Janie Gassoway Barton, 53, of La Grande, and a former Baker City resident, died April 21, 2001, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise.
A celebration of her life will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1702 Sixth St. Pastors Wayne Pickens, Rick McKinley and Frank Wiens officiating. Committal and interment will be at the Island City Cemetery. Visitations will be today until 7 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande.
Mrs. Barton was born Sept. 15, 1947, at Ontario to Loren and Verna Gardner Davis. She was schooled in Ontario, graduated from high school at Goldendale, Wash., and received her degree in education from Oregon State University at Corvallis.
On July 26, 1968, she married John Gassoway in Barton. In 1988 they moved to La Grande for a year and a half, before moving to Baker City. In 1992 they returned to La Grande. Mr. Gassoway died on Nov. 29, 1994.
On Sept. 14, 1996, she married Doug Barton in Reno, Nev. They made their home in La Grande. Mrs. Barton worked for Valley Insurance and had recently become a certified insurance counselor after many years of study.
Mrs. Barton was a devout Christian and an active member of the La Grande First Baptist Church, where she was part of one of the church’s care groups. She enjoyed reading her Bible and learning from other Christians through readings and sermons. She loved being a homemaker, sewing, and her family.
Mrs. Barton is survived by her husband, Doug Barton of La Grande; her children, Rachel and Jamie Lindvall of Santa Clarita, Calif., Scott and Freedom Gassoway of Sutherlin, Brenda and Ron Overton of Cove, Dr. Brent and Selena Barton of Hermiston, and Belinda and Scott Young of Donald; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; her parents, Loren and Verna Davis of Estacada; brothers and sisters, Jerry Davis, Jean Davis, Joann Nordquist, Neal Davis, Richard Davis and Mark Davis, all of the Portland area; and other relatives and many friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the La Grande First Baptist Church or Birthright through Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, Ore. 97850.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 30, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor