Malheur County OR

Webb, Lee Stanley – Obituary

Killed in Collision Blinding Dust is Cause of Crash near Ontario Lee Stanley Webb, 19 year-old Baker youth, was killed Thursday afternoon in a construction accident 10 miles north of Ontario. Webb, son of Mrs. Billie Webb and stepson of Herman Webb, was a prominent athlete at Baker High School, participating both in football and basketball. He graduated with the Baker High class of 1954. State police accounts of the Thursday accident, which happened at 4:40 p.m., said that Webb was driving a water truck for the Rogers Construction Company, which was engaged in new highway construction north of Ontario. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Almer G. King

The subject of this review is one of the well known and representative men of Malheur County and is to-day entrusted with the responsibilities of one of the main County offices and has made a record for himself of faithfulness, integrity, and capabilities, that places him secure in the esteem and respect of the entire population of the County. Almer G. was born in Waverly, Iowa, on December 6, 1866, being the son of George and Littie (Kimball) King. In 187o, the family came west via San Francisco and Portland to a place opposite Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia, where … Read more

Garner, James “Ellison” Obituary

James “Ellison” Garner, 89, of Ontario, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003, at Baker City. His funeral was at 1 p.m. MST Monday, Feb. 3, in Ontario at the Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel. Vault interment was at the Rosedale Memorial Gardens in Payette, Idaho. Mr. Garner was born on June 14. 1913, at Fairfax. Mo., to Albert and Cordia Spencer Garner. He was educated at Stanberry, Mo. and came to Ontario in 1932. He married Fay Pearson on Aug. 22, 1936, at Payette. Mrs. Garner died in 2000. The Garners made their home at Ontario where he was a partner in the … Read more

Nichols, Murphy Andrew – Obituary

Murphy Andrew Nichols, “Our Little Big Man,” age 3, died after an ATV accident Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003. Graveside services were held on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2003, at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Caldwell, Idaho. Services were under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel. Murphy was born March 30, 2000, in Nampa, to Curt and Cynde Nichols. He was a vivacious, beautiful child, with the world by the tail, who loved his short life to the fullest. He enjoyed fishing and camping, golfing with Grandpa Chub and riding the 4-wheeler with Daddy. He wanted to ride Grandma’s horses, … Read more

Kirk V. McShane – Obituary

Kirk V. McShane, 52, formerly of LaGrande, died June 29 in Portland. A memorial service was conducted July 5. Mr. McShane was born Jan. 30, 1954, to Francis and Margaret McShane in Ontario, and graduated from La Grande High School in 1974. He moved to Portland, where he worked for several music warehouses and stores. He graduated from Portland State University and became a distribution manager for Graybar Electric. He married Denise P. Belanger in 1984. Survivors include his wife; his mother of La Grande; brothers, Brian, Michael, Jeffrey and Gregory; sisters, Rebecca and Maureen; and other relatives. His father … Read more

Fisher, David Cyrus – Obituary

Pioneer Who Crossed The Plains in 1859 Dies At Ontario  David Cyrus Fisher, resident of Oregon since 1862, died at Ontario, April 17, aged 75 years. Mr. Fisher was a native of Illinois and crossed Hate plains in 1859 to California, coming from that state to Oregon in 1862. He first settled in the Willamette Valley, later moving to the Grande Ronde Valley, where he passed the later years of his life. Mr. Fisher is survived by nine children; Hiram Fisher and Harvey Fisher of Wallowa; Mrs. Phemina Forman of Bidwell, Cal; Mrs. Mattie Henely, Portland; Mrs. Mary McKennon, Otis … Read more

Biography of Louis B. Rinehart

LOUIS B. RINEHART. – Mr. Rinehart was born in Illinois in 1844, and ten years later accompanied his parents across the plains to Oregon. They followed the track s of 1853 from the mouth of the Malheur to Eugene City via Harney Lake. Ten miles west of Eugene the elder Rinehart located a half section of land, and provided a home for his family. Louis remained there until 1862, but that spring came with his brothers to the Grande Ronde valley. After living in a tent three months, he hauled the logs and assisted in the erection of the third … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph M. Dinwiddie

This well’ known pioneer and responsible and leading business man and stock man of Malheur County is one of the prominent citizens of the town of Jordan Valley and is a man of sterling qualities of worth and integrity, being possessed of excellent capabilities which have wrought with a winning hand in the business and financial realm of our County for many years. Joseph M. was born in Indiana, on September 1, 1851 being the son of Daniel and Elsie Dinwiddie. In 1853 his parents came with the noble .band of pioneers who crossed the plains in those days, and … Read more

Smith, Thomas – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Aug. 9 — Thomas Smith, memorial service, 1 p.m., United Methodist Church, Elgin The Observer – August 4, 2008 ___________________________________ Thomas Ira Smith, 93, of McMinnville and formerly of Elgin, died July 10 in McMinnville. Memorial services will begin at 1 p.m. Aug. 9 at the United Methodist Church at Fifth and Birch Street in Elgin. Autumn Crematorium in Tigard was in charge of arrangements. Tom was born Sept. 22, 1914, to Ira Arthur and Henrietta Esther (Cruikshank) Smith in Gridley, Calif. The family soon moved to Elgin where Tom graduated from Elgin High School in 1932. Joining … Read more

Chapman, Mary Marie Mattingly Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Mary Marie Chapman, 88, of Baker City, died April 9, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her graveside service will be at 1 p.m. MDT Tuesday at Hilltop Cemetery in Nyssa. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Mary was born on May 12, 1915, at Vale to Bud and Laura Rose Syme Mattingly. She was raised at Watson where she also attended school. She graduated from high school at Nyssa. She married Arthur A. Chapman on May 23, 1934. The couple lived at Huntington during World War II, where Mr. Chapman worked … Read more

Burbank, Maxine Rynearson Mrs. – Obituary

Hereford, Oregon Maxine Burbank, 84, of Ontario, a former Baker County resident, died of complications of diabetes and the results of four strokes on April 22, 2004, at Life Care Center in Boise. Her graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Riverside Cemetery in Payette, Idaho. She was born on June 13, 1919, at Emmett, Idaho, to Emory John and Etta Mae Rynearson. She lived for many years at Hereford where she and her husband owned the Hereford Store. They moved to Ontario in 1957. Although retired for many years, she spent more than 20 years as a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Test, E. H.

It is seldom that a larger mercantile establishment is to he found in any city on the coast than that of the Ore­gon Forwarding Company at Ontario. Established in 1885 by Fred J. Kiesel, of Ogden, Utah, it has grown under the style of Fred J. Kiesel, Wm. Teary & Co., and Kiesel, Shilling & Danelson, and since February 23, 1890, as the Oregon Forwarding Company, being incorporated on that date with E. H. Test as manager. They carry a complete line of general merchandise and stockmen’s supplies. Agricultural implements, hardware, etc., and acting as gen­eral agents among many other … Read more

True, Etta Severns Mrs. – Obituary

Etta Severns True, 87, a former Baker City resident, died April 1, 2002, at Hermiston. Her graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Susan Barnes of the Presbyterian Church will officiate. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Mrs. True was born on July 20, 1914, at Dillon, Mont., to James Monroe Severns and Myrtle Olive Jones Severns. She was a 1933 graduate of La Grande High School and then attended Drapers School of Commerce in La Grande. She married Glen True on Aug. 16, 1941, … Read more

Hedrick, Gene W. – Obituary

Gene W. Hedrick, 55, of Cove, a former Haines resident, died Sept. 1, 2003, as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident near Cove. There was a celebration of his life Friday at the Loveland Funeral Chapel in La Grande. Private inurnment will be at a later date. Mr. Hedrick was born Oct. 13, 1947, at Hillsboro. He was the son of George W. and Ann Ustic Hedrick. He attended school and graduated from high school in Seattle. He worked there for a time before he began attending college at the University of Washington at Seattle. After … Read more

Ingram, Jewell L. “Judy” Connor Mrs. – Obituary

Jewell L. “Judy” Ingram, 74, a former Baker City resident, died July 8, 2003, at Creston, British Columbia, as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Precht Harrison Funeral Home in Okanogan, Wash. There will be a graveside service after the funeral. A dinner will be served at noon at the Okanogan Senior Center. Judy was born on Nov. 26, 1928, at Christopher, Ill., to Barton Edward Connor and Roxie Gulley Connor. She had 10 brothers and sisters. She worked and lived in Chicago during World War II. She traveled to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charlie E. Amidon

This well known and representative farmer and stockman is a substantial and enterprising citizen of Malheur County, dwelling near Ontario, five and one-half miles southwest, where he has a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres, well tilled and improved with buildings, orchards, and so forth in addition to which he owns one hundred acres of land in another place, besides other property. The birth of Mr. Amidon occurred at Flenn, Allegan County, Michigan in 1860, August 23, being the son of Edson and Electa (Tracy) Amidon. The father enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Michigan in October, 1861. He … Read more

Graven, Terry Evan – Obituary

Terry Evan Graven, 58, of Nampa, Idaho, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005, after a brave and valiant 21-month battle with cancer. His funeral was held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, in the Nampa 10th Ward Chapel, 7908 Deer Flat Road. Terry was honored by police color guard and the military. A viewing was held on Tuesday at the church from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to the service. Interment was at the Veterans Cemetery in Boise. Terry died peacefully at his home in Nampa, with his family at his side. He died with the same calm collected nature … 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

Cathey, Laura Louise Ray Mrs. – Obituary

Laura Louise Cathey, 101, of Ontario, a former Baker City resident, died April 28, 2008, at Ontario with family at her side. Her graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Jon Privett will officiate. There will be a reception for family and friends after the service at the Baker City Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Laura was born on Nov. 1, 1906, at Rushville, Neb., to James and Hulda Ray. She was the second child in a family of 12 children. Laura’s family moved to Montana when she was a teenager. She … 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