Baker County OR

Breckenridge, Carrie Sophie Anderson Clark – Obituary

Mrs. Carrie Breckenridge, 75, Burke died last night in a Kellogg hospital. She was born Nov. 19, 1884. She was a member of the Rebecca’s, having received the degree of honor. She is survived by a daughter Mrs. Violet Erwin in Burke and a sister, Mrs. George Bailey in Baker, Oregon. The local funeral home is in charge of shipping the body to Baker, Oregon where services will be held and burial will be in the Baker cemetery. North Idaho Press, September 3, 1959 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Fox, Garry Glenn – Obituary

Garry Glenn Fox, 66, a former Baker City resident and a recent resident of Portland, died Aug. 23, 2001, of heart failure. Mr. Fox was a 1954 Baker High School graduate. He was active in football and track in high school. He later attended Eastern Oregon College of Education. Throughout his life he worked as an electrical-mechanical engineer, primarily in the aerospace industry. He also was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in South Korea. Survivors include two daughters, Shelly Loken of Bend and Kim Lauterbach of Baker City; a sister, Kathie Gallardo of Park City, Utah; and … Read more

Benson, Daniel – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Daniel Benson, 42, a Baker City resident, died Nov. 4, 2001, at Salt Lake City. There will be a celebration of his life Nov. 24 at the Eagles Lodge, 2935 H St. Dinner will be served at 2 p.m. Main dishes will be provided. Those attending are asked to bring a side dish. Mr. Benson was born at Provo, Utah, on May 3, 1959. He lived most of his life in Southern California and spent the last two years at Salt Lake City where he was waiting for a new heart. He loved to go camping, fishing … Read more

Smurthwaite, Paul Rey – Obituary

Paul Rey Smurthwaite, 72, a former Baker City resident, died peacefully at his home on April 5, 2006 after a battle with cancer. There will be a service celebrating his life at 11 a.m. Monday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15555 S.W. 98th St., in Tigard. Paul was born on Feb. 24, 1934, at Baker City to Jesse Abraham and Zina Smurthwaite. He was the youngest of eight children. He grew up in Baker City where he enjoyed gymnastics, bowling, camping, fishing and hunting. He served his country as a U.S. Marine in the Korean conflict. … Read more

Boutwell, Debra Lynn Sharp Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Debra Lynn Boutwell, 49, of Halfway, died July 1, 2001, of natural causes at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise. Her funeral was this morning at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. The Rev. Bill Shields officiated. Interment was at Pine Haven Cemetery. Mrs. Boutwell was born July 12, 1951, at Wichita, Kan., to Louis and Betty Brooks Sharp. She graduated in 1969 from Corona High School in Corona, Calif. She met her future husband, Homer Boutwell, through a cousin of Homer’s. They had known each other just about a week when Homer asked her: “Do you know … Read more

Johnson, Allison Duncombe Mrs. – Obituary

Allison Duncombe Johnson, 77, of Baker City, died Dec. 2, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Bishop David Richards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will conduct. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be from noon to 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home. Allison was born on Sept. 26, 1928, at Salt Lake City to Henry Duncombe and Cornelia Elsie Barnes. She worked her way through high school as a clerk for Woolworth’s, for Grant’s and … Read more

Gentry, Clifford Wayne – Obituary

Union, Oregon Clifford Wayne Gentry, 76, of Union, died March 20, 2001, at his home. A memorial service will be scheduled later. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley in La Grande. Mr. Gentry was born Sept. 8, 1924, at Baker City to Ruben and Ethel (Ingram) Gentry. He attended school in Halfway before moving to Pilot Rock, where he graduated from high school. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served during World War II on PT boats along with the late President John F. Kennedy. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Mr. … Read more

Anderson, Wilhelm James “Bill” – Obituary

Halfway, Baker County, Oregon Wilhelm James “Bill” Anderson, 75, of Halfway died April 18, 2006, in Baker City. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. Interment will be at the Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Fellowship Hall. Bill was born on Jan. 10, 1931, at Valentine, Neb., to Arthur O. and Anna M. Galloway Anderson. At a young age, he moved with his parents to Whitney, Neb. He attended grade school and Chadron … Read more

Durr, Carolyn Bonitz Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Carolyn Durr, 70, died Nov. 5, 2004, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise. Her graveside service was at 1 p.m. today at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends were invited to join the family for a reception at the Lions Hall afterward. Carolyn Durr was born to Aubrey and Thelma Bonitz at Oklahoma City, Okla., on June 14, 1934. Her family later moved to Albany where she graduated from Albany High School. It was in high school that she met David Durr. They were married in 1954 while he was serving in the U.S. Marines. They spent the … Read more

McKim, Carol Andrea Steele Mrs. – Obituary

Carol Andrea McKim, 70, of Halfway died April 8, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center in Baker City. A family gathering in honor of Carol will be held in July. The date and time will be announced later. Carol was born April 5, 1939, in Halfway to George Theodore (Ted) Steele and Alma Effie (Hulse) Steele. She spent her childhood in the company of five brothers and six sisters. She attended Halfway High School until her junior year, when she married Oklahoma-native Martin McKim on July 25, 1956. Her life was spent as a dedicated and loving mother, grandmother, … Read more

Forsea, Robert O. “Bob” – Obituary

Richland, Oregon Robert O. “Bob” Forsea, 82, a longtime Richland resident, died May 9, 2001, at his home. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Carrol McIntosh of the Nazarene Church at Redmond will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Forsea was born on Sept. 25, 1918, at Home. He married Mary Vandecar on July 24, 1948, at Weiser, Idaho. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 3048, and a life member of the Baker Elks Lodge, No. 338. He was a … Read more

M’Quowen, Mary

Mary M’Quowen Dies At Age Of 90 Years Had Lived in Oregon Practically All Her Life and Passes Away at Wingville. Mrs. Mary McQuowen, an old resident of Wingville, died at the place this morning at 4 o’clock, aged 90 years. Mrs. McQuowen had lived in Oregon practically all her life, having resided in Wingville for many years. She leaves two sons and two daughters, all residents of Oregon. The funeral will be held from the Wingville Church Thursday afternoon at 1 o’clock. The Baker Herald – – January 15, 1918.

Biography of Orlando T. Prout

It is quite fitting that in a volume purporting to chronicle the lives of the leading citizens of Wallowa county, there should be mention of the esteemed gentleman, named in this article, and who has demonstrated his ability to do the work of the pioneer in a manner that is quite becoming that worthy class; for years also he has shown qualifications for bringing success to his hand in the ventures of agricultural life, displaying, meanwhile, those characteristics of moral worth and integrity that are priceless to the really true and noble man. Mr. Prout was born in Branch County, … Read more

McCarver, Rose Mary – Obituary

Richland, Baker County, Oregon Rose Mary McCarver, 82, of Ontario, a former Richland resident, died May 1, 2006, at her home. Her memorial graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Evergreen Cemetery in Ontario. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin will preside. Rose was born on June 24, 1923, at Ironside. She attended Vale schools. She married William McCarver on Sept. 21, 1940, at Payette, Idaho. They ran a sawmill and trucking company at Ironside. In 1954 the family moved to Ontario where they had a dairy on the Oregon Slope. Later they moved to Richland, where they had … Read more

Ishmael, Alta “Marie” Dyer Mrs. – Obituary

Alta “Marie” Ishmael, 75, of Hermiston, a former Baker County resident, died Sept. 4, 2006, at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, Wash., of complications after cardiac surgery. Her memorial service was Sept. 9 at Burns Mortuary Chapel in Hermiston. Friends joined the family for a potluck afterward at her home. She was born on Dec. 4, 1930, at Weiser, Idaho, to parents J.R. “Ted” and Orpha Knee Dyer. They lived at Robinette until dams were built on the Snake River and the town was flooded. She always missed her childhood home. Marie moved to Hermiston in 1988 and had lived … Read more

Biography of Jackson Fickle

JACKSON FICKLE. – It is to the pioneer, sturdy, brave, and proud against hardhsip, with a spirit ready to undertake any task or face any danger, that we owe a debt of gratitude for the development of these fertile regions of eastern Oregon, and all too soon that worhty figure is passing from these scenes where he labored so faithfully, and planted the banner of civilization on the hitherto undisturbed plains of nature’s domain. An exemplary member of that deserving and noble band is the gnetleman that it is now our pleasant task to epitomize as to his career in … Read more

Huff, Hiram M. – Obituary

Hiram M. Huff died Sunday Hiram M. Huff, a resident of Baker since 1908, died at 11 o’clock Sunday morning at the residence of his son, Dr. J. W. Huff in this city. The deceased was born in Kentucky, February 2, 1832, being 91 years, nine months and nine days old. He came to western Iowa May 1855 and married Lucinda McGahan June 24, 1856, six children being the result of the union, four of whom survive; Dr. J.W. Huff and T.C. Huff, Baker; B.T. Huff, Payette; Mrs. Clara Weston, Baker. Funeral services will be held this evening at the … Read more

Beitz, Phyllis Ann Fisk Mrs. – Obituary

Pine Valley, Baker County, Oregon Phyllis Beitz, 76, died April 28, 2006, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Private interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Phyllis Ann was born on Sept. 30, 1928, to Frank and Mary Fisk at the Pine Valley home of her grandparents, Tom and Willie Harmon. She attended first and second grades at Pine Valley and Grades 3-6 in Baker. Her seventh- through 11th- grade years were spent at San Diego, but she returned to Halfway to graduate in 1946. After high school, Phyllis moved to San Diego to work at an aeronautical … Read more

Basche, Pete – Obituary

Richland, Oregon Pete Basche, 90, of Richland, died July 17, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Care Center. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Richland Methodist Church. Interment will be at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Pastor Bill Shields will officiate. Pete was born on Nov. 23, 1913, at Home to Fred Walton and Martha Ellen Rhodes Wilson Basche. Pete rode a horse to school where his sister, Josephine, was his first teacher. He also rowed a boat across the Snake River to attend school on the Idaho side for a period of time. He graduated from … Read more

Smith, Leroy Irvin – Obituary

Leroy Irvin Smith, 73, died Jan. 20, 2002, at Providence Milwaukie Hospital after six days of illness there. He was born Sept. 4, 1928, at Marshfield (now known as Coos Bay). He was the sixth of seven children. In 1937, the Smith family moved from Marshfield to Carus where Leroy attended grade school He graduated from high school at Canby in 1945. Leroy grew up with an enjoyment for sports. He especially loved baseball. He participated with his high school team as a catcher, but also was able to fill any other position on the field. His enjoyment of the … Read more