William Edward Elam

William Edward "Bill" Elam, age 74, of La Grande, died Saturday, June 7, 2003 at his home in La Grande.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley with Pastor Gary Hood of the Pioneer Park Church of God officiating. Committal and interment will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery.

Mr. Elam was born on August 12, 1928, the son of Clarence Thomas and Dorothy L. (Lynch) Elam in Warsaw, Missouri on the family farm. When he was in the second grade the family moved to La Grande where he graduated from La Grande High School with the class of 1948. During the Korean War he served with the United States Army. On July 11, 1953 he married Barbara Harlow in La Grande. He worked for McDonald Electric for several years and later owned and operated Bill's Auto Electric until his retirement.

Mr. Elam was an active member of the Pioneer Park Church of God. He will be remembered as a happy, outgoing man who loved people. He was an avid fisherman and built not only his home but several tractors. He enjoyed his home and garden.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara of La Grande; sisters and brothers-in-law, Frances and Ken Lillard of La Grande, Lois Jacobson of Bellevue, Washington, Leta and Rodger Dalgleish of Portland, Naomi and Don Grieger of Yakima, Washington and Nadine and Bob Marsland of Meridian, Idaho;

Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Mr. Elam to the Pioneer Park Church of God in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley.