Harold Francis Hilary

Harold Francis Hilary, age 87, of La Grande, died Tuesday, October 22, 2002 at the Grande Ronde Hospital.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 26th at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, at 1507 Seventh Street in La Grande. A reception will follow at Wild Flower Lodge, 508 16th Street, La Grande.


Mr. Hilary was born on July 22, 1915, to Alonzo and Lena (Osborn) Cummins in Portland, Oregon. After his parents' death in 1918 and 1919, he was adopted by John and Louise (Abegg) Hilary.


Mr. Hilary was a 1933 graduate of La Grande High School. He married Marian Sanderson on June 29, 1938. He worked as a conductor on the Union Pacific Railroad for thirty-five years. He was a member of the Union Pacific Oldtimers, the Eagles, and St. Peters Episcopal Church. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting and woodworking.

Survivors include his wife, Marian of La Grande; daughter and son-in-law Sally and Dick Nusser of Salem, Oregon, daughter and son-in-law Susan and Dave McCall of Monarch, Montana; son and daughter-in-law, James and Naomi Hilary of La Grande, and, son and daughter-in-law Jerold and Jean Hilary of Portland. Mr. Hilary has 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Kyra Lee and two brothers, James and Lyle Cummins.

Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Mr. Hilary to the St. Peters Memorial Fund in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley.