L. Jean Massie

L. Jean Massie, age 91, of La Grande, passed away February 24, 2017 at the Grande Ronde Hospital.



Jean was born September 4, 1925 the daughter of Glynn and Pauline (Woodell) Howard in North Bend, Oregon. At the age of 11 she moved with her family to Sumpter, Oregon. She graduated from Baker City High School with the class of 1943. She moved to San Francisco, California where she was trained to be a radio technician and she worked with the Marine Corps. While working there she met a Merchant Marine, Jacob Joseph "Jay" Erwert, and they were married in 1945. They later moved to Sumpter and had two sons. Jay preceded her in death in 1949. After his death she moved with her sons to the Portland area where she worked for several companies before working in public relations and as a lobbyist at the state legislature for many years. In February of 1959 she married Donald Massie. They had one son and later divorced. She lived in Wilsonville from 1977 until the early 1990's when she returned to eastern Oregon to care for her mother. She was a member of the Elks Lodge in Beaverton and the Union County Historical Society.



Survivors include her sons, Michael Glynn Erwert of Houston, Texas, Timothy Jay Erwert (Joanie) of Hillsboro, Oregon and Patrick Arthur Massie (Laurie) of Sherwood, Oregon; grandchildren, Nicole Jeanne Miller, Richard Glynn Massie, Michelene Hometchko, Jenelle Parson and Amanda Parson; great grandchildren, Joey and Brooklyn Genduso, Jessie Smith, Jack Parson and Andrew Hometchko; and other relatives and friends.

At Jean's request there will be no public service at this time. Those who wish may make contributions in her name to the Union County Historical Society in care of Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande.

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