Haines, Oregon
Champ Clark Bond, 90, a longtime Haines resident, died March 16, 2002, at Baker City.
His memorial service was this morning at Baker City Christian Church, with Pastor Roger Scovil officiating. Disposition was by cremation at Grays West & Co. Pioneer Crematory. Burial of cremated remains will be at the Haines Cemetery.
Champ was born on a homestead at Missouri Flat to Martha Elizabeth Herndon and Charles Wesley Bond. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1929 and married Lois Lucretia Fisher on Dec. 18, 1933, in Union County.
Champ grew up on a farm in the Grande Ronde Valley, near Hot Lake. In his family of three brothers and three sisters, he was sixth. He met his wife, Lois, in the Grande Ronde Valley. The young married couple moved to Champ’s mother’s homestead at Fisher Springs near Haines. Four years later they moved to their present home on Anthony Lakes Highway. He built his home at Muddy Creek and lived there for the rest of his life. Champ and Lois were married 65 years.
Champ and Lois were the parents of five children. They also owned and operated several family businesses together. He served on the school board for Muddy Creek Grade School and Powder Valley High School. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and skiing.
Champ made motorized vehicles out of just about anything, including bicycles, tractors and trucks. These were available for recreational riding to all of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbors and visiting friends.
He had a great love for music, and as a young man played as part of a trio with his brother, Turner, and sister, Joann. He played several instruments, often two at a time (mouth harp and guitar). Although he mostly played by ear, all of his children had music training, and now many of his descendants play very well, some professionally.
Champ was a self-taught mechanic who attended aircraft welding school for two years in Portland. He is well-known in this area for his mechanical abilities. He designed and built a number of machines including wood saws, grain choppers, haybucks, hay stackers and ski tows. He also constructed a rotary snow plow and push plow, which he used for 22 years to clear the road to the Anthony Lakes ski area.
Champ was preceded in death by two daughters, Elisabeth Lee (an infant) and Mary Lois O’Connell; by his wife, Lois; as well as his parents and five brothers and sisters.
Champ is survived by three of his children: John Bond of Arvada, Colo., Anne Rice of Sumpter, and Kathy Wise of Reno, Nev., and their respective spouses.
He also is survived by 10 grandchildren: John Combs of La Crescenta, Calif., Paul Combs of Boise, Christine Monaghan of Boise, and their spouses; Brian Bond of Denver, Matthew Bond of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Marinda O’Connell of Pullman, Wash., Lacey O’Connell of Spokane, Wash., Jessica, Christy and David Wise of Reno; 10 great-grandchildren: Stacie, Benjamin, Holly, Julie, and Joshua Patrick Monaghan of Boise, Nikolaus, Christopher and Alexander Combs of Boise, and Sabrina and Sean Combs of La Crescenta; a sister, Joann Boyer of Rock Creek; and many nieces and nephews.
Contributions in Champ’s memory may be made to the Baker City Christian Church in care of Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, March 22, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor