Darleen Simonis

Darleen Simonis, age 81, of La Grande, died May 28, 2013 at her home. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, June 2, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande.

Darleen was born on October 25, 1931, the daughter of Lee and Elsie Marie (Boness) McLaughlin, in Alliance, Nebraska. When she was 14 the family moved to Oregon and she graduated from Imbler High School in 1949. On May 11, 1949 she married George Raymond Simonis. She was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother and was a hard working farmer alongside her husband. She enjoyed gardening, her flowers, canning, animals oif all kinds and wildlife. She worked at the voting site at Hot Lake for many years and was a longtime blood donor.

Survivors include her children, Sandra "Jeanne" Simonis of Walla Walla, Susan and Bill Thomas of Union and Janet Stowell of La Grande; siblings, Kate Cochran of La Grande, Gerry Marcum of La Grande, Ed McLaughlin of Twin Falls, Idaho, Connie Leavitt of Salem and Linda Timmons of Newberg; nine grandchildren; twenty-five great grandchildren and another on the way; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Nancy Lee Simonis in 1950, her husband on December 5, 2011 and siblings, Marge Riggs and Howard, Lee and Ivan McLaughlin.

Contributions may be made in her memory to the Shriner's Hospital for Children,3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239 or Doernbecher Children's Hospital, 1121 SW Salmon #100, Portland, Oregon 97205-7058.

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