Darlene Red

Darlene Red of Island City died Saturday, January 4, 2025 in La Grande at the age of 86.

Darlene was born in Sedro Woolley, Washington on October 25, 1938 to John and Caroline (Ellenberger) Stephens.  She was raised and educated in Aberdeen where she graduated from Weatherwax High with the class of 1956.  She moved to Brookings, Oregon in 1962 then to La Grande in 1967.

After a divorce she met and married Larry Red while both were working for Farnam Auto Supply & Machine.  Darlene worked as a grocery clerk, auto parts clerk then spent the last years of her career working at the old Millers Cabinet & Hardware as bookkeeper.

She enjoyed fishing, camping and mushroom picking, but her most cherished memories were times spent with her family.  She spent many years riding motorcycles on the trails up around Sheep Creek and Chicken Hill area with her five kids and grandkids.  She's sure Brad, her son who preceded her in death in 2004, has Heaven's trails all picked out waiting for her to join him.  In later years she changed to riding an ATV which they took to Arizona to ride in the warm winter weather.

Survivors include her husband Larry of Island City, children & their spouses, Gary & Shannon Pittser of Meacham, Tammy & Steve Robertson Union, Steve Pittser of Big Lake, Alaska, Anita Botts of La Grande; six grandkids, six great-grandkids, two great-great-grandkids; a sister Lois Carroll of Aberdeen, Washington, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Darrell Stephens and a son Brad Pittser.

At her request there will be no public service, a family service will be held at the Island City Cemetery at a later date.

Contributions in memory of Darlene Red may be made to the Shelter from the Storm, P.O. Box 173, La Grande, OR  97850.