Makinson, Ruth C. Parrish Mrs. – Obituary

Ruth C Makinson, 88, of Corvallis, a former Baker City resident, died March 3, 2003, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis. Her memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at McHenry Funeral Home, 206 N.W. Fifth St., in downtown Corvallis. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate. Private interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Ruth Makinson was born April 26, 1914, at Dallas, Ore., the daughter of Mabel Guy Parrish and Elbert L. Parrish. She received her education at Dallas, graduating from Dallas High School. She married Joe Martin in 1931 while still in high … Read more

McDowell, Nora Alice Thompson Mrs. – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon Nora Alice McDowell, 77, of North Powder, died May 1, 1996, at the North Powder Ponderosa Adult Foster Home. Her graveside funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Marion/Friends Cemetery at Marion , Oregon. Rev. E.E. Blackmon of the Parkrose Deliverance Tabernacle of Portland will officiate. Vault interment will follow. Visitations will be today until 4 p.m. at the Coles-Strommer-Monroe Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. in Baker City. Mrs. McDowell was born April 3, 1919, in Marian, Oregon, the daughter of Fredrick and Milly Slyter Thompson. She spent her childhood and attended schools … Read more

Harding, Clara Golson Mrs. – Obituary

Clara Harding, 91, of Halfway died March 9, 2006. Her funeral took place Sunday at the Pine Valley Christian Center in Halfway. On Saturday at noon a service will be held at the Springfield Faith Center in Springfield. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception to follow. Interment will be at Lane Memorial Gardens in Eugene. Clara Irene Harding was born Aug. 12, 1914, on the family homestead in Big Stone Township, three miles from Corinth, N.D., to Sever Ellefson and Inga Jeanette Golson. Clara was educated at the country school in Big Stone Township at Corinth, … 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

Austin “Bud” Ragle – Obituary

This is the obituary for Donald Gordon Olsen, age 86, who died on May 30, 2008. It was initially published by the Record Courier in Baker City, Oregon on June 26, 2008.

Bean, Obediah Roberts – Obituary

Proved Fatal. The accident which happened to Mr. O. R. Bean at Acme, Tuesday, March 11 [1890], an account of which was published in last week’s GUARD, was attended with a fatal result He never regained consciousness after the accident [died March 15, 1890]. O. R. Bean was born in Liberty, Missouri, February 2, 1830. He came to California in 1849, being attracted by the reports of the finding of gold, and remained there until 1852 when he came to Oregon. In 1853 in Yamhill he married Miss Julia A. Sharp who survives him. In 1855 he came to Lane … Read more

Biography of Judge Joshua J. Walton

JUDGE JOSHUA J. WALTON. – This eminent jurist and public leader of our state was born April 6, 1838, at Rushville, Illinois. At the age of two years he was taken by his parents to a new home near Springfield, Illinois. After a brief sojourn there another move was made, bringing the family as far west as St. Louis, Missouri; and in 1842 they moved on to Keosauque, Iowa. In 1849 the plains were crossed with ox-teams, on the route via Salt Lake City; and the journey was brought to an end at Frémont, California, a place at the junction … Read more

Biography of Hon. L. M. Ringer

HON. L.M. RINGER. – There is moral earnestness about a man who is able to hold his own convictions in the face of his neighbors and friends. We find such a man in Mr. Ringer. Born June 17, 1834, in Washington County, Maryland, he moved as a child to Amherst County, Virginia, there receiving his education, but later making his home in Stoddard  County, Missouri, engaging in the mercantile business. When the war broke out in 1861, that community was strongly for secession. Mr. Ringer was obliged either to enter the rebel army or to leave. He chose the latter … Read more

Hesus, Carol Andrea McKim Mrs. – Obituary

After an aggressive four-month battle with throat cancer, Carol Andrea Hesus, supportive wife and fun-loving mother, joined her grandmother in heaven on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at 3:30 a.m. Andrea was 50 years old. Carol Andrea McKim was born in Baker, Ore., in 1957. Andrea attended schools in Baker and graduated from Pine Eagle High School in Halfway, Ore. She met Frederick Hesus while attending Eastern Oregon State College. They married in 1978 and moved to Halfway, Ore., to be close to Andrea’s family. In 1985, Andrea and Fred moved their family to Ponapei, and then to Guam where Andrea … Read more

Fuller, Nettie Lee Whittenberg Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Nettie Lee Fuller, 87, a longtime Baker City resident, died June 16, 2003, at her home. Her funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Bishop David Richards of Second Ward will conduct. Visitation will be today from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Interment will be Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande. Following the committal services, everyone is invited to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center on Gekeler Lane in La … Read more

Poland, Merle Gordon – Obituary

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 2, 2005, in Oak Grove United Methodist Church for Merle Gordon Poland, who died Aug. 15 at age 96. Mr. Poland was born March 26, 1909, in Eugene. He moved to Portland in 1933. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Washington State University, and served in the Navy. He was an electrical engineer for Bonneville Power Administration. In 1930, he married Audrey L. Dirr; she died in 2002. Survivors include his daughters, Shirley J. Slack and Janice R. Lee; eight grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. Remembrances to the Casey Eye … Read more

Fleet, Hazel Jean – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Hazel Jane Fleet, 90, of La Grande and formerly of Wallowa County died March 6. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday March 12 at Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W. Main St., Enterprise. Burial will follow at the Enterprise Cemetery. Mrs. Fleet was born Oct. 26, 1914, to Ralph and Lenora Barton in Joseph. The family lived in Hells Canyon, on Johnson Bar, at Grouse Creek on the Imnaha River and at Summit Creek. She attended Park School and Enterprise High School, and graduated from high school in Eugene. She was an accomplished horsewoman, running and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Humphrey

GEORGE HUMPHREY. – Mr. Humphrey was esteemed by everyone as an honorable gentleman, a man of large brain, and of an excellent capacity and understanding. Although in his youth he suffered from poverty and the lack of educational facilities, he nevertheless succeeded in obtaining a large property and an honored and enduring name. His estimable wife, Cynthia A. Humphrey, was “one of the best of women,” so described by all who knew her and were allowed to make the acquaintance of her great mental intelligence and vigor, and to know of her benevolence and christian character. Mr. Humphrey was born … Read more

Hornig, Blanche L. – Obituary

Union, Oregon Blanche L. Hornig, 85, of Salem and formerly of Union died June 1. A memorial service will begin 1 p.m. June 20 at Morningside United Methodist Church in Salem. Blanche was born in Ithaca Township, Wis., to Leslie and Libby Holeton on Sept. 28, 1921. She lived in Minnesota and Kennewick. She married Thomas Hornig in 1949, and they lived in Union, Eugene and Salem. In the ’70s, Blanche was executive secretary for the Salem League of Women Voters. She was proud to be a part of the Friday clan, and an honorary Cherry. Survivors include her husband, … Read more

Waldo, Joel F. – Obituary

Joel F. Waldo, 45, of Baker City, died Oct. 22, 2004, at his home with his devoted wife, Cindy, his mother-in-law, Phyllis, and his minister by his side. He was diagnosed with lung cancer on Oct. 16, 2003, even though he had never smoked a day in his life. His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate. Joel was born on Aug. 19, 1959, at Sioux City, Iowa. He worked very hard all his life and was constantly learning new things so he could do it himself. … 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

Bean, Katherine Patterson – Obituary

Mrs. Katherine Patterson Bean, member of a prominent pioneer family and for many years an outstanding figure in the civic and community life of Eugene and in several leading women’s organizations, died in her sleep Tuesday [February 22, 1944] at her home, 978 High Street, at the age of 69 years. She was the widow of the late Louis E. Bean, who held several high state offices. Mr. Bean was an attorney. Mrs. Bean was a native of Lane County, born Aug. 28, 1874, on the farm of her parents, Alexander K. and Iphie Henderson Patterson, three miles east of … Read more

LaBaun, George Bradford – Obituary

George Bradford LaBaun, 82, a Baker City resident from 1996 until moving recently with his wife to Roseburg, died Dec. 29, 2004, with his family at his bedside after several years of battling with a rare lung disease. His memorial service was Jan. 3 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit. A celebration of his life will be scheduled later at Corvallis. He was born on Feb. 13, 1922, at Sheridan, Wyo., to George and Cora Burdick LaBaun. When he was 2 years old he moved with his parents to Eugene. He was a 1939 graduate of Eugene High … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William E. Rinehart

WM. E. RINEHART. – Mr. Rinehart was born in Iowa in 1846 on his father’s farm. In 1854 the parents crossed the plains to Oregon, and made a home in Lane county, suffering only the usual hardships incident to such a journey, and the deprivations of a new country. The old Donation claim lies ten miles south of Eugene City. There William remained with his parents until 1864, in that year joining his brother James H. as drover of a band of cattle, coming as far as his present abode in the Grande Ronde valley. There he invested in company … Read more

Kirkpatrick, Bruce – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Bruce Kirkpatrick, 84, a lifelong Baker City resident, died March 5, 2006, at his home. His memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate. Bruce was born at Baker City on Feb. 19, 1922, to Elizabeth and Chauncey Kirkpatrick and lived in Baker City all of his life. He was a 1940 Baker High School graduate. His father had been the Chevrolet dealer in Baker City from 1926 until his death in 1940. Bruce worked in his dad’s Chevrolet dealership after school, … Read more