Eugene Oregon

Luster, Deborah Kay – Obituary

Deborah Kay Luster, 44, of Pinedale, Wyo., a former Baker City resident, died June 13, 2005, in a car accident near Evanston, Wyo. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Lennie Spooner of the First Church of the Nazarene will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the home of Carolyn and Melvin Luster. Debbie was born on Jan. 13, 1961, at Twin Falls, Idaho. She was the sixth of nine children born to her mother, Mary Helen Sartain Sharp of The Dalles. She also had … Read more

Phillips, Lavern A. Hindman Mrs. – Obituary

Lavern A. Phillips, 83, of Baker City died Feb. 24, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Memorial service was held Tuesday, March 1, 2 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. There was no viewing. Cremation was at Gray’s West & Co. Lavern was born July 2, 1921, in Baker City to Edgar (Sam) Hindman, and Camilla Williams Hindman. She graduated from Baker High School in June 1939. She was the New Account’s Manager for First National Bank of Oregon (now Wells Fargo Bank), and was with the bank for more than 25 years in Eugene, Ore. She … Read more

Partridge, Donald Doyle – Obituary

Donald Doyle Partridge, 70, of Elgin and formerly of Hermiston and Fairbanks, died March 12 at a local care center. A memorial service will be held May 10 at 11 a.m. at the Cove Cemetery. Arrangements are with Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. Mr. Partridge was born on Oct. 25, 1937, the son of Edward and Wilma (Clark) Partridge in Cortez, Colo. He served with the Oregon National Guard for a few years. He married Carolyn Hartley on Aug. 16, 1971 in Reno. They lived in La Grande for a year in 1975 and then Eugene before living … Read more

Biography of Louis B. Rinehart

LOUIS B. RINEHART. – Mr. Rinehart was born in Illinois in 1844, and ten years later accompanied his parents across the plains to Oregon. They followed the track s of 1853 from the mouth of the Malheur to Eugene City via Harney Lake. Ten miles west of Eugene the elder Rinehart located a half section of land, and provided a home for his family. Louis remained there until 1862, but that spring came with his brothers to the Grande Ronde valley. After living in a tent three months, he hauled the logs and assisted in the erection of the third … Read more

Bean, Robert Sharp, Judge – Obituary

Judge Robert Sharp Bean of the federal court for the District of Oregon, nationally known for his judicial mind died suddenly of a heart attack at 6:30 o’clock this morning [January 7, 1931] at his home, 1620 Briar Place. He was 76. Shock of the death was doubly felt in that it was so unexpected. According to a member of the family, Judge Bean, on retiring last night, was as well as he had ever been. He retired about 11 o’clock, Mrs. Bean said. Shortly before 6 a.m. today he arose complaining of a slight stomach ailment. He was somewhat … Read more

Bradford, Lewis Everett “Lew” – Obituary

Baker City Lewis Everett “Lew” Bradford, 77, of Baker City, died Feb. 17, 2005, at his home from a massive heart attack. His funeral was at 1 o’clock today at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St. Members of the Elks Lodge and Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church officiated. There was a reception afterward at the Elks Lodge. Lew was born on Nov. 28, 1928, at Salem to Elbert and Velma Bradford. He attended grade school at Salem and was a 1946 Eugene High School graduate. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1947, serving his country … Read more

Biography of Judge Robert Eakin

JUDGE ROBERT EAKIN. – While Union county is so especially favored in having men of energy and talent in the various callings of human industry and learning, there is no profession that is more signally marked by the men of ability within its ranks than the legal, and as a leader among this class stands the gentleman, whose name initiates this paragraph, and who is well and favorably known throughout eastern Oregon. Judge Eakin is a profound student of the literature of his chosen profession, having added by careful and thorough research to a mind well poised for weighing the … Read more

Biography of George F. Herbert

GEORGE F. HERBERT. – This gentleman and his wife were a venerable couple whose lives as pioneers in our state, and as citizens of great merit in social, religious and business life, have made them well known and highly respected in the entire circle of their acquaintances. Mr. Herbert was born in Frederick County, Virginia, in September, 1815. Mrs. Herbert (Elizabeth) née McCormick, was born May 1, 1818, in the same state. They were married in 1838, and emigrated to the frontier of Illinois, where they remained until 1842, when they moved to Iowa, making a second prairie home. In … 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

Bilyeu, Inez Withers – Obituary

The funeral will be held Oct. 21 for Inez B. Bilyeu of Eugene who died Oct. 17 [2004] of age-related causes. She was 87. Bilyeu was born Oct. 13, 1917 in Oilton, Okla., to Ora Claude and Edna Guinn Withers. She married Edward Bilyeu on Oct. 13, 1940 in Lebanon. He died Nov. 13, 1978. She moved to Lebanon in 1927, graduating from Lebanon High School in 1936. She and her husband opened an insurance agency in 1942 now known as Bilyeu-Mill Insurance. She enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening and trips to the Oregon Coast and Clear Lake. … Read more

Biography of Lewis C. Rinehart

It is a pleasant task to scan the career of a successful man and to note the places where he has overcome the obstacles of life’s pathway and where he has made worthy achievements: and for a short time it is our good pleasure to thus contemplate the salient points of the life of the worthy gentleman, whose name initiates this article and who has been and is now one of the substantial and capable men of Wallowa County, having wrought for the development and advancement of the same in a manner that demonstrates both his ability and his integrity, … Read more

Niederer, Mini (See) – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Minnie (See) Niederer, 85, formerly of La Grande, died Oct. 21. Minnie was born and raised in La Grande where she met Harley Levon Niederer. They were married in Weiser, Idaho, in 1941. They moved to Eugene and spent 55 years together until Levon died in 1996. She is survived by son, John Niederer of Vancouver, Wash.; daughter, Nikki Pettet of Olympia, Wash.; two grandsons; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by four siblings, Bill Hart, Grover See, Lottie Noyes and Ester Crader. La Grande Observer – Obituaries for the week ending November … Read more

Purdy, Ruth Marion Rippey Eccles Mrs. – Obituary

Ruth Marion Rippey Eccles Purdy, 92, of Picabo, Idaho, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 26, 2006. Her memorial service will be at 1 p.m., Saturday at the Community Campus (old Wood River High School) Auditorium at Hailey, Idaho. Internment will be at the Picabo Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a “Celebration of Ruth’s Life” at the Picabo Store immediately after the internment. The daughter of Clark and Lottie Rippey, she was born on June 29, 1913, at Portland. Soon after, the family moved to Baker City, where her father worked for the Railway Mail Service on … Read more

Biography of Hon. A. G. Hovey

HON. A.G. HOVEY. – The reputation of Mr. Hovey, the present mayor of Eugene, Oregon, is co-extensive with the limits of the state, in the affairs of which he has ever taken an active part. His aggressive pushing disposition indicate the stern qualities of courage and self-reliance which lie at the basis of his character, and displace the more ephemeral qualities of a purely sentimental hopefulness or ambition. He is an example of the adage that “God helps those who help themselves;” and his whole life has bristled with instances of the truth therein indicated. He is a man of … Read more

Biography of Thomas Smith

THOMAS SMITH. – Mr. Smith, whose life labors have had as their result in one particular the upbuilding of the handsome village of Winchester, near the Umpqua River, was born in Oxfordshire, England, February 12, 1823; and he crossed the Atlantic with his parents in 1830. The first American home was at Rochester, and a year later at Euclid near Cleveland, Ohio; and in 1834 a removal was made to La Porte County, Indiana. Thirteen years were spent in Indiana with his parents; but in 1847 the desire to go forth and test his powers in competition with others induced … Read more

Odell, William Holman – Obituary

Plans have been completed for funeral services this afternoon in Salem for W. H. Odell, who died here late Wednesday night [April 26, 1922] at the age of 92. He was formerly editor and owner of the Oregon Statesman of Salem and a well-known educator and political figure. Mr. Odell came to Oregon from Indiana in 1851. He attended Willamette University. After his marriage, he and his wife had charge for a time of the old Santiam Academy. Later he was identified with the public schools of Albany. In 1864 he moved to Eugene and was appointed United States Deputy … Read more

Keith, James Edward – Obituary

James Edward Keith of 1715 Mill Street. Funeral services will be held in the Poole-Larsen Chapel Tuesday, April 20 at 10 AM. Reverend Sidney Carnes officiating. Private cremation services to follow. Family has requested for those who wish donations may be made in his memory to the Heart Fund in care of Poole-Larsen. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Breckon, Clayton Richard – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Clayton Richard Breckon, 89, of Elgin, died Jan. 8 at his home. A funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Elgin. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Clayton was born Feb. 27, 1918, to Richard David and Eva Kate Plant Breckon in Ontario. He moved to this area from Eugene 30 years ago. He enjoyed woodworking and clock making, and was meticulous with his yard. He was active with the LDS Church, and was a High Priest. He also enjoyed genealogy, auto mechanics … Read more

Biography of Hon. J. H. Rinehart

HON.J.H. RINEHART. – Mr. Rinehart, whose portrait appears in this volume, is one of the pioneers of Eastern Oregon, and the proprietor of the Mammoth Anna-Lulu Flouring mills. He was born October 1, 1836, in Adams county, Illinois, and moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1845. In 1854 he crossed the plains with his parents to Oregon and located with them at Eugene. In 1855 he left the parental roof and, although but a boy of eighteen, sought the gold fields of Northern California, where he remained a year and a half, and returned to Oregon soon after the close … Read more

Warnock, Dan, Sr. – Obituary

Sumpter, Oregon Dan Warnock Sr., 96, a longtime Sumpter Valley rancher, died Aug. 15, 2003 at St. Elizabeth Care Center. His graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Sumpter Cemetery. There will be a memorial service afterward at 4 p.m. at the McEwen Community Church. Family and friends are invited to a beef barbeque afterward at the church. Dan was born on Jan. 30, 1907, at Joseph to Dan W. and Mariah Mortensen Warnock. He was the youngest of nine children. He was raised on the family cattle and horse ranch on Crow Creek in Wallowa County. … Read more