Jerry Ray Needham, 67, passed away Dec. 1. Jerry was born Dec. 15, 1946, in La Grande to Clifford (Bill) and Bettie Needham of Cove. He grew up and attended all 12 years of school in Cove. Jerry married Marsha Carly in Union, and had two sons, Brian James and Bradley (Brad) Ray. He married the love of his life, Darlene Ann Lissman, after a planned date set up by his sister, Joyce, and they married after dating for four months on July 3, 1976, in Burns. He had a logging accident 10 days before they were to get married, and so Darlene had to do all the driving during their honeymoon. He tried to talk Darlene out of marrying him after the accident, but was told he wasn't getting out of it so easy. Jerry was unable to work after the logging accident. Jerry and Darlene had two children, Kimberly Dawn Needham/Jones/Male and Bill Earl Needham. That same year, the two older boys came to Burns to live with them, and that was a great joy for Jerry to have his family together. He always enjoyed all the sporting games, teaching hunter safety, and coaching baseball. He also enjoyed going hunting, fishing and camping with his family. He never knew a stranger, and always had family, nephews, and anybody else that wanted to go was always welcome to go along with him or his family. His favorite place to go camping and hunting was the Cove and Ladd Canyon area. He enjoyed the great outdoors. He always said he had nine lives and that he had used up 13 of them. Jerry is survived by his wife of 37 years, Darlene A. Needham of Burns; sons, Brian, and wife, Kim, of Hines, Brad, and wife, Becky, of Mill City, Bill, and ex-wife, Becky; daughter, Kim Jones/Male, and significant other, Matt; grandchildren, Brianna, Jake, R.J., Sarah and J.J.; great-grandson, Maddox; sisters, Joyce Olsen, and husband, Ron, Judy Foster, and husband, Kevin; many nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and many friends, including Darlene's family: father, Ray; sisters, Nila Rae, Carolyn, Sylvia; brothers-in-law, Bill Gubser and Jerry Wilcox; and brother, Dan Lissman. He was preceded in death by his father, Bill; mother, Bettie, brother-in-law, Kris Lissman; mother-in-law, Nadine Lissman; a set of twin grandchildren, and many uncles and aunts.