Baker City, Oregon
Harold “Junior” Gilliland, 73, a longtime Baker City resident, died June 8, 2004, at his niece’s home near Baker City.
His funeral will be Monday, June 14 at 2 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be Friday until 5 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Junior was born Jan. 21, 1931, in North Platte, Neb. He was the son of George and Clara (Yates) Gilliland. Junior and his family moved to Baker City in 1939. He attended school in Baker City. He went to work in the woods at age 17. Later in life, he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad, on the extra gang, for more than 25 years. He traveled with his crew and worked in Oregon and Washington until he retired in 1990 after an accident. He moved into the home of his niece, Bonnie Gentry, and her husband, Homer, in 1996.
Junior will be remembered by how he enjoyed taking pictures of people he met and riding his bicycle around town. He will be missed.
Junior is survived by his nieces, June Marie Coller of Hermiston and Bonnie Gentry and her husband, Homer, of Baker City; his nephews, K.C. Gilliland of Baker City and William R. Gilliland and his wife, Nancy, of Waldport; special friends, Ed and Virginia Bunschus of Mount Vernon; and numerous great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Bertha Clayton; and brothers, William Ivan, Vernon W. and James C. Gilliland.
Contributions in Mr. Gilliland’s memory may be directed to the American Heart Association in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, June 11, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor