Elva Lee (Lovely) Willhite

Elva Lee Lovely Willhite, age 57, of La Grande, died Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at the Wallowa Memorial Hospital. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Private interment will be at the Grandview Cemetery.

Elva Lee was born on June 3, 1947, the daughter of Edwin and Eddia (White) Lovely in La Grande. She attended La Grande schools and in 1963 she married Dick Bennett. The marriage later ended in divorce. She later married Allen Whillhite and together they moved to Reno, Nevada where she worked for IGT building slot machines. The couple was later divorced and she returned to La Grande in 1997. She worked as a flagger on road construction sites and spent the last couple of years in Lostine enjoying the mountains with a good friend.

Survivors include her mother, Eddia Lovely of Orofino, Idaho; children, Sherrie Bennett of Moscow, Idaho and Terrie Lovely of Orofino, Idaho; brother and his wife, Dennis and Linda Lovely of Hermiston; three grandchildren, Kyle, Justin and Matt; one great grandson, Jacob; and other relatives and friends. Her father, Edwin Lovely, preceded her in death.

Those who wish may make contributions in her memory to the charity of choice in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850.