Zenneth Gradon Cutting, 90, passed away Sept. 23, 2006, at the St. Elizabeth Care Center in Baker City, Ore.
Services will be Sept. 28, 2006, at 10 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales, with Mass at 11 a.m.
A reception will be at St. Francis de Sales after interment at Mount Hope Cemetery following the 11 a.m. Mass.
He was born Oct. 21, 1916, in Molalla, Ore. to Allen and Roxie (Cole) Cutting and was the oldest of 3 children. Before graduating from Molalla High School in 1935, he was an accomplished Baseball Player, breeder of exotic rabbits, silver foxes and an experienced farmer and hunter.
He attended his first democratic party meeting at the age of 9 and later belonged to the young democratic club. Zen excelled at math and graduated from North West Business College in Portland, Ore., and worked as an accountant for the IRS for 2 years before moving in 1938 to North Powder, Ore., and later Durkee, Ore., to become a rancher, horseman and breeder of registered Hereford Cattle.
Zen married Patricia Keyton, Aug. 8, 1940, and began a family. Together they ranched in Durkee, for 16 years, before moving to Roseburg, Ore., to begin a furniture and appliance business. Later Zen joined an auto dealership in Portland, Ore., before he and Pat owned a restaurant and lounge in Mehima, Ore., until 1961. They returned to Baker, Ore., as owner of the Stockman’s Bar for 10 years. In 1971 Zen and Pat became owners of Precious Metal Reclaiming business in Torrance, Calif. They returned to Eastern Oregon permanently in 1974 and pursued mining as their lively hood.
Zen will be remember for his love of ranching, mining, nature and being a man of his word. He was a remarkable marksman hunter, sportsman and story teller. His handshake, smile and great sense of humor, were his trademarks.
He is survived by his wife, Pat; four children, Kent, Roxanna, Buck and Suzanne; daughters-in- law, Chici and Linda Cutting; sons- in-law, Gary and Steven; nine grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Annie Cutting; nephews, Clark Cutting and Deane Henderson; cousins, Colleen Mahon, Burnett and Marlin Cole and Varnel and Wendal Cole.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Aileen Henderson and brother, Clint Cutting.
Memorial contributions can be sent to Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, PO Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. Donations may be made to the Diabetes Association, Lupus Foundation or Shiners Hospital of Portland, Ore.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, September, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
