Sasser, Myrna Karleen – Obituary

Myrna Karleen Sasser, 70, formerly of Wallowa County, died Aug. 6 at her home in Idaho. Burial will be at the Enterprise Cemetery. Summers Funeral Homes of Boise is in charge of arrangements. Miss Sasser was born Jan. 28, 1936, to Foy A. and Edna Byrle Sturm Sasser near Enterprise. She graduated from high school in New Plymouth, Idaho, and attended Nampa Business College. She worked as a legal secretary for attorneys in Boise and Eugene, and for U.S. Sen. Frank Church in Washington, D.C. She returned to Boise in 1980. She published the decisions of the Idaho Industrial Commission … Read more

Jones, Roy Vernon

Roy Vernon Jones, 79, of Haines, died Feb. 21, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. At his request there will be no service. Disposition was by cremation. Mr. Jones was born on March 5, 1925, at Doniphan, Mo., to Eddy and Lina Eagan Jones. He was the youngest of 11 children. He started his education in Missouri and completed it at Rockbridge, Ill. At age 18 he was inducted into the U.S. Army at Peoria, Ill. He suffered injuries in a training plane crash and was given a medical discharge after three months. He had a beautiful voice and played … Read more

Vernholm, Willard Dale – Obituary

Willard Dale Vernholm, 73, of Baker City, died Sept. 25, 2005, at Idlewood Manor. At his request there will be no services. Cremation by Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory. Dale was born on Feb. 11, 1932, in York, Neb., to Carl Willard and Lois Louetta Middleton Vernholm. When Dale was about 4 years old the family moved to Corvallis. He attended school at Lewisburg and Corvallis High School. In 1947, at 15, Dale’s family moved to New Plymouth, Idaho. When Dale was only 16, but needing to be 18, he lied about his age and went to work for the Payette … Read more

Heitz, John Ray – Obituary

John Ray Heitz, 67, of Island City, died at his home Sept. 28 from mesothelioma. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Island City. A viewing will precede the service beginning at 9 a.m. John was born Sept. 7, 1940, to John Helmic and Vera W. Heitz in Chicago. At 2, his family moved to Fruitland, Idaho, where they eventually acquired a small farm. John learned to work as he attended school. He hoed beets, picked fruit, worked at the cannery and graduated from high school. He also learned … Read more

Haines, Christene Lois French Corcoran Mrs. – Obituary

Christene Lois Corcoran Haines, 74, of New Plymouth, Idaho, and formerly of Baker City, died April 12, 2008, at home with her family at her side. Her memorial services will be at 3 p.m. MDT Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in New Plymouth. Pastor Phil Pittman will officiate. There will be a dinner at the church for family and friends after the service. There will be a graveside memorial service at 2 p.m. PDT Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City. Chris was born on March 25, 1934, in Friendsville, Tenn., to Hoyle and Myrtle French. She was … Read more

Hauser, Melvin Michael “Mike” – Obituary

Melvin Michael “Mike” Hauser, 34, of Fruitland, died Sept. 1, 2004. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4, at Riverside Cemetery in Payette, Idaho. Pastor Dick Wilson will officiate. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel in Payette. Services and arrangements are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel. Mike was born to Marietta and Melvin Hauser on Feb. 1, 1970, at La Grande. He attended Brooklyn Elementary School and Baker High School at Baker City. He earned an associate’s degree at Treasure Valley Community College in law enforcement and was … Read more

The Payette Valley, Its Towns

For the following graphic and ably written article in regard to the attractions of the Payette valley we are indebted to a souvenir edition of the Payette Independent issued in March, 1898: The Payette valley lies in the southwestern part of Idaho, with its upper and narrow end extending far back into pine-clad mountains and its lower flaring into broad, fertile fields, terminating at the banks of the Snake river, just across whose waters rise the mountain peaks of Oregon. Its length is upward of forty miles, its width varying from two miles at the upper point to eight where … Read more

Crockett, Rosslee Dama “Rosy” Taylor Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Rosslee Dama “Rosy” Crockett, 82, a longtime Baker City resident, died Dec. 21, 2000, at her home. A celebration of her life will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Darlene Friedlander will conduct the service. A reception will follow the service in the Oregon Trail Room at the Quality Inn Motel, 810 Campbell St. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be today until 8 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Mrs. Crockett was born Feb. 8, 1918, at Monett, Mo., to Leslie A. Taylor … Read more

Bodyfelt, Edith – Obituary

La Grande and Union 1913-2004 Edith M. Bodyfelt, 91, of La Grande and formerly of Union, died May 22 at a local care center. A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. June 5 at the Tillamook Odd Fellows’ Cemetery with the Rev. Ron Carter of the Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church officiating. Mrs. Bodyfelt was born March 30, 1913, to Homer and Nora Marian Cheney in New Plymouth, Idaho. She graduated from Union High School in 1931, and married Guy E. Watts in September of that year in Union. In 1959 the couple moved to Pacific City where they had … Read more

Van Driesche, Clara J. Carpenter Mrs. – Obituary

Clara J. Van Driesche, 93, a longtime Baker City resident, died March 28, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. The rosary will be said Friday at 7 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral. the Rev. Robert C. Irwin will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be today until 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Clara was born Feb. 12, 1912, at New Plymouth, Idaho, to James Carpenter … Read more

Culley, Vivian L. Bacus Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Vivian L. Culley, 75, a resident of Baker City, died Dec. 8, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. A family memorial service will be held at a later date. Mrs. Culley was born April 24, 1927, in New Plymouth, Idaho, a daughter of Harvey W. and Clarissa Lenore Lakey Bacus. She was raised and educated in the Baker and Haines area, graduating from Haines High School. She enjoyed driving around the Baker Valley looking at animals, and also enjoyed making latch hook rugs. She is survived by six children, 13 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, two nephews and three … Read more

Shively, Mary A. O’Donnell Mrs. – Obituary

Mary A. O’Donnell Shively, 87, of Boise, a former Baker City resident, died May 16, 2006, at a Boise care center. Visitations will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. A vigil service and recitation of the rosary will begin at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Deacon James R. Watt will lead the rosary. Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday. The Rev. Camillus Fernando of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mary was born on April 24, 1919, at New … Read more

Watson, Gwendolyn Marise Hixson Mrs. – Obituary

Gwendolyn Marise Watson, 64, of New Plymouth, Idaho, a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 29, 2007, at her home. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. MDT Friday at the Highway Assembly of God Church in Fruitland, Idaho. Interment will be at Parkview Cemetery in New Plymouth. Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel of Payette, Idaho, is in charge of arrangements. She was born Dec. 6, 1940, at Baker City to Ted and Ida Celestine Hixson. She married Richard Watson on Dec. 24, 1963, at Baker City. She attended Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton where she earned a degree in nursing … Read more

Watson, Gwendolyn Marise – Obituary

Gwendolyn Marise Watson, 66, of New Plymouth, Idaho, died Sept. 29 at her home. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the Highway Assembly of God in Fruitland, Idaho. Burial will follow at Parkview Cemetery in New Plymouth, Idaho. Haren-Wood funeral Chapel in Payette, Idaho, is in charge of arrangements. Gwendolyn was born on Dec. 6, 1940, to Ted and Ida (Celestine) Hixson in Baker City. She married Richard Watson on Dec. 24, 1963, in Baker City. She attended Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton and received a degree in nursing in 1962. She worked for 35 years … Read more