Halfway Oregon

Schneider, Vera L. Blacker Mrs. – Obituary

Vera L. Schneider, 97, passed away at Glisan Health Care Center in Portland, Ore., on June 3, 2008. Vera was born and raised at Pine, Ore. (Pine Town), on April 6, 1911, to the late Walter and Anna McFadden Blacker. She graduated from the Halfway High School. In 1937 she married Gerald Schneider, they lived in Cornucopia, Ore., until the mines were closed. They moved to Portland where she spent the remainder of her life as a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Gerald, a brother Ernest and a niece Betty Jo. Vera is … Read more

Daniels, Norma Jeanne Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Baker County, Oregon Norma Jeanne Daniels, 84, a longtime Halfway resident, died Aug. 17, 2005, in Caldwell, Idaho. A graveside celebration of Jeanne’s life took place today at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Jeanne was born Jan. 31, 1921, and raised in Halfway, where she married “Danny” Daniels and had three children. After Danny’s death in 1953 she had to go to work and raise her children. She operated the Stockmans and Hells Canyon Cafes in Halfway for many years. After her mother’s death, she moved to Las Vegas in 1972 where she worked as a hostess in large … Read more

Sylvester, Celia Ann Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Baker County, Oregon Robert Benjamin Sylvester, 86, and Celia Ann Sylvester, 79, both of Halfway, died Feb. 15, 2006, in Arizona as the result of a motor vehicle accident. Their memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Neighborhood Church in Modesto, Calif. The Rev. John Blakeley and the Rev. Paul Hale, ordained ministers with the Assemblies of God Church will officiate. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Lakewood Memorial Park in Hughson, Calif. Mr. Sylvester was a farmer in the Halfway area for 32 years. Mrs. Sylvester was a homemaker. Survivors include their three … 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

Leep, Thad – Obituary

Thad Leep, Pine Pioneer, Passes 3 Daughters, Brother and 7 Grandchildren Survive Special to the Democrat Herald Halfway Apr. 6 Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Perry returned home from Twin Falls, Ida., where they have spent the past month visiting with Mrs. Perry’s daughter, Mrs. Vernon Yowell and family. Mrs. Howard Buchanan had her tonsils removed at Baker Thursday. She was accompanied to Baker by Mr. Buchanan and her sister, Mrs. Orsen Summers, who returned the same evening. Thad Leep, pioneer of Pine Valley passed away Friday night at eight o’clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. H. W. B. … Read more

Fugit, Virgene Payton Hulse Mrs. – Obituary

Virgene Payton Fugit, 86, a life-time resident of Halfway, died July 22, 2009, with her husband Stan and her children and grandchildren by her side at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 25, at 2 p.m. at the Halfway Lion’s Club. Pastor Bill Shields of Pine Valley Presbyterian Church will officiate. A reception will immediately follow the service. Private vault interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Virgene was born March 31, 1923, in Halfway to Charlie and Josie Bassett Hulse. She attended school in Halfway and graduated from high school in only … Read more

Jacks, Bruce Corbit – Obituary

Bruce Jacks 83, died on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007 at Syringa General Hospital in Grangeville, Idaho, surrounded by his family. A Funeral Service was held Friday, Nov. 9, 2007 at 2 p.m. at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church. Gordon Bond of the Richland Christian Church officiated the service. Interment at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends joined the family for a reception that was held following the interment at the Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Bruce Corbit Jacks was born to Walter and Lena Jacks on May 22, 1924 on the family ranch at Willow Creek near Paddock Lake in Idaho. … Read more

Hodgson, Fred Peter – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Fred Peter Hodgson, 43, of Umatilla, a former North Powder resident, died Feb. 3, 2005, at Richland, Wash., of natural causes. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the North Powder Community Church in North Powder. Pastor Roger Cochran will officiate. Interment will be at the North Powder Cemetery. Visitations will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., in La Grande. Fred Peter Hodgson was born on Jan. 28, 1962, to Fredrick and Phyllis Peters Hodgson at Sacramento, Calif. In the summer of 1962, the family … Read more

Whiteley, Daryl Earl – Obituary

Daryl Earl Whiteley, 82, of Baker City, died May 14, 2005. A celebration of Daryl’s life and graveside memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Halfway. Daryl was born on July 26, 1922, to Earl Arthur and Ruby L. Mehlhorn Whiteley near Pine Town. He was raised in Halfway and graduated from Halfway High School in 1940. Daryl joined the National Guard when he was 17 and in September he was a … Read more

Hoffecker, Dallas Donald “Charlie” – Obituary

Dallas Donald “Charlie” Hoffecker, 38, died June 10, 2006, at Halfway. There was a celebration of his life and memorial service Wednesday at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. The Rev. Bill Shields and Pastor Cliff Billings officiated. Charlie was born on Feb. 7, 1968, at Baker City. He was raised at Halfway and Shelton, Wash. He enjoyed the outdoors. His dream was to someday build a cabin far away from the hustle and bustle of life. He loved to hunt and fish. He was very inventive and creative with photography, story writing, storytelling and woodworking. Charlie packed a … Read more

Wirth, Ethel M. Mills Mrs. – Obituary

Ethel M. Wirth, 89, a longtime Eagle Valley and Baker City resident, died Aug. 27, 2001, at the Aspen Assisted Living Center in Hines. Her memorial service will be Friday at 1 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will conduct the memorial service, and Associate Pastor Bob Whiteman will conduct the graveside services at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Wirth was born April 3, 1912, at Halfway to John W. and Jessie Shook Mills. She was raised on a farm on Pine Creek, above Jimtown. She graduated … Read more

Peterson, Bessie McMullen Mrs. – Obituary

Bessie Irene Peterson, age 77 of Halfway, passed away Saturday, Nov. 24 at her home. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. in the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. Rev. Judy Marshall officiated and interment followed in Pine Haven Cemetery, Halfway. Mrs. Peterson was born on May 12, 1907 in Halfway, the daughter of Ira and Maude Myrtle (McMullen), the granddaughter of pioneers Ira and Susan (Bragg) McMullen and Thomas Ramsey and Laura (Stout) Coggan Irwin Jr. A lifetime Halfway resident, Mrs. Peterson graduated from Pine Valley High School in 1926. She married Dick D. Peterson … Read more

Mehlhorn, Jean Smith Mrs. – Obituary

Jean Mehlhorn, 72, of Hood River, died July 20, 2003, after a short illness. A memorial service for her and her husband, Dale, will be scheduled later. Jean was born on Feb. 3, 1931, to Dorothy and Ray Smith at Mill City, Kan. She was a few minutes older than her identical twin sister, Joan. The Smith family moved to California where Jean spent her childhood and early school days. They settled in Halfway where she attended high school and met Dale Mehlhorn. Jean and Dale married in 1948 and moved to Corvallis, where Dale attended Oregon State University. Jean … Read more

Bloom, Joan Smith Mrs. – Obituary

Joan Bloom, 72, of Weiser, Idaho, and formerly of Halfway, passed away Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at a Weiser care center. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Thomason Funeral Chapel, Weiser. Joan was born Feb. 3, 1931, at Hill City, Kansas the daughter of Ray and Dorothy Stearns Smith. She received her education in Halfway where she met her future husband. Joan married Bud Bloom May 24, 1947, at Baker. The couple resided in several places in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, finally settling in the Ontario area where both children were raised. She was … Read more

Morris, Norna Faye Makinson Mrs. – Obituary

Norna Faye Morris, 82, a former Halfway resident, died Oct. 11, 2002, after a long illness. She had been in Marquis Care at Mount Tabor in Portland for a year. Because of her love of the ocean and lighthouses, there will be a private family memorial at the beach, which will also be her final resting place. Norna was born at Halfway on Aug. 21, 1920, to Warren and Lillie Makinson. She was raised at Halfway and graduated from high school there. Norna was very proud that her family members were Halfway pioneers. She was an avid collector of cups, … Read more

Curry, Della Viola Morris Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Baker County, Oregon Della Viola Morris Curry, 88, of Halfway died Jan. 3, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Halfway. Interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family afterward for a reception at the Halfway LDS Church. Della Viola Morris Curry was born on Sept. 28, 1914, at Richland to Thomas Lemuel Morris and Bertha Olive Makinson Morris. Della was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She had a quick wit and … Read more

Smelcer, Dorothy Louise Romine Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Dorothy Louise Romine Smelcer, 91, of Halfway, died May 6, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Care Center. Her graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Dorothy was born Dec. 24, 1911, at Alamont, Kan., to Eber and Irene Romine. She was the second of nine children. Her family moved to Pine Valley in 1917. She attended Sunnydell School and graduated from Pine Valley High School in 1931. She married Lawrence J. Smelcer on June 1, 1931, at Vancouver, Wash. They were married for 72 years, and were partners in the cattle operation. … Read more

Forte, Robert – Obituary

Robert “Bob” Forte, 63, of Halfway, died Sept. 10, 2009, at his home. His life was celebrated Tuesday at his home in Halfway. Bob was born on Dec. 21, 1945, at Akron, Ohio, to Mary and Tony Forte. He started working with his dad at the machine shop at an early age and continued working for him after school and during the summer all the way through college. He played basketball throughout high school, college and the army (not to mention the great teams he played with in Pine Valley). After graduating with a master’s degree from the Ross School … 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