Ola "Lorene" Malone

Ola "Lorene" Malone, age 84, of La Grande, died January 26, 2014 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 7, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in La Grande.


Lorene was born on March 30, 1929, the daughter of John Alfred and Ola Elsie (Ashcraft) Ewing in Clarendon, Texas. The family moved to Oregon and Lorene attended school in La Grande from the 2nd grade through high school. On August 16, 1946 she married Orlan C. "Tiny" Malone in the First Baptist Church. She enjoyed sports in high school and attended games for their son's and grandchildren. She loved reading and gaining knowledge. In her younger years, picking huckleberries, hunting mushrooms and fishing were favorite things to do. She enjoyed going to the Oregon coast to the art galleries and the beach. She was always ready with a helping hand when needed. Her career as a telephone operator began in La Grande with Northwest Bell for many years and then continued with Pacific Bell after moving to Pendleton, OR. Tiny and Lorene returned to La Grande in 1976. She was a member of a Bunco Club for many years. She enjoyed rides around the valley and watching the wildlife. She treasured feeding her large covey of quail in her backyard.

She is survived by two sons; Steve in La Grande and Greg in Tigard, OR; sister, Betty Jacques in Milton-Freewater, OR; six grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, mother, father, step-father and daughter-in-law. We will miss her dearly.

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