Clark, Beth Porter Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Beth Porter Clark, 86, of Halfway died Feb. 14, 2002, at Halfway after a long illness. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Bill Shields will officiate. Vault interment will be at Angelus Memorial Park Cemetery in Anchorage, Alaska. Mrs. Clark was born on Dec. 11, 1915, at Burton, Idaho, to Milburn Wyatt Porter and Blanche Middleton Porter. She married Don H. Clark on July 3, 1935, at Jackson Hole, Wyo., and moved to Anchorage in 1950. Mrs. Clark worked as a seamstress for Alaska Cleaners and Northern Commercial … Read more

Nocchi, Rachel J. Makinson Mrs. – Obituary

Rachel J. Nocchi, 93, of Pasco, Wash., a former Halfway resident, died June 3, 2002, at Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco. Her graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Pastor Shawn Thatcher of Pine Baptist Church will officiate. Friends and family are invited to a gathering at the Lions Park for a time of fellowship and memories. Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Rachel Julia Makinson was born Feb. 1, 1909, at Halfway. She was a daughter of John Frederick and Okie … Read more

Steele, Clayton “Buck” – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Clayton “Buck” Steele, 68, died Jan. 16, 2007, at his home in Halfway after a recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Halfway Kingdom Hall. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception afterward at the Halfway Lions Hall. Buck was born in 1938 at Laona, Wis., to Bert and Louise Thurber Steele. The family moved to western Washington where he grew up. He was a 1957 graduate of Snohomish High School. It was there that he married “the girl next door,” Rose Servine, in 1961. Their … Read more

Huff, Bethel Illean Goodwin Mrs. – Obituary

Bethel Illean Goodwin Huff, 80, passed away at home in Halfway, Ore., Sept. 29, 2007. Bethel was born on Sept. 13, 1927, in Baker, Ore., to A. Niles ‘Shorty’ Goodwin Sr. and Emma Marie Sanders Goodwin. Bethel married her high school sweetheart Jimmy Huff on Christmas Eve, 1947 in Baker, Ore., and would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at Christmas this year. She was raised and attended grade school in Cornucopia and Jimtown, graduating from Pine Valley Union High School in Halfway in 1946. She and one brother and three sisters later moved to the Ranch above Jimtown, then … Read more

Myhand, Florence Parnell Slaughter Mrs. – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Florence Parnell Slaughter Myhand, 84, of Halfway, died March 30, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas. Florence was born on Jan. 30, 1919, at Stonewall, Okla., to James A. and Hattie E. Word Parnell. In 1936, she married Wayne L. Slaughter. They had three children. In 1948, the family moved to El Paso, Texas, where she would make her home for the next 49 years. Florence worked and was the manager of the William Beaumont branch of the State National … 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

Shock, Melvin Wallace – Obituary

Mel Shock, 86, Was Pine Area Livestockman Melvin Wallace Shock, 86, of Halfway, passed away Sunday, May 10, at Cedar Manor Nursing home. His Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 13, 1981 at 1:00 pm. at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. The Rev. Sidney Sandusky officiated. Langrell Mortuary was in charge of arrangements. Mr. Shock was born in Delta, Colorado on Jan. 29, 1895 to George and Mary Shock. He attended schools in Rock Creek, Muddy Creek, Haines, and Pine. He came to Baker Valley as a small child and then settled in Pine Valley in 1910 where … Read more

Fleming, Carl Douglas – Obituary

Carl Douglas Fleming, 40, of Newberg and Halfway, died Aug. 30, 2005, as the result of a motor vehicle accident near Halfway. There will be a gathering of family and friends to celebrate Carl’s life later this month. The date and time will be announced. Carl was born on Feb. 9, 1965, at Santa Cruz, Calif., to Jimmy Dale and Carla Sue Caskey Fleming. He spent most of his growing up years at Santa Cruz, graduating from Monte Vista High School in 1983. He was a gifted athlete and after graduation he played baseball for a year in college. Carl … Read more

Ankrom, Edward Conway – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Edward Conway Ankrom, 85, a longtime Halfway resident, died Dec. 22, 2000, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His memorial service will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Halfway Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Lon Nalder of the LDS Church will officiate. Disposition was by cremation at the Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory. Mr. Ankrom was born Sept. 17, 1915, at Salem, W.Va., to Connie Eli Ankrom and Bertha Maude Matheny. While he was a young boy he, along with his family, moved to Augusta, Ill., where they lived until he was six years old. From … Read more

Clark, Leland

Union, Union County, Oregon Former Union Boy Falls Under Wagon Wheels and Is Killed Leland Clark, better known as Boots Clark, a former resident of Union, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Clark, age 26 years, was killed at Halfway Friday of last week, by falling from a load of hay and under the wheels of the wagon. His head was crushed and death was probably instantaneous. Clark was hauling a load of hay, and the team being somewhat fractious, became frightened at some boys passing on horseback. In attempting to stop the team, Clark lost one of the … Read more

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

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

Edmondson, Shirley Ann Smith Mrs. – Obituary

Shirley Ann Edmondson, 84, died on Monday, May 11, 2009, in Halfway, Ore., at her home with all her family around her after a long fight with cancer. A traditional graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009, 2 p.m. at Pine Haven Cemetery. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception to be held at the V.F.W. hall immediately following the interment. Shirley was born on April 28, 1925, at Bear, Idaho. to Jesse Frank Smith and Mary Ann Cornett Smith as the youngest of 4 children. Shirley grew up and attended elementary school in … Read more

Motley, Edna – Obituary

Edna Motley, 87, 1500 Valley Ave., a former longtime Pine Valley resident, died Wednesday morning, April 1, 1981, at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital after a long illness. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. The Rev. Sidney Sandusky will officiate. Interment will follow at Pine Haven Cemetery. Mrs. Motley was born Jan. 6, 1894, in Union, the daughter of Egbert and Emma Mehlhorn Coffinberry. She was educated in Halfway and was married to Charles Motley in Halfway on June 7, 1923. Mr. Motley preceded her in death on July 31, 1977. … Read more

DeGroote, Clairene Fleenor Mrs. – Obituary

Clairene DeGroote, 85, a former Baker County resident, died Aug. 28, 2003, at a Wilsonville care center. A Memorial Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church Chapel in Hillsboro. Her graveside service will be at noon Thursday at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Portland. The Rev. Loren Kerkof will officiate. Clairene was born on March 2, 1918, at Halfway to George and Jennie Laird Fleenor. After graduating from high school at Halfway, she worked as a bookkeeper for Baker Meat Packing. She met her future husband, Marcel DeGroote before the war. Wanting to do something … Read more

Thompson, Thelma E. Elmer Mrs. – Obituary

Pine Valley, Oregon Thelma E. Thompson, 98, died Feb. 23, 2004, at Meadowbrook Place in Baker City where she had lived for the past several years. A memorial service will be scheduled later. Thelma was born on Dec. 27, 1905, at Pleasant Valley, the second daughter of George Harvey and Rosella Harrison Elmer. When she was a young girl, the family moved to Upper Dry Creek near Halfway. She attended school at Upper Dry Creek, Halfway High School and then took nurse’s training at La Grande Hospital. Thelma married Robert Dolliver Thompson on Aug. 3, 1929. He died on Aug. … Read more

Pope, Grace – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Grace Pope, 99, formerly of Cove and Halfway, died June 2 at a care center in Clayton, Wash. A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. July 22 at the Presbyterian Church in Halfway. Mrs. Pope was born Sept. 21, 1906, to Isaac and Mary Nelson in Aitkin County, Minn. On Nov. 8, 1927, she married Milo Pope in Montesano, Wash. They lived in Washington, Montana and in Sutherlin, John Day and other Eastern Oregon towns where he worked as a logging contractor. They lived in Halfway from 1964 to 1996. She was a member of the Christian … Read more

Waldron, Ellen Belle Canady Mrs. – Obituary

Ellen Belle Waldron, 94, a Halfway native, died Dec. 18, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Ellen developed pneumonia after a fall in her apartment at Settlers Park. She had suffered a stroke in June 1999 that left her unable to walk by herself. She had spent 15 months with her son, then moved to Settlers Park a year ago. Her funeral was today at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. The Rev. Bill Shields officiated. Interment was at Pine Valley Cemetery. Ellen was born Sept. 8, 1907, at Halfway to James P. Ritter and Ella Belle Canady. She … 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

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