Baker County OR

Sparta Cemetery, Sparta, Oregon

Sparta was one of the earlier mining camps, gold being discovered there in 1863. It is now a ghost town, practically deserted. An old cemetery is located there which old-timers believe was started about 1870. It is located on land now included in the Mackey homestead. To reach Sparta, take State Highway 86 out of Baker for about 18 miles where it crosses the Powder River, then take the first road to the left eight or nine miles. The graves are to the left of this county road when traveling in an easterly direction. There are many early graves unmarked … Read more

M’Quowen, Alexander – Obituary

Alexander McQuowen,77, died yesterday at St. Elizabeth Hospital after a life-time lived in Oregon. He farmed on a ranch six miles north of Baker. Mr. McQuowen was born October 5, 1865, at Pocahontas. He was a member of the Baptist Church. Survivors are two nephews, Eugene Hammond of Haines and Oral McQuowen of Baker; three nieces, Mrs. John Ingram of Philomath, Mrs. James Ashwood of Haines and Mrs. Nettie Mead of La Grande. Funeral services will be announced later by West and Company. Baker City Herald – – June 25, 1943.

Gilliland, Harold “Junior” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Harold “Junior” Gilliland, 73, a longtime Baker City resident, died June 8, 2004, at his niece’s home near Baker City. His funeral will be Monday, June 14 at 2 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be Friday until 5 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Junior was born Jan. 21, 1931, in North Platte, Neb. He was the son of George and Clara (Yates) Gilliland. Junior and … Read more

Coles Glennie Opal Putman Mrs. – Obituary

A Celebration of Life service for Glennie Opal Putman Coles was held at Felida Baptist Church in Vancouver, Wash., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. Glennie went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Sept. 29, 2006, at the age of 89. She was born in Baker, Ore., on May 30, 1917, to Rufus and Bertha Putman. She graduated from Baker High School and attended Business College. She married Roger Duane Coles on Jan. 3, 1945, and was married for 58 years, until Duane passed away on Jan. 22, 2003. Glennie is survived by her three children, Larry Coles of Sandpoint, … Read more

Olbrich, John – Obituary

Pioneer Dies At Big Creek Home John Olbrich, 74 years of age and a pioneer of Union and Baker counties, died after an illness of several months at his home on Big creek Sunday evening. Funeral services and burial were at Baker Tuesday afternoon. Deceased was a native of Austria but had been a resident of this vicinity for the past forty-five years. The widow, four daughters, one son and eighteen grandchildren are the surviving relatives. North Powder News Saturday, November 20, 1920

Vanderwall, Frank – Obituary

Frank Vanderwall Passes This Life Frank Vanderwall, rancher and resident of Rock Creek neighborhood for many years, passed this life at the state hospital in Pendleton Tuesday of this week. He was a native of Holland and was about 70 years of age at the time of his death. At one time he owned one of the finest ranches in Rock Creek district. He disposed of this several years ago, and since that time until his health failed about a year ago, he had made his home in Rock Creek village. At the time of his committment to the state … Read more

Clayborn, Kierra Bonnie Renay – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Kierra Bonnie Renay Clayborn, infant daughter of William “Bill” Clayborn and Kelly Suitter of Baker City, Ore., died Feb. 15, 2006, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. There will be no services. Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, February, 2006 Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor

Hefner, John C. “Jake” – Obituary

John C. “Jake” Hefner, 69, of Union, died Sept. 12, 2007, at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of life will be held Friday, Sept. 21, at 2 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Private burial will be in the Union Cemetery. Jake was born Dec. 23, 1937, to Howard and Wilma (Starnes) Hefner in Hickory, N.C. The family moved to Oregon when he was 12. He attended schools in Pilot Rock and on Jan. 4, 1969, he married Dianne Bartsch in Pendleton. They ranched at Medical Springs until 1976 when they moved to Union. Jake loved the Grande … Read more

Whitt, Vernon Jim – Obituary

Vernon Jim Whitt, 53, a former Baker City resident, died of cancer on Jan. 24, 2007. He was born on Jan. 27, 1953, at Prineville and attended Baker schools through his senior year. He then joined the U.S. Navy and served his beloved country as a submarine sailor for 20 years. After retirement from the Navy, he partnered with a fellow submarine man at Kitsap Equipment and Repair at Poulsbo, Wash., until his death. He will always be loved and missed, his family said. Survivors include his sisters and brother, Cecile and her husband, Gary Horn, of Lebanon, Karen and … Read more

Ostrander, John Lloyd – Obituary

Memorial services were held for John Lloyd Ostrander on April 16 at the Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery in Sahuarita, Ariz. John, 72, was born Feb. 26, 1937, in Baker City, Ore. and died April 10 in Sahuarita. John and his wife Darlene lived in Basin from 1996 until 2007 while he was working construction. They moved to Arizona but planned to return to Basin to make their home. He is survived by his loving wife Darlene; his four children, Donna Prior, Carrie Devine, Lionel Ostrander and Sue Holloway; four siblings, Della Marshall, Lottie Ostrander, Jerry Ostrander and Kay James; … Read more

McIntyre, Pauline Relling – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Pauline McIntyre, 79, of Baker City, died Oct. 18, 2006, at her home. At her request, there will be no funeral. Pauline was born on July 10, 1927, at Baker City to Paul and Carolyn Relling. She attended Baker City schools, graduating in 1945. During her school years, she participated in school activities. She was liked by many because of her sweet, pleasant personality. She married Clifford George. They had one daughter, Glenda George. They were divorced and she later married Owen “Mac” McIntyre. They had one son, Clark McIntyre. Pauline was a quiet, peaceful person and … Read more

Biography of J.M. Mitchell

No compilation of the annals of Wallowa county would be complete without especial mention of the esteemed subject of this article and his faithful wife, who were among the earliest pioneers here and who have labored with energy and assiduity Since in the up building and advancement of the county. J.M. Mitchell was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, on November 18,1 848, being the son of Frederick and Rebecca Mitchell. The father was born in the vicinity of Richmond, Virginia, in January 1808, while the mother was born in that city on December 31, 1808. They were of Irish and … Read more

Hall, Jay W. – Obituary

Jay W. Hall, 78, of Huntington, OR, passed away July 21, 2005 at home with his loving family by his side. No memorial service will be held. A private family celebration, of his life will continue in our hearts and memories until our race is won as his was! Jay was born May 12, 1927, in Shidler, Oklahoma, and raised in Filer, Idaho, where he learned to love every aspect of being a cowboy from breaking horses to cattle drives. On June 22, 1964, he married Millie Devall in Las Vegas, Nevada. They loved and lived life with zest, spending … Read more

Lippert, Elmer Eugene – Obituary

Elmer Eugene Lippert, 83, of Prairie City, a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 28, 2005, at his home. His funeral was Dec. 31 at Driskill Memorial Chapel. Pastor Denny Diezel of the John Day United Methodist Church officiated. Elmer was born on July 8, 1922, at Baker City to Eugene H. and Mandy Richardson Lippert. He attended school at Granite, Ukiah, and at Ritter, where he spent most of his childhood. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1944 during World War II. He was in Berlin during the fall of Germany and also spent time in … Read more

Brooks, Charles Walter “Charlie” – Obituary

Charles Walter “Charlie” Brooks, 72, of Baker City, died Nov. 15, 2005, at his home. His graveside memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception afterward at the Richland Grange Hall. Charlie was born on June 13, 1933, at Richland to Paul and Olga Miller Brooks. He was raised at Richland, graduating from high school there in May of 1951. After graduation, Charlie went to work for his uncle Eagle Bennehoff, on his ranches at Halfway and Richland. In 1953, he … Read more

Sawyer, Bette Norene Hoge Mrs. – Obituary

Bette Hoge Sawyer, 79, a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 12, 2002, at her home in Reno, Nev. A private service is planned. Bette Norene Hoge was born on May 22, 1923, to Earl and Mary Hoge in Baker City. She was graduated from Baker High School in 1941. Her parents were associated with Hoge-Wells Supply Co. in Baker City. The family moved to Reno, Nev. It was there Bette met future husband, Grant Sawyer. They married in 1946 in Washington, D.C., where Grant was attending Georgetown University Law School. In 1928, the Sawyers moved to Elko, Nev. There … Read more

Finstad, Clara – Obituary

Clara L. Finstad, 99, of Port Lavaca, Texas, a former Baker City resident, died May 24, 1997, in Texas. Her funeral will be Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Pastor Dennis Hickman of the First Lutheran Church will officiate. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery. Viewing will be until 8 p.m. tonight at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Mrs. Finstad was born to Jacob E. and Emily ( Hammack ) Womack July 10, 1897, in Lostine. She had been a lifelong Oregon resident except for the past few years when she lived with her … Read more

Woods, G. Elaine Joslin Mrs. – Obituary

G. Elaine Woods, 80, of Baker City, a former longtime Richland resident, died Nov. 16, 2000, at Settler’s Park. Her memorial service was last Friday at the Richland Christian Church. Pastor Gordon Bond officiated. Interment of the ashes was later at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Mrs. Woods was born on Jan. 3, 1920, at Boise to John William and Maude Ellenor Boice Joslin. She was raised and educated at Billings, Mont. She met her future husband at a dance in Halfway. She married Orville C. Woods at Walla Walla, Wash., in 1938. The couple had a ranch at Richland … Read more

Karp, Sister Clare Inez – Obituary

Sister Clare Inez Karp, 88, a resident of St. Ann Convent at Tacoma, Wash., and a former longtime Baker City resident, died Aug. 12, 2007. Father Julian Cassar will offer a Memorial Mass at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center Chapel. A rosary will be said at 8:45 a.m. Sister Clare Inez had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 69 years. She was born in Baker City. Although she left Baker City for about 20 years, she returned to the community for ministry and was a Baker City … Read more