Langley, Helen Merritt Sheehy Mrs. – Obituary

Helen M. Langley, 89, a longtime Baker County resident, died Dec. 23, 2002, at Dallas Hospital in Dallas, Ore. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Vault interment will be at the Lime Cemetery at 1 p.m. Saturday. Family and friends are invited to a dinner reception in the church basement after the funeral. The graveside service also is open to family and friends. Visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Recitation of the rosary will be … Read more

Heward, Arthur L. – Obituary

Arthur L. Heward, 81, a former longtime Baker County resident, died Nov. 11, 2002, at the Idaho State Veterans Nursing Home. At his request, there will be no funeral. Disposition will be by cremation. There will be a memorial service for family and close friends at the Downard Hansen Funeral Home, 241 N. Garfield Ave., Pocatello, Idaho. Interment will be at the Mountain View Cemetery at Pocatello. Arthur attended the University of Wyoming at Laramie and was enrolled in ROTC. He attended Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., and was commissioned in May 1944 as a second lieutenant in … Read more

Sheehy, Mary Magaret Black Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Margaret Black Sheehy, 83, a former Baker County resident, died May 13, 2001, at the Wallowa County Memorial Hospital in Enterprise after a long and courageous fight against cancer. Her funeral was May 21 at the St. Katherine Catholic Church at Enterprise. Interment was at the Wallowa Cemetery. Mrs. Sheehy was the eldest daughter of George Alfred and Hanorah Margaret Doherty “Nora” Black. She was born on June 9, 1917, at The Dalles. In 1935, she graduated from high school at Paisley. After graduation from Eastern Oregon Normal School in La Grande, she began her teaching career in one-room … Read more

Cordell, Sammy – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Sammy Cordell, 69, of Baker City, a former Huntington and Durkee resident, died March 27, 1993, at Sst. Elizabeth Health Care Center. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West & Co. Pionneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Mike Whitford of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Mr. Cordell was born March 29, 1923, at Hesperus Colo., to Frannie Floread Hatchet and Rankin Carl Cordell. He attended grade school in Hesperous, Colo., and high school in Farmington, N. M. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served on … Read more

Kennedy, Ida Belle Porter Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Ida Belle Kennedy, 82, of Baker City died July 9, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. There will be no funeral. She was born at Durkee on May 5, 1921, to Henry and Almeda Porter. She and her late husband, Carl, were married for 47 years. Ida spent her entire life in and around Baker City. She and her husband loved the outdoors and spent many hours fishing, camping and hunting. Survivors include her two sisters, Jessie Surrett of Baker City and Iva Strohl of Rosalla, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death … Read more

Hoisington, Gertrude Florence Purden Mrs. – Obituary

Durkee, Oregon Gertrude Florence Hoisington, 77, of Durkee died Jan. 2, 2001, at Union. Her graveside funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the Durkee Cemetery. Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Daniels Chapel of the Valley in La Grande. Mrs. Hoisington was born on Jan. 19, 1923, at Burney, Calif., to Clyde and Hattie Wright Purden. She moved to Idaho and later to Durkee where she lived with her husband, Harold Hoisington. She enjoyed fishing, picnicking and most of all spending time with her numerous nieces and nephews. Survivors include her sister, … Read more

Hindman, Janice Lynn – Obituary

Janice “Jannie” Lynn Hindman, formerly of La Grande, died of natural causes on Sept. 25 at her home in Lincoln City. Funeral services begin at 11 a.m. Sunday at Pacific View Memorial Chapel in Lincoln City. Family and friends are invited to attend a remembrance gathering Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the home of Ray and Carol Westenskow at 1502 Fourth St. in La Grande. Jannie was born Dec. 7, 1945, to George and Bethel McClure in Portland. The family moved to La Grande where she attended Fruitdale Grade School and graduated from La Grande High School in … Read more

Fleetwood, Arnold Eugene “Arnie” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Arnold Eugene “Arnie” Fleetwood, 69, of Baker City, died Dec. 6, 2002. At his request, there will be no services, and he will be interred with his son, Mike. Arnie was born Jan. 2, 1933, to George William and Ruth Marie McGragh Fleetwood in Omaha, Neb. He was raised in orphanages most all of his youth, but received an education and graduated in Omaha. In 1950, Arnie joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Korea for three years. During Arnie’s life, he enjoyed working in various occupations. He worked construction, logged on the Oregon Coast, worked … Read more

Grogan, Edward “Brent” – Obituary

Durkee, Baker County, Oregon Edward “Brent” Grogan, 51, of Durkee, died Jan. 14, 2005. A Celebration of Life service will be scheduled later. Brent was born at Baker City on Aug. 30, 1953, to Everett and Leanna Grogan. He married Lessie Turner in 1974. Brent’s greatest joys were his children, Casey and Joshua, along with his love of the outdoors. Living in Durkee most of his life, he enjoyed the small town that had been home for him and his family as well as his parents and grandparents before him. He was preceded in death by his father, Everett Grogan; … Read more

Smith, Robert Darrel – Obituary

Robert Darrel Smith passed away peacefully early October 16, 2004, at Ivy Place in Boise, Idaho. Darrel was born in the Crane Creek, Idaho area, April 20, 1904, to Alex and Effie Anne Cochran Smith, the youngest of three children. The family lived on their father’s homestead until Darrel was 2 years old, when they moved to Payette, Idaho. When he was 7, the family moved to the ranch his father purchased near Durkee where he rode a horse to a one-room schoolhouse and completed the eighth grade. After attending his high school freshman year in Brownsville, Ore., he returned … Read more

Suitter, Earl Nathan – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Earl Nathan Suitter, 78, of Baker City, died May 9, 2006, at the family property in Haines. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Ian Fisher, Earl’s nephew, will officiate. After the services, friends are invited to join the family for a reception at Geiser Pollman Park. Earl was born Sept. 1, 1927, in Emmett, Idaho, to Homer Nathan and Daisy Jessie Carroll Suitter. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged. Continuing … Read more

Schweiger, R. C. Mrs. – Obituary

Oklahoma Woman Is Killed Near Durkee Second Fatal Accident to Tourists on Old Oregon Trail in This Section Within a Week A second fatal accident occurred on the Old Oregon Trail between Union and Huntington late Saturday afternoon when Mrs. R.C. Schweiger was killed when the car in which she and her husband were driving overturned a short distance west of Durkee. They were from Waukomis, Okla. The other one occurred the previous Wednesday on this side of the viaduct near Telocaset when Mrs. George Van Oredol of Salina, Kan., met instant death when the car she was driving skidded … Read more

Shephard, Wallace D. – Obituary

Wallace D. Shephard, 82, of Ontario, a former longtime Baker City resident and well-known chef, died Sept. 22, 2001, at an Ontario hospital of natural causes. His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Ontario’s Lienkaemper Chapel. There will be a graveside service at 2 p.m. PDT at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Shephard was born Nov. 13, 1918, at Baker City to Delbert W. and Cordelia Yeager Shephard. He married La Neva E. Scott on June 20, 1937, at Klamath Falls. The couple returned to Baker City soon after their marriage and remained here until 1964. Mr. Shephard … Read more

Wyatt, Alan W. – Obituary

Durkee, Oregon Alan W. Wyatt, 51, of Durkee, died July 2, 2002, while falling timber on the Durango, Colo., fire. There will be a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Durkee Grange. The celebration will include a dessert potluck. Alan was born Aug. 28, 1950, at Sacramento, Calif., to Albert and Merrilee Boncher Wyatt. He spent his entire young life at Orangevale, Calif., fostering his lifelong love of the sport of rodeo and cattle ranching. On April 25, 1970, he married Victoria Lennberg at Citrus Heights, Calif., They began their life together ranching at Elk Grove, … Read more

Powell, Erma V. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Erma V. Powell, 94, a longtime Baker City resident, died Dec. 19, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Calvary Baptist Church, 2107 Third St. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at Calvary Baptist Church. Visitations will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. Erma Veneva Powell was born on June 13, 1908, at the family ranch on Burnt River near Durkee. Her parents were Florence Boyer and John Fremont Powell, both … Read more

Vandecar, Robert Jr. – Obituary

Robt. Vandecar Jr. Dies Here Tuesday Robert Vandecar, Jr. 46, well known Bridgeport rancher, died Tuesday in St. Elizabeth Hospital from cancer. Funeral services are being arranged by Langrell Mortuary Chapel and details of his life are being compiled but were not available at press time. Mr. Vandecar grew up at Durkee and is best known by friends throughout the county for his work with the Burnt River 4-H livestock and Junior show projects a number of years. Source: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, March 14, 1968 page 7 Contributed by: Belva Ticknor

Kirby, Ella R. – Obituary

Ella R. Kirby, 78, who lived in Baker County all of her life, died at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, Tuesday, Feb 14, after a long illness. Rosary will be recited at St. Francis Cathedral in Baker Friday night and mass will be said Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the cathedral with Father Joseph Hayes officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Those who wish to contribute to the memorial fund for the Durkee Catholic Church in lieu of sending flowers. Mrs. Kirby was born March 14, 1882, at Richland, Oregon, the daughter of Fredrick and Mary Simonis, … Read more

Shanley, Doris E. Miller Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Doris E. Shanley, 85, a long-time Baker City resident, died June 6, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Roger Scovil of Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. A reception will follow at a family home. Visitations will be Friday from noon to 8 p.m. at Gray’s West. Doris was born June 15, 1917, to Hope E. and Eliza A. Miller at the family home near Callaway, Neb. She married John … Read more

Carlile, Dale Robert – Obituary

Durkee, Oregon Dale Robert Carlile, 63, died Jan. 9, 2004, at his home in Durkee. At Dale’s request, there will be no services. Dale was born May 10, 1940, at Kelso, Wash., to Harry Carlile and Frieda Valentine Carlile. He attended school at Kelso/Longview where he loved playing football. After graduating from high school, Dale joined the U.S .Army and attended Ranger school. He was involved in the early years of the Vietnam War. Dale left the Army six years later as a lieutenant colonel. He moved home to Kelso/Longview and began his career as a police officer. He worked … Read more

Foersterling, Willis Emil – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Willis Emil Foersterling, 78, a longtime Baker City resident, died March 2, 2004, at his home. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. The Rev. Susan Barnes of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate. Masonic Ritualistic Rites and military honors also will be conducted. Visitations will be from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Willis was born on July 30, 1925, at Baker City, to Willis Herbert and Zelda Mae Sparks Foersterling. He was educated at Sisley … Read more