Colleen Frances Browne

Colleen Frances Browne, 50, of La Grande, died May 29 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at Summerville Cemetery.

Colleen was born Nov. 12, 1959, to Sherman James and Elaine Marie Browne in Woodstock, Ill. She lived most of her life in Northern Illinois caring for her many animals, including a goat named Joey.

She moved to Oregon in 2000 with her mother, caravaning in an RV and three large U-haul trucks driven by her siblings. She lived in La Grande with her mother until her mother died in 2003. Then she moved in with her brother, Glenn.

Colleen lived with the effects of a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Her family says her will to live was strong but her life was shortened by a flu she could not fight.

Colleen loved animals, especially cats and birds. She liked spending time with her parrot, Bassa.

Survivors include her siblings, Sharon Wager-Simmons and her husband, Wayne, of Portland, Darlene Gile and her husband, Dan, of Colorado, and Glenn Browne and his wife, Jayne, of La Grande; many nieces and nephews; three great-nephews; and two great-nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

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