Ellis Buckles Jr., 76, died Sunday, Aug. 3, 2003, at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003, at 11 a.m. at Oasis of Hope Baptist Church in Hermiston. Disposition was by cremation.
He was born Jan. 21, 1927, at Mound City, Ill., to Ellis and Tobatha Mae (Fields) Buckles Sr.
Ellis was a resident of Hermiston since 1962 and had previously lived in Baker City for 11 years. He worked for the railroad for a short time before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the service, he worked as a carpenter on several dams including, McNary, John Day, Brownlee, and Round Butte. He was a longtime member of the local carpenter’s union. He then started his own contracting business, Buckles Remodeling & Construction, which he operated for 40 years. Ellis then worked for the State of Oregon for five years before retiring.
On Sept. 28, 1951, he married Mary “Maxine” Fleming at Baker City. Ellis was a Christian and a former member of the Moose Lodge in Baker. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing, hunting, and the outdoors.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary “Maxine” Buckles of Hermiston; son, Charles L. Buckles of Weston; daughters, Mary Robinson of Hermiston and Margie Stanford of Castro Valley, Calif.; thirteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by parents, Ellis and Tobatha Buckles; three sisters, Geneva, Martha, and Polly; one nephew and one niece.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, August, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor