Baker City Oregon

Biography of Hon. Michael Carey

Hon. Michael Carey, a member of the Idaho state senate (session of 1899), and one of the leading mine-owners of the commonwealth, now residing at Ketchum, Blaine County, is a native of the Emerald Isle. He was born December 12, 1844, a son of Michael and Mary (Tracy) Carey, both of whom were natives of Ireland, whence they crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1850, bringing with them their family of seven children. They settled in Keweenaw County, Michigan, where the parents spent their remaining days. The father was a man of intelligence and a surveyor by profession. … Read more

Sturgill, Ben F. – Obituary

A Pioneer Passes Ben F. Sturgill, a pioneer of Powder River valley, died at his home in Baker last Monday. Mr. Sturgill lived for a number of years on a farm at Wingville, but was lately living on a homestead in Lower Powder River. He had led an active life in farming and livestock raising for many years. He had never married. North Powder News Saturday July 12, 1919

Oldland, James Leonard, III – Obituary

James Leonard Oldland III, 76, of Central Point, died Friday, March 7, 2003, at Providence Medford Medical Center in Medford. His funeral was held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 15, at the First Church of the Nazarene at Medford. Pastor Kevin Gowland officiated. There was a reception at the church after the service. Mr. Oldland was born on March 25, 1926, at Bellingham, Wash. At the age of 8, his family returned to Coos Bay. He attended Bay area schools and was a graduate of Marshfield High School where he played football. After a year of college he joined the … Read more

Brown, Helen Louise Emerson Mrs. – Obituary

Helen Louise Brown, 86, of La Grande, a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 29, 2004, at a La Grande care center. Her graveside service was Nov. 1 at the Island City Cemetery. Mark Schlessman of the First Christian Church in La Grande officiated. Loveland Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Brown was born on Feb. 11, 1918, to Jack W. and Mabel Clara Vest Emerson at Wallowa. She was the descendant of early Wallowa County pioneers, William Harvey Vest and Ellen Mollissia Cole. She attended elementary school in Baker City for a year and graduated from La … Read more

Hiatt, George O. – Obituary

George O. Hiatt, 77, died Aug. 20, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services, after a short illness. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Gordon Bond will officiate. There will be a reception after the service at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St. Private interment will be later at Salubria Cemetery in Cambridge, Idaho. George was born on July 31, 1931, at the family farmhouse in Cambridge, Idaho, to George Wallace and Edith Sutton Hiatt. He was raised in several towns in Oregon and Idaho, graduating … Read more

Pratt, Edythe Augusta Boyce Mrs. – Obituary

Edythe Augusta Pratt, 91, of Prairie City, died Aug. 23, 2006, at Blue Mountain Nursing Home in Prairie City. Her graveside service will be Friday at 1 p.m. at the Haines Cemetery, with Pastor Frank Humber officiating. There will be a reception afterward at the Haines Baptist Church. Visitations will be Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Edythe was born on Aug. 8, 1915, at Baker City to Robert and Leilath Boyce. She had three brothers and five sisters. She married Louis Franklyn Pratt in 1933 and was married … Read more

Incidents in Pioneer Days in Baker County, Oregon

People who come to the Pacific States in palace cars, making the trip in four or five days, can have but a faint conception of the toils and hardships endured by those who crossed the plains with teams before the advent of railroads. Experience would also be necessary, perhaps, to enable one to fully appreciate the humorous phases of the journey; but doubtless scores of old pioneers have smiled at sight of a certain paper which was posted on a tree by the side of the trail between Elk creek and Auburn in the fall of ’62, for it could … Read more

Haines, Christene Lois French Corcoran Mrs. – Obituary

Christene Lois Corcoran Haines, 74, of New Plymouth, Idaho, and formerly of Baker City, died April 12, 2008, at home with her family at her side. Her memorial services will be at 3 p.m. MDT Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in New Plymouth. Pastor Phil Pittman will officiate. There will be a dinner at the church for family and friends after the service. There will be a graveside memorial service at 2 p.m. PDT Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City. Chris was born on March 25, 1934, in Friendsville, Tenn., to Hoyle and Myrtle French. She was … Read more

Simonis, Russell – Obituary

Russell Simonis, 48, of Las Vegas, Nev., a former North Powder resident, died Sept. 10, 2006, at Las Vegas of natural causes. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the North Powder Cemetery. He was born on June 11, 1958, to Vernon and Earlene Baker Simonis. He married Sandra Stone at Las Vegas. Survivors include his wife, Sandra; and brothers, Ricky of North Powder, Rodney of New Plymouth, Idaho, and Gary of Las Vegas; and a sister, Marrsue. He was preceded in death by his parents. Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, November 22, … Read more

Spence, Mary Jane Warner Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Jane Warner Spence, age 85, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 surrounded by her eight children. She will be greatly missed by her large and loving family and friends. Mary was born in Baker, Ore., on April 3, 1924, to EJ and Hazel Warner. She married her high school sweetheart Meredith Spence in 1954. She graduated from Baker High School. She enjoyed baking, gardening, and was an accomplished flower arranger. She was a long time member of the Provo Community Church. Mary is survived by her children: Greg (DeeAnn), Tim (Cindy), Loy (Mark) Holt, Roger (Megan), Brad … Read more

Phelps, James Edmond – Obituary

James Edmond Phelps, 73, of Payette, Idaho, died Dec. 20, 2002, at an Ontario care home. His funeral was at 10 a.m. today at the United Methodist Church in Payette, Idaho. Pastor John Tucker officiated. His graveside service was at 1 p.m. today at Mount Hope Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel at Payette. Jim was born April 29, 1929, at Chelan Falls, Wash., to Samuel and Gladys Phelps. He was a Baker High School graduate. Jim’s life centered on his love for his family, his love of animals, and his work. He ranched in the … Read more

Duncan, Leslie – Obituary

Leslie Vern Duncan, 90, 1350 10th St. who ranched and farmed in the Medical Springs and Ebell Creek areas, died Friday, May 8, 1987, at St. Elizabeth Hospital. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. The Rev. Greg Eicher of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Duncan was born March 12, 1897 at Medical Springs to Richard and Julia Ann Gobel Duncan. He married Blanche Ramsey in Weiser, Idaho, on March 11, 1941. He attended school in Medical Springs and was … Read more

Kennedy, Beverly L. Mrs. – Obituary

Beverly L. Kennedy, 83, of Bremerton, Wash., a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 17, 2008, after a courageous battle against cancer. A memorial service celebrating her life will be scheduled in the future. Beverly was a 1942 Baker High School graduate. She attended Linfield College at McMinnville before marrying Robert D. Kennedy Jr. in October 1943 at Philadelphia. Mrs. Kennedy was active in the Parent-Teacher Association, Cub Scouts and Blue Birds. She was particularly proud of her involvement in Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and her work with the PEO. She was an active member of the Kitsap … Read more

Dunn, Jaycee Marie – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Jaycee Marie Dunn, 13, of Baker City died Aug. 11, 2006, at Doernbechers Children’s Hospital in Portland. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Baker Middle School Auditorium, Fifth Street and Court Avenue. Pastor Lennie Spooner of the First Church of the Nazarene will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception in the school gymnasium after the service. Jaycee Marie Dunn was born on June 15, 1993, at Ontario to Keith Thomas and Jill Marie Greenwood Dunn. She was raised in Baker City where she attended school. Jaycee completed … Read more

Cardwell, Bryan Stanley – Obituary

Bryan Stanley Cardwell, 75, a former Baker City resident, died April 27, 2003, at his home in Netarts. At his request, disposition was by cremation. Bryan was born Aug. 16, 1927, at Caldwell, Idaho, to Lloyd E. “Blackie” and Clara W. Shuey Cardwell. He was the oldest of three children. The family moved to Baker City in the early 1930s. He married Eujeanna O’Brien on Sept. 5, 1946. She died in 1965. Bryan and Eujeanna had four daughters. He married Nellie Padgett in September 1965. She died in 1997. Bryan worked in the logging industry, sawmills and mining. He also … Read more

Kolb, Louis Edward “Louie” – Obituary

Louis Edward “Louie” Kolb, 56, of La Grande, a former Baker City resident, died April 18, 2006, at Boardman. His funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Pastor Kirk Sager will officiate. After the service, friends are invited to join the family for a reception at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St. Louie, Baker Valley’s version of Sam Elliott, was born at Baker City on Dec. 8, 1949, to George W. Kolb Sr. and Juanita A. Errend Kolb. He attended Baker Valley Schools and never met a teacher smarter … Read more

Backlund, Donna Ratliff Kowing Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Donna Kowing Backlund, 61, of Baker City, died Sept. 27, 2002, at John Day. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Shiela Kowing, who live up Laycock Creek in the John Day area. Mrs. Backlund was born May 4, 1941, at Tillamook to Lawrence and Frieda Ammeter Ratliff. She grew up on a homestead near Washougal, Wash., where she was schooled. She later attended Blue Mountain Community College and was a certified dental assistant employed at Baker City for several years. On Dec. … Read more

Standerfer, Olive M. Best Mrs. – Obituary

Olive M. Standerfer, 85, a lifelong resident of Baker county, died Dec. 6, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Graveside services will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery. Minister John Goodyear of Baker Valley Church of Christ will officiate. Visitation will be today until 7 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, Oregon. Mrs. Standerfer was born Feb. 19, 1917, on the Lower Powder Ranch in Keating. She was a daughter of William Henry and Pearl (Shulenbarger) Best. She received her education in the Keating School. In 1940, she married Larkin Parsons. They later … Read more

Olson, Elwood Sherman Eric – Obituary

Elwood Sherman Eric Olson, 74, of Baker City, died March 28, 2008, at his home. There will be a memorial service celebrating his life at 2 p.m. April 11 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Club, 2005 Valley Ave. Elwood was born on July 31, 1933, at Baker City to Olaf and Francis Angelina Bennett Olson. He was raised and educated at Baker City. He married Barbara Phillips at Baker City on April 24, 1959. Elwood worked for Oregon Lumber Co. in Baker City, for many years. In 1970, he moved to Bend and went to work for Stan Wood … Read more