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

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

Dinger, Theta H. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Theta H. Dinger, 90, of Baker City, Jan. 18, 2003, at a foster care home in Baker City. Her graveside services will be at 1 p.m. MST Wednesday at the Valley View Cemetery in Vale. Pastor Roy Obermeier of the Willowcreek Community Church at Willowcreek will officiate. Mrs. Dinger was born June 25, 1912, at Alphena Pass, Ark., a daughter of James Howard and Minnie Aleta Walker Rea. She was raised at Barber, Idaho, and was educated at Boise. She married Jiles D. Dinger at Vale on July 13, 1932. They moved from Boise to … Read more

Flower, Anna Mae Whiting Mrs. – Obituary

North Powder, Oregon Anna Mae Whiting Flower, 86, of La Grande, who taught school for many years in Eastern Oregon, died Jan. 18, 2004, at La Grande. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Island City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was born on April 11, 1917, at Mount Glenn to Edward Daniel and Mary Emelia “Mille” Olsen Whiting. She married Jake Cecil Flower on Jan. 17, 1944, at Los Angeles. They were later divorced. The couple had three children, Kay, Lee and Keith. Anna attended schools at Mount Glenn and La Grande. She … Read more

Adcock, Don Joseph – Obituary

Sumpter, Oregon Don Joseph Adcock, Sr., 68, of Sumpter, died Dec. 21, 2001, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Boise. His memorial service was Wednesday at Coles Funeral Home. Dr. Clifford Billings of Baker City Community Church officiated. Don was born Aug. 16, 1933, at Oregon City to Joseph Granville Adcock and Theresa Marie Adcock. Don graduated from Oregon City High School. He then joined the National Guard, Coast Guard and then the Air Force, where he was in the 22nd Air Refueling Squad and earned a college degree in hydraulic engineering. He had a total of 20 years of … 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

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

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

Menolascina, Kay Sharon Phillips Mrs. – Obituary

Kay Sharon Menolascina, 68, of Baker City, died July 16, 2009, at an adult foster care home after an extended illness. At her request, her body was cremated. Private inturnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Menolascina was born on Nov. 17, 1940, at Oregon City to Raymond I. and Emma “Jean” Phillips. Kay graduated from Franklin High School where she sang in the choir. She also attended Business College. For more than 10 years she and her husband, Dino, operated D & K Detector Sales, a successful metal detecting and prospecting business they started together in 1968 in … Read more

Old Sumpter Cemetery, Sumpter, Oregon (3)

Graves known for sure in Sumpter Cemetery as studied by Brooks Hawley October 8, 1961. Over 21 Years Old D.C. Austin 1842-1900 Mattie Bailiess, guess 1874 Mayme Lee Baird 1878-1911 V. Black 1864-1900 John Beardsley 1864-1900 Ernest Wm. Beyers 1868-1904 Albert Butcher 1873-1937 Elizabeth Calhoun 1850-1907 Andrew A. Couse 1852-1910 J.P. Fain 1848-1899 Laura Bell Frodsham 1869-1903 James F. Gallagher 1833-1900 C.H. Gardner 1870-1911 Thomas Cumming Gray 1860-1909 Emma Herold Griswold 1870-1959 Nathan Hatley Effie Hatley 1862-1951 Laura Hatley 1878-1900 Gertrude Hatley 1883-1913 Ralph Hatley 1903-1950 M.V. Hefling 1833-1908 John J. Hinton 1850-1928 Nancy C. Hinton 1854-1931 John James 1844-1901 … 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

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

Thompson, Clair “Pete” – Obituary

Clair “Pete” Thompson, 74, a former longtime Granite resident, died Nov. 11, 2006, at Del Rio Texas, of natural causes. His memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the McEwen Church in Sumpter Valley. Pete was born at Park Rapids, Minn., on Sept. 28, 1932, to Abe and Edith Thompson. He was the sixth of eight children. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953, serving two years in the Korean War before being discharged as a sergeant. After his discharge, he worked as a logger like his father. He logged in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho … Read more

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

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

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

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

Pearce, Charles R. – Obituary

Charles R. Pearce, 89, of Nampa, Idaho, died at his home with his family by his side on April 4, 2003. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. at the McEwen Bible Fellowship Hall at 15403 Sumpter Stage Highway near Sumpter. Pastor Bill Cox will perform the service at the Fellowship Hall. Charles and his wife Jeanette were members of this church when they lived in Sumpter. Arrangements are under the direction of Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel, 404 10th Ave. S. at Nampa. Charles was born to Clara and David Penn Pearce at Belton, Texas, on Sept. 5, … Read more

Culley, Catherine E. Starr Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Catherine E. Culley, 81, a longtime Baker City resident and former Sumpter resident, died July 6, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Ed Niswender of Calvary Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at Calvary Baptist Church, 2107 Third St. Visitations will be until 8 o’clock tonight at Gray’s West & Co. Catherine was born on July 7, 1920, at Astoria to Clarence E. and Lucille Lockwood … Read more

Burke, Sandra “Cass” Mrs. – Obituary

Sumpter, Oregon Sandra “Cass” Burke, 62, of Sumpter, died Sept. 1, 2003, at her home. At the family’s request, disposition was by cremation at Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory. A private memorial service will be scheduled later. Cass was born March 31, 1941. She was a wonderful mom, “the best on the block,” always taking time to color or play with her children. Cass spent the last years of her life with her husband, Bo, and friends near Whitney. She enjoyed entertaining her loved ones and will be greatly missed for her sense of humor, her amazing zest for life, and … Read more