Laird, William Edward “Bill” – Obituary

William Edward “Bill” Laird, 66, of Baker City, died April 16, 2005, at his home after a long bout with brain cancer. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Bill was born on Nov. 15, 1938, at Ketchikan, Alaska, to Ruth and Edward Laird, who was an engineer with the Lighthouse Service, now the Coast Guard. Bill’s mother died when he was a baby and he was mostly raised by his stepmother, Anna Laura Laird. The family moved to California when Bill was 5, followed by several other moves around the country. … Read more

Biography of Nelson Sleppy

Nelson Sleppy, successor to the firm of Sleppy & Bullis, is one of the representative business men of Colton. He is at the head of one of the largest hardware establishments in that city and the pioneer in the business in Colton, having established his store in 1882. He conducted the establishment alone until 1888, when he formed a partnership with William S. Bullis, now the mayor of Colton, and the business was conducted under the firm name of Sleppy & Bullis, with Mr. Sleppy as the chief and managing partner, until February 5, 1890. The subject of this sketch … Read more

Biography of James P. Goodall

JAMES P. GOODALL.- There are some hundreds of men upon our coast whose life experiences embrace as much of romance and adventure as was every told in the pages of Marryat, Irving, or of Smollet. For a full recital of this, we must refer the inquirer to such men as the genial gentleman whose name appears above, that he may in his own home, in the beautiful city of Jacksonville, Oregon, recount as to us the stories of his life upon this coast. He was born at Milledgeville, Georgia, in 1818, and at that city and at Columbus in the … Read more

Sanderson, Kathleen Enid – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Kathleen Enid Sanderson, 83, of La Grande, died March 19 at a local care home. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. April 14 at the Island City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Kathleen was born Oct.22, 1923, to Thomas Houston and Lucinda (Davis) Blackman in Island City. On Jan. 8, 1941, she married Delbert “Bud” Sanderson in Weiser, Idaho. During World War II she ran the head rig for Mt. Emily Lumber and was a “Rosie the Riveter” for Reur Aircraft in San Diego, Calif. After the war, … Read more

Aman, Lillian “Lil” Clark Mrs. – Obituary

Richland, Oregon Lillian Aman, 63, a longtime Richland resident, died May 9, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Richland Christian Church. Gordon Bond will officiate. After the service, friends are invited to join the family for a potluck at the Richland Christian Church. Lil, as she liked to be called, was born July 14, 1940, in the small farming town of Holloway, Minn., to Melvin F. “Ty” and Alice N. Clark. When she was a young girl, her parents moved to San Diego to find work, but she always … Read more

Dryden, Doris Edwardine Smith Mrs. – Obituary

Doris Edwardine Smith Dryden, 91, of Baker City, died Jan. 14, 2005, at Settlers Park Assisted Living. Services will be scheduled later at Escondido, Calif. Cremation was by Gray’s West Pioneer Crematory. Doris was born Sept. 6, 1913, at Ottumwa, Iowa. She was the only child of Dorrance Edward Smith and Ruth Eleanor Schamp. She and her parents resided in Ottumwa for several years before moving to Southern California. When she was only about 4 years old, she and her mother spent several visits with her mother’s parents Maj. and Mrs. C.E. Schamp in Brownsville, Texas, where he was stationed … Read more

Biography of Joseph Benjamin Henderson

Joseph Benjamin Henderson is a native son, born in San Bernardino County, in 1856, and is the son of David Henderson, who emigrated with his family from Scotland and settled in San Bernardino County, in 1853, where he and his wife, also a native of Scotland, still reside. He learned the trade of stonemason in early life, and has divided his time between that and mining and farming as his chief occupations. Joseph served three years apprenticeship at the tinner’s trade, and worked at it as a journeyman in San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco over thirteen … Read more

Westenskow, Kenneth R. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Kenneth R. Westenskow, 72, of Roseville, Calif., died Dec. 31. Visitation will be conducted Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Price Funeral Chapel in Citrus Heights. Calif. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints, Roseville 1st Ward, in Roseville. Burial will follow at the Roseville Cemetery. A native of Imbler, Mr. Westenskow was born March 29, 1934, to Melvin (a former postmaster in La Grande) and Rowena Westenskow and grew up in La Grande. He attended Ackerman grade school and received an athletic scholarship to … Read more

Beitz, Phyllis Ann Fisk Mrs. – Obituary

Pine Valley, Baker County, Oregon Phyllis Beitz, 76, died April 28, 2006, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Private interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Phyllis Ann was born on Sept. 30, 1928, to Frank and Mary Fisk at the Pine Valley home of her grandparents, Tom and Willie Harmon. She attended first and second grades at Pine Valley and Grades 3-6 in Baker. Her seventh- through 11th- grade years were spent at San Diego, but she returned to Halfway to graduate in 1946. After high school, Phyllis moved to San Diego to work at an aeronautical … Read more

Jauregui, Warren – Obituary

Warren Jauregui, 76, recently of Enterprise, died on Feb.12, 2008, in his hometown of Vista, Calif. He was surrounded by his family and dear friends. A graveside ceremony took place on Feb. 21, 2008. He was given full military honors. He was then laid to rest next to his wife Rosemarie. Wallowa County Chieftain, April 10, 2008

Glenn, Alice Dean Mrs. – Obituary

June 20, 1913 Nov. 17, 2006 Alice Dean. Glenn, 93, of Chula Vista, Calif., died Nov. 17, 2006. A service will be held Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, 1 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 760 1st. Ave., Chula Vista, Calif., and burial will be at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Covina, Calif. Alice was born in Richland, Ore. She is survived by a daughter, Linda M. Dennis; son, Richard D. Glenn; sisters, Churby Stanciu, Jean Connall; brother, David Densky; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. Donations may be sent to the Elmer Glenn Scholarship Fund, Chaffey College Office of Financial Aid, 5885 … Read more

Cross, Evalyn Lois – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Evalyn Lois Cross, 92, of La Grande, died Oct. 1 at a local care center. A funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. Burial will follow at the Cove Cemetery. A viewing will be held today from 4 to 6 p.m. at Daniels-Knopp. Evalyn was born April 11, 1917, to George and Olive (Haak) Kirkpatrick in Mount Vernon, Iowa. She moved to California in 1938 and married Harry Cross in 1943. They lived in Lawndale, Banning and then San Diego. Evalyn was a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H. L. Drew

Fourteen years previous to his association with the Farmers’ Exchange Bank, Mr. Drew had been engaged in the mercantile business in San Bernardino, and had also been extensively connected with mining interests. He was born in Michigan forty-nine years ago, where his early business life was devoted to lumbering and merchandising. On the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he entered the Union army as a private in the Third Michigan Cavalry, served three years and a half, and rose by successive promotions to the rank of Captain before resigning. Suffering from broken health, partly caused by exposure … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. John Claypool

Mrs. John Claypool, matron 1908-9, the successor of Adelia Eaton, came from membership in the class of Mrs. A. W. Crawford of the First Presbyterian Church of San Diego, California. Her work is gratefully remembered for its uniform faithfulness and efficiency, and the sweet beneficent influence exerted by the noble womanhood and manhood of herself and husband, previously employed in a bank, who also came and remained with her at the institution. Through the aid of the latter, the profit on the poultry was greater that year, than in any other. The garden that year was greatly enlarged and surrounded … Read more

Lambeth, William Franklin “Bill” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon William Franklin “Bill” Lambeth, 87, a longtime Baker City resident, died April 12, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. At his request, there will be no funeral. Disposition was by cremation. Mr. Lambeth was born Nov. 13, 1915, at Wichita Falls, Texas. He was a son of P. A. and Laura Myrtle Knight Lambeth. He attended schools in Texas and California and after graduating, went to work as a manager for a wholesale electric supply company in Escondido, Calif. He entered the U.S. Army on June 10, 1943. He was stationed in Europe and fought in Normandy, … Read more

Ison, Luther Oliver Rev. – Obituary

The Rev. Luther Oliver Ison, 90, a former Baker City resident who served as an Episcopal priest for 61 years, died Oct. 17, 2007, at Vista, Calif. Father Ison was born and raised at Baker City. He was the son of Dr. Virgil Strother Ison and the grandson of Judge Luther Buford Ison, both of Baker City. He attended Reed College at Portland; The University of the South at Sewanee, Tenn.; and General Seminary in New York City. He was a builder of congregations, rectories, schools and church buildings, as well as an eight-story U.S. Department of Housing and Urban … Read more

Biography of Jacob Polhemus

Jacob Polhemus, deceased, was one of the pioneers of Colton, who located in that thriving city when the only buildings in the place were a saloon and eating-house, and the Pioneer Lumber Yard office. This was in 1875. He was a carpenter and builder by occupation, and was employed in the erection of the pioneer buildings of Colton. He built the first store opened in the town for Hathaway & Davenport, and many other well-known old-time buildings. In 1877 Mr. Polhemus purchased lots on the corner of Eighth and I streets and built his residence and shop upon them. This … Read more

Bailey, Karlen Leigh Bowers Mrs. – Obituary

Karlen Leigh (Bowers) Bailey, 43, a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 6, 2004, in New Meadows, Idaho. A private memorial is planned for later this month. Karlen was born on Aug. 14, 1961, in Fallon, Nev., to Frank C. and JoAnn E. Bowers. They moved just outside of San Diego to Fallbrook, Calif., when Karlen and her siblings were very young. The family moved to Baker City in 1977 after the death of her father. Karlen had spent the last 12 years in the New Meadows area, where she did the things she loved the most — spending time … Read more

Melchior, Bertha Mae “Peggy” Mrs. – Obituary

Bertha Mae “Peggy” Melchior, 71 of Halfway, died July 25, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center surrounded by her family. A celebration of Peggy’s life will be scheduled later. Peggy was born and raised at San Diego. In 1950, while working at Rohr making airplane parts, Peggy met and later married Donald Johnson. They had one daughter, Sherry. That marriage ended in divorce. A few years later, she married James Robert Melchior. They had three children, Jim, Dorothy and Gary. When Jim’s tour of duty in the Navy was up, they returned to his home state of Colorado. After … Read more

Hombel, LaVone (Alice) Gent Mrs. – Obituary

Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon LaVone (Alice) Gent Hombel of Chula Vista, California, died December 24, 1980, in Mercy Hospital, Chula Vista. She was 67. Born October 8, 1913, in Wallowa, she was the daughter of William S. and Edna (Yeager) Gent. She was married to Don E. Hombel and had lived in Chula Vista for 31 years where she had been a clerk-typist with Rohr Industries for 23 years before her retirement. She was a member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Chula Vista. Memorial services were Monday, December 29, at Pilgrim Lutheran Church. Interment was in Glen Abbey Memorial Park. … Read more