Jeremiah Paul Lee Mankins, 29, a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 8, 2008, at Joplin, Mo., after a short battle with cancer.
His memorial service was Nov. 12 at Miami, Okla. There will be a celebration of his life in Baker City at 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Harvest Church, 3720 Birch St.
Jeremiah was born on July 10, 1979, at Wichita, Kan., to John and Tami Mankins. He moved to Oregon with his parents in April 1980.
Jeremiah attended Brooklyn School and then Baker Valley Christian Academy. He was very active in the Royal Rangers club while growing up. He graduated in 1996.
In 1998, Jeremiah moved to Cherokee, Okla., where he met his future wife, Melissa. They moved to northeastern Oklahoma in June of 1998.
They were married on May 7, 1999, and made their home at Commerce, Okla. Jeremiah didn’t just get a wonderful wife with his marriage, he also got a wonderful family in Oklahoma, family members said.
He was employed by Oram Materials at Joplin, Mo., as a forklift technician. His job, which he loved very much, took him to sites in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. His co-workers, bosses and customers became good friends.
Jeremiah loved to help anyone he could and he had a heart of gold, his family members said. He didn’t know a stranger and he loved his family very much.
He was a member of the Highway Tabernacle Church at Cardin, Okla., and the Harvest Church in Baker City.
He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him, his family said.
Survivors include his wife, Melissa, and two sons, Ryan Nowlin and Kolton Horne, all of Commerce, Okla.; his mother, Tami Mankins, and his brother, Peter Mankins, and his wife, Kim, all of Baker City; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his father and his grandparents.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, December 01, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
