Leo Herbert Boyce, 81, of Desert Hot Springs, Calif., died March 6, 2001, at Palm Springs, Calif., after a brief illness.
There was a private service for Mr. Boyce. The Desert Hot Springs Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Boyce was born on Dec. 13, 1919, at Baker City to John and Sophia Sinclair Boyce. He grew up in Baker City and was a 1940 Baker High School graduate. He married Florence Harrington on Sept. 11, 1973, at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
His grandparents were pioneers. They came to Oregon by wagon train in 1880 and settled in Baker Valley.
Mr. Boyce served in World War II. He was a member of Co. F, 186th Infantry, the Baker unit of the Oregon National Guard. They were called into active duty in 1940.
He served with Co. F at Fort Lewis, Wash., and throughout the Pacific. They went to Australia and then was in the Papuan Campaign, the New Guinea campaign, the occupation of Biak and the Philippines invasion. He was discharged in 1946.
He entered the restaurant business in Portland in 1946 and owned and operated a restaurant for years before moving to Kennewick, Wash. There he owned and operated a catering service. He became known as a gourmet cook. When he retired they moved to Desert Hot Springs, but for several years he maintained a summer home in Baker City.
One of his interests was the treatment of diabetes. He was one of the original founders of the Children’s Diabetes Camp, which is still operating at Gales Creek. He helped build the camp and continued to be very active in the program.
He often used his vacation time to cook at the camp. Several Baker County children attend the camp every year and receive expert education on medications and diet.
Mr. Boyce was a sportsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was an enthusiastic golfer until his death. He started playing golf as a youngster. His home was near the old Baker golf course on the east side of town. He worked as a caddy to finance his golfing.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Gales Creek Foundation, 415 N. State St., No. 120, Lake Oswego, OR 97034-3231.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, March 27, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor