Baker City, Oregon
John M. Cress, 91, of Baker City died Dec. 24, 2003, at Ashley Manor Care Center.
His memorial service will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Bishop Tom Brock of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at Gray’s West & Co. His ashes, along with those of his wife, will be scattered in their beloved mountains next spring.
John was born on Aug. 7, 1912, at Portland to Harry J. and Leona L. Warren Cress. He was a lifetime Oregon resident, and attended Oregon State University at Corvallis. He had a ranch at Sisters prior to World War II. John served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific, including Guadalcanal, New Caledonia, Bouganville, and Okinawa.
After his discharge from the Marines in 1945, he went back to ranching. On April 16, 1948, he married Florence E. McCammant from Alberta, Canada. They spent many years in the Jordan Valley area, then moved to Baker City in 1954. He continued ranching in North Powder until he retired in 1978 and moved into Baker City.
Survivors include a brother, Don Cress of Grants Pass; a son, Richard Cress of Haines; a daughter, Dorothy Rickert of Newport; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence, in 1998; and by his parents.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Legion, Post No. 41, through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 2, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
