Baker City Oregon

Quimby, Gladys Ruby – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Gladys Ruby Quimby, 90, and a former Baker City resident died Oct. 18, 2003. A memorial service was held Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003, 3 p.m., at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Reno, Nev. Allen Wiebe, Gladys’s son-in-law was the speaker. Mrs. Quimby was born in Upton, Wyo., to John and Mary (Canfield) Busby on Jan. 9, 1913. She was the sixth of 11 children. She was married to Duane Hults in 1930 and was remarried to Lawrence quimby in 1944. She had a total of eight children, seven boys and one girl. As a young … Read more

Break, Emily L. Mrs. – Obituary

Funeral services for Emily Lucaas Break, 58, 1341 Tenth St., Baker were conducted at 3:30 pm Monday, November 15, 1965 at the Beatty Chapel. Pastor Joe Jewett officiated with concluding services in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Break was born April 5, 1907, at Baker and attended Baker grade and high schools. She was married to William E. Break February 27, 1946, in Baker and Mr. Break preceded her in death on August 31, 1964. She had been a resident of Baker most of he life and was a past president of the American Legion Auxiliary, Baker Post No. 41 and … Read more

Van Ocker, Elmer “Ole” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Elmer “Ole” Van Ocker, 87, of Baker City, died Nov. 19, 2001, at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate. Elmer was born Nov. 30, 1913, at Walla Walla, Wash., to Edna and Ernest Van Ocker. He attended school and graduated from Weston High School at the age of 16. He was a life-long mechanic and worked mostly on farm and diesel equipment. He had his own repair shop at Haines from 1955 through 1969. From … 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

Tuning, Rachel Sarah Bogart Mrs. – Obituary

Rachel Sarah Tuning, 93, of Baker City, died Nov. 14, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Roger Scovil of Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Rachel was born on May 26, 1912, at Richland to Clarence and Lyda Bogart. She was a 1931 Richland High School graduate and went on to nurses training in Baker City. She worked as a nurse at St. Elizabeth Hospital and later at Cedar Manor Nursing Home. In 1935, she married … Read more

Gale, Auburn – Obituary

Baker, Oregon Auburn Gale died Friday at his home, following a lingering illness. Mr. Gale was born in Windsor, Canada, in 1865. He came to Baker County in 1882. He has lived since that time near Durkee and Baker. He is survived by a brother, Byron Gale of Baker. Used with permission from: The Record-Courier, February 3, 1938 Transcribed by: Gary Jaensch

Crawford, Robert C. – Obituary

Aged Mining Man Succumbs Robert C. Crawford, believed to be about 66 years old, died at the Protestant hospital in Baker Sunday afternoon at 1:30 after a long illness. Mr. Crawford was identified with the mining industry in this district for several years, and was owner of the Mammoth mine in the Virtue flat district before his death. North Powder News Saturday, August 6, 1927

Munhall, Bernice V. Johnston Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Bernice V. Munhall, 87, of Baker City, died April 2, 2004, at the St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Recitation of the rosary will be at 7 o’clock tonight at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Her graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Summerville Cemetery. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will officiate. Mrs. Munhall was born on May 14, 1916, at Summerville to Victor and Martha Fries Johnston. She was educated at Imbler, graduating in 1934. After graduation she attended business college at Spokane, Wash. She worked for … Read more

Dorrah, Ruby Muriel Johnson Mrs. – Obituary

Ruby Muriel Dorrah, 86, of Baker City passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Ruby was born May 3, 1922 in Eatonville, Wash., to Fred and Ruth (Kreger) Johnson. She graduated high school and went on to attend one year of Business College. On Aug. 25, 1941, Ruby married Eddie Dorrah in Lewiston, Idaho. Ruby was a quilter and received numerous awards for her work. She also received many awards for her cooking. Her other favorite activities were clam digging, fishing, reading, bowling, sewing, embroidery, line dancing and golf. She was an avid card player, notably … Read more

Bates, Jeremy Wade – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Jeremy Wade Bates, 19, of Baker City died June 26, 2006. There will be a Celebration of Life service in his honor at 11 a.m. Friday at the American Legion, Post 41, 2129 Second St. Pastor Robin Harris of the Cornerstone Baptist Church at North Powder will officiate. Jeremy was born on Feb. 26, 1987, at Medford to Ronald and Patricia Boone Bates. He moved to Baker City with his family at age 5 in 1992. He attended Baker schools, graduating this spring as an honor student. He had received a scholarship in business and accounting. He … Read more

Challis, Charlotte Ann Peasley Mrs. – Obituary

Charlotte Ann Challis, 64, of Stanfield, and a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 4, 2002, at her home. Her graveside funeral will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Pleasant View Cemetery in Stanfield. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements. Charlotte was born March 1, 1937, at La Grande to Floyd Vernon and Dorothy Mae Pyburn Peasley. She had lived in Stanfield since 1975. Formerly she had lived at Baker City, Pendleton and Pilot Rock. On June 19, 1956, she married Clarence Challis at Reno, Nev. She was a former member of the Stanfield Moose Lodge. Charlotte … Read more

Holman, Vivian D. Harrison Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Vivian D. Holman-Harrison, 83, of Baker City, died April 28, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services with her two children by her side. At her request, there will be no service. Disposition was by cremation at Gray’s West Pioneer Crematory. Vivian was born at Bremerton, Wash., and raised at Portland with her two sisters, Evelyn and Margaret. Vivian’s life as a young girl was anything but ordinary (just like her). With a fun-loving, seam-stress/dancer mother, who immigrated from Hungary, and a father who had come from Germany, Vivian was taught to go after her dreams and passions … Read more

Davis, Claire Guttridge Mrs. – Obituary

Claire Guttridge Davis, 98, a native of Prairie City and a a longtime Baker City resident, died Feb. 12, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Chapel, 3325 Pocahontas Road. The Rev. Rob Irwin of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will officiate. Interment will be at the Prairie City Cemetery. Mrs. Davis was born May 26, 1902, at Prairie City to John Sherman and Anna Brodie Guttridge. She was raised on the Guttridge Ranch south of Prairie City and was a graduate of Prairie City High School. She married Herbert … Read more

Beck, Arlyn Duane – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Arlyn Duane Beck, 89, of Baker City, died Dec. 28, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. The rosary was said Sunday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. A Memorial Mass was celebrated Monday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. The Revs. Julian Cassar and Camillus Fernando concelebrated the Mass. Arlyn was born on Aug. 14, 1916, at Molalla, the second of four sons born to Walter A. and Agnes M. Robbins Beck. He received his early schooling in the Meadowbrook area near Molalla. When he was 12 the family moved … Read more

Hearing, Elmo LaVerne – Obituary

Elmo Hearing Lifetime Resident Graveside services for Elmo LaVerne Hearing of 1610 Dewey Ave, a lifetime Baker and Baker County resident 62 years were conducted at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 26, at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Reverend James Berentson of the First Lutheran Church officiated. Arrangements have been entrusted to Grays West and Co. Pioneer Chapel. Mr. Hearing was born May 26, 1907 at Haines, Oregon the son of pioneer Oregon parents, Frank and Faitha McCullough Hearing. He had his early schooling in Haines and was a graduate of the Haines High School. For many years he was a rancher in … Read more

Bork, Rita Joylean Mrs. – Obituary

Rita Joylean Bork, 67, a former area resident, died April 1, 2003, at Oroville, Wash. Her memorial service will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at McEwen Bible Fellowship in Sumpter Valley. Friends and family are invited to a potluck after the service. Rita was born April 19, 1935, at Dayridge, near Flora. She married Bernard Murphy at age 17. Rita became a Christian when she married Bernie. They had five children. Rita lived at Halfway, Baker City and Sumpter before moving to Oroville, Wash., four years ago. Survivors include her children, Earl Murphy of St. Helens, Audrey Murphy Handyside of … Read more

Smith, Pearl E. Knudsen Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Pearl E. Smith, 72, a longtime Baker City resident, died Sept. 12, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. At her request, there will be no service. Disposition was by cremation. Mrs. Smith was born at Blackfoot, Idaho, on June 3, 1929. She was a daughter of Rasmus and Lona Jones Knudsen. She loved to dance and decorate the homes of others with her knitting and crochet projects. She embraced the love to travel with her husband, Ken, visiting places in the Northwest, Canada and snowbirding in Arizona last year in their RV. Camping was her favorite pastime, … Read more

Shoemake, Alfred Garfield – Obituary

Funeral services for Alfred Garfield Shoemake of 225 Sixth St. will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Grays West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. He died Wednesday morning at the age of 88 at St. Elizabeth hospital after an extended illness. The Rev. James H. Soden of the Calvary Baptist Church will officiate. Shoemake was born in Monroe, Tenn., the son of George and Mahalia Smith Shoemake. He had his early schooling in Cooekville, Tenn. In 1903 he married Nora Todd Shoemake in Cooekville. He wife predeceased him in 1944. He came to Baker County in 1925 and worked for … Read more

Vandenbos, Arlo Ledell “Van” – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Arlo Ledell “Van” Vandenbos, 70, of Gresham, a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 1, 2003. Born June 8, 1932, on the Rose Bud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota, his parents were farmers who later moved their family to Valentine, Neb., where Van was raised with his three brothers and two sisters. After high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant. Much of his four years of service was spent at Adak, Alaska, during the Korean War. A tough Marine, he was especially … 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