Washington County ID

Biography of James P. Gray

Thirty-five years have passed since James P. Gray came to Idaho to cast in his lot with its pioneers. People of the present end-of-the-century period can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers, the heroism and self-sacrifice of lives passed upon the borders of civilization, the hardships endured, the difficulties overcome. These tales of the early days read almost like a romance to those who have known only the modern prosperity and conveniences. To the pioneer of the early days, far removed from the privileges and conveniences of city or town, the struggle for existence was … Read more

Houser, Melvin Earl, Sr. – Obituary

Melvin Earl Houser Sr., 74, of Nampa, Idaho, formerly of Huntington and Baker City, died July 14, 2003, at his home. His graveside service will be at 11a.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N. Midland Blvd., Nampa. Melvin was the son of Wallace and Della Lane Houser. He was born on May 6, 1929, at Weiser, Idaho, and educated in Huntington. Mel joined the U.S. Navy on Sept. 12, 1950. He was honorably discharged on Aug. 26, 1952. He was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a … Read more

Reece, William J. – Obituary

William J. Reece died Tuesday evening, Feb. 11, 1936, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E.H. Bonner, at Weiser, Idaho. He had been there only a few days, as his son, Floyd, had taken him there last week from Yakima, Wash., where he had been for some time with another daughter, Mrs. Willard Phillips. Funeral services will be held at the Christian church, Enterprise, tomorrow, Friday, at 2 p.m. and burial will be in the Enterprise cemetery. C.L. Booth has driven to Weiser for the body accompanied by Emerson and Floyd Reece. Mr. Reece was born in Logan county, … 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

Marcum, William Millord “Squeak” – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon William Millord “Squeek” Marcum, 65, of Sand Hollow, Idaho, and formerly of La Grande, died Sept. 26 at the VA Hospital in Boise. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Private interment will be at the Hillcrest East Cemetery. Mr. Marcum was born April 16, 1941, the son of William H. and Evelyn (Sanderson) Marcum in Weiser, Idaho. He was educated in La Grande and in his later years was raised by his mother and step-father, Howard Ramsey. After graduating from high school he enlisted in the … Read more

Hoffman, Leona Maxine Cartwright Mrs. – Obituary

Leona Maxine Hoffman, 80, of Ontario, died Friday, Aug. 30, 2002, at a Boise hospital. Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Park Community Church, Highway 201 and Holly Road on the Oregon Slope across from Vern’s Market. Ed Renk will officiate. Burial will be at the Fairview Cemetery. There will be a dinner afterward in the Park Community Church basement. Visitations will be Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ontario Lienkaemper Chapel, 78 N.W. First Ave. Maxine was born Sept. 5, 1921, at Rye Valley to Elsie and Alvin Cartwright. She lived at … Read more

Keithey, Keith Carol – Obituary

Keith Carol Keithley, 76. formerly of Midvale, passed away on Saturday, June 18 in Moses Lake. Washington. He was born at Weiser on June 28, 1928 to Claude F. Keithley and Agnes Pickett Keithley. He grew up on a ranch west of Midvale, graduating from Midvale High School in 1945, after which he attended the University of Idaho at Moscow. Keith married Phyllis “Sue” Lesh in Weiser in 1950. They ranched in the Midvale area and later lived in Halfway and Baker City. They had three children, Colleen, Chip and Jay. Keith and Sue were divorced after 15 years of … 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

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

Biography of Columbus M. Hixon

Many articles have appeared in the press of our land on the “corruption in politics.” but, while this may be found to some extent in the largest cities, the majority of our American citizens are too practical and public-spirited to wish to entrust their affairs in unscrupulous hands, and especially in the selection of one to manage the financial interests do they show great discrimination in choosing a man of known integrity and unimpeachable honor. It was these qualities which secured to Mr. Hixon election to the responsible position of county treasurer of Washington County. His record in the walks … Read more

Nevins, Francis – Obituary

A long time Baker resident, Francis Joseph Nevins, 78, 1602 Broadway, died suddenly Thursday morning at St. Elizabeth Hospital. Recitation of the Rosary will be conducted at Sunday evening at 7:30 at Gray’s West and Company Pioneer Chapel. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a. m. Monday, January 4, at St. Francis Cathedral with the Reverend Calvin E. Schwenk officiating. Interment will follow in the family plot at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mr. Nevins was born in Weiser, Idaho on Feb. 14, 1892. He is the son of John J. and Julia A. Barrett Nevins. He was educated in Weiser … Read more

Biography of Solomon M. Jeffreys

In the front rank of the columns which have advanced the civilization of the northwest, Solomon M. Jeffreys has led the way to the substantial development, progress and up building of Idaho, being particularly active in the growth of Weiser, where he still makes his home. He is numbered among the pioneers of Idaho, California and Oregon, his memory going back to the time when the entire Pacific coast was but very sparsely settled, when the Indians were more numerous than the white men, and the land had not been reclaimed for purposes of cultivation, but remained in the primitive … Read more

Dickson, Mary Ellen – Obituary

Mary Ellen Dickson, 73, of La Grande, died March 7 following an extended illness. Mary was born May 13,1934, in Atlanta, Kan., to Charles and Alma Cunningham. The family moved to Weiser, Idaho, where she attended school. She married Frank Dickson of Homedale, Idaho, on Aug. 3, 1952. Mary and Frank moved to Umatilla, where Frank was employed at the Army Ordnance Depot. Following this, the family moved to Kinzua in Wheeler County, then to La Grande, where Frank worked for Boise Cascade and Mary for Sprouse-Reitz for many years. Mary was devoted to her family and enjoyed activities that … 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

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

Linscott, Clyde Wilmer – Obituary

Clyde Wilmer Linscott, 81, died Oct. 11, 2005, at his home in Baker City. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Monte Loyd of the Harvest Church Assembly of God will officiate. Childcare will be provided from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Harvest Church, 3720 Birch St. Friends are invited to join the family after the service for a potluck reception at the Harvest Church Fellowship Hall. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in a private family service. Visitations will be from 4 p.m. to … 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

Biography of James A. Gerwick

Of the commercial interests of Weiser, James A. Gerwick is a leading representative. He is now engaged in the harness and saddlery business, and enjoys a liberal patronage which comes to him from all sections of Washington county. His conformity to high business principles and honorable methods, combined with energy and enterprise, have gained him a foremost place in mercantile circles, and a well merited success rewards his efforts. Sir. Gerwick came to the west from far-off Pennsylvania. He is a native of Butler County, that state, and is of German lineage. His parents are Fred and Lovina (Winters) Gerwick … Read more

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 William B. Allison

One of the most prominent pioneer citizens of Salubria valley, an organizer of Washington county, and now (1898) its assessor, is William B. Allison, an enterprising and leading stock-raiser in the beautiful valley of Salubria. where he has a rich and finely improved farm of five hundred and twenty acres, through which runs a splendid stream of water. Mr. Allison was born at Glasgow, Columbia County, Ohio, on August 22, 1845, and is of Scotch ancestry, his parents, Alexander and Sarah (Glover) Allison, having been natives of Scotland. In 1837 the father emigrated to America, and was married in Pottsville, … Read more