Malheur County OR

Shephard, La Neva E. Scott Mrs. – Obituary

La Neva E. (Scott) Shephard, 89, of Ontario, died May 7, 2005 in an Ontario assisted-living facility. Funeral services will be Friday at 11 a.m. (MDT) at the First United Methodist Church in Ontario. The Rev. Linda Tucker will officiate. A graveside service will follow at 1 p.m. (PDT) at Mount Hope Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Lienkaemper Funeral Chapel in Ontario. La Neva was born July 10, 1915 to Herbert H. and Myrtle F. (Powell) Scott in Oroville, Wash. As a small child she moved and eventually settled with her family in Baker City, where she … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Dunbar

In the person of the subject of this sketch we have one of the leading citizens and stockmen of Malheur County, and it is with pleasure that we chronicle the salient paints in his interesting and active career, wherein he has ever manifested integrity, ability and industry. David Dunbar was born in Ontario, Canada, near Kingston, on February 5, 1849, being the son of James and Eliza Dunbar. He was reared on a farm with his parents and gained his education from the common schools of that province. In July 186? he was called to mourn the death of his … Read more

Opperman, Paul V. – Obituary

Prairie City, Grant County, Oregon Paul V. Opperman, 37, died June 6, 2006, in Hillsboro in an auto accident. A memorial service is planned at noon on Friday at Fir Lawn Mortuary, 1070 West Main St. in Hillsboro. Graveside services will be on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Prairie City Cemetery. Paul was born in Ontario on Jan. 2, 1969, and grew up in Prairie City, where he graduated in 1987. Known for his strong will, sense of humor and sometimes larger than life antics, a favorite saying of his family and close friends was, “you can take the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Richard H. Hart

This capable and enterprising stock man and farmer of the vicinity of Jordan Valley is one of the substantial men of Malheur County, and is numbered with the earliest pioneers who broke sod in this section, and it is to his credit that he has constantly labored for the welfare of the country and its up building in a worthy manner ever since that time. Mr. Hart was born in Indiana, on April 18, 1849, the son of John K. and Eliza Hart. When he was one rear of age, his parents removed to Iowa and there he received his … Read more

Biography of Erwin A. Rieger

The subject of this sketch is one of the younger men who have achieved brilliant success in the business world of the west, being located in Ontario, where he has an important interest in the Oregon Forwarding Company. one of the largest general merchandise establishments of the eastern part of Oregon, which owes much of its unbounded success to the keen business ability- and fine executive force of Mr. Rieger. The birth of Erwin A. occurred in Ludwigburg, Germany, on January 28, 1873, being the son of Frederick J. and Mary (Kiesel) Rieger. The father was a leading attorney of … Read more

Gurney, Areta Littlejohn – Obituary

Washington Co., OR A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, 1996, in Evergreen Cemetery in Ontario for Areta Gurney, who died Jan. 6 at age 93. Mrs. Gurney was born Oct. 13, 1902 in Pendleton. She taught high school in Marshfield in the 1920s and grade school during the 1960s. In 1976 she moved from Ontario to Portland. She was a member of the Ontario Methodist Church. Surviving are her son, Norris of Portland and one grandchild. The family suggests remembrances to the American Cancer Society. The Oregonian, January 10, 1996 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Cathey, Laura Louise – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Laura Louise Cathey, 101, of Ontario and formerly of Baker City and La Grande, died April 28 in Ontario with family at her side. Graveside services will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City. Pastor Jon Privett will officiate. Following the services there will be a reception at the Church of the Nazarene in Baker City for family and friends. Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel in Payette, Idaho, is in charge ofarrangements. Laura was born Nov. 1, 1906, to James and Hulda Ray in Rushville, Neb. She was the second of 12 children. Laura’s … Read more

Biography of Joshua L. Cole

As one of the real builders of Malheur County, being a pioneer of the west in a very early day, the subject of this sketch is justly entitled to consideration in the volume of history now being made and it is with pleasure that eye are enabled to recount some of the items of a long and useful career, wherein he has always been a prominent figure in the progress of the County, the welfare of his fellows and in the prosecution of the business in his hand. At the present time Mr. Cole is the president of the first … Read more

Smith, Dorothy Mrs. – Obituary

Dorothy Smith, 85, of Unity, died July 30, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Her graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Helix Cemetery. Jack Pittman of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Dorothy was born on Aug. 23, 1919, at Burns. She was the valedictorian of her high school class at Entiat, Wash. She attended Washington State College and later earned a degree in education from Western Oregon University at Monmouth. She taught elementary school for many years at Nyssa, The Dalles and the Reynolds School District in Portland. She married Arthur W. Smith … Read more

Burgess, Eliza Ann Horn – Obituary

Services for Mrs. Eliza A. Burgess, 66, Vale resident for the past 35 years who died in her home Sunday [January 7, 1968], was at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Chapel of the Roses at Payette, with Elder Harry Sunday Fry of Payette Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints officiating. Mrs. Burgess was born in Ellensburg, Wash., Oct. 16, 1901. In 1915 she moved with her family to Oregon, settling in Curry County. She was married to Fred Burgess, December 19, 1922 in Coquille, Ore. They lived in Curry County 11 years and came to Vale in 1933. They … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ebenezer A. Twycross

This worthy pioneer has always manifested the de of the typical frontiersman and he is deserving of much credit for the arduous labors performed and the dangers encountered and the hardships and deprivations endured in the many years wherein he has devoted himself and his energies to the development of the country and making it fit for the abode of mankind, and therefore it is with pleasure that we accord to him consideration in this volume of his County’s history. Mr. Twycross was born in Massachusetts in 1836, being the son of Ebenezer and Mary Twycross natives also of the … Read more

Biography of Jeremiah Shea

One of our early pioneers, whose worthy labors have done much toward the development of the resources and the substantial progress of Malheur County, is named at the head of this article and he is eminently fitted to he accorded consideration in this volume of his County’s history, since he is a man of good standing, influential and prominent, has always been a progressive and patriotic citizen, is possessed of integrity and a stanch character and is held in high esteem by all of his fellows. Mr. Shea was born in Canada on March 31, 1847, and there he was … Read more

Belknap, Florence – Obituary

Cove, Union County, Oregon Florence Belknap, 88, of Rt. 1, Box 160, Cove, died Tuesday at Valley View Manor. Mrs. Belknap was born on July 4, 1890, at Hamilton, N. D., the daughter of Hugh and Mary (Millar) MacDonald. The family moved to Nyssa in 1900 where Mr. MacDonald had a homestead. Florence attended Monmouth College, graduating in 1914. She taught school in Island City, Alicel, Ladd Canyon and La Grande. She was married to Edward D. Jasper, who preceded her in death on Dec. 4, 1936. She married Maynard M. Belknap at Lewiston, Idaho, in 1949. She moved to … Read more

Bailey, Debra Audean (Early) – Obituary

Debra Audean Bailey, 54, of Ontario, died May 16, 2007, at her home. Her funeral was May 22 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Father Robert C. Irwin officiated. Burial was May 22 at Hillcrest East Cemetery in La Grande. Lienkaemper Funeral Chapel, Ontario, was in charge of arrangements. Debra was born on Dec. 6, 1952, to William Grant and Josephine E. Bailey in La Grande. She was raised in Baker City where she attended St. Francis Academy and Baker High School, until she moved to Ontario in 1995. She worked for nine years for the Baker County drug and alcohol … Read more

Biographical Sketch of King, Gilbert

The subject of this sketch, whose portrait accompanies it, is one of Malheur County’s best known citizens, at pres­ent living on his home place near Ontario. He was born in Jefferson County, New York, in 1848, and came to this county in 1885, opening the station in Ontario, for the Ore­gon Short Line, January 23, of that year, and remained in their employ until January 14, 1897. Some eight years ago he bought his present place, and has it today in full cultivation, raising apples, prunes and other fruits. He takes considerable interest in politics, being at present the nominee … Read more

Cress, John M. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon John M. Cress, 91, of Baker City died Dec. 24, 2003, at Ashley Manor Care Center. His memorial service will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Bishop Tom Brock of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at Gray’s West & Co. His ashes, along with those of his wife, will be scattered in their beloved mountains next spring. John was born on Aug. 7, 1912, at Portland to Harry J. and Leona L. Warren Cress. He was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James T. Davis

One of the worthy pioneers of this County, a man of ability and executive force and unswerving integrity, the subject of this sketch is now one of the leading citizens of Nyssa, and a prominent man in Malheur County. He lives one mile northwest from the town of Nyssa, having a ‘farm of one hundred and twenty acres, well improved and handled in a skillful manner, which is a good dividend producer. James T. was born in Unionville, Putnam County, Missouri, on October 25, 185o, being the son of Hamilton and Saline Davis. In 1862, the father and the oldest … Read more

McGregor, John Vernon – Obituary

John Vernon McGregor, 87, a longtime Livermore, Calif., resident, formerly of Baker City, died suddenly on May 13, 2005, after a brief decline in health. John was born to John and Frances McGregor in Ontario. He spent his first years on the family farm. He later moved to Baker City where he married Sadie Darlene Tripp in 1941. They lived briefly in Wonderland, Calif., where he worked as a welder helping in the construction of Shasta Dam. In 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps. He served as a tail gunner in a B-24 during World War II. He flew … Read more

Biography of Gilbert L. King

It is now our pleasant privilege to recount the items of the career of the prominent and capable gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph, who is to-day one of the leading men in Malheur county, being not only crowned with abundant financial success as the result of his industry and wise management of the resources that came to his hands, but also a man of prominence in educational lines in younger days, and at the present time a fluent public speaker and well informed man of ability and culture. Gilbert L. was born in Jefferson County, New York, on February … Read more

Wright, Roderick – Obituary

Roderick Wright, 58, of Tucson, Ariz., and a former Baker City resident, died July 22, 2003. His funeral was July 26 at Desert Sunset Funeral Home at Tucson. Roderick was born Aug. 31, 1945, at Ontario to James and Opal McClellan Wright. Growing up he worked in the family bee business, producing and distributing honey. He was a 1964 graduate of Baker High School. He joined the U.S. Army and later served in the National Guard. He was a graduate of Eastern Oregon State College (now Eastern Oregon University) at La Grande. He taught and coached in the Wallowa School … Read more