These are obituaries that I and many others have donated. Mine were transcribed from old newspapers. I got the microfilms through interlibrary loan from the University of Oregon. There are also many others who have donated. If there is no contributor on it, it is something I have transcribed. If there is no link on the contributor's name, they have no further information about that person. It is someone extra on a copy of their families information.

If you have any obituaries you can donate, please drop a line to Janine M. Bork.Your information can help others.

John F. West, well known resident of this city, died at the La Grande hospital last Sunday morning, Dec. 2. He had suffered for some time with sarcoma, and had but recently been taken back to the hospital.

The deceased was born Nov. 5, 1857, in Cleveland, Ohio. His parents emigrated to Kansas when he was a child and he was left an orphan at 7 years of age, together with several brothers and sisters. At the age of 10 years, he traveled to Colorado and made his own way from that time. In 1884, in Colorado, he married Mary Baxter, and went to Portland. There two of his children died, and at Walla Walla, where he moved to from Portland, he lost his wife, and a seventeen year old daughter.

Later he returned to Portland and from there in 1914, he came with Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Belfield to North Powder and made his home here until his illness and death.

Burial took place in the La Grande cemetery, and the services were attended by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Monday, Mrs. Ella Belfield and Mrs. Chas. Waltz and others who knew him well. Friends of the deceased say he was liked by all acquaintances and made many true friends, all of whom will miss him. He leaves no known relatives, his brothers and sisters either having passed on before or their residence is not known.

Mae Robinson West well known long time pioneer resident of La Grande, passed away at the St. Joseph Hospital October 29, 1961 at the age of 82. Mrs. West was the daughter of George Washington Robinson and Susan Bay who came to Oregon in a covered wagon in the 1800's. Mrs. West was born in La Grande on February 3, 1879.

Mrs. West and her sister operated a seamstress business in La Grande in the late 1800's continuing this business until 1902. Mrs. West then went to work as the first telephone operator in La Grande. She later became bookkeeper for N. K. West and Co. in La Grande working there nineteen years. On January 10, 1923, Mae Mabel Robinson married N. K. West in La Grande and she then retired from the business world to become a house wife.

Mrs. West's husband was the founder of the N. K. West and Co. which he later sold to what is now Falk's Department Store. They were also owners of the N. K. West dairy and had considerable real estate around the La Grande, area.

Mae Robinson West is survived by a step grandson, Ken Siegrist, of La Grande, four nephews, Leslie Robinson, Athena, Oregon, Gene Robinson, Wallace Robinson, and Eldon Robinson, all of Tempe, Arizona and one niece, Mrs. Betty McCambridge of Vale, Oregon.

Services for Mae West were held at the Dempsey's Funeral Chapel Wednesday, November 1st at 2;00 P.M. Reverend Louis M. Samson officiated. Vault Interment was at the Hillcrest Cemetery.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon for N. K. West, pioneer La Grande merchant who died Saturday night of a heart attack at the age of 73.

Last rites will be said for Mr. West, who founded the firm of N. K. West here 41 years ago, at the Snodgrass chapel with Rev. George H. Marrs, pastor of the First Baptist church, in charge. Burial will be in the Masonic cemetery beside his daughter, Ada, who died 18 years ago.

Nathaniel Kendrick West was born at Mondovia, Wis., Aug. 31, 1866 and when a young man moved to Portland, where he entered the clothing business with his father, N. K. West Sr., on Portland's east side, later being set up in business by his father with a younger brother, Thaddeus, now dead. Mr. West was one of a long line of pioneer merchants that kept the name of N. K. West in the clothing business in La Grande and Portland for the past 60 years.

He was married in Portland, his wife Mattie, later dying.

He came to La Grande in 1899, with J. D. Smith, still an employee of the West firm. and bought out the Jay Brooks clothing and dry goods company, located in the same building as the present store.

About two years after the death of his daughter, Mr. West married Mae Robinson of La Grande, who survives him.

He died about 11:15 Saturday night after arising from bed.

Although engaged in the clothing and dry goods business, Mr. West also enjoyed farming, and the West dairy ranch near Summerville was long his hobby. It was at the farm, the family home, that Mr. West passed away.

Mr. West was also a dairyman, and was long engaged in this business at the farm, going into business with the Enkay dairy in 1932.

He sold the department store end of the business to Falk's in 1929, buying back the men's clothing department in June 1935.

Shrewd, but kindly, with a strong personality, Mr. West was highly respected by his friends and business associates, and retained a keen mind and active participation in the West business until the end.

Surviving him besides his widow are included a grandson, Kendrick West Siegrist, a brother Orval, of Multnomah, a son-in-law Herman Siegrist, two nieces in Portland and one in Summerville, Mrs. Harlan Robinson.

DIED - Tuesday, January 30, 1906, Ruby, the seven week's old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William West. Funeral services were held the following day and the little one was interred in the Summerville cemetery.