Baker City, Oregon
Ira Curtis Griffith, 76, of Baker City passed away on Feb. 4, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel with Pastor Jack Bynum of the United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery with Military Auspices by the Oregon Army National Guard.
Hours of visitation will be today until 8 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co.
Ira was born on June 30, 1927, in Blackduck, Minn., to Freeman and Margaret (Paul) Griffith. In 1940, he moved to Baker City with his family.
On August 26, 1948, Ira married Carleen Cook in Baker City and together they raised five children. He began his career in 1950 working for his father-in-law at Cook and Emele Sheet Metal Works.
In June 1960, he became manager and in 1970 he purchased the business and ran it until he retired in 1992, turning management over to his sons, Scott and Kevin.
Ira was a member of the Oregon State Homebuilders and served as the Baker County chapter president for several years. He was named Oregon State Homebuilder Associate of the year in 1994.
He was a member of the Baker City United Methodist Church and had served four years as Lay Minister at the Methodist Church in Richland.
Ira was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and spending time in the outdoors. He was also a loving family man and was chosen as the Baker County Father of the Year in 1990.
Ira is survived by his wife of 50 years, Carleen; his sons, Larry and his wife Cathie of Spokane, Wash., Scott and his wife Donna, and Kevin and his wife Debra, both of Baker City; a daughter, Susann Hinkley of Baker City; a brother, Norman and his wife Gloria Griffith of Hermiston; sisters-in-law, Betty Allen, Gail Cook, Phyllis Wilcox and her husband, Richard, and Sue Griffith; 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, and lots of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Freeman and Margaret Griffith, his brother Paul Griffith and his son David Griffith.
Memorial contributions can be made in Ira’s name to the Baker City United Methodist Church or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, in care of Gray’s West & Company, P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, February 6, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor