Washington County ID

Sample, Lois L. – Obituary

Wallowa County, Oregon Lois L. Sample died at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash., July 9, 1987. She was 65. No funeral services were held at her request. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children or the Elks Eye Clinic through Munsell-Rholdes Funeral Home Chapel in Milton-Freewater. Sample was born in Wallowa to Cecil and Thelma (Crow) Childers, on April 29, 1922. She attended schools in Lostine and Joseph, completing high school at Enterprise in 1940. She moved to Weiser, Idaho following high school graduation and attended the National Youth Business College. She … Read more

Bonner, Lois (Reece) – Obituary

Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon Lois Bonner, 91 years old, of Weiser, Idaho, died Feb. 14, 1984 at Weiser, Idaho at the Weiser Care Center. Services were Feb. 17, 1984 at the Thomason Funeral Chapel in Weiser. Burial was at the Hillscrest cemetery. She was born Sept. 26, 1892 at Atlanta, Ill., the daughter of William J. & Margaret Reece. She was married to Earl Bonner on Dec. 14, 1917 in Enterprise. Wallowa County Chieftain, Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon, Feb. 23, 1984 Contributed by Michelle Drayton-Fisher

Guyer, Cecille Spence Mrs. – Obituary

Cecille Spence Guyer, 72, of Weiser, Idaho, a former Baker County resident, died Feb. 8, 2001, at a Boise hospital. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Thomason Funeral Chapel at Weiser. Burial will be at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Weiser. Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Thomason Funeral Chapel. Mrs. Guyer was born on Feb. 24, 1928, at Haines to Fred V. and Melvina Heard Spence. She attended the first three years of school at the Muddy Creek School near Haines. Her family then moved to Baker City where she … 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

Biography of Calvin R. White

Calvin R. White, one of the best known pioneers of Idaho, now residing in Boise, was born near Boston, Massachusetts, July 27, 1836, his parents being Samuel B. and Sarah (Richardson) White, natives of the Bay state. The father was for many years connected with the Boston & Lowell Railway, and died in the city of Boston when about seventy-six years of age. He was a son of Samuel White, also a native of Massachusetts, in which state his death occurred when he had passed the psalmist’s span of life of three-score years and ten. The mother of our subject … Read more

Kilborn, Barney E. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Barney E. Kilborn, 85, of Baker City died Feb. 7, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. At his request, there will be no service. Barney was born to Lloyd and Ethel Knowles Kilborn at Weiser, Idaho, on June 10, 1918. He was raised in the Weiser area. Growing up in the Snake River Basin, he developed a long-term love of hunting and outdoor activities. During World War II, Barney worked on the railroad, which eventually brought him to Eastern Oregon where he lived in the La Grande area. In 1946, Barney married and moved to Redmond where … Read more

Biography of James Colson

One of the respected pioneer farmers of Salubria is James Colson, who came to Idaho in 1864, and has since been engaged in stock raising. He was born in Ripley county, Indiana, October 23, 1834, a son of John and Polly (Allen) Colson, the former of whom was a farmer in Kentucky, moving to Iowa in 1850, where he was successful as a business man and landowner. He died at the advanced age of seventy years. To him and his wife were born eight children, three of whom survive. James Colson was reared on his father’s farm and received his … Read more

Sirrine, Laura Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. Laura Sirrine, wife of Theodore Sirrine, of North Union, died of heart failure at about 3 o’clock Tuesday afternoon of this week. Mrs. T. C. Sirrine passed away suddenly at the home residence in Union at 3 p. m. Tuesday last. She had been poorly for over two years. Mrs. Sirrine was Laura Holmes of Montpelier, Idaho. She was born June 15, 1852, and married T. C. Sirrine Nov. 14, 1869 at Montpelier, Idaho. In the fall of 1877 Mrs. Sirrine and her husband left Idaho and went to Salt River Valley, Arizona, by team and arrived there Jan. … Read more

Higginbotham, G. C. – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon The body of George C. Higginbotham, a former resident of Elgin, was brought here today from Mann Creek, Ida. Burial took place this afternoon at Elgin, following service at the Methodist church at 2 o’clock. Snodgrass & Zimmerman were in charge. The decedent is survived by a brother, Thomas, who accompanied the body here. Elgin Recorder May 16, 1926 Contributed by: Larry Rader

Rayburn, Mary – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Mary Rayburn, 71, of Portland and formerly of La Grande, died April 5. A funeral will begin at 6 p.m. today at Adam’s Chapel in the River View Cemetery, Portland. She was born Mary Tyschenko Aug. 20, 1935, in Chernin, Ukraine. She immigrated to the United States in 1951, settling in Weiser, Idaho. In 1955 she moved to La Grande, where she married Claude Eldon Rayburn in 1956. She was nationalized in 1960 and graduated from what is now Eastern Oregon University in 1964. The Rayburns moved to Portland in 1974. Passionate about many things, Mrs. Rayburn … Read more

Biography of Isaac R. Smith

Isaac Roston Smith, the managing partner of the firm of Smith Brothers, prominent merchants and millers of Salubria, and president of the Washington County Fair Association, was born in Morrow County, Ohio. March 11, 1859, his ancestors, who were English, having been early settlers in Berks County, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, William Smith, was born in Berks County and married Miss Elizabeth Speck. They settled in Guernsey County and in 1842 removed to Morrow County, Ohio, where he remained until his death, in 1883, at the age of seventy-four years. His wife passed away in 1898, aged eighty-five years. Twelve children … Read more

Biography of E. M. Barton

There is probably no better criterion of the growing and prosperous condition of a town or city than its hotel interests. The town which is self-centered, having no connection with the out-side world, is unprogressive, its business stagnates, and its residents become lacking in enterprise, but if connected with outside affairs, travel and commerce add new life and energy, and there is a demand for entertainment on the part of the visitors, which makes good hotels a necessity. One of the most popular hostelries in this section of the state is known as the Weiser Hotel, owned by the Barton … Read more

Kasten, Leona M. Holland Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Leona M. Kasten, 93, of Baker City, died May 25, 2002, at Settlers Park. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Monte Loyd of Baker Valley Christian Assembly will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home. Mrs. Kasten was born June 8, 1908, in Baker City to Alex and Lillie Irvin Holland. She attended school in the Pocahontas area. She married Orval Kasten at Weiser, Idaho, on Oct. 18, 1941. They farmed on the Oregon … Read more

Linkous, Oscar – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Oscar Linkous, 89, a former Baker City, Haines and La Grande resident, died April 24, 2004, at a local care facility. A celebration of Oscar’s life will be conducted Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Haines Methodist Church. Sally B. Wiens will officiate. A lunch and gathering of family and friends will follow after a brief ceremony at the Haines Cemetery. Visitations will be Tuesday from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. Oscar was born November 25, 1914, in Knoxville, Tenn., to Millum and Monty Bernard … Read more

Biography of William F. Sommercamp

William F. Sommercamp, the leading merchant of Weiser, Idaho, is a native son of the golden west. He was born in California, February 16, 1860, and comes of German ancestry. His father, William F. Sommercamp, was born in Germany and when a young man emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans, where for a time he followed his trade, that of confectioner. Subsequently he married Miss Mary Slack, of Zanesville, Ohio, and shortly after their marriage they removed to California, where he engaged in mining. In 1864 he came over into Idaho and became one of the prominent miners and … Read more

Kiser, Howard – Obituary

Lostine, Oregon Howard C. Kiser, 78, of Lostine died June 22 in Union. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Lostine Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Kiser was born July 27, 1927, to William and Agnes Olson Kiser in Weiser, Idaho. He attended Weiser schools, and worked for the ranchers on Mann Creek. He served in the Army during World War II. In May 1956 he married Nancy Thorson in Weiser. He worked for the Weiser Flour Mill before moving to Lostine 30 years ago. Twenty- two of those years … Read more

Millhouse, Dale J. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Dale J. Millhouse, 64, a resident of Baker City, died Dec. 16, 202, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Following Dale’s wishes, disposition was by cremation at Gray’s West Pioneer Crematory. No services will be held. Dale was born Sept. 1, 1938, to Harry B. and Marie (Miles) Millhouse in Salinas, Calif. He graduated from high school in El Cahon, Calif., and in 1961 he joined the U.S. Army, where he served in Germany during the occupation of Berlin. Following his discharge from the military in 1964, he continued to reside in California for the next nine years. … Read more

Uhrig, Albert Glenn – Obituary

Albert Glenn Uhrig, 81, of Elgin, died Oct. 6, at his home on Stubblefield Mountain of natural causes. Services were held Oct. 10. Glenn was born May 12, 1926, to Albert and Ethel Seay Uhrig in Weiser, Idaho. He was the eldest of four brothers. Glenn was a veteran of the United States Army, serving his country during the later years of WWII in Korea. Glenn married Ruth Elmer on April 7, 1973, in La Grande. They made their home on the Uhrig Family Ranch on Crane Creek, east of Weiser, Idaho. Glenn was a vital part of a successful … Read more

Bloom, Joan Smith Mrs. – Obituary

Joan Bloom, 72, of Weiser, Idaho, and formerly of Halfway, passed away Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at a Weiser care center. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Thomason Funeral Chapel, Weiser. Joan was born Feb. 3, 1931, at Hill City, Kansas the daughter of Ray and Dorothy Stearns Smith. She received her education in Halfway where she met her future husband. Joan married Bud Bloom May 24, 1947, at Baker. The couple resided in several places in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, finally settling in the Ontario area where both children were raised. She was … Read more

Gentry, Wanda L. Coffinberry Mrs. – Obituary

Wanda L. Gentry, 83, of Ontario, who with her husband established the Gentry Ford Sales dealership, died July 27, 2005, at her home in the Meadow Brook Retirement Center. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Ontario. Ontario’s Lienkaemper Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Wanda was born on March 18, 1922, at Portland to Walter B. and Verna D. Coffinberry. The family lived at Portland until 1926 when they relocated to Hot Lake and subsequently moved to Halfway in 1928. Wanda was a 1940 Halfway High School graduate. She moved to Portland … Read more