Helen Isabelle Mc Nabb

Helen Isabelle "Issie" McNabb, age 89, of La Grande, died after a long, active life on July 18, 207 at a local care center of natural causes with family by her side. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the Grande Ronde Retirement Residence Center.

Mrs. McNabb was born in Jacksonville, Oregon on April 26, 1918, the youngest of four children to Lee and Helen (Holton) Black. When she was ten years of age her mother died of TB and she spent much time in the Grande Ronde Valley with her sisters. She graduated from Medford High School in 1936 and married "Sandy" Edward Harold McNabb on March 10, 1941. They moved to Ashland and started a chicken ranch which they sold to establish a dairy farm on Bear Creek outside of Ashland. The farm is now called Eagle Mills Farms, which had been farmed since the early 1900's, that has been designated as a community organic garden.

She was divorced in 1962 and she moved into town to work at Perrine's Department Store while she got her real estate license and became a broker. In 1984 she was realtor of the year in a job that she always loved. She was known for her work ethic, her love of the outdoors and for the smile she had on her face for everyone. She retired in 1988 to move to La Grande to be near family for health reasons.

Survivors include her daughters, Patricia Forman of Seattle and Deanna and Greg Hebard of La Grande; grandchildren, Ford Hebard of Jackson, Wyoming, Doug and Deana Forman of North Powder, Tina and Bob Corwin of Arlington, Washington and Glen Forman of Washington; great grandchildren, Justin Forman of Boise, Idaho, Colby Forman of North Powder, Tyler Corwin, an Active Duty Marine and Dana Fae Forman Crow of Fairbanks, Alaska; eight nieces and nephews, Lottie Berry of Imbler, Sharon and David Skeen of Tri Cities, Washington, Lou Ann (McDonald) and Elwyn Bingaman of Imbler, George and Carla McDonald of Summerville, Annice Black of Ashland, Holly Black of Vancouver, Washington and Jared and Patty Black of Bend; and other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her sisters, Lottie McDonald of Summerville and Olena Hill of La Grande and brother, John Black of Jacksonville,

Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Mrs. McNabb to the GRH Home Health Hospice in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850.