Ona E. Harwood

Ona E. Harwood, 79, of Milton-Freewater and formerly of Elgin, died July 1 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla.

Funeral services start at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Christian Church in Milton-Freewater.

Concluding services and burial will be in the Summerville Cemetery at 4 p.m. Monday. Friends may pay their respects at the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Ona was born Aug 1, 1927, to Harold L. Curley and Millie D. McLune Hug in Elgin. She grew up there and graduated from Elgin High School in 1945. She was involved in many school activities. She loved going to Elgin High's annual alumni banquet to reconnect with classmates and old friends. She was able to attend this year's banquet on June 16, and she only missed one out of the 62 banquets since graduation. She also attended Eastern Oregon College.

On Nov. 21, 1953, she married Reed Harwood in La Grande. Ona worked at the Western Stud Mill as a bookkeeper, and she and her husband owned and operated a restaurant and bar in Elgin. In 1960 she moved with her family to Milton-Freewater, where she and her husband owned and operated Kaser Fuel, a coal business. When inexpensive electric rates made coal stoves obsolete, she began working at Saager's She Shop, where she was the office manager for more than 40 years until her retirement in 2004

Ona loved people and made friends wherever she went, family members said. She loved crafts-especially rubber stamping and crocheting. She made personalized cards for her family and friends for every occasion. She loved to cook and try new recipes. She enjoyed reading and avidly followed college and professional baseball, football and basketball.

She remained young at heart throughout her life, always interested to learn something new or try a new adventure, family members said. Ona went snorkeling for the first time at age 75 and parasailing at age 78.

It was unusual if she wasn't caring for one grandchild or more for at least part of the day, or helping to make sure they got to piano lessons, preschool or practice for whatever sport was in season. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Pythian Sisters.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Reed and Sharon Harwood, Cort Harwood, Chuck Bertleson and Millie and Bob Dombrosky, all of Milton-Freewater, and Holly Harwood and Michael Hill of Vancouver, Wash.; a brother Davy Hug of El Paso, Texas; 11 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband in November 2004, her parents, twin grandsons and a great-granddaughter.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary Regional Cancer Center or the Elgin Alumni Association.