Loree, Earl 1938-2015

LOREE, BRUMBACH, HARTMAN, YORK, MILTON, FREEWATER, RAMOS, MALONEY

Posted By: Teddy Van Hoosen
Date: 6/26/2015 at 22:08:54

Obituary for Earl Loree, 77, who died June 11, 2015.

Earl Loree was born on April 14, 1938, to Rev. Grayden and Marjorie (Brumbach) Loree in Portland. He passed away June 11, 2015, in Boise, Idaho.

Earl graduated from Reedsport High School in 1956 and attended Linfield College, Boise Junior College and received his Bachelor’s degree in Education from Eastern Oregon State College.

As a young man in high school Earl felt a calling to missions but he met his first wife, Marie Hartman from Emmett, Idaho, and instead switched to a teaching major with a minor in geology. He married Marie Hartman on May 30, 1959 in Emmett and they were blessed with four children. He taught school in Dayville and Milton-Freewater, but also worked as a hydraulic engineer for White Brothers in Walla Walla, Wash., for a number of years.

Marie passed away from cancer in 1984 after 25 years of marriage and Earl eventually moved to Portland to attend seminary, with an intention of finally going into missions. There he met Carol Russell York at a square dance. She too was going into missions work. They were married in Israel July 13, 1986, where he was studying for his Masters of Divinity degree. He completed his degree in 1987 from Western Evangelical Seminary and together they entered Youth With A Mission, a large non-denominational missions group.

Their training in 1988 took them to the University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii, with outreach work in the Philippines, Hong Kong, China, and Korea. They served in missions in Wisconsin, Russia, Hungary and finally Richmond, Va. They served in leadership roles in both YWAM and Tikvat Israel Messianic Congregation in Richmond. Their final years were serving the Jewish Russian immigrants in Richmond, some of the most fulfilling years in ministry. In 1999 they returned to Oregon and settled in Joseph, not far from Earl’s maternal roots in Imnaha.

Earl attended Christ Covenant Church, Lostine, and was a proud member of the NRA, the Wallowa County Search and Rescue, Star Promenaders square dance club and the Wenaha Blackpowder Club. For a while he was a volunteer for the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Department. From an early age he loved the outdoors in every way, including fishing, hunting, hiking, backpacking and camping. He also enjoyed woodworking and made and sold numerous items made from exotic woods and elk and deer horn.

Earl is survived by: brother, Paul Loree (Peggy), High Valley, Idaho; spouse, Carol Russell York Loree, Joseph; children, David Loree (Beki), Milton-Freewater, Susan Loree-Ramos (Juan), Nyssa, Greg Loree (Margo), Spokane, Wash., Aaron Loree (Raquel), Newton, Iowa, Anne Maloney (John), Redmond, Dennis York (Karen), Vancouver, Wash., Mike York (Sandi), Aurora, Colo., Brian York (Mary), Molalla, Trish York (Charles), Parker, Colo.; grandchildren Carl, Chelsea, Espi, Zachary, Dylan, Kinzie, Michael, Sean, Sarah, Julia, Scott, Mitchell and Samantha; great-grandchildren Emma Loree, and twins Paxton and Ryder Ramos.

He was predeceased by his parents, Rev. Grayden and Marjorie Loree, and spouse, Marie Hartman Loree.

A memorial service was held June 13, 2015, at Christ Covenant Church in Lostine. Son Rev. Aaron Loree was the officiate along with Paul Loree, Lay Pastor of Ola Community Church, Idaho. Interment will be at the Milton-Freewater cemetery at a later date.

Donations to Wallowa County Search and Rescue or YWAM Jewish World Office, Richmond, Va.

The family would like to thank Christ Covenant Church members and the women of Joseph United Methodist Church for the luncheon they provided. ~ The Wallowa County Chieftain, Enterprise, Ore 22 Jun 2015.