Former Enterprise banker known for sense of humor, civic pride

Robert Ernest Ferrell, 84, of Enterprise died peacefully July 31 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. August 10 at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, at NE Third and East Main streets in Enterprise. Bollman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Ferrell was born May 31, 1918 to Ernest W. and Edna Ferrell in Klondike, Ore.

He grew up on the family farm in Wasco, Ore. His family moved to The Dalles where he graduated from The Dalles High School at age 16.

As a teenager, he climbed Mt. Hood. Later, as a family man he returned to the Mt. Hood area regularly to take his family vacationing. There he enjoyed fishing. Mr. Ferrell also enjoyed bird hunting, especially duck and pheasant hunting, with his German Shorthair dogs.

As a teenager, in The Dalles, among his classmates was Mildred Hattenhauer, whom he married Jan. 12, 1941 in The Dalles at her parents home. Music for the ceremony was provided by the local radio station that dedicated a song at the appointed time.

The young couple was apart for four years while he served in the U.S. Army artillery in North Africa and Italy during World War II. Among the capriciousness of war he witnessed, was a German 88 shell hitting the abandoned farmhouse in which they stayed. It killed his buddy who happened to be sleeping in Ferrell’s bunk at that time.

After the war, he attended the University of Oregon, and returned to work for First National Bank of Oregon, first in Condon, then Union and Hood River, where he was assistant manager.

He became manager of the Moro branch in 1957. In 1960 he was promoted to manager of the Enterprise branch. He retired from there in 1974.

Mr. Ferrell was in various organizations including the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #1829. He was actively involved as a lay reader in the St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church. “St. Pat’s” was built the year Ferrells arrived in Enterprise.

The activities that Bob and Milly Ferrell enjoyed together included golfing and spending weekends along the Imnaha River. Upon retirement they moved their travel trailer to Tempe, Arizona where they wintered for over a decade.

He lost his beloved Milly to cancer in 1988. He sold their SE 5th street home above the football field and resided thereafter at Brennan’s Pleasant View Retirement Home.

Mr. Ferrell enjoyed a good joke. He long mused over an incident when they first occupied an apartment in the historic E. M. & M. (Berland) building.

While walking to work he heard a command from behind, addressed to “tech sergeant Ferrell,” something he’d not heard in 18 years. He turned to see Cliff “Pop” Collinsworth whom he hadn’t seen since they were together in basic training at Camp Roberts, Calif. in 1942.

Mr. Ferrell enjoyed his association with and the humor and philosophy of others such as the late Walter Brennan shared with him at the bank, cattlemens conventions and civic events.

One by one many of his friends and associates such as Jack Kriezenbeck, Jay Langston, Jerry Homan and Bill Dunn would “Go the way of all earth”. Their children Shane Homan, Candy Connall and Terry Lamb then became the fabric of the adult community of this place they all held so dear.

Mr. Ferrell was also preceded in death by his sisters Irma Morrison of The Dalles and Elda Clough of Tule Lake, Calif.

Survivors include his daughters Nancy Ingram and Judy Fletcher, and grandchildren Rob, Mandi and Ashley Anderson, all of Enterprise. His granddaughters Melissa Bohnenkamp and Megan Berry, and three great grandchildren reside in Bend and Baker.

Contributions may be made to the family in care of funeral home

Frederick Cornelius

Frederick Cornelius, 66, of Enterprise, died at Wallowa Memorial Hospital on August 3, 2002. Mr. Cornelius was born on September 19, 1935 in Salinas, CA to Alfred and Margaret (Skinner) Cornelius, served four years in the Air Force, was a retired auto parts salesman and enjoyed gun collecting and fishing as hobbies.

He is survived by a daughter, Cindy Shields; two sons, F. Daniel Cornelius of Cameron Park, CA, and James Cornelius; two brothers, Raymond Cornelius of Somerset, CA and Gerald Cornelius of Albany, CA; two sisters, Lorna Eichler of San Jose, CA, and Edith VanAusdle of Enterprise; and four granchildren. Mr. Cornelius was preceded in death by his wife Lynn.

Opal A. Dix

Opal A. Dix, 83, died August 1, 2002, at her home in Milton-Freewater.

Mrs. Dix was born in Frederick, OK to Jess and Lorene (Webster) Hiner on August 13, 1928. After attending school in Oklahoma, she married John Dix in 1955. During her life, Opal lived in various different east Oregon towns, including Ontario, Umatilla, McNary, Irrigon, Enterprise, and LaGrande. She enjoyed travel, cooking, sewing and was known to be an immaculate housekeeper.

She is survived by her husband, John, of Milton-Freewater; daughters Anita Carper of Richland, Linda Nixon and Cheryl Johanson, both of Pinedale, Wyo.; Carole Walter and Theresa Long, both of Milton-Freewater, and Loretta Jibreen of Colorado Springs, Colo.; sons Robert Doty of Pasco, Wash.; and Joe Austin of Hopkinsville, Ken; sisters Vernice Warnike and Betty Blank, both of Gresham; 27 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. Mrs. Dix was preceded in death by a daughter, Norma Lou; a brother, Melvin Hiner; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services took place on August 5, with Pastor John Stafford of the Village SDA Church officiating. Donation may be made in Mrs. Dix’ name to the charity of the donor’s choice, care of Mountain View Funeral Chapel, Milton-Freewater.