Georgia Lavelle Butler

Georgia LaVelle Butler, 95, of La Grande died Sept. 11 at Jody's Country Care in La Grande.

A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in La Grande. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.

She was born in La Grande Sept. 27, 1910, to Herman and Florence Richey. She grew up in La Grande except for five years when her family lived on a ranch in Cove. She graduated from High School in 1930. She went to nurses training in 1932 at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, and graduated in 1935.

On July 23, 1941, she married Chester W. Butler at Mizpah Presbyterian Church in Portland. During the time he served in WWII she lived in Portland, where she worked in nursing. Chester and LaVelle lived in West Linn after the war until he retired. They moved to Alicel in 1973. Chester preceded her in death in 1997. LaVelle lived in Aurora for two years, then Vancouver, Wash., while recovering from a broken hip. She returned to La Grande in June 2000.

Wherever she lived, she met the needs of others through meals either in her home or at her church. She was an active member of the La Grande United Methodist Church at the time of her death.

She is survived by two cousins in Michigan and numerous nieces and nephews as well as many friends. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Ellen.

Contributions can be made to the La Grande United Methodist Church, the Salvation Army, or CASA of Union County.