Ontario Oregon

Obituary of William Roy Christie

William Roy Christie went to be with the Lord on July 6, 2008, in Ontario, Ore., at the age of 82. Bill was born Dec 9, 1925, in Colorado Springs, Colo., to Clarence and Sadie (Mittan) Christie, the youngest of five children. The family moved frequently, eventually ending up in Yakima, Wash., when Bill was a teenager. On Oct 29, 1944, he married Sarah “Ruth” Walker and they made Yakima their home. After completing military service in World War II he worked as a painter with his father-in-law and became acquainted with Bud Buele who taught him to repair cars. … Read more

Biography of Robert Van Gilse

The capable and educated gentleman, of whom we now have the privilege of writing, is one of the leading fruit men of the entire northwest, being better fitted, doubtless, than most in this industry in the entire country, for in addition to the practical experience in handling nurseries and fruit farms themselves, he has received from some of the leading horticultural schools of Europe the best theoretical and practical training that is now the privilege of a man to secure. It is with great pleasure, therefore, that we grant space here for an epitome of his interesting career. And it … Read more

Burnett, Preston Frank – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Preston Frank Burnett, 85, of Pendleton and formerly of La Grande died June 7 at St. Anthony Hospital. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 241 S.E. Second St. in Pendleton. Preston was born July 7, 1921, to Lawrence and Mabel Brown Burnett in Island City. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1938 and served in the Navy prior to World War II. Preston married Madaline E. Rhoads in Portland. He worked for the Oregon Highway Division for 42 years and was a resident engineer on many … Read more

Derrick, Sharon Cathey Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Sharon Derrick, 66, of Ontario, a former longtime Baker County resident, died May 7, 2005, at Ontario from colon cancer. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Community United Methodist Church, 240 S.E. Third St., in Ontario. Private interment will be later. Visitations will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel, 2543 Fourth Ave., in Ontario. Sharon was born on Jan. 25, 1939, at Belle Fourche, S.D., to Hugh and Laura Cathey. She moved to Baker City with her family in the 1940s. She married Harley … 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

Biography of Alva P. Mack

This enterprising and intelligent gentleman is one of Malheur County’s leading agriculturists, being a man of good ability and possessed of thrift and those talents which make the successful man, which in its full degree he has demonstrated himself to be, for he came to Ontario in 1890 with less than twenty dollars in finances, and by his own endeavors he has amassed a goodly holding of valuable property; his estate of one hundred and twenty acres, which is highly improved and excellently tilled, lies four and one-half miles southwest from Ontario. It is a model rural home, and shows … 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

Munkers, William Martin “Bill” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon William Martin “Bill” Munkers, 77, of Baker City, died Nov. 8, 2004, at Settlers’ Park. A graveside inurnment will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Gordon Bond of the Richland Christian Church will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family at Lorraine’s home after the service for a reception. Bill was born on March 28, 1927, at Ontario to William and Helen Munkers. He was raised in the Juntura and Burns area until 1966 when he moved to Baker City. Bill ranched and farmed his whole life; at one time his family … 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

Biographical Sketch of James E. Madden

This well known and representative business man is one of the prominent citizens of Ontario, where he owns and operates a fine, large livery and feed stable having fine and comfortable rigs and good horses, and manifesting a careful supervision for the comfort and safety of his patrons. Mr. Madden was born in Perry County, Ohio on May 31, 1849, being the son of Hezekiah and Mary Madden, natives of Ohio, also. While still a child he was brought by his parents to Putnam county, in the native state, and in 1813 they came thence to Mills county, Iowa. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James H. Farley

James H. Farley has led a life of activity and filled with enterprising and various labors, during which, also, he has manifested those rare qualities of integrity, up rightness, and perseverance, which together with his wise methods of procedure and Industry, have given him the competence of a prosperous business man and owner of real property. James H. was born in Dubuque, Iowa, on October 15, 1858, being the son of Patrick and Catherine Farleu, who settled at Dubuque when it was but a small hamlet, being natives of New York; state. The father served three years in the Civil … Read more

Obituary of Lester E. Hammack

Jamison, Oregon—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

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

Smurthwaite, Paul Rey – Obituary

Paul Rey Smurthwaite, 72, a former Baker City resident, died peacefully at his home on April 5, 2006 after a battle with cancer. There will be a service celebrating his life at 11 a.m. Monday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15555 S.W. 98th St., in Tigard. Paul was born on Feb. 24, 1934, at Baker City to Jesse Abraham and Zina Smurthwaite. He was the youngest of eight children. He grew up in Baker City where he enjoyed gymnastics, bowling, camping, fishing and hunting. He served his country as a U.S. Marine in the Korean conflict. … Read more

Blankinship, Frank Carson – Obituary

Frank Carson Blankinship, 79, a longtime Ontario resident and businessman, and a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 11, 2001, at Baker City. At his request there will be no services. Mr. Blankinship was born Sept. 27, 1921, in an apartment on Resort Street to Etta Lurchin and Elmer Blankinship. He was raised by his grandparents, Kit and Dammie Harpham. He accompanied his grandparents as Kit worked as a dynamite specialist in various gold mines around Sumpter and in the Wallowas. He attended school in Homestead, and then in Baker. He married Lela Mitchell in August 1941. Shortly after, World … Read more

Randall, Marjorie Baird Mrs. – Obituary

Marjorie Baird Randall, 90, of Ontario, a former Baker City resident, died March 2, 2002, at the Presbyterian Community Care Center in Ontario where she had been a resident for the past five years. Private cremation was under the direction of the Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel in Ontario. Her memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of the Presbyterian Community Care Center in Ontario. Interment for her and her husband, Jim, will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Marjorie and her twin sister, Margaret, were born to Frank D. Baird and Mary Lee Huyette Baird on Oct. 30, … Read more

Conklin, E. B. Mrs. – Obituary

Death Takes Ex-Teacher Mrs. E. B. Conklin Dies In Willamette Valley Home of Daughter Funeral services for Mrs. E. B. (Estella) Conklin, who died Saturday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. N. Fryer, in Garden Home, Oregon, were conducted at Peterson’s funeral home at 2 p.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Mr. C. L. Callahan officiating. Burial was in the Ontario cemetery, where members of the Order of the Eastern Star conducted final rites. Mrs. Conklin, who had taught Ontario youngsters in the primary grades for 14 years, was the widow of the late Eugene B. Conklin, Ontario’s first … Read more

White, Mary Caroline Jacobs Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Caroline White, 62, a longtime Ontario resident, died May 14, 2001, at Holy Rosary Medical Center in Ontario. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Monte Loyd of Baker City Christian Assembly will officiate. Vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home. Mrs. White was born Jan. 15, 1939, at Cherryvale, Kan., to Everett and Mary Knight Jacobs. She was raised at Nampa, Idaho, and Ontario, receiving her education in those areas. She married Floyd White on March … 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

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