Events in Baker County, Oregon History

Most of the miners about Auburn, and throughout the country also, during the first years of the development of the mining business, were Californians, and that there was a difference betwixt them and Oregonians at that time, was apparent to any one who met a considerable number of persons from each of the two states. It seems remarkable that such a difference should exist between the people of two adjoining states which had been settled by immigrants from the same sections of the country east of the Missouri river, and that settlement, too, of so recent date that the youths … Read more

St. Elizabeth Hospital, Baker City, Oregon

The St. Elizabeth hospital, which was lately opened by the Sisters of St. Francis, occupies the large three-story building located on Church street, between First and Second. Like all institutions in their charge it is a model of neatness and cleanliness. On the ground floor, as the visitor enters, is the reception room on tile left, and on the right a complete pharmacy, presided over by a sister who has for years made a study of medicine. There is also a ward for ladies on this floor, as well as the dining room or refectory. On the floor above are … Read more

Laird, William Edward “Bill” – Obituary

William Edward “Bill” Laird, 66, of Baker City, died April 16, 2005, at his home after a long bout with brain cancer. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Bill was born on Nov. 15, 1938, at Ketchikan, Alaska, to Ruth and Edward Laird, who was an engineer with the Lighthouse Service, now the Coast Guard. Bill’s mother died when he was a baby and he was mostly raised by his stepmother, Anna Laura Laird. The family moved to California when Bill was 5, followed by several other moves around the country. … Read more

Hovde, Judith Ann Robertson Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Judith Ann Hovde, 60, of Baker City, died Sept. 22, 2004, at her home. There will be a celebration of Judy’s life at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Calvary Baptist Church, 2107 Third St. Pastor Ed Niswender will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a time of sharing in the fellowship hall after the service. Judy was born on Feb. 20, 1944, at Mount Vernon, Wash., to Walter and Viola Andersen Robertson. She was a 1962 graduate of Eisenhower High School at Yakima, Wash. She went on to earn her nursing degree from Emmanuel Hospital … Read more

Russell, Ava Hunsaker Mrs. – Obituary

A Celebration of Ava Russell’s Life was held on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005, 1 p.m. at the Community Connection Senior Center in Baker City. Friends were invited to join the family following the service for a luncheon prepared by the V.F.W. Auxiliary at the Senior Center. Ava Jane was born on April 17, 1940, in Carson, Ore., to Henry and Luella Thompson Hunsaker. She was raised early on in Carson, attending schools in Halfway, then onto Baker City and Umatilla. Ava also attended Business College for two years in Baker City. Ava married Paul Russell on Aug. 8, 1970. in … Read more

Yaggie, Barbara Cast Mrs. – Obituary

Richland, Oregon Barbara Yaggie, 76, of Richland, died Nov. 10, 2000, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. A private family memorial service will be scheduled later this spring at the Summers Ranch. The family asks that no flowers be sent at this time. Mrs. Yaggie was born Aug. 12, 1924, at Little Rock, Ark., to Leonard and Beatrice Cast. In 1943, she married Ralph D’Adamo. They moved to San Diego in 1949 and had three daughters. She was a homemaker. Her youngest daughter married and left home in 1972. She then pursued a career and went to work for the San … 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

Scheloske, Edgar Albert – Obituary

Baker City Edgar Albert Scheloske, 79, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 22, 2006, at Ontario. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Thomason Funeral Home in Weiser, Idaho. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Weiser, Idaho. He was born on Jan. 20, 1927, at Weiser, Idaho, to Albert Antone and Addie Rose Glascock Scheloske. He was their fourth child, born after three older sisters: Helen, Georganna, and Maxine. He was known as “Buster” to his family. He was raised on a farm at Weiser and at the family sawmill on Stacy/Manns Creek above Weiser. He … Read more

Robert L. “Bob” Young – Obituary

This is the obituary for Robert L. “Bob” Young, age 82, who died on July 16, 2008. It was initially published by the Baker City Herald in Baker City, Oregon on July 21, 2008.

Carroll, George L. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon George L. Carroll, 77, of Baker City, died July 19, 2002, after a five-month illness. There will be a private family graveside service Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Carroll was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Sept. 29, 1924. He moved to Baker City with his family when he was seven years old. He attended Baker schools and joined the Navy during World War II. He married Mary Williams on Feb. 17, 1946, in the old Christian Church in Baker City. They had four children and raised their family in Esparto, Calif. Mr. Carroll was a … Read more

Shull, Vernon E. – Obituary

Haines, Baker County, Oregon Vernon E. Shull, 88, died April 9, 2006, at his home in Haines. His graveside memorial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Haines Cemetery. Chaplain Assistant Sgt. Daggett from the La Grande Armory will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the Haines United Methodist Church. Vernon was born on Dec. 26, 1917, and raised at Glen Elder, Kan., the sixth of eight children of James and Sarah Shull. After eight years in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he settled in Oregon with his … Read more

Neault, Lawrence Martin – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Lawrence Martin Neault, 90, a lifetime Baker City resident, died Monday, June 21, 2004 at St. Elizabeth Health Services. There will be a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, 2235 First St. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception at the St. Francis Parish Hall after the graveside service. Lawrence was born on Sept. 20, 1913, at Baker City to Henry Peter and Anna Catherine Hermsen Neault. He attended St. Francis Academy and … Read more

Guthrie, Ort George – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Ort George Guthrie, 76, of Baker City, died April 6, 2002, in Baker City. His funeral was at 2 p.m. April 12 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Burial was at Mount Hope Cemetery. George was born on Oct. 10, 1925, in Fresno, Calif. He completed elementary school at Dunlap, Calif., in a one-room schoolhouse. He then attended high school in Fresno. During his high school years he boarded with many families, earning his way on his own, and learning many of the skills, work habits and ethics that he used … Read more

Rak, Marian Almira McClain Mrs. – Obituary

Marian Almira Rak, 77, died March 20, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services after a brief illness. She was born July 31, 1925, at Hood River to William Herbert and Edith Grace McClain. She was raised and educated there and then attended Willamette University for three years, majoring in social work. In 1948 she married John Felix Rak of Salem. They settled in Newberg in 1950, where she lived until illness forced her to move to Baker City to be closer to her daughter, Betty. She lived in the Sunnycrest area for many years, moving back into town when her … Read more

Cole, Erma Willey Mrs. – Obituary

Erma Cole, 95, a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 18, 2005, in a care home at Aloha. She was born on Feb. 26, 1909, and was raised at Baker City. She was the 11th child of Eva Lovina and John Dexter Willey. She was a tomboy growing up. She loved reading history and graduated from Baker High School. She met Leonard “Doc” Cole at a Grange Hall dance at Hereford where she was visiting a sister. Doc was working on the highway construction at that time. They were married on Feb. 2, 1929, at his sister’s home in Vale. … Read more

Neff, Wilbur Wayne – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Wilbur Wayne Neff, 72, of Baker City, a former longtime Bend resident, died Jan. 7, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church, 2407 Seventh St. Pastor Nathaniel Neff will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the Calvary Baptist Church, 2107 Third St. Visitations will be until 7 p.m. today at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. There will be a second funeral Saturday at 11 a.m. at the True Gospel United Pentecostal Church in Bend. There will be a … Read more

Balfour, Robert H. “Bob” – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Robert H. “Bob” Balfour, 73, of Baker City, died Jan. 6, 2005, at his home of congestive heart failure and diabetes. His funeral was at 1 p.m. today at the Baker City Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints 2nd Ward, 2625 Hughes Lane. Bishop David Richards officiated. Visitations were from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m today in the Relief Society Room of the LDS church. Bob was born on Oct. 25, 1931, at Ogden, Utah, to William Henry and Mildred Bryson Balfour. He married Charlotte Gail Pointer. The couple later divorced. Bob married Margaret Ann … Read more

Tally, Donna Marie Weaver Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Donna Marie Tally, 68, of Myrtle Point and a former Baker City resident died, Wednesday, July 14, 2004, at Myrtle Point. Funeral service was held Sunday, July 18, 2 p.m. at the Myrtle Point Baptist Church with Pastor Dale Brown officiating. Graveside service and vault interment were held Wednesday July 21, 10 a.m. at the North Powder Cemetery in North Powder. Arrangements were under the direction of Amling/Schroeder Funeral Service Myrtle Point Chapel. Donna was born to Clifford and Goldie (Perkins) Weaver June 27, 1936, in La Grande. She graduated from La Grande High School. She was … Read more

Johnson, Carol “Jean” Berry Mrs. – Obituary

Carol “Jean” Johnson, 66, of Dallas, Ore., died on Dec. 10, 2006, in a Salem Hospital. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dallas. Private interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. She was born on Dec. 11, 1939, at Prineville, the daughter of Wayne and Florence Rickman Berry. Jean attended Park Rose Elementary in Portland and graduated from Crook County High School at Prineville in 1957. She then attended and graduated from Oregon State University at Corvallis with bachelor’s degrees in education and home economics. Jean came to Dallas in 1967. … Read more

Medlin, Curtis Edward “Curt” – Obituary

Curtis Edward “Curt” Medlin, 81, of Baker City, died Feb. 7, 2007, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor John Goodyear of the Baker Valley Church of Christ will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Coles Funeral Home. Curt was born on Sept. 10, 1925, at Malden, Mo., to Lopoleon and Ida Medlin. He married Melba Walker, his wife of 54 years, on March 18, 1944. She died on Jan. 14, 1998. … Read more