Eula Aldrich 77, of Haines, died May 28, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services, surrounded by her loving family.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Haines Cemetery. Clifford Cole will officiate. Visitations will be today until 7 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.
Eula was born Aug. 28, 1930, in Fort Cobb, Okla., to Alfred and Grace Coates. She lived in Oklahoma until she was 5 years old, when her family moved out West with intentions of moving to Walla Walla, Wash. But when they saw this beautiful valley, they decided they had found home.
They first lived in Haines, where Eula and her brother and sister went to school for a few years until they moved to North Powder, where she completed her schooling.
Eula met Pete Hung. The two were married and lived in Pendleton. They had two children, Pam and Ron Hung. After a divorce, Eula and the children returned to Baker where Eula met Gordon Aldrich. They were married May 28, 1955, in Winnemucca, Nev. They would have been married 53 years on the day of Eula’s death.
Upon returning home, they lived and worked in Baker before purchasing the UTOCO service station and Pine Cone restaurant in Haines. Soon after, they had a daughter, Sally, and a son, Jim. During the operation of the restaurant, Eula’s chess pies became known all around the area, bringing customers in from as far away as Alaska.
After selling the station, the couple purchased the old Ashwood ranch outside of Haines, where they had made their home for 43 years.
Eula was the head cook at Haines Elementary, Brooklyn Elementary, North Baker, Baker High School and Churchill Elementary, where she retired. Eula was known by children all over Baker Valley as the best cook in the valley and the one who went out of her way to make school lunches special. Her cinnamon rolls and haystack cookies were the best.
In 2005, Eula was the Parade Queen and Gordon the Grand Marshall of the 4th of July parade in Haines. The love of her life was her family, one and all. Large family get-togethers with plenty of food and laughter were her favorite times.
Survivors include a brother, Austin Coates of North Powder, and a sister, Betty Newman of Estacada; children, Pamela and her husband, Dave Mathson, of Dillon, Mont., Sally Scelson of Baker City, Jim and his wife Chris of North Powder; eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
Eula was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred Coates and Grace Harsin; sisters, Pauline Courtney and Aline Parker; her son Ronald Hung; and her husband, Gordon Aldrich.
Contributions may be made in Eula’s name to a charity of one’s choice through the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, June 4, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor