Reta Mae Younce

Reta Mae Younce passed away in La Grande Monday, July 16, 2012, at age 91. Her funeral service will be Saturday, July 21st, 2:00 p.m., at the Union Methodist Church. Interment will be at the Union Cemetery. Reta was born March 26, 1921 in Deep Gap, North Carolina, the second of eight children born to Columbus and Bessie Mae Watson. She grew up in the country, helping with chores on the family farm. The Watson family loved to sing together. Reta had a beautiful alto voice and sang with her sisters at church and on the radio, performing as the Watson Sisters. She married Dallas W. Younce in December of 1939. Dallas owned a small sawmill. Reta cooked for the hired hands, tended a large garden and cared for the farm animals. In 1953 they moved west with their three children to Grant, Montana, where Dallas continued in the sawmill business. The family came to Union, Oregon in 1958. She and Dallas bought a small farm on the edge of town where together they raised cattle and tended an apple orchard. Reta's joy in life was spending time with family and close friends. She also loved working in her flower garden and reading. She is survived by her daughter Brenda (Younce) Gray and son-in-law Don of Union; sisters Ora Phillips of Fleetwood, North Carolina; Mary May of Lansing, North Carolina; Arlee Brown of Elkton, Maryland; Violet Osborne of Elkton, Marilyn and Evelyn Neaves of Whitesett, North Carolina; 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husband Dallas and sons George and Larry, sisters Catherine Phillips, Louise Church and brother Howard Watson. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Union County Museum, the March of Dimes Foundation, or the charity of your choice, in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 4th Street, La Grande OR 97850. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.