Marion Merl Stitzel

Marion Merl Stitzel, 84, of Union died June 8 of pulmonary fibrosis at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show and Rodeo grounds.

Graveside services took place Wednesday at the Union Cemetery beginning at 1 p.m.

Marion was born to Amos and Hazel Stitzel, April 11, 1923, in Jordan Valley. He lived in Arock until about 1939 and then moved to Union where he graduated from high school. He joined the Army in 1942 and was discharged in December 1945.

Marion married Alice Lorena Morrison on Oct. 19, 1946. They would have been married 61 years this October. They had three children: Michael, Patrick and Tina.

Marion was self-employed throughout his life as a logger and farmer. He was a lifelong horseman, putting on rodeos, training, working and shoeing horses. Right up until his death, Marion purchased from the BLM wild horses, which he broke, trained, sold and often donated to young children. Marion received his greatest thrill from horse racing, which was his passion. He was a leading race horse trainer at many of the tracks. His biggest delight was his grandchildren who loved coming to Grandpa's house to play and work with him.

Survivors include his wife, Alice; children, Michael and Tina and their families; sisters, Edna Hewitt and Mary Dodds; five grandsons; four great-grandsons; and a great-great granddaughter to be born in July. He was preceded in death by his son, Patrick, last month, his parents, three sisters and three brothers.

Donations to help the family can be sent to Loveland Funeral Chapel.