William Roy Christie went to be with the Lord on July 6, 2008, in Ontario, Ore., at the age of 82. Bill was born Dec 9, 1925, in Colorado Springs, Colo., to Clarence and Sadie (Mittan) Christie, the youngest of five children. The family moved frequently, eventually ending up in Yakima, Wash., when Bill was a teenager.
On Oct 29, 1944, he married Sarah “Ruth” Walker and they made Yakima their home. After completing military service in World War II he worked as a painter with his father-in-law and became acquainted with Bud Buele who taught him to repair cars. He worked for Bud for a few years before starting his own business, Bill Christie’s Garage in 1954. Ill health forced him to sell the business to his son Ben in 1974, moving to Baker City, Ore. They purchased 10 wooded acres in “Stices Gulch” east of Baker City and put a mobile home on the property. Their home was a wonderful gathering spot for the family who loved hiking, fishing, and riding snowmobiles, and ATV’s right from the front door. Ruth passed away in 1997 and Bill married Jessie Butterfield in 1999. They bought a home in town where they lived until moving to Ontario in 2006.
Bill is survived by a daughter Willa Ruth Godinez (Salvador) of Mexico, sons Bennie Roy (Diana) of Yakima, Ronald Lee (Elise) of Kuna, Idaho, and Roger Leland (Sandra) of Federal Way, Wash., four step-children, 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister Marie Kelso of Kent, Wash.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Alice Taylor and Gertrude Hunsperger, his brother Floyd Christie and a grandson, Marcos Godinez.
A memorial service was held at the Baker City First Church of the Nazarene on Friday, July 11, at 11 a.m. A graveside service was scheduled for noon at the West Hills Memorial Cemetery in Yakima on Saturday, July 12, followed by a reception at the West Valley Church of the Nazarene.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, July 17, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor