Duane Milton Estes, 78, a former longtime Baker City resident, died Aug. 13, 2007, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Reno, Nev.
His graveside funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Jon Privett of the Baker City First Church of the Nazarene will officiate. Visitations will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.
Duane was born on June 6, 1929, at Baker City to Harry Vernon and Marie Brown Estes. He was a 1948 Baker High School graduate and attended Eastern Oregon College at La Grande (now Eastern Oregon University).
He married Margaret Lois Eichholz on Aug. 29, 1948, at Glenns Ferry, Idaho. In 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served his four-year term at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Upon returning to Baker City, he worked at Cut Rate Market. He and his wife, Margaret, later purchased the market, which was on Broadway Street.
“His great sense of humor and generosity served the Baker City community for several years,” his family said.
After closing Cut Rate Market, he and his family moved to Portland where he worked for the Department of Motor Vehicles at Gladstone for 8fi years. Upon retirement, Duane and Margaret moved to Reno, Nev., to be near their two children, Kyle and Karla, and their grandchildren.
Duane was an avid sports fan. The San Francisco 49ers were his team. His love of sports stemmed from his high school years and he also played on various teams in the military. He carried his love of playing to coaching several Little League and women’s softball teams.
“He has touched many lives during his stay, leaving us with wonderful memories, a few chuckles and hearts full of love,” his family said.
Survivors include his daughter, Karla, and her son, Kegan Estes, of Reno, Nev.; his son, Kyle, and daughter-in-law, Charlotte, and their three daughters, Miranda, Mariah and Mykala Estes of Reno; brothers, Darrell Estes and his wife, Audrey, of Roseburg, and Ben Estes of Portland; a sister, Mardene Dowdy, and her husband, Harold, of Boise; and numerous nieces and nephews.
His wife, Margaret, died on June 13, 2000.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, August 17, 2007
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
