Lamarne "Jeane" Bird

Lamarne "Jeanne" Bird, 82, formerly of La Grande, died Dec. 10 at Timberview Care Center in Albany.

A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Dec. 29 at the Wasco Church of Christ in Wasco.

She was born July 30, 1926, to Bert and Elvira (Arnoldus) Abel in La Grande. In her early years she lived on the family ranch above Perry and at Hilgard where she spent her childhood wandering the hills of the Blue Mountains - adventures that she remembered fondly to her last days.

She moved to La Grande to attend high school, graduating in 1945. After school she worked for the telephone company in Pendleton. During a visit to her parents at the Mount Emily Co. logging camp in the Blue Mountains near Starkey, she met Tracy Bird. They were married in Walla Walla on May Day in 1948. Their first home was at "camp" where their two daughters, Peggy Diane and Cinda Anne, were born. At the closing of the camp in 1955 they moved to La Grande where they lived until 1963 when they moved to Sherman County.

Jeanne spent many years working as a waitress at Biggs Junction, a situation she really enjoyed. In 2006, a decade after losing Tracy, she moved to Albany to be near her daughter and son-in-law. She spent one year at Alterra Courtyard and this last year she was a resident at Timberview Care Center.

She loved her flowers, gathering bits of this and that from friends and family through the years, and she grew gorgeous peonies. She loved animals, and was especially attached to her dogs. She loved spending time with her dog, Lady "Bug," and her cat, Grendel.

Those who knew her say no one ever left her home without a hot meal if she could prevent it. They say she was such a generous soul that her door was always open to friends and family, and the table quickly set. She was well read, and was especially interested in science. She valued what she called "thinking people."

She was "Aunt Jeanne" to 23 nieces and nephews, some of whom spent many summer months at the family home in Wasco. Her family says she had a unique way of viewing and dealing with the world.

She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy and Bill Allen of Bellvue, Wash., and Cindy and George Kastl of Albany; two granddaughters; and two great-grandsons; sister, Ann Abel of Portland; and brother, Don Abel of Cove.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Home at Last animal shelter in The Dalles or the Sherman County Senior Center in Moro.

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