Baker City, Oregon
Cecil N. Dye, 76, a longtime Baker City resident, died March 25, 2002, at Boise.
His funeral will be Saturday, April 6 at 10 a.m. MST at Northview Family Worship Center in Boise under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel. There will be a graveside service at 2 p.m. PST at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Visitations will be Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. MST at Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel in Boise.
Cecil was born May 28, 1925, at Shawnee, Wyo., to Francis C. Dye and Zara A. Harkins. He was a graduate of Natrona High School in Casper, Wyo., and Eugene Bible College, where he met his wife to be, Jessilee Kelly, whom he married on May 28, 1947.
Cecil was a longtime resident of Baker City, where they raised four children. Cecil and Jessilee ran their own janitorial business in Baker City for so many years that they had cleaned most of the businesses in town, including regular contracts with the post office, U.S. Bank, light company and Baker Clinic. He also steam-cleaned carpets throughout the valley for many years. He was a member of the Lions Club and a longtime active member of Baker Valley Christian Assembly, where he served on the board, taught Sunday school and was in charge of missions, which was a special passion. Due to health reasons he moved to Boise in 1997 to live with his daughter.
Cecil was an ordained minister, and although he preached from the pulpit only a few years he was always spreading the gospel of Christ one on one. His contagious laughter and sense of humor brightened many a day for hundreds of people even after he had serious health problems including several strokes.
The family gives a special thank you to the caring staff at Lifecare of Treasure Valley.
Cecil is survived by his children: Dan Dye of Germany, Fran and her husband, Mark Gerla of Boise, David Dye of Baker City, and Jonathan and wife, Marianne Dye of Corvallis; his sisters, Cony Mae Eldridge of Gillette, Wyo., and Betty Estes of Tacoma, Wash.; a brother, Richard Dye, of Tacoma; grandchildren, Jackie Cox, Tracy Lynn Briggs, Craig Gerla, Jason and Jeremy Dye; and great-grandchildren, Corbin and Jenevive Briggs.
Cecil was preceded in death by his wife, Jessilee; his mother and father; and a grandson, Jeff.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 5, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor