Laura "Jo" Josephine Hug

Laura Josephine "Jo" Hug, age 91, of La Grande and formerly of Elgin, died May 20, 2013 at her home. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Summerville Cemetery Chapel.


Jo was born January 25, 1922, the daughter of Bauthis Henkle and Etta (Ghormley) Schaffer, in Corvallis, Oregon. After high school she attended two years of college at Oregon state before moving to Maryland to work for the military Dept. In 1945 she married Russell Hug and in 1962 moved to Summerville to ranch until 1973 when they purchased Wayt's Department Store in Elgin, which they operated until 1988 and then retired. In 1956 the family built a cabin at Wallowa Lake and the family enjoyed time there fishing for many years. She was active with the Elgin Community Center and the Good Sam Club. For fifty years she was involved with an Art Research Group that met twice a month. She was an avid reader and when she moved into the Grande Ronde Retirement Center she was put in charge of the library there.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, David and Gail Hug of Summerville; son, Michael Hug of Hermiston; daughter, Karen Hug of Bend; brother and sister-in-law, John and Patricia Schaffer of Portland; eight grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
Jo was preceded in death by husband Russell in 2002.

In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to a disabled veterans or wounded warrior organization.

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