Leeelda Bess Draper Brown

LeeElda Bess Draper Brown, 84, of La Grande and formerly of Adrian died Sept. 6 at her home. Her funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at the Owyhee Ward LDS Church near Adrian. Burial will follow at the Owyhee Cemetery.

Mrs. Brown was born Aug. 24, 1921, to Reuben and Bessie Simmers Draper near Rockland, Idaho. She attended school in Rupert, Idaho, and then worked as a ranch cook in Rome, Ore.

She married Bob C. Brown Aug. 12, 1939, in Caldwell. During World War II, Mrs. Brown worked as an electrician in the Oakland, Calif., ship yards. After the war, she and her husband returned to Oregon and eventually settled in Portland. She operated a beauty shop there for many years.

In 1973 the Browns returned to Malheur County. Mr. Brown died in 1992. In 1995, Mrs. Brown moved to La Grande to be closer to her son and his family.

She was a member of the LDS church and was active in Relief Society projects. Mrs. Brown will be remember for helping raise and nurture numerous siblings, and later their offspring as well as her own children and grandchildren. She was always ready to help anyone in need.

Survivors include Howard and B.J. Brown of La Grande and Rebecca and Calvin Robinson of Clatskanie; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; brothers Gary Ellibee of Teccoa, Ga., and Don Ellibee of Mountainair, N.M. Her husband ; a daughter, Marvel; and 10 brothers and sisters died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Red Cross for the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.