Baker City Oregon

Baker County Oregon Sketches

Sydney Abell, Justice of the Peace opened the first legally constituted court in Baker County, October 29th 1862. The first case was that of the people vs. D. Scott, action to bind defendant to keep the peace, entered on complaint of Thomas Ricketts. The prosecuting witness failed to appear and the case was dismissed. Of the thirty-two cases docketed up to January 1st, 1863, there were four of the kind above cited, three suits about town lots in Auburn, Fifteen to recover money, five replevin cases, one unlawful detention, one felonious intent to cheat, one petty larceny, one assault and … Read more

Culley, Vivian L. Bacus Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Vivian L. Culley, 75, a resident of Baker City, died Dec. 8, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. A family memorial service will be held at a later date. Mrs. Culley was born April 24, 1927, in New Plymouth, Idaho, a daughter of Harvey W. and Clarissa Lenore Lakey Bacus. She was raised and educated in the Baker and Haines area, graduating from Haines High School. She enjoyed driving around the Baker Valley looking at animals, and also enjoyed making latch hook rugs. She is survived by six children, 13 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, two nephews and three … Read more

MacPherson, Alice Marie Ensminger Mrs. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Alice Marie Ensminger Mac-Pherson, 82, of Union died Oct. 15, 2002, at a La Grande care facility after a brief illness. There will be a memorial service in the spring and burial will be in the Union Cemetery at Union. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel 1508 Fourth St., La Grande. Alice was born Feb. 7, 1920, to Herschell R. and Harriett M. Ford Ensminger at Baker City. The family lived at Granite for several years before moving to Pondosa where she attended public school. She was a 1938 graduate of Union High School. In … Read more

Erskine, Robert S. – Obituary

Robert S. Erskine, 87, of Pendleton, a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 23, 2006, at Willowbrook Terrace in Pendleton. His memorial service was Dec. 2 at Bishop Funeral Chapel in Pendleton. Inurnment will be later at Lewiston, Idaho. Robert was born on May 22, 1919, at Lincoln, Ark., to Robert and Grace Ham Bryant. His father, Robert, died in the flu epidemic. Robert moved with his family to Texas and then later to Idaho where he graduated from Lewiston High School. He married Edna Mae Olson on Feb. 9, 1940, at Craigmont, Idaho. He served in the Pacific Theater … Read more

McBroom, Carlon M. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Carlon M. McBroom, 69, of Baker City, died Jan. 1, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Baker City Amvets will conduct the service. Visitations will be today until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Carlon was born Dec. 16, 1934, at Bernie, Mo., to Ada Belle and Joseph McBroom. He attended school in Richland, graduating from Eagle Valley High School in 1952. Upon graduating, he spent the next 10 years in the U.S. Air Force, serving in Alaska, Georgia, Spain and lastly … Read more

Cloudt, Avery L. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Avery L. Cloudt, 82, died May 16, 2006, at the Elmore County Medical Facility at Mount Home, Idaho. Avery was born on Oct. 23, 1923, to Francis and Richard Cloudt at Red Rock, N.M., the youngest of three children. The family moved to the Eastern Oregon and western Idaho areas when he was 6. He attended area schools and was a 1941 Baker High School graduate. Avery worked as a miner’s helper at Cornucopia Mine until December 1941 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He became an electrician in the Navy. He was honorably … Read more

McQuain, Elvera I. Sawyer Mrs. – Obituary

Elvera I. McQuain, 73, of Hermiston, a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 7, 2002, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the chapel at Burns Mortuary of Hermiston. She was born on Dec. 18, 1928, at Cody, Wyo., to Archie and Myrtle Achenbach Sawyer. She attended grade school at Laramie, Wyo., then moved with her family to Baker City, where she graduated from high school. She attended the University of Wyoming at Laramie. On Jan. 8, 1956, she married Martie McQuain II at Laramie, Wyo. The couple lived in Wyoming … Read more

Kelley, Loyd Delmar – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Loyd Delmar Kelley, 81, of Baker City, died Aug. 23, 2006, at his home. His funeral was Friday at 1 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home. Pastor Monte Loyd of Harvest Church officiated. Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery. Loyd was born Oct. 15, 1924, in Parthenan, Ark., to Robert and Laura (Smith) Kelley. He was raised and went to school in Parthenan, which is also where he married Ruth Cain on Oct. 1, 1944. Loyd worked most of his life in the lumber industry. He and Ruth came to the Baker City area from Lakeview in July … Read more

Crooke, Bill Jack – Obituary

Bill Jack Crooke, 81, of Pendleton, died Feb. 27, 2007, at his home after a long illness. His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Berean Baptist Church (the former Calvary Baptist Church) at 8 N.W. Ninth St., in Pendleton. Pastor Carl LeTourka will officiate. He was born on April 4, 1925, at Meridian, Idaho, to Ruth Ester and Jack Crooke. He was raised by his grandmother, Mrs. White, in the Meridian, Idaho, area. He attended school there until he went to live with his father and stepmother at Union at the age of 15. When he … Read more

DeRoest, Leon Douglass

La Grande, Oregon Leon Douglass DeRoest, 52, of La Grande died Nov. 1, 2001, at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland after a short illness. His service will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Mr. DeRoest was born on July 15, 1949, at Baker City to Toye Loudeen White and Leon Philemon DeRoest. He was a 1967 Baker High School graduate. In 1968, he married … Read more

Heidel, Edward Richard “Eddie” – Obituary

Edward Richard “Eddie” Heidel, 69, of Haines, died April 8, 2006, at the Boise Veterans Extended Care Unit. At his request, his body was cremated. There will be a celebration of his life Saturday, April 22, at the Haines School. Everyone is welcome to bring a potluck dish and share memories of Eddie. He was born on Sept. 29, 1936, at Cincinnati to Earl and Eunice Schwartz Heidel. After graduation from Hamersville High School in Ohio in 1956, he joined the U.S. Army. After a brief marriage and the birth of a son, he left Ohio for the West Coast. … Read more

Bowman, Florestine L. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Florestine L. Bowman, 79, of La Grande died Sept. 21 at her home. A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St. Burial at Summerville Cemetery will be private. Mrs. Bowman was born Oct. 24, 1926, to Ray and Ida Rich Taylor in Baker City. She attended school in Baker City, and on March 20, 1948, married Arnol “Tuffy” Bowman. They moved to Pondosa where he worked at the mill. In 1958 they moved to La Grande. She was known for her beautiful yard and roses and for her … Read more

Love, Walter, J. – Obituary

Keating, Oregon Walter J. Love, 87, of Baker City, a longtime Keating resident, died Aug. 7, 2006, at St. Elizabeth Care Center. His memorial service will be at 9 a.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Michael Thompson will officiate. Walt was born on Oct. 17, 1918, at Baker City to Clarence and Ethel Love. He attended Baker County schools and was a 1936 Baker High School graduate. He joined the Army Air Corps on July 15, 1940, and served in Africa, Italy, Corsica and France during World War II after several stateside assignments. He … Read more

Rowan, Norman Juaquin – Obituary

Death Summons Norman Rowan Graduate of Oregon State College Here Since 1922 Norman J. Rowan died September 6 at 10 o’clock at his home on Colorado street. Norman Juaquin Rowan was born at Inwood, Indiana November 14, 1869 and came to Oregon with his parents when he was six years old, settling at Pleasant Hill. He was graduated from Oregon State College in 1893. Mr. Rowan married Caroline Sturgill in 1900 at Sanger, Oregon and lived in Baker county until his death. He moved to Baker in 1922. He is survived by his widow Mrs. Caroline Rowan; a daughter, Mrs. … Read more

McCracken, Ray – Obituary

Ray “Cracker” McCracken, 95, of Baker City died Sept. 28, 2009, at Settler’s Park Assisted Living Center. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Assembly of God Church in Riggins, Idaho. Ray was born on Nov. 13, 1913, at Farmington, Iowa. He came to Idaho at the age of 14 with his parents. Their car broke down at Council so he stayed and worked at ranching and mining at Hornet Creek, Bear Cuprum, Idaho. Ray worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934. In 1935 he started work for the Circle C Ranch at New Meadows, Idaho … Read more

Hatfield, Lillian Porter Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Lillian Hatfield, 83, of Baker City, died Feb. 27, 2005, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. Her memorial service and reception was Tuesday at Coles Funeral Home. Pastor Gordon Bond of the Richland Christian Church officiated. Mrs. Hatfield was born on April 19, 1921, at Des Moines, Iowa, to Merrill and Charlotte Porter. She married Don Hatfield on Aug. 24, 1940, at Des Moines. In 1985, she moved to Baker City, where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Jim Morrissey. Lillian liked to read and cook, and she enjoyed gardening. She … Read more

Williams, Carl J. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Carl J. Williams, 86, of Baker City, died Dec. 21, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Friends are invited to join the family for the praying of the rosary, at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the cathedral. The Rev. Rob Irwin will officiate. Graveside inurnment will be later at Prineville’s Juniper Haven Cemetery. Carl was born at Monroe, N.H., on Oct. 16, 1917, to Carl J. and Luella Williams. He grew up at McIndoe Falls, Vt. He worked in … Read more

Wright, Calvin Ray “Cal” – Obituary

Calvin Ray “Cal” Wright, 52, of Hamilton, Mont., a former longtime Baker City resident, died Aug. 24, 2008, as the result of an accident. There will be a memorial barbecue Sunday in his honor at Hamilton, Mont. He was born March 10, 1965, at Waynoka, Okla., to Coral Belle Boren. When he was 2, Cal moved with his mother to Idaho. There she met and married Robert Boren who Cal respected and loved as his father. Cal grew up on a ranch at Emmett, Idaho, along with his eight brothers and two sisters. On Jan. 8, 1976, he married the … Read more

Combs, Harold – Obituary

Harold Combs, 83, of Baker City, died Oct. 16, 2005, at the Veterans Hospital in Walla Walla, Wash. At his request, he will be cremated and his ashes returned to his favorite place near Bates. There will be no funeral. Harold was born March 19, 1922, at Austin to John and Margaret Combs. He was a World War II veteran. He lived most of his life in and around the areas of Bates, Austin and Baker City, and had worked for the Oregon Lumber Company throughout the years doing various jobs. The old engines used for transporting logs and lumber … Read more

Depoali, Frances Fernell Neel Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Frances Fernell Depoali, 85, of Baker City, died July 15, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center after surgery to repair her fractured hip and developing pneumonia. Her memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 975 S. Bridge St. John Skurat, a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses, will conduct the service. Interment will be with her father at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Fernell was born on Nov. 7, 1918, at Chandler, Ariz., to Arthur Thomas and Mary Alabama Neel. While her father looked for work during the Depression, the … Read more