Oran Cecil Thomas

Oran Cecil Thomas, age 59, of La Grande, died Friday, October 11, 2002 at the Grande Ronde Hospital.


Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 at 2:00 p.m. at the New Life Center with Pastor Brian Mercer officiating. Committal and interment will follow at the Grandview Cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m.


Mr. Thomas was born on December 24, 1942, the son of Harry and Violet (Forester) Thomas in McMinnville, Oregon. His mother died when he was 8 days old and being the youngest of 12 children, he went to live with his aunt and uncle, Dorothy and Frank Thomas in Hermiston. He was raised by them and consequently his cousins became his brothers and sister. The family later moved to La Grande and he graduated from La Grande High School with the class of 1961. On April 28, 1962 he married Patricia Alexander in La Grande. Mr. Thomas worked for the Pendleton Woolen Mills and Standard Office Equipment before going to work in 1963 as the Office Clerk for Union Pacific Railroad. He worked there for 28 years and then worked for New Day Enterprises for 10 years.


Mr. Thomas was a member of the New Life Center. He loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, gardening and yard saleing. His family was very important to him and his grandchildren were his life.


Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Patricia Thomas of La Grande; daughters and sons-in-law, Brenda and Greg Winkler of La Grande, Kim and Ted McBride of Cove and Donna and Scott Gorham of Kennewick, Washington; grandchildren, Kylee, Katelyn, Colton and Kallan Winkler, Deven, Crayson and RyAnn McBride and Seth and Luke Gorham; brothers and sisters, Clifford Thomas of Hermiston, Robert Thomas of Redmond and Doreen Norris of Pendleton, Gordon Thomas of Newberg, Ralph Thomas of Spokane, Junior Thomas of Portland, Orville Thomas of Cumberland, Maryland, Lucille Carney of Hamilton, Montana, Shirley Iverson of Missoula, Montana, Roy Thomas of Hamilton, Montana and Gerald Thomas of Vancouver, Washington; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by sisters, Myrtle Visser and Faye Rosen and brother, Ray Thomas.


Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Mr. Thomas to the American Diabetes Association in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850.