Baker County OR

Shreffler, Clem – Obituary

Clem Shreffler, 96, of Prairie City, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 6, 2006, at Prairie City. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Darrell Johnson of Grace Chapel at Prairie City and Ed Niswender of Calvary Baptist Church at Baker City will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will until 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home. Clem E. Shreffler was born to Ferd and Mary Shreffler in Culdesac, Idaho, on Feb. 22, 1909. Clem was the fourth of six children in the family. At … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles M. Kellogg

The present mayor of Baker City, Charles M. Kellogg, is eminently qualified to occupy the highest office within the gift of her citizens. His capable direction, of municipal affairs has clearly proven his executive ability, and it is evident to all he is the right man in the right place. As an executive officer he is conservative in his ideas, truly progressive in character, every movement which he believes after thorough investigation to be for the public good meets with his hearty approval and cordial support. As a public official he is always unable, gentlemanly and approachable. Mr. Kellogg is … Read more

Carlson, Marjorie Catherine Emele Mrs. – Obituary

Marjorie Catherine Carlson, 89, a lifelong Baker City resident, died Jan. 13, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. There will be a celebration of her life at 1 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. The Rev. Aletha Bonebrake of St. Stephens Episcopal Church will officiate. Visitations will be from noon to 5 p.m. today at Gray’s West & Co. Marjorie Catherine Emele was born on Dec. 2, 1918, at Baker City to Harry and Edith Brown Emele. She was raised at Baker City and graduated from … Read more

Ondris, Joseph – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Joseph Ondris, 84, a longtime Baker City resident, died May 29, 2001, after suffering a heart attack. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, 2005 Valley Ave. His body was cremated in Boise. Mr. Ondris was born on Sept. 16, 1916, in West Virginia and was raised at Phillips, Wis., near the home of Ellingson Timber. He began his logging career in the Civilian Conservation Corps camps in Wisconsin during the Depression and the days of cross-cut saws. Prior to his service as a drill instructor in World … Read more

Jackson, Kathryn Ann “Kate” Callow Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Kathryn Ann “Kate” Jackson, 47, of Baker City, died Sept. 14, 2006. Her memorial Mass was celebrated Wednesday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral. Father Julian Cassar was the celebrant. There was a potluck reception afterward at the Eagles Lodge. Kate loved to laugh and was so full of life, her family said. “We will miss her boisterous laugh as you usually heard her before seeing her when you walked into a room,” they said. Kate loved to cook and throw dinner parties. She also loved to sew and play video games. Her favorite hobby was fishing … Read more

Carnell, Minnie Maxine Koopman Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Minni Maxine Carnell, 71, a longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 3, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Her graveside funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate. Mrs. Carnell was born on Dec. 3, 1929, at Halfway to Henry and Georgia Koopman of Halfway. She was married to Kenneth “Bud” Carnell on May 8, 1948. She often spoke of the reception that was held later that summer. The family held a huge dance party at the Halfway Dance Hall in celebration of the marriage. … Read more

Sipes, Bonnie Boesch Mrs. – Obituary

Bonnie B. Sipes, 44, Dies at Dallas Bonnie Lee Boesch Sipes, 44, a native of this valley, passed away in Dallas, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 1979. She was born January 1, 1935 in Haines, Oregon to Ferdinand and Bertha Warfield Boesch. She attended school in Muddy Creek and graduated from North Powder High School in 1953. She was active in 4-H for nine years. She was employed at the Record Courier in Baker for one year as a secretary and in art and type composition design before moving to Portland, Oregon where she was employed at the Oregon Woolen Mills. … Read more

Sawyer, Ramona Louis Noregaard Mrs. – Obituary

Ramona Louis (Noregaard) Sawyer, 78, of Sutherlin and Roseburg, Ore., went to be with the Lord on Feb. 24, 2007. She had resided in the Sutherlin and Roseburg areas for the last 18 years. Ramona was born on Jan. 20, 1929, to Harold and Ruby Noregaard of Enterprise, Ore. They later moved to Baker City, Ore., and Ramona graduate from Baker High in 1947. She married Ray Sawyer Sept. 4, 1955. They lived in Oregon, Texas, New Mexico, and California, where they resided in Livermore, Calif., for 16 years with their sons before returning to the northwest. Those who knew … Read more

Myers, Robbie Lee Bales Mrs. – Obituary

Robbie Lee Myers, 75, of Richland, died Feb. 9, 2008, at her home. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Richland Methodist Church. Interment will be in the Eagle Valley Cemetery at Richland. Robbie Lee was born on Feb. 1, 1933, at Caldwell, Kan., to Charles and Betty Lamb Bales. Robbie’s family moved to Dunsmuir, Calif., when she was in the third grade. It was then, at the age of 9, that she met her neighbor and future husband, Jim Myers. The two went through school together and were great friends. Robbie graduated from high school in … Read more

Ray-Styer, Marion Fosnot Mrs. – Obituary

Marion Ray-Styer, 74, of Baker City, died March 31, 2006, at Portland. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Coles Funeral Home. Pastor Gary Gleason of the United Pentecostal Church at Oregon City and Pastor Nathaniel Neff of The Lighthouse Pentecostal Church in Baker City will officiate. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be from noon until 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Marion was born on March 28, 1932, at Baker City to Waldo and Julia Wallaert Fosnot and spent most of her life in the community. She grew up at Pondosa … Read more

Thomas, Isaiah Paul – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Isaiah Paul Thomas, 19, of Baker City died Jan. 20, 2001, as the result of an automobile accident. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church. Pastor Ed Niswinder of Calvary Baptist Church will officiate. Interment will be at the Haines Cemetery. For visitation times, call Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 523-4300. Isaiah was born in Boise on May 10, 1981, the son of Charles and Linda McElhose Thomas. As a youngster, he was involved in many typical activities of Baker youth. He was involved in various sports at the YMCA, but soccer was his … Read more

Johnson, Frances Day Mrs. – Obituary

Frances Johnson, 91, died April 23, 2007, at Settler’s Park. At her request, there will be no funeral. Inurnment will be at Portland Memorial. Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Frances was born on Feb. 19, 1916, to Charles and Kittie Loughridge Day of Portland. She grew up in Portland where she graduated from high school in 1934. During her growing up years, Frances worked summers in her father’s business, the Chas. H. Day Co. Her grandfather and an aunt were both doctors. They sparked a keen interest in medicine for Frances. Her grandfather practiced … Read more

Goff, Shirley A. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Shirley A. Goff, 71, of Baker City, Ore., passed away at St. Elizabeth Health Care July 25, 2006. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation will be placed at the Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory. Shirley was born May 6, 1935, in Baker City to Hazel Masters. She worked for the US West Telephone Company for 32 years. She loved hunting, fishing, going to the cabin in Bourne, just outside of Sumpter, Oregon. The trips in the motor home with her mother and Aunt Vinnie were a delight and joy for her. She also … Read more

Stanbro, Ione Sorensen Mrs. – Obituary

Unity, Oregon Ione Stanbro, 89, of Unity, died Feb. 8, 2002, at Unity. Her memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Unity Grange Hall with Pastor Matt Schentz of the Burnt River Community Church officiating. Mrs. Stanbro was born on Feb. 28, 1912, at Prairie City to Cyrus McKee and Christina A. Sorensen. She was raised and educated at Prairie City and was a Prairie City High School graduate. In 1932, she married Elwood Stanbro at Fallon, Nev. Soon after that, the couple homesteaded a place on the Little Malheur River. Though they continued to live at … Read more

McCord, Tom – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Tom McCord, 89, of Halfway, Ore., died on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center in Baker City, Ore. A Celebration of life Memorial Service will be held on Friday, March 2, 2007, at 1 p.m. Pine Baptist Church in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception to be held immediately following the memorial service at the church. Thomas was born on Oct. 12, 1917, in Weiser, Idaho, to Charles and Bertha Jane (Craybill) McCord. He was raised in Weiser and graduated from Weiser High School. On July 2, 1938, Tom … Read more

Smurthwaite, Thomas D. “Tom” – Obituary

Thomas D. “Tom” Smurthwaite, 77, a former Baker resident, died May 15, 2005, at his home in Portland. His funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Dick Hindman of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will conduct. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the funeral home. Tom was born to Jesse A. Smurthwaite and Zina Stark Smurthwaite on Nov. 10, 1927, at Baker City. He was a 1945 Baker High School graduate. While in high school, he enlisted in … Read more

Forte, Robert – Obituary

Robert “Bob” Forte, 63, of Halfway, died Sept. 10, 2009, at his home. His life was celebrated Tuesday at his home in Halfway. Bob was born on Dec. 21, 1945, at Akron, Ohio, to Mary and Tony Forte. He started working with his dad at the machine shop at an early age and continued working for him after school and during the summer all the way through college. He played basketball throughout high school, college and the army (not to mention the great teams he played with in Pine Valley). After graduating with a master’s degree from the Ross School … Read more

Dean, Marvin B. – Obituary

Marvin B. Dean; 85, 2365 Fourth St., a life-time Baker and Baker County resident, died Thursday, October 1, 1981, at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home. His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Grays West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. The Rev. Gerald C. Nelson of United Methodist Church will officiate. Interment will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery. Baker veterans will fold the flag. Mr. dean was born on March 7, 1896, in Baker to Matthew and Stella Emile Dean. He attended schools in Baker and Keating. He grew up on the family ranch in Keating. He worked … Read more

Erskine, Dorothy F. Rydall Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Dorothy F. Erskine, 85, a La Grande resident, died Sept. 23, 2002, at Wildflower Lodge in La Grande. A family gathering to honor her will be scheduled later. Disposition was by cremation. Mrs. Erskine was born at Elkton on Sept. 6, 1917, to Walter and Ellene Rydall. She graduated high school in Salem. She married Reginald Erskine in 1936 and over the years they moved to several Oregon towns. Mrs. Erskine was a CPA and a municipal auditor in Springfield for several years. She and her husband worked for Southern Pacific Railroad until retirement. She liked to … Read more

Mathews, Ada M. Paugh Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Ada M. Mathews, 76, of Baker City died Nov. 4, 2002, at her home. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Monte Loyd of the Baker Valley Christian Assembly will officiate. Interment will be at 2 p.m. at Pilot Rock Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Ada was born July 9, 1926, at Norton, Kan. She was a daughter of Merl and Mary Olive Culligan Paugh. In 1933, she moved with her parents to Milton-Freewater where she received her … Read more