Biography of William Wallace Thayer

The typical Western man is popularly conceived as a man of liberal ideas, of generous and hospitable instincts, imbued with a spirit of adventurous enterprise, and withal hardy and courageous. He is not punctilious in minor questions of etiquette or inclined to make much of mere forms and ceremonies. He is a friend to his friends, a man of sterling integrity and of firmness of character developed by habits of self-reliance. Such men are the State builders whose names and deeds are a part of the history of the newer States of the American Commonwealth. Every western community contains individuals … Read more

Kinnaman, Junior Issac “J.I.” – Obituary

Junior Issac “J.I.” Kinnaman, 82, a former Baker City resident, died June 30, 2007, at Tillamook. Interment was at Columbia Memorial Cemetery in Pasco, Wash. Waud’s Funeral Home of Tillamook was in charge of arrangements. J.I. was born on May 24, 1925, at Fruitland, Idaho, to Elza and Vasie Ventrees Kinnaman. He attended high school until he joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 16. He served his country honorably for three years, until March of 1946. On June 20, 1946, he married Mary Detmer at Payette, Idaho. Together they owned and operated a wheat and dairy farm in … Read more

Dowdy, Janice “Roselle” McNair Mrs. – Obituary

Janice “Roselle” Dowdy, 64, of Irrigon, a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 5, 2001, at her home with her family at her side. A Celebration of Life Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Hermiston. Disposition was by cremation. Mrs. Dowdy was born the third of eight children on Aug. 22, 1937, in Baker City to John Joseph and Edith Maxine McNair. She attended St. Francis Academy in Baker City. In the summer of 1955, she and Adolph M. Dowdy met at a Grange dance in Haines. They were married … Read more

Biography of Philip F. Castleman

PHILIP F. CASTLEMAN. – Those who now make the trip in the palatial car across the continent from the populous cities and thickly settled districts of the union, and view the Pacific Northwest in its present development, can but faintly realize the dangers and privations the sturdy pioneers experienced in reaching here, nor yet understand the troubles they had with the red man who then roamed its confines at will, and knew no law save what pleased the savage heart the best. They often meet among its residents not a few upon whom the snows of many winters have fallen, … Read more

Obituary of L. Virgil Chadwick

L. Virgil Chadwick, the son of Lynn James Chadwick and Georganna Miller Chadwick, was born on Nov. 3, 1920 at Hot Lake and died on Jan. 24, 1999 at the age of 78. Virgil grew up and attended school in Cove. After graduating from high school in 1938, he went to work on his cousin’s wheat farm. He later enlisted in the Unites States Army Air Corp for World War II and flew a number of missions into Europe. After his discharge from the service he returned to Cove and went back to work on the wheat farm. He then … Read more

Backlund, Donna Ratliff Kowing Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Donna Kowing Backlund, 61, of Baker City, died Sept. 27, 2002, at John Day. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Shiela Kowing, who live up Laycock Creek in the John Day area. Mrs. Backlund was born May 4, 1941, at Tillamook to Lawrence and Frieda Ammeter Ratliff. She grew up on a homestead near Washougal, Wash., where she was schooled. She later attended Blue Mountain Community College and was a certified dental assistant employed at Baker City for several years. On Dec. … Read more

Pederson, Enid Clark Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Enid Pedersen, 86, of Baker City, and a Baker County native, died May 19, 2006, at St. Elizabeth Care Center. Her funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., followed by a vault interment at Haines Cemetery. Pastor Ralph Holcomb of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family following the services for a reception at the Baker City Christian Church, 675 Highway 7. Visitations will be today until 7 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Enid Hester Clark was … Read more

Talbott, Lester Elvin – Obituary

Lester Elvin Talbott, 94, of Junction City, and a former Baker City resident, died March 22, 2002. His funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Murphy-Musgrove Funeral Chapel in Junction City. Visitations will be Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Burial will be at Alford Cemetery. Mr. Talbott was born Dec. 23, 1907, at Tillamook to Francis and Franky (Farley) Talbott. He graduated from high school in Tillamook. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Europe during World War II. After the war he worked as a farmer and mill worker, retiring from … Read more

Havlik, Wanda Helen Clark Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Wanda Helen Havlik, 82, of Baker City, died Oct. 12, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Baker City Christian Church, 2998 Eighth St. Pastor Roger Scovil will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a luncheon at the church after the service. There will be a second funeral at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Rockwood Church of God in Portland. There will be a reception afterward at the church. Vault Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Wanda Helen Clark was born on … Read more

Fisher, H. S. – Obituary

“Fall Is Fatal To H.S. Fisher” While helping wreck box cars at the East Oregon lumber yard Saturday, H.S. Fisher fell to the ground. He struck the back of his head on a flat car and fractured his skull and suffered other severe bruises and was taken to the hospital unconsciousness and passed away late Monday night. Funeral services were held at the Booth chapel yesterday afternoon, conducted by Rev. H.G. Luscombe of the Methodist church and burial was in the Wallowa cemetery. Hiram Sloan Fisher was born at Tillamook, March 3, 1865, and was a son of D.C. Fisher, … Read more

Hall, Izora Gregory Mrs. – Obituary

Izora Gregory Hall, 96, of Santa Barbara, Calif., and a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 19, 2000, at Santa Barbara. She will be interred in the Lostine Cemetery next to her husband, Wade B. Hall. A memorial service will take place next spring in Northeastern Oregon. The time and place will be announced later. Mrs. Hall was born Oct. 8, 1904, near Elgin, the first child of J. Frank and Tennessee Allen Gregory. She grew up on Smith Mountain near Wallowa. After graduating from Wallowa High School, Mrs. Hall taught for three years in rural Wallowa County schools Goff, … Read more

Johnson, Frederick William, Jr. – Obituary

Federick William Johnson Jr., 68, of Boring, a former longtime Baker City resident, died June 29, 2003. His graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland with U.S. Army honors. Mr. Johnson was born on June 11, 1935, at Tillamook to Frederick Sr. and Myrtle Johnson. He was raised and educated in the Gresham/Boring area, attending Orient Grade School and Gresham High School. He then attended Oregon State University at Corvallis. He served in the U.S. Army from January of 1955 to December of 1956. He then lived in the Portland Metro area … Read more

Vincent , James Douglas – Obituary

Ukiah, Oregon James “Doug” Douglas Vincent, 73, of Ukiah, died April 7 in Gresham. At his request no services will be held. Burial was at the Ukiah Cemetery. Gresham Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Doug was born Oct. 17, 1934, to Cecil and Ruth (Dawson) Vincent in St. Louis. When Doug was 6, the family moved from Missouri to Tillamook where Doug was raised and educated. At 16, he purchased a log truck and moved to Eastern Oregon where he met and married the love of his life, Patsy Sheff, on Aug. 14, 1955. The couple had five … Read more

Fisher, J.H. – Obituary

James Harvey Fisher was born Jan. 12, 1864, the son of David and Nancy Jane Fisher, at Tillamook, Oregon, and passed away Nov. 6, 1947, at the age of 83 years, 10 months. Mr. Fisher had been in failing health for two years and had been bedfast for 14 months. He was united in marriage to Hattie Ellen Bloom Aug. 15, 1884, at Cove. To this union were born 11 children. One child passed away in infancy. Surviving are sons; Frank of Joseph, Bruce of Enterprise, Ira of Milton, Harry of Spokane, Willie of Salem; daughters, Mrs. John Stein, Mrs. … Read more

Hathaway, R. E. Mrs. – Obituary

North Powder, Union County, Oregon Mrs. R. E. Hathaway Victim Of Influenza This community was shocked to hear Wednesday morning that Mrs. R. E. Hathaway had died during the night. Death occurred shortly after midnight, following a short illness with what is said to have been flu. Mrs. Irene Hathaway was born in Tillamook, Oregon, September 9, 1906. She moved to North Powder last September. The deceased is survived by her husband; a daughter, Irene Loutcria; a son, Thomas Rudolph and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Lyster of Tillamook. Mrs. Lyster was at her daughter’s bed side at … Read more

Childers, Minnie M. (Bailey) – Obituary

The funeral for Minnie M. Childers will be 10 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel at Burns Mortuary of Hermiston with burial to follow at the Hermiston Cemetery. Mrs. Childers, 93, of Hermiston, died Sunday, July 14, 1996 at her home. She was born Feb. 21, 1903, at Tillamook, to John and Elvira Parrish Bailey. She grew up in Wallowa County and lived there until her marriage to Howard B. Childers. The couple moved to Walla Walla. She came to Hermiston in 1953. Mrs. Childers enjoyed playing cards, fishing and quilting. Survivors include her son, H. Jay Childers of Prosser, Wash.; … Read more

Biography of William D. Stillwell

WILLIAM D. STILLWELL. – William D. Stillwell was born in Logan county, Ohio, on the 16th of November, 1823. While he was still quite young his parents moved to Michigan, and to Iowa in1838. After living there five years, he concluded in 1843 to emigrate to Oregon. Finding it too late to join the emigration trains, he stopped in Missouri until the following year, when he was among the first to camp at the starting point near Independence. The emigration company were slow in their preparations for starting, and, as Mr. Stillwell was eager to be off, he started out … Read more

Ackerman, Craig – Obituary

Craig Ackerman, 41, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 1, 2008, at his Tillamook home with family by his side. There was a memorial service today at the Tillamook Church of the Nazarene. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Craig was born at Denville, N.J., on June 27, 1966, to John and Barbara Wallace Ackerman. He grew up in New Jersey, and in Baker City, where he graduated from high school in 1984. After attending Oregon State University at Corvallis for a couple of terms, … Read more

Motley, Merle Marie Gilkison Mrs. – Obituary

Merle Marie Motley, 92, of Tillamook, a former longtime Baker County resident, died April 28, 2009, at her home. She was born on Oct. 23, 1916, at Baker City to James and Linnie Holt Gilkison. Merle worked in the shipyards during World War II. She also worked as a beautician as a young woman. Merle married Lester L. Motley on Nov. 25, 1939, at Weiser, Idaho. In their early years the couple enjoyed the outdoors, square dancing and raising their daughter, MyrnaRae, while operating a ranch at Halfway. They later owned and operated a ranch at Keating. Upon retiring, Merle … Read more