloted a dory boat off
the Oregon Coast in Pacifi c
City. He loved to be out-
doors, fi shing, hunting,
berry picking and hunting
mushrooms.
While living in Eastern
Oregon, Gerald was a
member of the Grande
Ronde Bowmen. He won
several archery compe-
titions in the 1950s and
1960s on the local, state
and national level. He
also tutored several young
people in archery, many
of whom went on to win
championships. Gerald
competed in archery com-
petitions into his 80s.
Nearly all big game he
took was killed with a bow.
Every archery season he
would return home from
the woods after a suc-
cessful hunt. He continued
hunting until his poor
health prevented it.
For the past several
years Gerald lived in Reed-
sport, where in addition to
hunting and bow compe-
titions he enjoyed fi shing,
clamming and crabbing.
Surviving relatives
include his wife of 18 years,
Thelma “Bertie” (White)
Rimbey; daughters, Shirley
Cook of Island City and
Pauline Weaver of Floral
City, Florida; stepson,
Charlie Bailey and wife,
Heather, of Reedsport; and
six grandchildren and 14
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in
death by his parents;
brothers, Albert, Raymond
and Adrian; sisters, Helen
and Opal; wife of 39 years,
COMMUNITY
Meetings
• UNION — The Union
Rural Fire Protection District
will have a board meeting
Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.
online via Zoom. For more
information and a link to
attend the meeting, contact
Kim George, Union RFPD
clerk, at 541-910-3114 or
union.rfpd@outlook.com.
Briefs
Cove toy drive
accepting donations
through Dec. 18
COVE — Cheri’s Main
Street Salon in Cove is
hosting the 22nd annual toy
drive benefi ting the town’s
children.
Donations of new
unwrapped toys can be
dropped off at the salon, 603
Main St., through Dec 18. The
toys will then be distribut-
ed on Dec. 19 at the Cove
Methodist Church. Toys stay
in the Cove area. For more
information, contact Cheri at
541-568-5069.
Sherry Lorraine Cottam;
and two grandchildren.
Gloria (Miller) McCoy
1942-2020 La Grande
Gloria M. McCoy, 78,
of La Grande, died Nov.
25 at Wildfl ower Lodge. A
memorial service will be
held at a later date.
Gloria was born Nov. 7,
1942, in Roch-
ester, Mich-
igan, to Carl
E. and Eileen
B. Miller.
She attended
Michigan
State and graduated with a
BA in English.
In 1982 Gloria moved
to Port Orford. She met
her future husband, Tim
McCoy, at her antique
store in 1987. Tim and
Gloria were married Sept,
30, 1988.
Gloria loved the Bible,
the Word of God, roses,
• 10 Depot Street,
La Grande
• Brother Bear Café,
La Grande
• Community
Kindness, La Grande
• Cove Drive-In, Cove
• Le Bebe Cakes
Bakery, La Grande
• Maurice’s, Island City
• The Potter’s House, La
Grande
• Union Stoplight, Union
• Real Deals,
La Grande
• Blue Mt. Outfitters,
La Grande
books and reading to
children.
Surviving relatives
include her husband
of 32 years, Tim,
and many cousins.
Velva E. Fulton
La Grande
Velva Elaine Fulton, 95,
of La Grande, died Dec. 6
at her residence. A viewing
will be held Dec. 17 from
4-6 p.m. at Loveland
Funeral Chapel. On Dec.
La GRANDE
AUTO REPAIR
975-2000
www.lagrandeautorepair.com
MOST
ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
AVAILABLE
Joe Horst
18, a graveside service will
begin at 2 p.m. at the Island
City Cemetery. Attendees
must wear masks and prac-
tice social distancing to
meet COVID-19 guidance.
The graveside service
will be livestreamed for
those who cannot attend.
Go to www.lovelandfu-
neralchapel.com and
click on the “Funeral
Videos” button near the
bottom of the home page
just before 2 p.m.
“Real Food for
the People”
Open
Fri-Sun Take-out
Menu
5pm-8pm Updated
ACDelcoTSS
Weekly
www.tendepotstreet.com
541-963-8766
tendepotstreet@gmail.com
SUPPORT
LOCAL-OPOLY
SHOP HOP
GAME RUNS Dec. 3-5, 2020: Collect Properties
for a Chance to Win Real Prizes!
Wishes you a
Joyous Holiday Season
and a
Merry Christmas!
Together, let’s make
2021 a year of Renewed Health,
Happiness and
Thriving Community Growth.
From All of Us at
Bank of Eastern Oregon
LA GRANDE
2514 Cove Avenue
541-624-5040
Member FDIC
From one end of Union County to the other
Philly trip group selling
Christmas trees while
supplies last
UNION COUNTY —
Imbler, Elgin and homes-
chooled students in Union
County are selling Christmas
trees to raise funds for a
future excursion to Phila-
delphia. The tree lot is in the
parking lot at the corner of
Island Avenue and Walton
Road, La Grande, and is open
Fridays from 2-8 p.m., Sat-
urdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
and Sundays from noon to
6 p.m.
Only noble fi rs are avail-
able this year. Cost is $65
for trees less than 7 feet tall,
and $70 for trees 7 feet and
taller. The trees were grown
in Molalla. The supply is
limited.
Public health protocols
will be in place at the tree
lot. Appointments may also
be made by calling Aimee
at 541-786-2388, Jen at
541-805-9316 or Katie at
541-910-5284.
your CARE continues with a comprehensive provider care team
dedicated to putting the health of you and your family first!
These providers are now taking new patients in BOTH locations!
Korrie Dubray, ANP — Jamie Jo Haddock, NP-C — Raffaella Betza, MD
At both locations, this flexible provider care team and their staff are dedicated to
caring for you and your loved ones with primary care and family medicine.
For today’s public safety report, see Page 2A
An Independent
Insurance Agency
Reed & Associates for
excellent service LOCALLY!
Nicole Cathey
• Carpet One, La Grande
• Rosewood Cottge,
La Grande
• Direct Music Source,
La Grande
• Cherry’s Florist,
La Grande
• Fitzgerald Flowers
La Grande
• Tap That Growlers,
La Grande
• Cat’s Paw, Union
• Buffalo Peak, Union
• Legacy Ford,
La Grande
For Info 541-963-8588
Info@VisitUnionCounty.org
www.VisitUnionCounty.org
10106 N. ‘C’ • Island City
541-975-1364
Toll Free 1-866-282-1925
Medicare, Auto, Home
insurance and Annuities
www.reed-insurance.net
Kevin Reed