Lois J. Kirby

Lois J. Kirby, age 82, died Saturday, March 20, 2004 in Cove. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley with Sally Wiens officiating. Interment will follow at the Cove Cemetery. Daniels Chapel of the Valley is in charge of arrangements.

Lois J. Kirby was born on June 11, 1921, the daughter of Roy J. and Amy Ruth (Barker) Baker in Cove. After graduating from Cove high school, she attended Eastern Oregon Normal school where she received a degree in education. On June 5, 1941 she married John Wesley Kirby in Walla Walla , Washington. Together they lived in Pendleton for a short time while John was serving in the United States Marine Corps. They later moved back to the Grande Ronde valley where Lois taught elementary education at both Riveria and Central schools for many years before her retirement in 1975. Her husband preceded her in death on March 1, 2001.

Mrs. Kirby was a member to the United Methodist Church. She also belonged to both the Oregon Education Association and the National Education Association. She enjoyed reading, fishing, camping, the ocean, traveling to Jackpot, Nevada with her husband and visiting with her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her daughters and son-in-laws Weslie Obert and Ernie Stalford of Portland, Oregon, Janet and Fred Evensen of Hillsboro, Oregon; sons and daughters-in-law Douglas and Sue Kirby of Tigard, Oregon and Bert and Kathy Kirby of Union, Oregon; eleven
grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sister-in-law and her husband, Alberta and Harmon Wolfe of La Grande and sister-in-law Elouise Baker of Cove; numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Claude and Orien Baker.

Those who wish may make a contribution in memory of Mrs. Kirby to the United Methodist Church endowment fund in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850.