Obituaries: Errolo Burford, ‘Marie' Ishmael

Errolo Burford

Paula Errolo Burford, 80, of College Place, Wash., a former Medical Springs resident, died Sept. 17, 2006, at her daughter's home.

Her funeral was at 1 p.m. today at the chapel of the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home in Milton-Freewater. A concluding service and interment was at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery.

Errolo was born on March 25, 1926, at Medical Springs. She was the youngest of 10 children born to Joseph Coleman and Katie Rosilla Deuel Lay. She was raised on a ranch near Union and attended Union schools.

After graduation from high school, she attended Brigham Young University at Provo, Utah, where she studied art. Later she moved to Los Angeles and worked for Western Union.

On Sept. 16, 1949, she married a hometown Oregon boy, Clifford Edwin Burford, in Los Angeles. The newlyweds returned to Oregon and eventually had six children. They lived at Milton-Freewater for several years. She was a full-time mom, who taught, loved and encouraged her children. She loved music and the arts and provided lots of hands-on creative experiences for her children.

Errolo enjoyed oil painting, cake decorating, creative writing, sewing and all kinds of crafts. She was a fun-loving, enthusiastic person with a great sense of humor.

She valued friendship and had many friends throughout the country. After the Burfords retired, they moved to Walla Walla, Wash., in 1990.

Errolo was an avid genealogist who generously taught and assisted others with their family research. She was very active in her church, blessing many lives with her compassionate service.

Her great example of faith, compassion and love will forever be remembered by her family and all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, who died on March 9, 2005.

Survivors include her four sons, Blaine Burford of Prescott, Ariz., Kim Burford of College Place, Wash., Paul Burford of Sherwood and Zane Burford of Queen Creek, Ariz.; two daughters, Erralee Cleveland of McMinnville, and Paula Mooso of College Place, Wash.; a sister, Gay Lerwill of Redding, Calif.; 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; 36 nieces and nephews; and numerous great- and great-great nieces and nephews.

‘Marie' Ishmael

Alta "Marie" Ishmael, 75, of Hermiston, a former Baker County resident, died Sept. 4, 2006, at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, Wash., of complications after cardiac surgery.

Her memorial service was Sept. 9 at Burns Mortuary Chapel in Hermiston. Friends joined the family for a potluck afterward at her home.

She was born on Dec. 4, 1930, at Weiser, Idaho, to parents J.R. "Ted" and Orpha Knee Dyer. They lived at Robinette until dams were built on the Snake River and the town was flooded. She always missed her childhood home.

Marie moved to Hermiston in 1988 and had lived there since. She was a caregiver for the past 18 years and took great pride in helping people stay in their homes and remain independent. She enjoyed working in her yard growing flowers, vegetables, and fruit.

Her yard was her oasis. She walked early in the morning on Baxter Road with her two trekking sticks that her son had made for her.

Survivors include her ex-husband and friend, Bill Ishmael of Hillsboro; daughters, Twilla Berrett of Milwaukie, Teri Jacobs of Hermiston, Marline Byrne-Schnelling of Spray, Sonja Weems of Hermiston and Chris Byrne of Nyssa; son, Todd Thurston of Hermiston; sisters, Grace Fields of Glenns Ferry, Idaho, Donna Kanyid of Baker City and Senie Reed of Irrigon; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Lelaini Matzen in 2002; his brother, Willard Fields; and a grandson, Thad Weems.

Memorial contributions may be made to Vange John Memorial Hospice at 645 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston, OR 97838.