Elcie "Gene" Eugene Pender

Elcie Eugene "Gene" Pender, 74 of La Grande, died Nov. 25 at his home.

A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at New Son Community Church, 3008 Island Ave.

Gene was born March 25, 1934, to Doc and Inez (Raines) in Pender Rush Springs, Okla. He was raised and educated in Corona, Calif., then enlisted in the Navy. After the Navy he was a mechanic and contractor who greatly enjoyed sprint-car racing, hunting, fishing, riding four-wheelers and spending time in the outdoors. Gene was a commercial fisherman by trade, and was proud to be a captain and owner of the Jenny F. Decker. If he wasn't on his boat, he was spending time with family and hunting and fishing.

He married Vera Benson Dec. 28, 1977, in Astoria. They moved to La Grande in the early ‘80s from Astoria. They opened and operated Pine Eagle Freight for eight years, and then opened their adult foster care home.

Gene is survived by his wife Vera Pender of La Grande; his children, Diana Collins of La Grande and David Pender of La Grande; stepson, Billy and his wife, Kay Carroll of Nampa, Idaho; sister-in-law, Teri Benson of Sacramento, Calif.; and many grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a stepson, Danny Carroll.

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