Cressie Lavelle Depew

Cressie Lavelle (Blanchet) Depew, age 86, of La Grande, died May 29, 2010 at Evergreen Vista in La Grande. A Rosary and Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. A funeral meal will follow the mass. There will be no graveside services. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center.

Cressie was born to John and Winnie (Bashor) Blanchet in Pendleton on January 25, 1924. Cressie grew up with six siblings (four sisters and two brothers). She attended a one room school house in Combs Canyon and graduated from high school at St. Joseph Academy in Pendleton. Before her marriage she spent summers working the wheat ranch. She married Carmon Depew sixy-four years ago and they lived in various places in Eastern Oregon. She was a homemaker most of her life but worked as a cook at the Royal Cafe and the Long Branch in La Grande for a few years before her retirement. She was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church and was active with the Alter Society. She enjoyed reading and loved a good game of Scrabble. In her younger years she had a love of horses and horseback riding. She also had a great love of her pet Chihuahuas, Ginger and Baby.

Cressie is survived by her husband, Carmon Depew; daughters, Toni Crites and Sharon Vaughn; grandson, Maury Crites, all of La Grande; sister, La France Grubbs of Pendleton and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Dan Depew and two brothers and three sisters.

Donations in her name may be made to Our Lady of the Valley Alter Society in care of Daniels~Knopp, 1502 7th Street in La Grande.

.