Nelson, Jack Curtis – Obituary

Jack Curtis Nelson, 56, of Sumpter died Oct. 27, 2007, at his home after a long battle with cancer. There will be a memorial service later at Sumpter. Cremation was by Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory of Baker City. Jack was born on Aug. 13, 1951, at Milwaukie to Mr. and Mrs. Dean Nelson. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He learned these skills at an early age from his father and grew up to love them even more. At one time, Jack had studied to become a forest ranger. He worked at GI Joe’s in Milwaukie for 11 years. … Read more

Brothers, Gloria A. Newall Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Gloria Brothers, 78, of Newberg died Friday, Aug. 23, 2002, at her home. Attrell’s Funeral Home of Newberg was in charge of arrangements with inurnment in Valley View Memorial Park in Newberg. Mrs. Brothers was born Nov. 1, 1923, in Port Angeles, Wash., the daughter of Evah and Edgar C. Newall. The family resettled in the Newberg area where landmarks like Newall Road and others record the family’s influence in the community. After graduation from high school in Vancouver, Wash., she attended the University of Oregon to obtain a degree in English. She was a member of … Read more

Laursen, Maybelle Sheret Mrs. – Obituary

Sumpter, Oregon Maybelle Laursen, 78, a resident of Deer Creek Road near Sumpter, died Oct. 18, 2002, at her home. At her request there will be no service. Disposition was by cremation. Mrs. Laursen was born at Seattle, Wash., on Aug. 8, 1924, a daughter of Albert Alexander and Sarah Durie Sheret. She was raised and educated at Milwaukie. She started her career as a telephone operator in British Columbia and returned to the United States working for Pacific Northwest Bell as a long-distance operator. She met and married Otto Laursen in 1953 at Portland. They were married 46 years … Read more

Rogers, Ardis Rea Mrs. – Obituary

Ardis Rea Rogers, 90, of Baker City, died July 19, 2005, at Settlers Park. Her memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home. Pastor Robin Harris of Cornerstone Baptist Church at North Powder will officiate. Ardis was born on Jan. 12, 1915, at Alpena Pass, Ark., to Minnie Walker and James Howard Rea. The family moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, in 1915 where they farmed. Ardis, her sister, Theta, and her brother, Paul, went to grade school at Sandpoint. Her parents moved to Meridian, Idaho, where she finished grade school. Her parents moved to Barber, Idaho, a … Read more

Old Sumpter Cemetery, Sumpter, Oregon (2)

There are no known original records or maps for the cemetery. It is proper to suppose that any such was lost in the Sumpter fire of 1917. The City of Sumpter now assumes cotrol. It was originally called Blue Mountain Cemetery and was owned by E.A. Case the Sumpter undertaker. There was an earlier cemetery in Sumpter near the NE corner of Auburn and Ibex Streets. Those graves were all moved here in 1900 and likely this cemetery was not started much before then. The earliest dates here, 1895, could have been moved. This outline defines only the old fenced … Read more

Old Sumpter Cemetery, Sumpter, Oregon (1)

One of the earliest cemeteries in Baker County is located at Sumpter. We have been unable to learn exactly when it was started but it is believed to have had its beginning soon after discovery of gold in the area, some time in the 1860’s. The cemetery is located just off of State Highway 220, about one mile south and east of the town of Sumpter on the right hand side of the road going westward. Sumpter was first settled by a few white men who mined in the area. Later several hundred Chinese came to the mines. Many of … Read more

Bork, Rita Joylean Mrs. – Obituary

Rita Joylean Bork, 67, a former area resident, died April 1, 2003, at Oroville, Wash. Her memorial service will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at McEwen Bible Fellowship in Sumpter Valley. Friends and family are invited to a potluck after the service. Rita was born April 19, 1935, at Dayridge, near Flora. She married Bernard Murphy at age 17. Rita became a Christian when she married Bernie. They had five children. Rita lived at Halfway, Baker City and Sumpter before moving to Oroville, Wash., four years ago. Survivors include her children, Earl Murphy of St. Helens, Audrey Murphy Handyside of … Read more

Crane, Helen Iva Ranes Mrs. – Obituary

Helen Iva Ranes Crane, 80, of Baker City, died June 21, 2005, at Baker City. There will be no service. She will be buried in the family plot at Lostine. Helen was born to Fred Richard Ranes of Forest Grove and Iva Agnes Harris Ranes of Pomroy, Wash. She was raised in Wallowa County and then spent the rest of her life at Sumpter and Baker City. She was married to Billie Jerome Crane at Weiser, Idaho, on Nov. 29, 1941. They divorced in 1950. She married Dorrel George Dotson in La Grande on Dec. 19, 1950. They divorced in … Read more

Kinkead, James Robert – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon James Robert Kinkead, 82, died Sept. 1, 2004, at his home in Pilot Rock. A celebration of life memorial will be held at the Community Presbyterian Church in Pilot Rock on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 11 a.m. Arrangements are in care of Bishop Funeral Chapel in Pendleton. Jim was born March 10, 1922, at La Grande to George Wesley and Edith (Cowan) Kinkead. Most of his youth was spent in and around Sumpter. He graduated from Baker High School in 1941. After high school he was in the National Youth Administration, where he was trained in machine … Read more

Hickok, George C. – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Geo. C. Hickok, formerly in the hardware business in La Grande and well known to many here, died of pneumonia Nov. 20, at Sumpter. He leaves a wife and five children who are provided for by $1,500 life insurance. Mr. Hockok was a personal friend of the editor and his death will be regretted by a large. (Rest of obituary cut off) Cove Ledger Thursday December 1, 1898

Downie, John – Obituary

John Downie, a resident of Sumpter valley, Baker county, died last week after a protracted illness with Brights disease. He was a brother of Richard Downie, of Union and leaves a wife and family to mourn his loss. The funeral took place last Monday in Baker city from the residence of his daughter Mrs. Emil Volgt. Eastern Oregon Republican, Thursday January 2, 1890

German, Jaunita Gaylene O’Rear Mrs. – Obituary

Sumpter, Oregon Juanita Gaylene German, 55, died Jan. 7, 2007, of breast cancer at her home on Deer Creek Road near Sumpter. There will be no funeral. Gaylene was born Sept. 7, 1951, at Firebaugh, Calif. She grew up at Gerber, Calif., where she graduated from grade school. Later, her family moved to Gustine, Calif., where she graduated from high school. After high school, she attended Sacramento State College for a year majoring in interior design, which she loved to do. After college, she moved with her family to a ranch at New Haul, Calif., where Westerns such as “Gunsmoke,” … Read more

Yocum, Charles E. “Chuck” Sr. – Obituary

Charles E. “Chuck” Yocum Sr., a former Sumpter resident, died Dec. 12, 2006, at Boise. At his request, his body was cremated. There will be a memorial service at Sumpter in the spring. Chuck had endured a long struggle with diabetes, which contributed to the loss of his eyesight. He was born at Los Angeles, graduated from high school and then served a brief time in the Air National Guard. He started work for a small telecommunications company, Continental Telephone, which eventually became part of General Telephone (GTE). He worked for GTE for 33 years in California and Washington. He … Read more

Rowan, F. MaRee Beigh Mrs. – Obituary

F. MaRee Beigh Rowan, 74, died May 14, 2008, at her home in Sumpter. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. There will be a graveside service at 3 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery in Ontario. Friends are invited to join the family at the Lions Park for a celebration of life party in MaRee’s honor after the service. MaRee was the daughter of Millard and Florence Beigh of Cambridge, Idaho. She was born and raised at Cambridge. She married the love of her life, Durwood “Jim” Rowan of Ontario, on Nov. … Read more

Reimers, Ethel Mae Ross Mrs. – Obituary

Ethel Mae Reimers, 90, of Ontario, died March 14, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Her graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Riverside Cemetery in Payette, Idaho. Pastor Martin Frusti of Pilgrim Lutheran Church at Ontario will officiate. Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel in Payette. Ethel was born at Nyssa and raised in the Ontario area. She was the daughter of Seymour and Minnie McGregor Ross. She married Leland G. Reimers on Nov. 11, 1934. He died on Nov. 6, 1991. They were married for almost 57 years. … Read more

York, Mabel Spearman Mrs. – Obituary

Mabel York Was Native of Utah Recitation of the Rosary for Mabel M. York 61, of 2325 Baker St. longtime resident of Baker and Sumpter was at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening May 29, at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Rev. Charles T. Grant, Chaplain at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home officiated. Graveside services will be held to day, Thursday, May 30, at 3:00 p.m. at the family plot in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mrs. York died Sunday at the St. Elizabeth Nursing Home after an extended illness. She was born June 23, 1912, in Randolph, Utah, the daughter of Charles and … Read more

Haley, Evelyn May Mrs. – Obituary

Sumpter, Oregon Evelyn May Haley, 61, of Sumpter, died Nov. 26, 2000, at her home. Her memorial service was Thursday at 10 a.m. at McEwen Bible Fellowship Church, with Pastor William Cox officiating. Cremation was at Gray’s West Pioneer Crematory. Mrs. Haley was born Dec. 6, 1938, at Yuba City, Calif. Evie, as she was known by all, graduated from Modesto High School in Modesto, Calif. She attended Modesto Junior College and later obtained her degree in nursing at the University of Nevada. She also took specialized classes at Truckee Meadows Community College. She began her nursing career as a … Read more

Obituary of Craig LaVerne Carey

Craig LaVerne Carey, 55, of Baker City died Aug. 10, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services with Tenee, his dearest love present. Visitation will be held today from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the McEwen Bible Fellowship Church near Sumpter. Craig was born on April 18, 1953, at the Mountain Home Air Base in Mountain Home, Idaho, to Marion and Marian Carey. He grew up in Grangeville, Idaho, where he attended school and received his GED. After high school, he joined the … Read more

Wire, Sedonia M. Davis Mrs. – Obituary

Sedonia M. Wire, 93, of Lebanon died Sunday May 11, 2003, at Twin Oaks Care Center in Sweet Home. A graveside service was held Thursday, May 15, 2003 at Providence Cemetery near Scio. Huston-Jost Funeral Home handled the arrangements. She was born Oct. 21, 1909, in Portland, the daughter of Leroy and Anna (Burghardt) Davis. She was raised on a farm in the Lebanon area and graduated from Albany High School. During World War II, she worked at Fort Lewis, Wash. On Oct. 8, 1943, she married Walter Wire. The couple moved to Lebanon then settled in Sumpter. Her husband … Read more

Klunder, Marie Judy Mrs. – Obituary

Marie Klunder, 93, a longtime Baker City resident, died Dec. 24, 2004. Her graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Jack Bynum of the United Methodist Church will officiate. There will be a reception for family and friends after the service at the United Methodist Church, 1919 Second St. Everyone is invited. Marie L. Judy Klunder was born on Nov. 18, 1911, to Lloyd M. Judy and Molly Dickison Judy at Sumpter. After graduation from Baker High School in 1930, she used her secretarial skills in the high school office, and later for Philo … Read more