Baker County OR

Hesner, Elton Ellis – Obituary

Elton Ellis Hesner, 77, a former Pleasant Valley and Sumpter resident died on Saturday, March 29, 2003, in Jackson, Calif. A graveside service was held on Friday, April 4, at 10:30 a.m. in the Garden of Valor at Sunset View Cemetery in Martell. Interment followed the service. Arrangements were handled by Daneri Mortuary in Jackson. Mr. Hesner was born on May 10, 1925, to Ellis and Alteeny Hesner at Pleasant Valley. Elton was a resident of Stockton for 33 years before he made Amador County his home 12 years ago. He worked as a truck driver for the Zellerbach Paper … Read more

Holcomb, Velma E. Webb Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Velma E. Holcomb, 83, a 25-year resident of Baker City, died Sept. 1, 2006, of a heart attack. Her funeral will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Baker City Christian Church, 675 Highway 7. Pastor Roger Scovil will officiate. There will be a reception at the church at 11 a.m. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Visitations will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Velma was born on Oct. 13, 1922, at Sunnyside, Wash. She was the eldest of two daughters … Read more

Denton, Barbara Wright Mrs. – Obituary

Barbara Denton, 89, of Pendleton and formerly of the Marble Creek area near Baker City, died May 15, 2003. Graveside funeral services were held Tuesday at Skyview Memorial Park. Alice was born to Stanley Carter and Onlie Foster Wright on Feb. 5, 1914, at Clovis, N.M. She was the oldest of four children. She grew up in various locations in Iowa and Missouri. She graduated from high school in Lamoni, Iowa and also briefly attended Graceland College in Lamoni. In 1932, the family moved to Oregon and settled in Medical Springs, later moving to the Marble Creek area. She married … Read more

Morin, Jonas – Obituary

Jonas Lane Morin, infant son of Jason and Heather Morin, formerly of Baker City, died April 12, 2006. His funeral was today at the First Christian Church in Pawnee Rock, Kan. Jonas was born at Great Bend Kan., on March 28, 2006. He will be missed immensely by his family as he was dearly loved by all. Survivors include his parents, Jason and Heather Morin of Pawnee Rock, Kan.; his brothers, Ian, Drew, and Cole; his aunt and uncle, Kelly Exferd-Jones and Joel Jones of Ontario; three cousins, Madison, Kendall and Ryan; grandparents, Arlene Williams of Prescott, Ariz., and Arnold … Read more

Biography of William Jasper Reece Jr.

William Jasper Reece Jr., youngest son of William J. (Sr..) and Hannah Reece, was born December 20, 1869 in Oran Township, Logan County, Illinois. He married Margaret Ann Cox (born December 5, 1870 in Madison Co.., Kentucky, daughter of Dillard and Mary (Cobb) Cox.) on December 20, 1891 in Atlanta, Illinois. They had twelve children: Alma Lois, Lacy D., Wilbur McKinley, Marjorie Della, Deward (Della’s twin who died at birth), Floyd Keith, Harvey Emerson, William Homer, Howard (Homer’s twin who died a few weeks after birth), Amos Miller, Mary Hannah, and Wayne Travette. W. J. and Margaret moved from Logan … Read more

Morris, Norna Faye Makinson Mrs. – Obituary

Norna Faye Morris, 82, a former Halfway resident, died Oct. 11, 2002, after a long illness. She had been in Marquis Care at Mount Tabor in Portland for a year. Because of her love of the ocean and lighthouses, there will be a private family memorial at the beach, which will also be her final resting place. Norna was born at Halfway on Aug. 21, 1920, to Warren and Lillie Makinson. She was raised at Halfway and graduated from high school there. Norna was very proud that her family members were Halfway pioneers. She was an avid collector of cups, … Read more

Hanson, Richard Lee “Dick” – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Richard Lee “Dick” Hanson, 69, died May 7, 2005 at Pacific Specialty & Rehab Care in Vancouver, Wash., from complications of a stroke. Disposition was by cremation. There will be no funeral. A celebration of his life will be scheduled later this spring in Baker City to allow distant friends and relatives to attend. Dick was born on Feb. 21, 1936, at Des Moines, Iowa. He attended high school at Des Moines and graduated from Iowa State University at Ames with a bachelor’s degree in forestry. He married Laura Sue McCollum on June 14, 1959. … Read more

Simpson, Ella Sophia Brown Mrs. – Obituary

Ella Sophia Simpson, 99, died June 17, 2007, at her daughter’s home in Halfway. There will be a celebration of her life at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Lions Club Hall in Halfway. Family and friends are invited to a reception afterward. She will be buried Aug. 13 at the Fairmont Cemetery in Spokane, Wash., where her husband, Dan, her son and grandson also are buried. Ella was born on Oct. 3, 1907, just outside the town of Fruitland, Wash., to Magnus W. and Nellie H. Etue Brown. She had three sisters and four brothers and she was the last … Read more

Loennig, Marjorie Marie Haldorson Mrs. – Obituary

Marjorie Marie Loennig, 81, of Creswell, a former Baker County resident, died June 27, 2007. Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Creswell Presbyterian Church. Marjorie was born on the family farm at Eugene on April 6, 1926, to Julia and Lennie Haldorson. She was the second of five children. She attended Central Grade School and was a 1944 Eugene High School graduate. She married Franklin Loennig in 1949 and moved to a ranch near Haines. After her divorce, she completed her degree in education at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande while raising three boys. … Read more

An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties Oregon

These 91 biographies and sketches have been taken from the manuscript “An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties Oregon.” Presently this is an incomplete offering so subscribe to this page if you’re interested on further updates. We will eventually provide the entire manuscript here.

Hickman, Daniel “Lank” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Daniel ‘Lank’ Hickman 94, a longtime Baker City resident, died Feb. 15, 2002, at his home. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Lennie Spooner of the Church of the Nazarene will officiate. Private interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home. Mr. Hickman was born on Jan. 30, 1908, at Exeter, Barry County, Mo., to William and Elizabeth Metcalf Hickman. He married Bessie Lee of Washburn, Mo., on Dec. 21, 1927. He and his wife moved … Read more

Luster, Lena G. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Lena G. Luster, 89, of Baker City, died March 14, 2001, at a La Grande nursing home. Her funeral was today at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Pastor Allan Franks of the First Church of the Nazarene officiated. Visitations were Saturday at the funeral home. Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Luster was born on Oct. 9, 1911, at Flora to Albert Loock and Myrtel Davis. She married Melvin J. Luster on Dec. 24, 1953, at Baker City. She was active in the Moose, Eagles and Royal Neighbors lodges. Her hobbies were embroidery, fishing and … Read more

Bardan, Lorraine Elizabeth Lee Mrs. – Obituary

Lorraine Elizabeth Bardan, 91, of Weiser, Idaho, and a former Baker City resident, died July 6, 2001, from Alzheimer’s disease at a Weiser care center. Vigil services will be today at 7 p.m. at Thomason Funeral Chapel in Weiser. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Weiser. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Fairview Cemetery in Annex. Mrs. Bardan was born May 4, 1910, at Minneapolis, Minn., to Robert E. and Annette Donaghue Lee. The family moved west, settling in the Parkdale area, where Mrs. Bardan and her siblings … Read more

Pearce, Charles R. – Obituary

Charles R. Pearce, 89, of Nampa, Idaho, died at his home with his family by his side on April 4, 2003. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. at the McEwen Bible Fellowship Hall at 15403 Sumpter Stage Highway near Sumpter. Pastor Bill Cox will perform the service at the Fellowship Hall. Charles and his wife Jeanette were members of this church when they lived in Sumpter. Arrangements are under the direction of Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel, 404 10th Ave. S. at Nampa. Charles was born to Clara and David Penn Pearce at Belton, Texas, on Sept. 5, … Read more

Duncan, Roscoe E. ‘Roc’ – Obituary

Roscoe E. “Roc” Duncan, 72, 2039 Cherry St., a longtime Keating area rancher, died Saturday, Jan. 25, 1986, at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. His Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Grays’ West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Monsignor Charles t. Grant of St. Francis Cathedral will officiate. Private interment will follow at Big Creek Cemetery near Medical Springs. Mr. Duncan was born on Sept. 9, 1913, at lower Powder Valley to W. H. “Win” and Emma Holt Duncan. He attended Medical Springs and Baker schools. He married Ruth H. Hermsen in Baker on Sept, 23, 1937. … Read more

Stacey, Mary E. – Obituary

Richland, Oregon Mary E. Stacey, 92, of Richland passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2004, at her home. Funeral Services were held at the Richland Christian Church on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004. Interment was at Eagle Valley Cemetery and a reception followed at the Richland Grange. Mary was born on Jan. 30, 1911, to James and Anna Simonis Cropp on a homestead in Eagle Valley where she lived most of her life. Mary and Orin Clemons were married in Caldwell, Idaho, on Feb. 3, 1927. They had three children, Mary Yvonne, James William and Liddy May. All of Mary’s life … Read more

Leigh, William Paul, Sr. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon William Paul Leigh Sr., 84, of Baker City died May 29, 2003, at his home. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Monte Loyd of Baker Valley Christian Assembly will officiate. Mr. Leigh was born on Aug. 26, 1918, at Parma, Idaho, to William Edison Leigh and Mary Lois Boyles. He attended Parma High School. His higher education consisted of the Westpoint welding and diesel school at Chicago. During World War II he welded in the shipyards of Portland. He then returned to Baker … Read more

Lee, Joseph Roscoe – Obituary

Joseph Roscoe Lee, resident of Baker county 1904 to 1956, died November 14, at the family home in Forest Grove. He was born March 22, 1880 in Dallas, Oregon, where his father J.D. Lee was born in 1849. J. Roscoe attended Portland schools except enrollment in Independent Academy, The Dalles, 1888-1892, and attended Willamette U. and Capitol Business College, Salem. He was married to Myrtle Guttersen in 1914 at St. Paul, Minn. In Baker county he had a dry good store, farmed in Eagle Valley and in later years ran an insurance agency. His wife was a teacher and co-school … Read more

Weeks, Nancy E. Beason Mrs. – Obituary

Nancy E. Weeks, 77, of Portland, a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 16, 2001, at a Portland care home. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Peace House in Portland. Mrs. Weeks was born on Sept. 8, 1924, at Portland to Walter and Nan Beason. As a child, she moved with her family to Baker City where she was raised and educated. She was a 1942 Baker High School graduate. After graduating, she returned to Portland where she met William G. Weeks. Mr. Weeks was honorably discharged from the military after serving in World World II. … Read more

Biography of Levi Tulley

A man of prominence in Wallowa county, not in that he has been desirous of personal preferment in political times, but prominent in those qualities that make the real substantial and worthy citizen, the subject of this sketch is justly deserving of a generous representation in this history of his county, since he has labored long and faithfully for the building of the county and has gained and retains the esteem and confidence and gratitude of an appreciative and discriminating people. Mr. Levi Tulley was born in Piatt County, Illinois, on March 2, 1840, his parents, Addison and Mary (Bailey) … Read more