Obituaries for the week of June 5 to June 9

Paul Opperman

Paul V. Opperman, 37, died June 6, 2006, in Hillsboro in an auto accident.

A memorial service is planned at noon on Friday at Fir Lawn Mortuary, 1070 West Main St. in Hillsboro. Graveside services will be on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Prairie City Cemetery.

Paul was born in Ontario on Jan. 2, 1969, and grew up in Prairie City, where he graduated in 1987.

Known for his strong will, sense of humor and sometimes larger than life antics, a favorite saying of his family and close friends was, "you can take the boy out of Eastern Oregon, but you can't take Eastern Oregon out of the boy".

Paul attended Western Oregon State College and was employed at Royal Moore Auto Center for the past 12 years where he developed many friendships.

He is remembered for his big heart, intense love of his family, lifelong friendships, generosity and genuine concern for others. Paul lived big and loved much. His passions included sports, nature, fishing, local and Native American history, and truth.

He is loved and remembered by his mother and stepfather, Sharon and Keith Kennedy; his father and stepmother, Paul David and Linda Opperman; two brothers, David and his wife, Melissa, and Mark and his wife, Robin; two sisters, Nina Press and her husband, Ron, and Joy McCall and her husband, Ron, and nine nieces and nephews, who thought of him affectionately as their "Jungle Gym."

Paul, we miss you and love you! Thanks for touching all our lives.

Remembrances can be made at any U.S. Bank to the Trust for Paul Opperman.

Orville Shirley

Orville Dee Shirley, 79, of La Grande, died June 2, 2006, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

Cremation will take place at Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory in Baker City. Burial of the cremated remains will be later at the Enterprise Cemetery.

Orville as born on Oct. 21, 1926, at Wallowa to Chet and Lady Clair Mabor Shirley. He lived at Enterprise until age 15 when the family moved to the Willamette Valley.

He worked in the Oregon shipyards during the war. He later made his career in the timber industry as a log truck driver and millwright. He took a position with Boise Cascade in La Grande where he worked until his retirement.

Orville enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also liked working with automobiles, of which he had several.

Survivors include his sons, Dee Allan Shirley and George Lee Shirley, both of La Grande.

Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel is in charge of arrangements.