Halfway Oregon

Shelton, Lela Makinson Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Lela Shelton, 77, of Halfway, died Sept. 10, 2002, near Cornucopia. Her graveside memorial service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the VFW Hall. Lela was the last of five children born to Fred and Okie Makinson in Halfway. She attended school in Pine Valley, graduating valedictorian of her class. After attending college in Boise, she married her high school sweetheart, Boyd Shelton, on Aug. 9, 1947. Her work career was focused in various business administration roles. She … Read more

Smelcer, Lawrence J. – Obituary

Lawrence J. Smelcer, 97, a lifelong Pine Valley resident, died Jan. 1, 2005, at his winter home in Yuma, Ariz. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. Interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception afterward at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church. Lawrence was born on Aug. 4, 1907, in the Panhandle of Baker County to Marion X. and Milda Schmidt Smelcer. He was raised in Pine Valley and attended Pine Town grade school and Halfway High School. He married … Read more

Marchlowitz, Alice Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Alice Marchlowitz, 87, of Halfway, died Oct. 27, 2001, at Meadowbrook Place. She had moved to Halfway 6 years ago from Berlin, Germany, to be near her daughter, Barbel Babette, and her son-in-law, Dale Beatty. She loved her little white house across from Lions Club Park and really enjoyed Halfway. In winter, she would fly south to be with her son, Ben, and daughter-in-law, Patricia and grandson, Paul. She was always glad to come back to Halfway and the mountains. She especially loved Cornucopia, where her ashes will be scattered in the spring. Her family will miss “Matti” … Read more

Frazier, Richard Dale – Obituary

Richard Dale Frazier, 63, died May 25, 2009, at Halfway. Richard was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He lived in Indiana most of his life and worked as a pipe fitter/welder as a member Local Union, No. 440. He enjoyed traveling in his later years between Needles, Calif., and Halfway. Richard loved to come to the Halfway area because of the mountains and to pick mushrooms with his friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Frazier; his mother, Edith Frazier; his wife; and one son. Richard’s favorite saying was “Live Life Large” and he did, family members said. … Read more

LaRue, Mary Belle Ratcliff Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Mary Belle LaRue, 69, a longtime resident of Halfway, died June 10, 2003, at her home. Her graveside service will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Pastor David Myhill of Pine Valley Christian Assembly will officiate. Vault interment will follow the ceremony. Mary was born Aug. 24, 1933, in Hopkinton, Iowa. She was a daughter of Manley L. and Florence M. (Davis) Ratcliff. The family moved to Halfway in December of 1935 when Mary was just a baby. She lived and received her schooling in Halfway, graduating from Halfway High School. Before graduation, … Read more

Hankins, Eva May Mills Mrs. – Obituary

Funeral services for Eva May Hankins, 50, of 503 Stanford Ave., Richland, Washington, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday February 26, at the Christian Church in Richland, Oregon. The Rev. Chester A. Stewart will officiate and vault interment will follow in the family plot at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. The arrangements are under the direction of Grays West and Co. Pioneer Chapel. Mrs. Hankins died Friday at a hospital in Boise, Idaho, after an extended illness. She was born February 5, 1924, in Seattle, Washington. She attended schools at Homestead, Eagles Valley High School and graduated from … 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

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

Marshall, Donald Leslie “Don” – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Donald Leslie “Don” Marshall, 78, of Halfway, died Sept. 30, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. There was a celebration of his life today at the Pine Baptist Church in Halfway. Don was born on Sept. 10, 1926, at Drake, N.D., to Laurence Franklin Marshall and Melissa Louise McCarty. He was their only surviving child. Don’s father hopped a train from North Dakota to Oregon in September 1931. Don and his mom used the same hobo method of transportation to reach Oregon in October of 1931. They settled at Corbett. In the early 1940s, the family moved to … Read more

Letchworth, Norman Edgar – Obituary

Norman Edgar Letchworth, 91, of Halfway, died March 2, 2008, at his home. There will be a memorial service and a celebration of his life at 1 p.m. Monday at Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. He was buried with his wife, Rosalind. Norman was born on July 16, 1916, at Wilcox, Ariz., to Thompson and Mary Ann Squire Letchworth. He achieved many things in his life, such as being a dedicated father, husband and grandfather, his family said. He was a very honest and trusting friend. Norman worked for 40 years before retiring as a conductor/engineer for Union Pacific … Read more

Endrup, Majel Steele Mrs. – Obituary

Auto Wreck Injuries Fatal To Mrs. Endrup Mrs. Majel Steele Endrup, wife of Neil Endrup and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Steele, pioneers of Pine Valley, died yesterday morning at St. Elizabeth hospital from injuries received in an automobile accident near Richland last week. Mrs. Endrup is survived by her mother, Mrs. C.E. Canaday, editor of the Pine Valley Herald at Halfway; her husband, Neil H. Endrup of Halfway; a sister, Miss Lucile Steele and a half sister, Miss Cleo Canaday, both of Halfway. North Powder News Saturday, May 7, 1927

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

Barton, Barbara Gover Mrs. – Obituary

Barbara Barton, 84, a former longtime Halfway resident, died April 18, 2009, at her home near Baker City. At her request, there will be no service. There will be a private vault interment at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. She was born to Lovell and Velma Gover on June 21, 1924, at their home place in Pine Valley. Barbara’s family goes back to her great-grandfather, Aquilar Farmer Estes, who came from Missouri to become an early pioneer of Pine Valley and Cornucopia. Her grandmother, Barbara (know as Lorene) married Aquilar’s son, George Estes, who was killed in a snow slide … Read more

Bendixen, Leon E. – Obituary

Leon E. Bendixen, 90, a former Halfway resident, died Jan. 2, 2001, at Heritage Bennion Care Center at Salt Lake City. His graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. First Counselor Pete Bigelow will preside. Visitations will be from 11 a.m. to noon at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Halfway. Mr. Bendixen was born Sept. 8, 1910, at West Jordan, Utah, to Ephriam Vigo and Caroline Delila Webster Bendixen. He married Ruby Olea Fowles on April 1, 1936, at Payette, Idaho. Mr. Bendixen was a farmer most of … Read more

Taylor, Floyd Phillip – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Floyd Phillip Taylor, 90, a Halfway native, died Oct. 21, 2001, at Halfway. His graveside funeral was Wednesday at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. The Rev. Bill Shields of the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church officiated. Mr. Taylor was born on Oct. 1, 1911, at Halfway to John Lee and Florence Bell White Taylor. He attended schools in Pine Valley and was a Pine Valley Union High School graduate. A girl named Marcella Mitchell, who lived a mile down the road, caught his eye and they were married on Sept. 20, 1933. They enjoyed 68 years together. They had … Read more

Hoffman, John Edward – Obituary

John Edward Hoffman, 82, of Forest Grove, a former Baker County resident, died Oct. 8, 2002, at Forest Grove. His graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. The Rev. Gordon Bond will officiate. Mr. Hoffman was born on June 14, 1920, at Council, Idaho, to George and Jasmine Garrett Hoffman. He was raised at Sparta. He entered the U.S. Army in 1944 and served in World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He married Edna Nale on June 25, 1939, at Creswell. They were divorced in 1966. He married Thelma … Read more

Makinson, Robert Duane “Bob” – Obituary

Robert Duane “Bob” Makinson, 68, of Halfway, died Nov. 30, 2005, at Syringa Chalet Nursing Facility in Blackfoot, Idaho, where he had lived for the past 13 years. There will be a memorial/burial service in the spring. Bob, the son of Ellis and Bessie Makinson, was born on Jan. 16, 1937. He grew up on the family farm and learned at an early age the ethic of hard work, which he carried throughout his life. Bob liked “living on the edge.” He got his first motorcycle at the age of 16, but shortly after was involved in a wreck. He … Read more

Byrnel Gladys Garrett Mrs. – Obituary

Richland, Oregon Gladys Byrne, 97, a longtime Richland resident, died Dec. 31, 2001, at Elkhorn Village. Her funeral was at 11 a.m. today at Elkhorn Village with the Rev. Roger Scovil officiating and at 2 p.m. at the Richland Christian Church with the Rev. Gordon Bond of the Richland Christian Church officiating. Vault interment was at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Gladys Byrne was born on Oct. 13, 1904, (“Friday the 13th, our lucky day,” her family recalls), at Halfway to John Fredrick Garrett and Keturah Mary Coles Garrett. She was the fifth of eight children. She often told how … Read more

Sitkoff, Terry Wayne, Jr. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Terry Wayne Sitkoff Jr., 26, of Yakima, Wash., died Oct. 4, 2004, in a one-vehicle accident near Halfway. His funeral was Friday at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. He was born on March 10, 1978, at La Grande to Terry and Diane Sitkoff. He was raised and educated in theYakima, Wash., area and attended Pine-Eagle High School at Halfway and Spokane Community College. Terry enjoyed rooting for his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, and cheering Mark Martin, No. 6, of NASCAR. He enjoyed snowboarding, mountain biking, hunting and fishing. He loved spending time with his daughter, … Read more

Allstead, John Elton – Obituary

John Elton Allstead, 60, died at his home on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, in Vancouver, Wash. John is the son of the late John Dudley Allstead and Daisey Bell Davidson Allstead. A memorial service will be held in July 2006, date to be announced. Those wishing to make memorial contributions in memory of John may do so to the ALS foundation, VFW Post 7847 or the Halfway/Oxbow Ambulance Service through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, December, 2005 Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor