McMinnville Oregon

Biography of James L. Story

JAMES L. STORY. – Mr. Story, the present mayor of The Dalles, Oregon, and a lawyer of leading character, is one of the Oregon educated men of whom the state has reason to be proud. He was born in Missouri in 1845, but at the age of eight years came with his parents across the plains to Oregon. The first home was on the Willamette river among the groves of maple and magnificent cottonwood trees where is now situated the little town of Lincoln. In 1854 he removed to McMinnville, and at that place, in 1864,enlisted in the First Oregon … Read more

Polvi, Allan “Al” – Obituary

Allan “Al” Polvi, 66, died Nov. 9, 2005, at his home at Walla Walla, Wash., after a long battle with cancer. At his request, there will be no service. Inurnment will be at Hopewell in July 2006. Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt Cremations & Funeral Services, 1551 Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla, Wash., is assisting the family with cremation arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary Regional Cancer Center or Walla Walla Community Hospice, through the funeral home. For condolences or additional information the family may be reached through this email address: nanpolvi@bmi.net. Mr. Polvi was born on Jan. 31, … Read more

Barron, Zellar Ann Heaton Mrs. – Obituary

Zellar Ann Barron, 98, a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 28, 2006. Her graveside funeral was Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. She was born on April 14, 1908, at Crossville, Ala., to William and Cordillia Camp Heaton. She was educated at Wynn, Ark. She moved to Baker City in 1936. She married Robert Barron on Dec. 23, 1946, at La Grande. She cleaned houses, painted houses, did wallpapering and worked for the Oregon Trail Motel for 22 years. She then cared for elderly people in their homes for a number of years. She retired and moved to McMinnville in … Read more

Christenson, Gayle Arlyn

Gayle Arlyn Christenson, 74, a longtime Baker City resident, died Feb. 7, 2005, at home surrounded by family and friends. An Elks service and celebration of his life will take place Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St. Gayle was born in 1931 at McMinnville to Chester and Lola (Johnson) Christenson. He attended school in Newberg and graduated there in 1950. He received training in radio engineering and moved to Salt Lake City where his distinct deep voice got him a job as a radio announcer. From there, Gayle worked a short time in the oil … 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

Croucher, Norman W., Sr. – Obituary

Elgin, Oregon Norman W. Croucher Sr. Formerly of Elgin A memorial service for Norman W. Croucher Sr., 74, formerly of Elgin, is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Elgin Christian Church, 1335 Division St. A finger-food potluck will follow the service. Mr. Croucher, of McMinnville and formerly of Elgin, died Jan. 19. The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending March 17, 2007

Smith, Robin Joyce – Obituary

Cove, Oregon Robin Joyce Smith, 64, a third-generation resident of Cove, died Nov. 11 at her home. A memorial service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Union United Methodist Church. Private burial was held at the Cove Cemetery. Robin was born on Oct. 16, 1943, to Jay M. and Guyene J. (Fuller) Martin in McMinnville. She graduated from Cove High School with the Class of 1961 and in 1962 graduated from Yakima Business College. On May 24, 1968, she married Stephen B. Smith in Cove. Over the years she worked for the Yakima Potato Commission, La Grande First … Read more

Biography of Robert C. Mays

ROBERT C. MAYS. – The well-known and capable business man, whose name appears at the head of this article, is one of the most widely known men of Union, and Wallowa counties, and is at the present time handling a large business as warehouseman at Elgin, where he is numbered among the leading residents of that thriving city, and he has made a record in this section that is both crowned with gratifying success from a financial standpoint, and wherein he has maintained a representation that is untarnished and displayed talents that properly place him among the real leaders in … Read more

Biography of N. K. Sitton

N.K. SITTON. – This pioneer of 1843 was born in Calway county, Missouri, in 1825. As a boy in school he read Lewis & Clarke’s travels, and being an active and intelligent youth seventeen years old, at the time of the great interest that prevailed in the border states respecting Oregon, was moved to join the party of Applegate Or Burnett, and made the journey with these noted men across the plains. he remembers meeting with Whitman on the Sweetwater, and recalls his services in guiding the emigrants from Fort Hall. Arriving in Oregon he found employment on various farms … Read more

Farnsworth, Ellen Idolette Gates – Obituary

McMinnvile–July 5 (Special)–Mrs. Ellen Idolette Farnsworth, 78, died June 28 [1945] in McMinnville. Services were held at Macy’s Chapel Tuesday and interment was at Multnomah Cemetery in Portland. Mrs. Farnsworth was born in Portland, May 6, 1867. She is survived by two brothers, Alonzo B. Gates and Frank H. Gates of Portland. The Oregonian, July 6, 1945 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Lambert, John A. – Obituary

John A. Lambert was born in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 10, 1845, and died July 28, 1917, making him 72 years, 5 months and 18 days old. From Nashville he went with his parents to Illinois, and from there to Missouri.. In 1864 his parents died and he with an older brother crossed the plains, arriving in Oregon in December, 1869. He was converted and joined the Methodist Church of which he was a lifelong member. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ellen Coovert, March 13, 1870. Their home was on a farm four miles south of Dayton until … Read more

Towell, Dick – Obituary

Dick Towell, 60, of McMinnville, a former longtime Halfway resident, died April 5, 2002, at his home after an ongoing battle with cancer for the past four years. His funeral was Saturday at the Church of Christ at McMinnville. There was a graveside service afterward and a potluck at the Towell home. Dick was born at home in the country by Scholls on Nov. 23, 1941, to Edith Alice and Euidas Scott Towell. He attended a two-room school in first grade and then moved to a newly built school for Grades 2-4. In fifth grade he went to a one-room … Read more

Schuchardt, Kenneth D. – Obituary

Kenneth D. Schuchardt, 74, of McMinnville, Ore., a former longtime Baker County resident, died Nov. 2, 2007, at the Willamette Valley Medical center in McMinnville. He had lived at Oakwood Country Place care home for almost a year before entering the hospital. Arrangements for cremation will be by Crown Memorial Center in Tualatin. At his request, there will be no funeral. Ken was born in September 1933 at Oakdale, Neb., to Raymond and Ada Schuchardt. His family moved to Oregon when he was small. He was barber at Lafayette for several years and then moved to Sumpter. He operated Ken’s … Read more

Bean, Robert Sharp, Judge – Obituary

Judge Robert Sharp Bean of the federal court for the District of Oregon, nationally known for his judicial mind died suddenly of a heart attack at 6:30 o’clock this morning [January 7, 1931] at his home, 1620 Briar Place. He was 76. Shock of the death was doubly felt in that it was so unexpected. According to a member of the family, Judge Bean, on retiring last night, was as well as he had ever been. He retired about 11 o’clock, Mrs. Bean said. Shortly before 6 a.m. today he arose complaining of a slight stomach ailment. He was somewhat … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James A. A. Wilson

JAMES A.A. WILSON. – Mr. Wilson is one of our characteristic Oregonians of the early times, whose career the pen would willingly linger upon. He was born in Carrol county, Mississippi, in 1841, and in 1853 with his father crossed the plains to California. Remaining as an assistant in that state until 1858, he made a visit in that year to the northern coast, stopping off at Victoria; and, after an inspection of various points, he made a residence near McMinnville, where in 1859 he was married to Miss Susannah Owens. He continued here in farming and stock-raising until 1863, … Read more

Biography of John E. Brooks

JOHN E. BROOKS. – John E. Brooks was born October 29,1822, at Canton, St. Lawrence county, State of New York. His father Cooper Brooks, and his mother, Sophia Brooks (formerly Tuttle), moved from Cheshire, New Haven, Connecticut, and settled at an early day in St. Lawrence county, making the trip with an ox-sled drawn by a yoke of cattle from state to state. To them were born six children, four boys and two girls. The entire family is now dead, except J.E. Brooks, the fifth, and Aniasa Brooks, the youngest of the family, who now live at McMinnville, Oregon. His … Read more

Biography of Hon. William Lair Hill

HON. WILLIAM LAIR HILL. – The distinguished lawyer, author, versatile writer and thorough student whose name introduces this sketch was asked to furnish such data as might contribute in its production; and he diffidently and reluctantly responded. Among other hastily prepared notes, he answered: “Have lived an honest a life as my environments seemed to allow, mainly for the reason that, according to my hereditary creed, one who is not at least indifferently honest, cannot be very happy. In all my laborious life the one single fact in which I have the slightest pride is that, like Jim Bludsoe, I … Read more

Joseph, Margaret Elaine Maynard Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Margaret Elaine Maynard Joseph, 63, of Baker City, died Dec. 25, 2004, at her home after a nine-year battle with cancer. A celebration of her life will be Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 2177 First St. Elaine was born April 1, 1941, in McMinnville to John Carroll Maynard and Betty Mae Hackney Maynard. Elaine graduated from high school in McMinnville in 1959. She was married to Claude Talley for many years and they had three children: Debbie, Ted and Dan. She and Claude lived in the Carlton area before moving to Baker in … Read more

Lockett, James H. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon James (Jim) H. Lockett, 78, of McMinnville and formerly of La Grande, died Oct. 26 at the Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville. There will be an 11 a.m. memorial service today at the First Baptist Church in McMinnville with Pastor Kent Harrop officiating. A private family burial will be at the Enterprise Cemetery. Mr. Lockett was born in La Grande June 16, 1928, to Arden Carmen and Gwendolyn Bell Lockett. He spent the first six years of his life in Kamela. He finished grade school in La Grande, attended high school in Athena and graduated from … Read more

Baker, Leonard Charles – Obituary

Leonard Charles Baker, 81, died Oct. 25, 2008, at his home in McMinnville. His graveside memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Bishop Ernie Collard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a luncheon at the LDS meeting house after the service. He was born at Arlington, Calif., to Edward Andrew Baker and Lorraine Lucinda Dennis Baker on Aug. 25, 1927. He was the eighth of nine children. In 1950 he married his first wife, Nancy Watts. They had two children, Diane Painter … Read more