Hughes

Loren W. Hughes, 89, of La Grande passed away from natural causes with his family by his side on Friday, January 29, 2016 at a local care facility. A celebration of life will be held at the La Grande First Christian Church on Saturday, March 5, 2016, at 2 p.m. Casual dress is preferred by the family.

Loren was born June 15, 1926, in Flagler, Colorado, to Loren E. and Mary M. (Colpitts) Hughes. His family moved to Stanfield, Oregon when he was 3 years old. Loren attended Stanfield High School and in June 1944 enlisted in the Navy. He served our country during World War II stationed on the USS Carlisle (APA 69). After the war Loren attended Oregon Technical Institute in Klamath Falls where he completed a watch repair course and also coached tennis, swimming and diving during the summer session.

Loren met his future wife, Betty Plass, at a rolling skating rink in Hermiston, Oregon. They were married for 65 years this past November. In 1950, Loren and Betty moved to La Grande where Loren worked for George Birnie in Birnie’s Jewelry as a watch repairman. In 1955, Loren and Betty bought Birnie’s Jewelry and ran the family business until they retired in 1999. When Loren first moved to La Grande he officiated college and high school basketball games, and later coached Little League baseball.

Loren and Betty’s five sons were born in La Grande. Together they raised their boys on the ranch they purchased on Mt. Glenn Road. Loren loved the outdoors whether it was hunting, fishing, horse packing or bird watching. Loren taught his sons to love the outdoors as well. He always said that his sons were the greatest outdoorsmen he knew.

Loren and his family spent a great deal of time at the family’s Bear Creek Cabin in Wallowa County, which became his preferred deer and elk hunting spot in the Wallowa Mountains for over 30 years. But horse packing and trail rides were probably Loren’s favorite pastimes.

In the 1950s, Loren went hunting with the McDaniel family in Wallowa County and fell in love with horse packing. He raised up 10 horses and mules and was hooked the rest of his life.

Loren was a member of the Lions Club, the Izaak Walton League and on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Youth Authority Riverbend Facility at Hilgard. He was a strong conservationist and a member of the Oregon Forest Practices Coalition, Hells Canyon Preservation Council, Blue Mountain Alliance and a co-chair of the Oregon Wilderness Society. He received a lifetime achievement award in 2011 from the Hells Canyon Preservation Council. Loren helped start the local Union County National Wild Turkey Federation Committee. He was a member of Pheasants Forever, Friends of the NRA and also the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Among Loren’s proudest achievements was working with Dick Hentze of Baker City mapping the 870 mile Blue Mountain Heritage Trail, a web of hiking and horse trails circling the Blue Mountains from Burns, Oregon to Lewiston, Idaho.

Most of all, Loren loved his family and the time spent in a wall tent next to a hot wood stove, waiting for the boys to come home from the hunt with the stories they would tell. His strong voice, laugh and handshake will be remembered by all who knew him.

Loren is survived by his wife, Betty Lou Hughes; sons, Wesley and wife, Sandy, of Irrigon, OR; Ed and wife, Susan, of Summerville, OR; Dale and wife, Linda, of La Grande, OR; Vint and wife, Linda, of Hailey, ID; and Lantz and wife, Susan, of La Grande, OR; sister, Beverly Holeman of Yuma, AZ; 10 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Loren was preceded in death by his parents, Loren and Mary; sister, Bernice Brown, and brother-in-law, Don Holeman.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wallowa Lake Lodge, Hells Canyon Preservation Council, First Christian Church Furnace Fund or the conservation organization of your choice through the Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande, OR 97850.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com