Kenneth E. Lilly

Kenneth E. Lilly, Sr., 97, lifetime resident of La Grande, died Wednesday August 15 at Wildflower Lodge.

A service will be held on Saturday, September 8th at 11a.m. at Willow School.

Mr. Lilly was born on September 7th, 1920 in La Grande to Zack and Florence (Cole) Lilly.  He attended La Grande schools where he was a star athlete, graduating from La Grande High School in 1938.  In 1942 he was commissioned and officer in the U.S. Navy and served on various ships in the Pacific Theater during WWII.  On February 25, 1944 he married Rose Marie Lemezis at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in La Grande.  After his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946 he attended Willamette University where he received his bachelor degree.  He later attended Eastern Oregon College (EOU) and then attended the University of Oregon where he earned his masters degree.  He then began teaching in La Grande and later became a principal of several of the La Grande Schools. He retired in 1989.

Mr. Lilly belonged to the Elks Lodge, the Lions Club and the La Grande Retired Teachers Association.  He enjoyed working in his yard and garden, crossword puzzles, bus tours to Nashville and elsewhere.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife in 2009, sisters, Ossie, Alma and Oweda; brothers, William and Zack; a grandson, Brent and daughter-in-law, Verda.

Survivors include his children, Kenneth, Jr. (Carol) of Kirkland, WA, Rod of Portland, Andy of La Grande; grandchildren, Michelle Lilly, Jennifer and Kyle Rowland, Andrea Lilly and Jeni Andersen; four great grandchildren and other relatives and many friends.

Contributions in memory of Kenneth Lilly may be made to the La Grande Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1463, La Grande, OR  97850

Online condolences may be expressed at www.danielsknopp.com.

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Memorial Service