Mary Ellen (Ware) Wilcox, 97, of La Grande, died Aug. 1. A funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. Burial will follow at the Summerville Cemetery. A reception begins at 3:30 p.m. at the La Grande Retirement Center, 1612 Seventh Street. Mary Ellen was born March 18, 1911, in Rathdrum, Idaho. She married Raymond Wilcox Feb. 2, 1954. They retired to the La Grande area. Raymond preceded her in death. Mary loved to paint landscape pictures of places around the La Grande area. She started painting at the age of 66 and painted until she could no longer see. Survivors include son, John Leslie Hays of Portland; daughters, Donna Mae Eimstad of Eugene and Carol Marie Earle of Oakdale, Calif.; daughter-in-law, Jacquie Hays of La Grande; 15 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, William Thomas Hays, who died in January 2008.

Source:  Observer, The (La Grande, OR) – Wednesday, August 13, 2008