Baker County OR

Grogan, Edward “Brent” – Obituary

Durkee, Baker County, Oregon Edward “Brent” Grogan, 51, of Durkee, died Jan. 14, 2005. A Celebration of Life service will be scheduled later. Brent was born at Baker City on Aug. 30, 1953, to Everett and Leanna Grogan. He married Lessie Turner in 1974. Brent’s greatest joys were his children, Casey and Joshua, along with his love of the outdoors. Living in Durkee most of his life, he enjoyed the small town that had been home for him and his family as well as his parents and grandparents before him. He was preceded in death by his father, Everett Grogan; … Read more

Ison, Luther Oliver Rev. – Obituary

The Rev. Luther Oliver Ison, 90, a former Baker City resident who served as an Episcopal priest for 61 years, died Oct. 17, 2007, at Vista, Calif. Father Ison was born and raised at Baker City. He was the son of Dr. Virgil Strother Ison and the grandson of Judge Luther Buford Ison, both of Baker City. He attended Reed College at Portland; The University of the South at Sewanee, Tenn.; and General Seminary in New York City. He was a builder of congregations, rectories, schools and church buildings, as well as an eight-story U.S. Department of Housing and Urban … Read more

Williams, Russell Davis – Obituary

Muddy Creek, Oregon Russell Davis Williams, 91, who grew up on his family’s ranch in Muddy Creek, died Dec. 13, 2004, in Sun City, Calif., of emphysema. He is a descendent of two early pioneer families of North Powder: his grandparents, Lemuel and Amanda Ellen Stewart Williams, and John Samuel and Susan Dealy Davis. Mr. Williams was born Sept. 16, 1913, at Muddy Creek to Harry Chatterton and Ida Belle Davis Williams. He was the youngest of seven children and graduated from Muddy Creek High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1935 and served on the USS … Read more

Wilbur, Ila Pearl Heller Housden Mrs. – Obituary

Ila Wilbur, 86, died Jan. 18, 2008. There will be a family celebration and gathering in her memory during the summer. Ila Pearl was born on Feb. 21, 1922, at Bridgeport, Wash., to Charles Burton Heller and Bertha Ham Heller. She excelled in her schoolwork and graduated as valedictorian from Brewster High School in 1939. After graduation, she married Gene Housden of Brewster. They had four children before moving to Hermiston in the early 1950s. Later she married Raymond Wilbur and had two more children while living in Montana and California. Ila enjoyed being outdoors, flowers, playing games and being … Read more

Vandetta, Ray – Obituary

Ray Vandetta, 55, of Baker City died Jan. 4, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Moose Lodge, 61341 Highway 97, in Bend. Ray was born on Sept. 20, 1949, at Prairie City to Choicey Aldura Jones and Charles Freeman Vandetta. He grew up at Monument. At the age of 12, the family moved to Bend. Ray lived most of his life in John Day, until moving to Baker City in 2002. Ray was an avid hunter and fisherman; he enjoyed anything that included being in the great outdoors. He … Read more

Basman, Mark Bradley – Obituary

New Bridge, Oregon Mark Bradley Basman, 56, passed away on Friday, April 21, 2006, in New Bridge, Ore. Mark Bradley Basman was born on May 9, 1949, in Bakersfield, Calif., to Cyril Louis Basman Jr. and June Dorothea Ankrom Basman. He was raised and educated in Bakersfield, graduating from East Bakersfield High School in 1967. Shortly after graduation he married his high school sweetheart, Theresa Lee Penner. In 1969, he joined the U.S. Navy and served six years, 11 months and 29 days on the U.S.S. Enterprise. During this stint in the Navy he became a shell back (crossed the … Read more

Pinto, Gerald Joseph “Gerry” – Obituary

Gerald Joseph “Gerry” Pinto, 66, a former Baker County resident, died Nov. 29, 2007, at his home in Nampa, Idaho. There were no services at his request. Private inurnment was at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. He was born on June 19, 1941, at Gloucester, Mass., to Gerald and Deolinda Pinto. He grew up in the Gloucester area. Gerry was drafted into the U.S. Army and attended Officers Candidate School at Fort Sill, Okla. On March 20, 1966, Gerry married Carolyn Molthan at Caldwell, Idaho. He served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967 with the Air Defense Artillery at a … Read more

Walker, Girtha Gwen Bainbridge Mrs. – Obituary

Girtha Gwen Walker, 81, of Kennewick, Wash., passed away, Tuesday, July 29, 2003, following a brief illness at Kennewick. At her request, there were no services. Girtha was born to Rachel and William Bainbridge on Dec 11, 1922, in Fentonia, Idaho. She was raised in North Powder by her mother and stepfather William R. Nice. She married William J. Walker on July 9, 1938, in Weiser, Idaho. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, William J. Walker of Kennewick, her son, Larry Walker of Kennewick, daughter and husband, Leanne and Steve McCalmant of Montana, brother Ben Bainbridge of … Read more

Miller, C Jack- Obituary

Baker City, Oregon C. Jack Miller, 86, a longtime Baker City resident, died Feb. 19, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Coles Funeral Home. Pastor Susan Barnes of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate. The service will conclude in the chapel. Friends and family are invited to the Rogers Hall at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St., for a time of fellowship and sharing after the service. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Miller was born at Pilot Rock on July 30, 1916. He was raised … Read more

Jones, Virginia Francis Butterfield Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Virginia Francis Butterfield Jones, 69, a lifetime Baker County resident, died April 13, 2002, at her home in Baker City. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Bishop Greg Baxter of the 1st Ward will officiate. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Virginia was born on Jan. 9, 1933, the second of three daughters to John Butterfield and Elsie Bernard Butterfield on a mining claim near Sparta Butte. … Read more

Taylor, Walter Edwin – Obituary

Walter Edwin Taylor, 71, of Cove, died March 1, 2001, at his home. His funeral will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Union LDS Chapel, 702 N. Main St. Bishop Jerry Baxter will officiate. Burial will follow at the Cove cemetery. Visitations will be today until 7 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley in La Grande. Mr. Taylor was born Nov. 13, 1929, on his grandparents’ ranch near Chiloquin, a son of Marion and Orilla (Shadley) Taylor. He was the eighth of nine children. He worked as a timber faller until a logging accident in the early 1960s. … Read more

Holladay, Mary Anita DeMastus Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Anita Holladay, 57, of Canyon City, a former Unity resident, died Feb. 21, 2001, at Twin Falls, Idaho. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Driskill Memorial Chapel at John Day. Pastor Dennis Sams will officiate. Interment will be in the Canyon City Cemetery. Mrs. Holladay was born on Oct. 30, 1943, at Hillsdale, Kan., to Jim and Mildred DeMastus. She moved to Unity with her family shortly after her birth. She attended elementary school at Unity and was a 1961 graduate of Hereford High School. She married Everett Holladay on Feb. 17, 1962, at Ontario. … Read more

Miller, Cassie Dawn – Obituary

North Powder, Oregon Cassie Dawn Miller, 25, of North Powder died at her home Dec. 19. Visitation was Dec. 23 at Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, in Baker City, followed by cremation. In a private memorial at a later date her ashes will be scattered at the Keating Bluff. Cassie Dawn was born July 4, 1981, in Baker City to Marjorie Ann (Phillips) and Kenneth Loren Miller. Cassie is survived by her parents Marjorie Miller of North Powder and Kenneth Miller and his wife, Carolyn, of Midvale, Idaho; siblings, Mike Flynn, Jodi Morris, Shelly Carter, Bryce Miller and Teri … Read more

Belden, Harry – Obituary

Harry I. Belden, 81, of 1719 Birch St., died Sunday afternoon in St. Elizabeth Hospital. Mr. Belden was born in Adrian, Mich., Jan. 20, 1878. He moved to Cove, Ore., with his family at the age of 14 and has lived in Oregon since, most of the time in Baker County. He had been a miner and had worked in many of the gold mines in the vicinity. He is survived by his wife Edna of Baker; by a brother Miles Belden of Portland; by two sisters, Kathryn White of Portland, and Mrs. Pearl Chadwick of Union; by two step-children, … Read more

Smith, Billy Ray – Obituary

Billy Ray Smith, 55, of Huntington died July 20, 2009, with his loved ones at his home. His graveside funeral will be Wednesday, July 29 at 11 a.m. at the Huntington Cemetery followed by a potluck memorial at 2 p.m. at the VFW Hall. Visitations will be Monday, July 27 and Tuesday, July 28, from noon to 8 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Billy Ray was born Nov. 3, 1953, at Norco, Calif. He was known for being a loving man, father, husband, brother, son and grandfather, family members said. Survivors include his wife, … Read more

Cole, Violet Jewel “Vi” Birman Mrs. – Obituary

Violet Jewel Cole, 80, was born in Ionia County, Mich., on July 29, 1916, and passed away in Weiser, Idaho, on Dec. 31, 2006. Vi’s Funeral Service will be held Friday, Jan. 5, 2007, 1 p.m. at the Pine Baptist Church in Halfway, Ore. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception immediately following the service at the Pine Baptist Church. Interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway, Ore. Vi was the first-born child of John Birman and Esther Hess Birman. In 1933, the family moved to Roseburg, Ore., area where she met and married Daniel … Read more

O’Donnell, Barbara E. Stevenhagen Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Barbara E. O’Donnell, 57, a longtime Baker City resident, died Feb. 8, 2001, at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise after a long battle with diabetes. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Pastor Lennie Spooner will officiate. Vault interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Mrs. O’Donnell was born on July 1, 1943, at East Berlin, Germany, to Wilhelm and Analise Stevenhagen. She married Anthony W. O’Donnell at New Castle, Del. They moved to Baker … Read more

Stevens, Jack Hausler – Obituary

Haines, Oregon Jack Hausler Stevens, 91, of Haines, died Aug. 27, 2006, at his home. At his request, there was no funeral. His family honored his request with a private celebration of his life. Jack was born on March 31, 1915, at Seattle, Wash., to Mathew and Mathilde Hausler Stevens. He lived a full 91 years. During his life he owned three businesses: a neon and plastic sign company at Renton, Wash.; a soft ice cream drive-in at Seattle; and Radium Hot Springs Park at Haines. In the early 1970s, Jack sold his business properties in Seattle and moved to … Read more

Hutton, Leona Fae Sissel Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Leona Fae Hutton, 50, of Baker City, died Dec. 10, 2004, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m Wednesday at the Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Pastor Lennie Spooner of the church will officiate. She was born at John Day on Dec. 9, 1954, to Gene and Betty Sissel. When she was 4 the family settled in Baker City. She was a 1973 Baker High School graduate. She married Ernest W. Hutton on March 23, 1984. In the late 1980s she graduated from La Grande College of Beauty. … Read more

Carlile, Dale Robert – Obituary

Durkee, Oregon Dale Robert Carlile, 63, died Jan. 9, 2004, at his home in Durkee. At Dale’s request, there will be no services. Dale was born May 10, 1940, at Kelso, Wash., to Harry Carlile and Frieda Valentine Carlile. He attended school at Kelso/Longview where he loved playing football. After graduating from high school, Dale joined the U.S .Army and attended Ranger school. He was involved in the early years of the Vietnam War. Dale left the Army six years later as a lieutenant colonel. He moved home to Kelso/Longview and began his career as a police officer. He worked … Read more