Baker County OR

Dinger, Jiles D. – Obituary

Sumpter, Oregon Dinger, Jiles D. Jiles D. Dinger, 91, a former Sumpter and Baker City resident, died Sunday, December 28, 2003, at Kellogg, Idaho, while recuperating from injuries sustained in a fall. His graveside funeral will be at 1 p.m. MST Monday at the Valley View Cemetery in Vale. Pastor Roy Obermeier of Willowcreek Community Church at Willowcreek will officiate. Vault interment will be after the service. Jiles Dennis Dinger was born at Taloga, Okla., on July 28, 1912. He worked on a farm for 20 years. He also was part owner of the Sumpter Supply Store. He loved mining … Read more

Graves, Kenneth Deane “Little Kenny” – Obituary

Kenneth Deane “Little Kenny” Graves, 39, died March 17, 2006, near Dayville. He died doing what he loved — flying helicopters. His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Heppner Elks Lodge, with Corey Laughary officiating. There will be a gathering of family and friends at the Elks Lodge after the service. Kenny was born on Feb. 23, 1967, at Heppner to Bonnie and Deane Graves. He was a 1985 Heppner High School graduate. His love of the woods and operating heavy equipment made logging a natural career choice after high school. Early in his career, he … Read more

Smelcer, Dorothy Louise Romine Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Dorothy Louise Romine Smelcer, 91, of Halfway, died May 6, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Care Center. Her graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Dorothy was born Dec. 24, 1911, at Alamont, Kan., to Eber and Irene Romine. She was the second of nine children. Her family moved to Pine Valley in 1917. She attended Sunnydell School and graduated from Pine Valley High School in 1931. She married Lawrence J. Smelcer on June 1, 1931, at Vancouver, Wash. They were married for 72 years, and were partners in the cattle operation. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John W. Thompson

It is always a pleasure to outline the career of an honest, upright and progressive man, who has left the more thickly settled portions of the country, pressing out into the regions of wildness to bring them under the sway of civilization’s uplifting influences, spending, meanwhile, sturdy effort and drawing upon an exhaustless store of courage and determination to accomplish this worthy end and so we turn with zest to chronicle the events in the life of the capable and worthy citizen, whose name initiates this paragraph, since he has displayed qualities that are priceless, and manifested virtues and abilities … Read more

Kenworthy, Carole June Jeffries Mrs. – Obituary

Carole June Kenworthy, 74, of Baker City, died April 1, 2008, at Meadowbrook Place. Visitations are today from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Her graveside memorial service will be at 1 p.m. May 3 at Mount Hope Cemetery. Carole was born on March 4, 1934, at Ontario to Ganelle Wilburn and Kenneth LaVern Jeffries. She was raised on her grandparents’ Crane Creek homestead ranch near Ontario where her father was a partner with her grandfather, Tom Wilburn. She loved to recount stories about riding her pinto pony for hours on … Read more

Cloud, Velma Ann – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Velma Ann Cloud age 93, 2510 Aubers Ave., Baker City, Oregon passed away July 23, 1991 after an extended illness. She was born December 17, 1897 to John R. and Daisy E. Long in Muddy Creek on the farm of her pioneer grandparents. She attended Muddy Creek School and was graduated from Baker High School. The Muddy Creek School was built on land donated by her grandparents Alonzo and Julia A. Long. On June 30, 1918 she married Carl W. Cloud in Portland. They celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary this year. They have resided in … Read more

Saul, Gene, L. – Obituary

Gene L. Saul, 75, of Seneca, a former Baker County resident, died April 10, 2007, at his home surrounded by family. There was a celebration of his life on April 14 at Driskill Memorial Chapel in John Day. Pastor Daniel Wiese of the John Day Nazarene Church officiated. Gene was born on Jan. 8, 1932, at Homedale, Idaho, to William and Katie Sweep Saul. One of eight children, Gene had two brothers and five sisters. He was raised in Baker County where he broke wild horses and did ranch work. Gene married Betty Jean Zemmer on April 28, 1951, at … Read more

Spivey, Glenn Duane – Obituary

Glenn Duane Spivey, 73, of Prineville, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 8, 2008. His graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Juniper Haven Cemetery. Dr. Barry Gridley will officiate. Glenn was born in Baker City, on June 18, 1934, to Luther A. and Ora Lee Ellis Spivey. He attended Baker High School and was a member of the first graduating class at the new high school in 1952. Glenn enlisted and served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959. He married Connie Nelson at Spray on June 30, 1962. Glenn worked for the Kinzua Corp. … Read more

Hannah, Faye Helen Sheehy – Obituary

Union, Oregon Faye Helen Sheehy Hannah, 74, of Union died Nov. 12 while working for the Salvation Army World Services in Vryheid, South Africa. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Union. Ms. Hannah was born Aug. 16, 1932, to Hugh Sheehy and Beth Critchlow Sheehy Fisher in Baker City. She was raised in Durkee and Baker City until age 10, when the family moved to California. In her capacity as a public health administrator, she worked on projects in Central America, the Middle East and Africa. She was also the social … Read more

Simpson, Dr. Charles D. “Chuck” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Dr. Charles D. “Chuck” Simpson, 66, a longtime Baker City resident, died April 23, 2003, at his home. His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate. There will be a reception afterward in Rogers Hall. Charles Daye Simpson was born July 29, 1936, at Montrose, Colo. The family moved to Idaho in his early years and he was raised and received his schooling at Caldwell and Idaho Falls, Idaho. He continued his education at Idaho State at Pocatello and then went on to … 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

Sterns, John Austin – Obituary

Offers for the dead, followed by a requiem Mass, will be offered Monday, February 25, 9:30 a.m., for John Austin Sterns, 10256 S.E. 41st Court, Milwaukie, Oregon. Vault interment will follow at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland. Peake’s Memorial Chapel 1925 Scott St., Milwaukie, Oregon, is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Sterns was born in Baker on March 27, 1914. He died February 21 in a Milwaukie area hospital. Mr. Sterns lived in Baker until 1953 when he moved to St. Helen’s where he lived five years. In 1958 he moved to Medford and to Milwaukie two years later. He had … Read more

Fifer, Deborah Lee Brooks Mrs. – Obituary

Deborah Lee Brooks Fifer, 57, died June 3, 2008, at her home in Fairbanks, Alaska, with her beloved companion, James Helgeson, at her side. Her graveside memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception afterward at the Eagle Valley Grange. Debbie was born on Feb. 18, 1951, at Baker City to Dwight and Lorraine Brooks. She attended grade school in Union and was a 1969 La Grande High School graduate. Debbie then graduated from Western Business University at Portland where she met and married … Read more

Roberts, Pearl J. McConnell Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Pearl J. Roberts, 88, a longtime Baker City resident, died Sept. 15, 2006, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 13, at the Assembly of God Church in Prairie City. Pastor Scott Holbert of the church will officiate. Inurnment will be at the Prairie City Cemetery. There will be a potluck at the church after the service. Pearl Jane McConnell was born at Dayton, Wash., to Fred and Mattie McConnell. She was the oldest of three children. She graduated from high school at Starbuck, Wash., and then she and … Read more

Carter, Stella Sharpe Mrs. – Obituary

Stella Carter, 99, of Baker City, died Sept. 1, 2005, at Meadowbrook Place. Her funeral was at noon today at the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Pastor Tony Brandon officiated. Vault interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery. Stella was born on May 13, 1906, at Mabton, Wash., to Pearle and Edson Sharpe. Her childhood years were spent with her three brothers and two sisters in the Horse-Heaven Hills. She attended college at Ellensburg, Wash., earning a teaching certificate. She began her teaching career in the Horse-Heaven Hills area where she met Carl. Stella and Carl were married on Nov. 12, 1927, at … Read more

Peake, Jacquelyn – Obituary

Jacquelyn Peake, 74, of Whitefish, Mont., and a former Baker City resident, died May 26, 2003, while visiting her daughters in New Jersey. Author of eight books, numerous magazine articles and several stage plays performed at theaters throughout the country, she was also a noted actress. Jacquelyn was a world traveler who explored dozens of countries, including a volunteer assignment in China. She enjoyed sharing her knowledge and taught various classes at several colleges. She loved her family, friends, cats and Elvis. Jacquelyn’s many activities included the Stumptown Historical Society, Civil War Society, Screenwriters of the Flathead, Sunday Book Club, … Read more

Spivey, Earl M. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Earl M. Spivey, 84, of 2610 Indiana Ave., died Sept. 7, 2002, at his home. His body was cremated. At his request, there will be no funeral. Earl was born to Luther A. Spivey and Ora Lee Ellis Spivey at Haw Knob, Tenn., on June 18, 1918. He came to Baker City as a young man in 1929. He attended South Baker School and then entered the U.S. Army in 1938. He was sent to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii with the 19th Infantry Co. He held the rank of corporal. He was a sharpshooter and machine gunner. … Read more

Perkins, Ronald D. – Obituary

Ronald D. Perkins, 62, of Haines died June 30, 2008, at his home. His graveside memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Haines Cemetery. Mike Trindle will officiate, accompanied by Pastor Jack Hatfield. There will be a reception afterward at the First Baptist Church in Haines. Ron was born on July 3, 1945, at Baker City to Dwight L. and Viola Green Perkins. His parents were the inspirations in his life. He attended Muddy Creek School during his grade school years and was a 1963 North Powder High School graduate. He enjoyed playing football in high school. … Read more

Copperfield-Homestead Cemetery, Homestead, Oregon

There is a cemetery located near Homestead on State Highway No. 86 about half way between Copperfield and Homestead on the Snake River. It is near the road in plain sight. We have been unable to learn the official name of the cemetery so will call it the Copperfield-Homestead Cemetery. The cemetery was established shortly after the Iron Dyke mine was started around 1900. The grounds are neglected, we learn of no custodian for this cemetery. graves are sunken, there are wooden headboards only in this plot. There are about 40 graves here, among the earliest burials being: Blankenship, Mary … Read more

Harmon, H.D. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon H.D. Harmon, 71, of Baker City, died Jan. 29, 2005, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise from lymphoma bone cancer. At his request, there will be no service. H.D. Harmon was born on May 28, 1933, at Las Cruces, N.M. He was raised at Marfa, Texas, and various places throughout New Mexico. He worked all of his life building roads and doing heavy construction. He had been an Oregon resident for more than 40 years. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Norma … Read more