Richard Morgan Hartsock

Richard Morgan Hartsock was born on September 29, 1910, in near What Cheer, Iowa. He was the youngest of 7 living children. At 94, he went to be with the Lord on February 20, 2005.

Viewing will be held on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley with services at 11:00 a.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Committal and Entombment will follow at the Grandview Cemetery Mausoleum. A sharing time will be held after the committal at the Presbyterian Friendship Center.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years Viva C. Hartsock, who passed away April 16, 1990. All of his sisters and one brother have also preceded him in death. He was a loving, caring Dad and Grandpa, and will be missed greatly by his family.

Survivors include his two daughters and their husbands, Collette and Coy Massie of Auburn, Washington and Lesta Lea and Edwin Craig of Montclair, California. He was very proud of his 4 grandchildren and their families Linda and Bob Lang, Rick and Jennifer Massie, Tim and Miko Ohno Craig and Julie Craig. Adding to his joy were 6 great grandchildren, Richard James Morgan and Tanner Lang, Heather and Susan Massie, Brendan and Briana Craig. Also surviving him are 3 nieces and 1 nephew.

Mr. Hartsock started a career in the bakery business in 1928. He worked in various bakeries in Nebraska and Iowa. He later owned 2 in Cambridge, and later in Ogallala, Nebraska. He and Viva and their 2 daughters moved to La Grande in 1948. Together they ran the D&V Donut Shop with the assistance of Lyle "Bud" and Eva Bennett. He always felt that "Bud" was the son he never had and sorely missed him when he died in the early 1990's. Upon selling the business to Bud, in 1955, he became a Union County Appraiser for the Assessor's office. He became the Assessor of Union County in 1958. He was president of the Assessor's Association of Oregon for 2 years. He remained in the Assessor's office till his retirement in 1975. He was always very proud of his girls and their families, his businesses, his work as Assessor, his membership in the First Presbyterian Church, the B.P.O.E. (Elks), and the La Grande Lions Club.

After losing his sight, Richard sold the family home on Spring Street and lived at Tamarack Apartments for a few years. He was a familiar site on his little cart with the orange flag around the area. He loved his little dog Lady, and took her everywhere until her death. For the last 2 1/2 years he has lived at the Grand Ronde Retirement Residence where he has received wonderful love and care. The family would like to thank Hospice nurses Terri Gross and Theresa Smith-Dixon, for their loving friendship and care of our Dad.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Grande Ronde Hospital Hospice Program, 900 Sunset Drive, La Grande, Oregon 97850 or the First Presbyterian Church, 1308 Washington Avenue, La Grande, Oregon 97850 or to Talking Book and Braille Services, Oregon State Library, 250 Winter Street N.E., Salem, Oregon 97301-3950.