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

Nibley, Charles W. Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. Charles W. Nibley, wife of a Latter Day Saints church official, died at her home in Salt Lake City July 2, aged 77. A son, Dr. J.O. Nibley of Portland, arrived in Salt Lake a few hours after his mother’s death. Four other sons, Merrill, Charles and Alex of Los Angeles and Joseph of Salt Lake, and two daughters, Mrs. Harold Smooth and Mrs. Horace B. Whitney of Salt Lake, also survive. Mr. and Mrs. Nibley and family made their home in Baker for several years and were prominent in church affairs there. The Nibley home in Baker was … Read more

Nantz, Allen O. – Obituary

Allen O. Nantz, 81, of North Powder, died Oct. 27, 2007. At his request, there will be a private family service only. Allen was born on May 10, 1926, to Charlie and Percy Nantz. He married Claudeen Jones in 1947. Allen lived his entire life in North Powder. He enjoyed agriculture and worked for farmers in the North Powder area. Survivors include his wife Claudeen; sons, Ron, and his wife, Kathy, of La Grande, and Russ and his wife, Beth, of Huntington; a daughter, Kathy, and her husband, Steve Boyd, of Walla Walla, Wash.; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He … Read more

Biography of Evans S. McComas

EVANS S. McCOMAS. – One of the earliest pioneers of what is now Union county, and intimately acquainted with all of eastern Oregon, having been a prominent figure here from the time of his advent into the region, the gentleman, whose name is at the head of this article, is to-day one of the leading representatives of Union county and has ever maintained a walk manifesting public spirit and an ardent interest in the welfare of all, while he has been instrumental in upbuilding the county by his own efforts in the business enterprises that he has fostered and consummated … Read more

Sipp, Phyllis ‘Jean’ Meng Crane Mrs. – Obituary

Phyllis ‘Jean’ Sipp 85, of Baker City, Ore., died Jan. 1, 2007, at her home. At her request, Jean will be cremated and there will be a family service at a later date. Interment will occur next spring. Jean was born on April 6, 1923, in Red Oak, Iowa. She was the oldest child of Jacob Meng and Nellie Weidman Meng and had two brothers, Kenneth (Bud) and Robert,; two sisters, Donna and Nita. She attended school in Red Oak through grade 7. Jean’s family moved to Oregon when she was twelve years old and she attended junior high and … Read more

Phillips, Dorothy May Calloway Mrs. – Obituary

Dorothy May Phillips, 78, of North Powder, died April 15, 2008, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. Her graveside funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a potluck reception at the North Powder Grange on E Street at 4 p.m. Dorothy May Calloway was born on Jan. 6, 1930, at Baker City to Roy Daniel Calloway and Ora Agnes Burris Calloway. She was the second of seven children. She was a lifelong resident of Baker and Union counties and attended Baker schools. Dorothy worked as a certified nurse’s aide at St. Elizabeth … Read more

Wunder, Virgil A. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Virgil A. Wunder 92, a life long resident of Baker City, died Monday, Dec. 27, 2004, at the Boise Veterans Hospital. Funeral services for Mr. Wunder will be held Monday, Jan. 3, 2005, at 10 a.m. in the Coles Funeral Home. Vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday from 4 p.m.until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Wunder also was survived by nieces and nephews Lela and Harold Bell, Alta and David Fales, and Alvena and David McGill. Donations maybe made to the D.A.V. Van Fund, this maybe done through … Read more

Wyatt, Chris George – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Chris George Wyatt, 53, died Dec. 6, 2004, at Dugway, Utah. Funeral services were held on Dec. 9 at the Dugway LDS ward and burial was at the Tooele City Cemetery. Mr. Wyatt was born Oct. 22, 1951, at Baker City, the son of Cantril and Theoria Wyatt. He married Sharon Louise Hansen on May 18, 1979, in Manti, Utah. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and taught history and drivers education for 24 years. He loved reading, journal writing and the national parks. He is survived by his wife, … Read more

Banes, Charles Ronald “Ron” – Obituary

Charles Ronald “Ron” Banes, 57, a former Baker City resident, March 12, 2008. His memorial service was at 11 a.m. today at Hillcrest Memorial Center, 9353 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Wash., with a brief graveside service afterward at Riverview Heights Cemetery. There was reception after the burial at the Eagles Lodge in Kennewick, Wash. To sign the guestbook, go to www.hillcrestmemorialcenter.com. Ron was born on March 8, 1951, at Brawley, Calif., to Antero and Dorothy Irvin Banes. Ron married Kandy Ann King on Dec. 15, 1983. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was an active member of the … Read more

Webb, Herman Chutes – Obituary

Herman Chutes Webb, 98, a former longtime Baker City resident, died Sept. 9, 2007, at his home in Nampa, Idaho. Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church, 1919 Second St. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Juanita Bergacker will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family after the service for a dinner at the church. Herman was born at Baker City on Sept. 25, 1908, to William Martin and Caroline Marie … Read more

Compton, Leona Vanderwall Mrs. – Obituary

Haines, Baker County, Oregon Leona Compton Was Lifelong Resident of Baker County Funeral services for Leona Compton, 78, were conducted Wednesday, Nov. 27, at The Langrel Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Robert McNeil of the First Methodist Church officiating. Interment was at the Haines Cemetery. Mrs. Compton was born November 8, 1890 at Haines and has been a lifelong resident of this area. She was married to Edmund Almy Brownell on September 13, 1913 and after his death married William F. Compton in April of 1945. Mr. Compton preceded her in death in 1966. She is survived by one son, Edmund … Read more

Aldrich, Robert Ray – Obituary

Haines, Oregon Robert Ray Aldrich, 72, of Haines, died May 14, 2007, at St. Elizabeth Care Center in Baker City. Visitation will be from noon to 5 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. His graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Rock Creek Cemetery near Haines. Cliff Cole of Baker City will officiate. Robert was born July 18, 1934, at Baker City to Elvin and Mona Yankee Aldrich. He attended school at Rock Creek, Muddy Creek and North Powder. After high school, Robert joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served during the … Read more

Hinshaw, Ellen Davis Mrs. – Obituary

Ellen Davis Hinshaw, 88, of Portland, died April 15, 2001, at Providence Hospital in Portland. Her graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Darrell Johnson of the Grace Chapel in Prairie City will officiate. There will be a remembrance dinner at the Baker Valley Christian Assembly, 3720 Birch St., after the service. All who knew her or the family are welcome. Visitations will be today until 7 p.m. at the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Mrs. Hinshaw was born on Oct. 3, 1912, at Burns to Alma and Annie Merle Davis. She was … Read more

Gill, George – Obituary

Minam, Oregon George Gill, 76, of Baker City passed away at his home on June 6, 2007. Memorial Services will be held at the Eagles, 2935 H St. in Baker City on Saturday, June 16, at 1 p.m. An additional memorial will be held on the Minam at a later date. Mr. Gill was born in Oregon City to Manuel and Mary Gill. He attended several schools in Oregon as a child, moving with his family as his father worked in the construction business. When he was 12 years old, his father bought a ranch on the Minam in Wallowa … Read more

Boydstun, Robert Deris “Bob”, III – Obituary

Robert “Bob” Deris Boydstun III, 67, a resident of The Dalles, Ore., died at a care facility in Portland, Ore., on June 5, 2006. Graveside services were held on Saturday, June 10, 2006, at 2 p.m. at 100F Three Mile Cemetery in The Dalles, Ore., with Bob Guerrant officiating. Bob married Ramona Harden in Baker City, Ore., on June 12, 1960. He is survived by his son, Rob Boydstun and his wife, Corissa of Damascus, Ore.; daughter, Amy Latham and her husband Russ of White Salmon, Wash.; four grand children; sister, Patsy Castle and her husband, Mike of Burns, Ore.; … Read more

Fidler, Wayne D. – Obituary

Wayne D. Fidler, 79, a life long resident of Haines, Oregon, died Tuesday, June 18 at his home in Haines. Memorial services for Mr. Fidler will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 22 at the Haines Cemetery. Cliff Cole will officiate. Mr. Fidler was born April 29, 1912 in Haines Oregon, a son of Roy Earl and Hester S. (McKanna) Fidler. He graduated from Haines High School and his whole life was spent in Haines. He worked for Lee and Glen Duncan from 1928 until the company changed to Haines Grain Feed and Seed, working there until his retirement … Read more

Vandecar, Robert L. – Obituary

Robt. L. Vandecar Was Durkee Creek Rancher 54 Years Funeral services for Robert L. Vandecar of Durkee, 77 years of age and a well known Baker County stockman were conducted at 2:00 pm Tuesday Feb. 20 at Gray’s West and Co. Pioneer Chapel. The Rev. Richard A. Toll of the St. Stephens Episcopal Church officiated. Vault interment followed in the family plot at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mr. Vandecar was born May 14, 1895 in Payette, Idaho the son of Augustus Byron and Rose Mott Vandecar. He had his schooling in Haines and in 1918 moved to Durkee. He was married … Read more

Shirtcliff, Charles P. “Pat” – Obituary

Charles P. “Pat” Shirtcliff, 61, a former Baker County resident, died Nov. 28, 2007, following an automobile accident. He was born Feb. 9, 1946, in Roseburg to Sheila and Henry M. Shirtcliff. He grew up in Myrtle Creek, where he attended school. In 1964 he graduated from Myrtle Creek High School, where he participated in basketball, football, cross country, track, the Drama Club and many other activities. He also attended Oregon State University. He married Beverly Tapp in 1966. They were married 22 years and had four children. Pat served on the South Umpqua School Board during the 1980s while … Read more

Jury, Allen W. “Al” – Obituary

Keating, Oregon Allen W. Jury, known to all as “Al,” 82, a lifelong rancher, died Feb. 1, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center of heart disease. There will be a memorial service in honor of his life in the spring. Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Al was born and grew up in the San Francisco Bay area town of Hayward, Calif. He married his high school sweetheart, Lila Estell, at Reno, Nev., in 1941. They moved to the San Joaquin Valley town of Oakdale, Calif., raising hogs and dairy cows. Their son, Walter, … Read more

Chambers, Mary – Obituary

Mrs. Mary E. Chambers, one of the pioneer ladies of this section, died yesterday afternoon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. F. Phy, wife of Judge Phy of Union county, in La Grande, where she had been for the past few months after leaving Baker to make her home with her daughter Reprint from the Baker Democrat Jan 1917 Contributed by: Larry Rader