Malheur County OR

Phelps, James LeRoy Jr. – Obituary

Dad went to visit his Father in Heaven on October 8, 2007 after a brief illness. James was born in Weldona, Colorado on March 26, 1928 to James “Lee” and Gladys “Bernice” Phelps. The family arrived in Idaho in the late 1930’s, and he was raised on a farm on the hill outside of Roswell, Idaho. He graduated from Wilder High School spring of 1946 and entered the Navy that fall. He served his country in the Mediterranean on the U.S.S Midway. During those years he corresponded with Dorothy Burt and upon returning from the Navy he married Dorothy on … Read more

Cole, Erma Willey Mrs. – Obituary

Erma Cole, 95, a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 18, 2005, in a care home at Aloha. She was born on Feb. 26, 1909, and was raised at Baker City. She was the 11th child of Eva Lovina and John Dexter Willey. She was a tomboy growing up. She loved reading history and graduated from Baker High School. She met Leonard “Doc” Cole at a Grange Hall dance at Hereford where she was visiting a sister. Doc was working on the highway construction at that time. They were married on Feb. 2, 1929, at his sister’s home in Vale. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James T. Hatfield

Three and one-half miles northeast from Owyhee is found the comfortable and valuable farm and home of the subject of this article. The estate is one of eighty acres of fine land, all covered by the Owyhee ditch and well cultivated and productive of abundant returns of hay, fruit and other valuable crops. Mr. Hatfield is one of the originators of the Owyhee ditch, and he labored faithfully on it from the time it was started until it was finished. Reverting to his personal history we note that James T. was born in Adair County, Missouri, on July 14, 1839, … Read more

Hammack, Lester E. – Obituary

Lester E. Hammack 89, of Jamison, died July 13, 1989, in a Vale nursing home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the First Christian Church in Vale, Rev. Paul Ratzlaff officiating. Internment will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Vale, under the direction of Lienkaemper Chapel of Vale. He was born June 12, 1900 in Lostine, Oregon, the son of John L. and Alice Bohannon Hammack. He moved with his parents and lived in Elgin, Echo and Milton-Freewater, Oregon before moving to Cow Valley in 1918. He moved to Jamison in 1920 where he ranched and farmed. He … Read more

Reimers, Ethel Mae Ross Mrs. – Obituary

Ethel Mae Reimers, 90, of Ontario, died March 14, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Her graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Riverside Cemetery in Payette, Idaho. Pastor Martin Frusti of Pilgrim Lutheran Church at Ontario will officiate. Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel in Payette. Ethel was born at Nyssa and raised in the Ontario area. She was the daughter of Seymour and Minnie McGregor Ross. She married Leland G. Reimers on Nov. 11, 1934. He died on Nov. 6, 1991. They were married for almost 57 years. … Read more

Biography of Milton G. Hope

It is with pleasure that we are enabled to incorporate in the volume of the history of the County of Malheur an epitome of the career of the estimable gentleman, careful and capable business man, and sturdy pioneer of this section, since he is a man of ability, has shown commendable zeal in the development of the country, has gained’ a handsome holding in this County, is a man of sound principles, and well known for integrity and uprightness. The birth of Mr. Hope occurred in Brookville, Vernon County, Wisconsin, on August 31, 1859 his parents being George W. and … Read more

Foster, (Son) – Obituary

A Sad Affliction Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Foster, living at Sanger, sent their two children a girl about 10 years and a boy about 7 yeras of age to live with their grandmother at Ontariio, for the purpose of going to school. On Saturday the children were at Washo in Idaho, and the boy was out playing with two others about the same age and in the evening he was missing. Inquiring of the other two boys of his whereabouts, they said they did not know but supposed he had got lost in a field where they had gone to … Read more

Biography of William P. Beers

To the esteemed and distinguished gentleman and worthy pioneer, whose name initiates this paragraph, it is fitting that a consideration be granted in the history of Malheur County, since he, perhaps more than any other one man, has been instrumental in making the County what it is today, and also in the development of the other sections adjacent. Mr. Beers has done the lion’s share, and in all this excellent labor and the achievements of his brain and hand, there have ever been manifested noble qualities of the typical man, and the courageous and intrepid pioneer, while his masterful ability … Read more

Andrew, Wilma LaRee “Babe” Hickey White Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Wilma LaRee “Babe” White Andrew, 80, of Baker City, died July 7, 2004, at her home. Her graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Lennie Spooner of the Baker City Church of the Nazarene will officiate. The grave site will be dedicated by Bob Brady of Baker City. Babe was born on Oct. 9, 1923, to William Thomas Hickey and Emile Cole Hickey on the family farm near Ontario where she grew up with 11 brothers and sisters. She married Jack White on June 22, 1939. They made their home in … Read more

Biography of Hon. Isaiah W. Hope

Hon. Isaiah W. Hope is one of the most prominent men in Malheur County today, and he has been a leader here for many years, having started in the mercantile business with his brother in an early day and building up one of the mammoth establishments of the west, while also in many lines of industry he has brought the fine talent of which he is possessed into play with the gratifying result that he has achieved a general round of success in the realm of merchant, general developer of the country, organizer of the Vale Commercial Company, promoter of … Read more

Helman, Terry – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Terry Helman, 62, of La Grande, died May 30, 2003, at his home. A celebration of life service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at the La Grande Eagles Lodge. Mr. Helman was born on Sept. 19, 1940, at La Grande to Virgil and Cleo Campbell Helman. He was a 1958 La Grande High School graduate. He served with the Oregon National Guard and later became active in the U.S. Army. On Aug. 21, 1961, he married Marilyn Scott at Boise. The marriage later ended in divorce. On May 7, 1982, he married Carolyn Roberts. … Read more

Langlitz, Judy – Obituary

Judy Langlitz, of Enterprise, died May 19, 2007. She was 56. Ms. Langlitz was born in Ontario on Oct. 22, 1950, to Albert and Mowetta Langlitz. Ms. Langlitz was a loving mother and grandmother and was affectionately called Grandma Judy by those who knew her. She always gave to those in need. She was active in the Blue Mountain Old Time Fiddlers Association as was her two oldest granddaughters. She shared her love of the beautiful Oregon mountains with all who were close to her. Ms. Langlitz was preceded in death by her father Albert B. Langlitz; daughter Christina D … Read more

Rock, Mabel E. Glascock Mrs. – Obituary

Mabel E. Rock, 92, of Hermiston, and former Baker County resident, died July 15, 2003, at her home. Her memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at the Burns Mortuary Chapel in Hermiston. Mabel was born on June 26, 1911, on the family ranch at Brogan to Henry and Ida Olk Glascock. She married Gordon Joseph Rock in July of 1929 at Payette, Idaho. They lived at Huntington and Halfway before settling at Bates, which she really enjoyed. Joe died in 1984 and she moved to Hermiston. She was a member of the New Beginnings Church at … 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

Conklin, Eugene – Obituary

UNION (Special) – Eugene B. Conklin died in a Portland hospital Tuesday evening following a heart attack. He had taken the exhibits, from Malheur county to the Pacific International and became ill about a week before his passing away. He was a prominent man in Eastern Oregon where he always was very active in public affairs. He was born in Ohio in 1865 and came to Oregon in 1888. He taught school at Medical Springs and Cove and in 1894 came to Union where he taught for five years. From here he went to Pendleton for seven years of teaching … Read more

Evins, Dale Erwin – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Dale Erwin Evins, 52 of La Grande died July 30 at Grande Ronde Hospital. Viewing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church in Island City. Mr. Evins was born Aug. 18, 1953, to Raymond and Evangeline Kendall Evins in Ontario. The family moved numerous times before settling in La Grande. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and played baseball for the San Diego Padres organization in the early 1970s. … Read more

Messer, David L. – Obituary

Jamieson 1949-2009 David Leo Messer, 60, of Jamieson, died as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident Sept. 29, one mile west of Jamieson. Graveside services will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Lostine Cemetery. A memorial service will follow on Monday at the Pendleton Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1401 SW Goodwin Place. A memorial service was held Oct. 5 in Vale. Lienkaemper Chapel of Ontario was in charge of arrangements. David was born Aug. 11, 1949, to Leo Eugene Messer and Elizabeth Lucille Jenson in Great Falls, Mont. He attended Great Falls schools and graduated from … Read more

Evans, John Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. John Evans, a few moments before apparently in her usual health, dropped dead in the huckleberry fields at the second crossing of Wolf Creek Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Evans had become separated from the rest of the party and Mr. Evans walked a short distance away, calling and attempting to locate himself. Upon turning he saw his wife drop and found her dead when he reached her. Death was apparently due to heart failure. R. E. Haines and family were camped at First Crossing and went and brought Mr. Evans and the family to Mr. Hart’s place near Warm … 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

McCarver, Rose Mary – Obituary

Richland, Baker County, Oregon Rose Mary McCarver, 82, of Ontario, a former Richland resident, died May 1, 2006, at her home. Her memorial graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Evergreen Cemetery in Ontario. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin will preside. Rose was born on June 24, 1923, at Ironside. She attended Vale schools. She married William McCarver on Sept. 21, 1940, at Payette, Idaho. They ran a sawmill and trucking company at Ironside. In 1954 the family moved to Ontario where they had a dairy on the Oregon Slope. Later they moved to Richland, where they had … Read more