Payette County ID

Burgess, Eliza Ann Horn – Obituary

Services for Mrs. Eliza A. Burgess, 66, Vale resident for the past 35 years who died in her home Sunday [January 7, 1968], was at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Chapel of the Roses at Payette, with Elder Harry Sunday Fry of Payette Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints officiating. Mrs. Burgess was born in Ellensburg, Wash., Oct. 16, 1901. In 1915 she moved with her family to Oregon, settling in Curry County. She was married to Fred Burgess, December 19, 1922 in Coquille, Ore. They lived in Curry County 11 years and came to Vale in 1933. They … Read more

Fitzgerald, GaNell “Gay” Wilburn Jeffries Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon GaNell Wilburn Jeffries “Gay” Fitzgerald, 90, of Baker City died Jan. 16, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Care Center. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Ed Haugland of the Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses will officiate. Visitations will be from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday at Gray’s West & Co. and Friday before the service, starting at 8 a.m. Gay was born on Aug. 25, 1913, at Payette, Idaho, to Thomas Frederick Wilburn and Nell Gertrude Carpenter Wilburn. She was raised on the family ranch … Read more

Biography of William A. Coughanour

For almost fourteen years Payette has numbered William A. Coughanour among its most prominent and progressive citizens. He may well be termed one of the founders of the city, for he has been the promoter of many of its leading business enterprises, and the growth and development of a city depend upon its commercial and industrial activity. His connection with any undertaking insures a prosperous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carry forward to successful completion whatever he is associated with. He has earned for himself an enviable reputation, as a careful man of business, … Read more

Vandecar, Robert L. – Obituary

Robt. L. Vandecar Was Durkee Creek Rancher 54 Years Funeral services for Robert L. Vandecar of Durkee, 77 years of age and a well known Baker County stockman were conducted at 2:00 pm Tuesday Feb. 20 at Gray’s West and Co. Pioneer Chapel. The Rev. Richard A. Toll of the St. Stephens Episcopal Church officiated. Vault interment followed in the family plot at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mr. Vandecar was born May 14, 1895 in Payette, Idaho the son of Augustus Byron and Rose Mott Vandecar. He had his schooling in Haines and in 1918 moved to Durkee. He was married … Read more

Courtney, Pinkney L. – Obituary

Mrs. B.T. Long received word Thursday evening of the death of her father, P. L. Courtney at Payette, Idaho and left for that place Friday. M. O. Courtney of Lostine accompanied her. P. L. Courtney was one of the earliest settlers of the valley and lived here until recent years when he was compelled to try a different climate to relieve asthma from which he was a sufferer. He spent the past year in California from there going to Payette only two weeks ago and on the trip contracted the influenza to which he succumbed. Pinkney L. Courtney was born … 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

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

Biography of Garner Miner

For thirty-eight years Garner Miner has been a resident of Idaho, having come to the territory in 1861, when the development of this great northwest was in its incipiency and the frontiersmen had to meet many privations and dangers. The Indians were frequently on the warpath, carrying death and devastation wherever they went; and separated from the base of sup-plies, from the comforts and luxuries of the east the pioneers endured hardships undreamed of by the present generation. In those days brave hearts were necessary, indeed, but the same spirit of Anglo-Saxon daring, fortitude and stability, which, has characterized the … Read more

Kidder, William Ross “Bill” – Obituary

William Ross “Bill” Kidder, 85, of Lewiston, Idaho, died Sunday, Sept. 11, 2005, from complications related to age at the Lewiston Veterans Home, where he had been a resident for the last five years. Bill was born Dec. 26, 1919, in Ridgefield, Wash., to David and Olive Kidder. He attended grade school in Oregon and graduated in 1937 from Pendleton High School. He joined the U.S. Navy the same year and served for more than seven years in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was discharged in 1946 as a lieutenant (jg) with many decorations for his efforts. … Read more

Biography of Peter Pence

The life record of this honored pioneer, and his connection with many of the leading events in the history of Idaho, form no unimportant chapter in the annals of the state. He has been identified with its early development through the period when existence in the northwest was attended by many difficulties and dangers, and with its latter-day progress and advancement which have placed Idaho on a par with many of the older states of the east. His early years were spent far from this “Gem of the Mountains.” He was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, in October 1837, and … Read more

Storm, Hazel Lightfoot Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Hazel L. Storm, 78, of Culver, a former Baker City resident, died May 26, 2004. Her graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Storm was born on Aug. 20, 1925, at Payette, Idaho, to Richard and Julia Nelson Lightfoot. She married her high school sweetheart, Joe Storm, on March 20, 1943, at Weiser, Idaho. She worked as a salesperson for Payless Drug Store. She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary, Post 3048, in Baker City, serving as president in 1962-63. She enjoyed gardening, camping and reading. … Read more

Pullen, Raymond Francis – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Raymond Francis Pullen, 86, a longtime Baker City resident, and former longtime mayor/police chief and fire chief in Haines, died Sept. 10, 2001, at his home. His graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Haines Cemetery. Pastor Sally Wiens of the United Methodist Church of North Powder will officiate. Visitations will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. today at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. Mr. Pullen was born Feb. 27, 1915, at Wakefield, Neb., to Marion Francis Pullen and Emma Lena Fuoss Pullen. His family lived on a small farm near … Read more

Murdoch, John – Obituary

North Powder, Oregon John Murdoch, 81, of North Powder, died Jan. 19, 2004, at his son’s ranch in Oreana, Idaho. His funeral will be Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 11 a.m. at Haines Methodist Church. John was born Jan. 24, 1922, in Fruitland, Idaho, to John (Scotty) and Esther Hvidberg Murdoch. He graduated in 1940 from Haines High School. John married Barbara Daugherty on Feb. 13, 1943, in Weiser, Idaho. He joined the Navy in 1944, serving in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, John ranched for several years, and then purchased the Chevron Service Station in … 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

Ward, Mary Jane Mullen Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Jane Ward, 85, of La Grande and formerly of Baker City, died Aug. 2, 2003, at a local care facility. A private family service and interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Ward was born on Feb. 26, 1918, to James Levi and Daisy B. Bishop Mullen at Westfall. She was a 1936 graduate of Ontario High School. She married Frank Eldon Ward at Payette, Idaho, on July 24, 1948. They later moved to Baker City where they owned and operated Scotty’s Tavern. Mr. Ward died on Oct. 16, 1972. She continued to operate the business until 1979 … Read more

Lee, Eileen Cochrane Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Eileen Lee, 91, a longtime Baker City resident, died at her home on Jan. 27, 2003. Her memorial service will be held Thursday at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. The Rev. Susan Barnes will officiate. At Mrs. Lee’s request, a private interment of her cremated remains will be at the North Powder Cemetery. Eileen was born June 24, 1911, in Baker City, the only child of Edgar and Susan Browning Cochrane of Haines. Eileen attended school in Haines until 1924, when her parents moved to Baker City. She was a 1929 Baker … Read more

McLeish, George D. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon George D. McLeish, 77, of Baker City, died Feb. 23, 2003. His memorial service will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Coles Funeral Home. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Private interment will be Monday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. McLeish was born Feb. 20, 1926, at Wiggins, Colo. He was a son of James Andrew and Gertrude Amy Baker McLeish. He received his education at Wiggins, Colo., Payette, Idaho, and Baker City. In 1943, he entered the U.S. Navy to serve his country during World War II in the South Pacific. … Read more

Phelps, James Edmond – Obituary

James Edmond Phelps, 73, of Payette, Idaho, died Dec. 20, 2002, at an Ontario care home. His funeral was at 10 a.m. today at the United Methodist Church in Payette, Idaho. Pastor John Tucker officiated. His graveside service was at 1 p.m. today at Mount Hope Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel at Payette. Jim was born April 29, 1929, at Chelan Falls, Wash., to Samuel and Gladys Phelps. He was a Baker High School graduate. Jim’s life centered on his love for his family, his love of animals, and his work. He ranched in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James A. Walker

About five miles southwest from Ontario is the farm and home of the subject of this article. It is a place of eighty acres well improved, skillfully tilled, has line buildings, good orchards and a vine-yard, and in connection with the care of this estate, Mr. Walter is operating a dairy and manufacturing a good quality of butter, which is readily sold in the markets. In person Mr. Walter is a man of sound principles, stands well among his fellows, possesses good ability, and has made a success of his labor, starting with his bare hands and now has a … 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