Biography of Moses H. Goodwin

The history of mankind is replete with illustrations of the fact that it is only under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of opposition that the best and strongest in men are brought out and developed. Perhaps the history of no people so forcibly impresses one with this truth as the annals of our own republic: and certainly in our own land the palm must be awarded to New England’s sturdy sons. If anything can inspire the youth of our country to persistent, honorable and laudable endeavor it should be the life record of such men as he of … Read more

Fales, Alta Faye Wunder Mrs. – Obituary

Alta Faye Wunder Fales, 71, of Payette, Idaho, died June 28, 2008, at Holy Rosary Medical Center in Ontario surrounded by her family. There will be a celebration of her life at 1 p.m., Saturday at the Payette Christian Church. The Rev. Ralph Pearson will officiate. Cremation and services are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette. Alta was born on Aug. 6, 1936, in Baker City to Clive and Nina Payton Wunder. She lived at various mining towns in Baker County until she was 6 and her family moved to Baker City, where she grew up and met … Read more

Biography of Z. C. Mills

Z.C. MILLS. – Z.C. Mills of Seattle, Washington is a native of the Empire state, and was born in 1834. While yet in his boyhood, his parents moved to Illinois, where he grew to manhood and received his education. After he had reached his majority, he engaged in business with his father. He was successful; but, when an American has once felt the excitement of moving, it is almost impossible for him to be contented, so long as there are new countries to be found beyond the Western horizon. Accordingly, in 1859, when the Pike’s Peak gold excitement reached his … Read more

Williams, Russell Davis – Obituary

Muddy Creek, Oregon Russell Davis Williams, 91, who grew up on his family’s ranch in Muddy Creek, died Dec. 13, 2004, in Sun City, Calif., of emphysema. He is a descendent of two early pioneer families of North Powder: his grandparents, Lemuel and Amanda Ellen Stewart Williams, and John Samuel and Susan Dealy Davis. Mr. Williams was born Sept. 16, 1913, at Muddy Creek to Harry Chatterton and Ida Belle Davis Williams. He was the youngest of seven children and graduated from Muddy Creek High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1935 and served on the USS … Read more

Morehead, Alice F. MacDonald Mrs. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Alice F. MacDonald Morehead, 97, of La Grande died June 26, 2003, at her home. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley in La Grande. The Rev. Norman Shrumm of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate. Committal and interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande. Visitations will be until 6 o’clock tonight at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Mrs. Morehead was born on June 15, 1906, at Knappa to Angus and Lenore MacDonald. She moved with her parents to a homestead near Ontario. She attended Pioneer schools, Payette, … 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

Williams, Maxine McGrath Mrs. – Obituary

Maxine Williams, 84, a native of North Powder, died Jan. 18, 2005, at Sun City, Calif. She had been disabled by arthritis the last two years of her life and had lived in a residential care center, where she died. Maxine was born at Union to Walter and Leila McGrath and grew up at North Powder. Her father, a coal dealer, served as mayor there and led a dance band. She grew up in a family of musicians and card players, and although not a musician herself, she did love good music and was a skillful card player all her … Read more

Wilson, Shirley J. Tilcock Mrs. – Obituary

Shirley J. Wilson, 65, of Helena, Mont., died April 4, 2003, at St. Peter’s Hospital after a long illness. Mass of Christian burial was Saturday, April 12, at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church at East Helena, Mont. Interment was at St. Ann’s Cemetery. Shirley was born at Pampa, Texas, on May 17, 1937, to George and Helen Tilcock. She was later joined by a brother, Don, and a sister, Sherry. Her father drove truck in heavy hauling, so the family moved quite often. She attended several different schools in several states, graduating at Fillmore, Calif. She met her husband, … Read more

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

Schock, Berniece Parker Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Berniece Schock, 71, of Hermiston, died Nov. 10, 2004, at the Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston. Her graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Eternal Hills Cemetery in Klamath Falls. She was born on Oct. 11, 1933, at Baker City to Clifford and Cecelia Bowman Parker. She married Harold H. Schock on May 23, 1952, at Payette, Idaho. The couple lived at Pondosa and later in the Baker City area for more than 30 years. They moved to Ashland in 1990. Harold died in 1992. Berniece returned to Baker City in 1994 and lived … 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

Hall, Lois Jean Beamguard Sanford Mrs. – Obituary

Lois Jean Beamguard Sanford Hall, 78, of Boise, a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 3, 2007, at her home. There will be a memorial service to celebrate and honor her life at 10 a.m. MDT Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, Cathedral of the Rockies, in Boise. The Rev. Steve Tollefson and Ralph Lawrence will officiate. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. MDT at the Rosedale Cemetery in Payette, Idaho, near her parents, William Clark and Vinnie Beamguard. Visitations will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Cathedral of The Rockies, First United Methodist Church. … Read more

Lansdon, Richard Thomas – Obituary

Richard Thomas Lansdon, 19, of Payette, Idaho, and formerly of Baker City, died May 28, 2005, as the result of a vehicle accident on Anthony Lakes Highway. A traditional funeral service will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Baker City Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Following the service, friends and family will gather near the Baker County Library, 2400 Resort St., where Richard will be taken in a horse-drawn hearse around Geiser Pollman Park with family and friends walking behind in tribute of all the fond memories he leaves behind. At the conclusion of the … Read more

Hickerson, Mabel Boyce Mrs. Obituary

Mabel (Boyce) Hickerson, 98, a former resident of Payette, Idaho, died at her Salem home Monday, Feb. 3, 2003. Mabel’s family were pioneers in the Baker Valley. A graveside service will be held at Riverside Cemetery, Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. Survivors include daughters, Beverly Perkins of Fruitland, Idaho, and LaVelle Lasher and her husband, Frank of Salem; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Helen Brown of California. She was preceded in death by her husband, Art (1959); daughters, Genevieve Brown (1999) and Evelyn Cainan (2002); and three sons-in-law. Memorial contributions may be made to Payette … Read more

Lyon, Johannah Madora “Jo” Griffin Mrs. – Obituary

Johannah Madora “Jo” Lyon, 96, of New Plymouth, Idaho, died Dec. 12, 2007, at Royal Villa Care Center in Payette, Idaho. Mass of the Christian Burial was at 10 a.m. today at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Fruitland. The Rev. Calvin Blankinship officiated. The committal service was at 1 p.m. PST at Mount Hope Cemetery with the Rev. Julian Cassar officiating. Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel of Payette was in charge of arrangements. Jo was born on Nov. 6, 1911, at Baker City to James and Mary Lonzway Griffin. She was a graduate of the Intermountain Institute at Weiser, Idaho. She married … 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

McCarver, Rose Mary – Obituary

Richland, Baker County, Oregon Rose Mary McCarver, 82, of Ontario, a former Richland resident, died May 1, 2006, at her home. Her memorial graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Evergreen Cemetery in Ontario. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin will preside. Rose was born on June 24, 1923, at Ironside. She attended Vale schools. She married William McCarver on Sept. 21, 1940, at Payette, Idaho. They ran a sawmill and trucking company at Ironside. In 1954 the family moved to Ontario where they had a dairy on the Oregon Slope. Later they moved to Richland, where they had … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Roswell W. Clement

Among the leading agriculturists of Malheur county is to be mentioned the subject of this sketch, whose life has manifested a worthy record of honest and rigorous endeavor, dominated with sagacity and tempered with prudence and display of affability and genial bearing toward all. In Middleville, Barry county, Michigan, on January 5, 1862, occurred the happy event of the birth of Roswell W. Clement, his parents being Judge James T. and Lucy (Hayes) Clement. The family came to Usage, Iowa, while our subject was a small child, and thence they removed to the vicinity of Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1868. In … 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

Starry, Beverly C. “B.C.” – Obituary

Beverly C. Starry, better known as “B.C” or “Bunk,” 93, a former Baker City resident, died July 1, 2003, at Fresno of lung cancer. His memorial service was July 9. B.C. was born on Jan. 14, 1910, at Louisburg, Kan., to Beverly Cashman and Elizabeth Starry. The family included a brother and four sisters. He married Edith L. Livingston on May 10, 1931, at Louisburg, Kan. They had two children, Beverly Ann and John Livingston Starry. B.C. worked in Southern California from 1936 to 1944 in the grocery business. The family then moved to Mount Morrison, Colo., to operate their … Read more