Baker City, Oregon
Wallace Emery “Wally” Hardman, 81, a lifetime Baker City resident, died Feb. 15, 2002, at his home.
His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. The Rev. Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church and the Rev. Raymond Bates of SonRise Free Methodist Church at La Grande will officiate. Vault interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded by the Baker City Veterans of Foreign Wars. There will be a reception afterward at the United Methodist Church, 1919 Second St.
Visitations will be from 5 o’clock to 7 o’clock tonight at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave.
Wally was born Jan. 15, 1921, at Baker City to Oliver Monroe Hardman and Elsie Tureman Hardman. He spent his life in the Baker and Burnt River valleys, except for the time he spent in the Air Force defending our country during World War II.
Wally grew up in Union on his parents’ ranch, later moving to the Muddy Creek area where he graduated from high school in 1939. His greatest interests were sports and ranching. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1940 and served in Alaska, flying missions during the Aleutian Campaign.
He married Betty Marie Emele on March 18, 1943. While still in the Air Force, he lived at Columbia, S.C.
Returning to Baker City, Wally worked for Pacific Northwest Bell and was known as the “John Day Kid” as he traveled to and from that area as a lineman. He always had a great love of animals and the outdoors.
In 1952, Wally and Betty moved their family to Unity where they worked a cattle ranch for a number of years. Wally was active with 4-H youth activities, church and and school activities with their two children. After nine years at Unity, they purchased a ranch just south of Baker City where they raised cattle and hay.
After several years, they purchased a partnership/franchise from Blitz Weinhard Inc. and for a number of years operated Hardman Distributing of Baker. Upon selling the distributorship, they returned to ranching at the foot of the Elkhorn Mountains. Wally also worked as a ranch hand for Floyd Duncan and Bob Thomas angus ranches. He had a great affection for his horses, Billy, Hope, Pepper and Cherokee. His favorite dogs were Topper, Nikki, Spunky and Sweet Shot.
Wally was a lifelong member of the Baker Elks Lodge, No. 338, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 3048. Wally was very proud to be one of the original firemen of the first Baker Rural Fire District of Pine Creek Station. He also was a member of the Methodist churches of Haines and Baker City.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Betty. They spent their days camping, fishing and enjoying friends and family members. He was a loving and caring father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be remembered for his humor, love and compassion. He was very close to his family and was very proud of them.
He also is survived by his son, W. David Hardman, and his wife, Paula, of Lynden, Wash.; his daughter, Roxy G. Hardman Ulrey and her husband, Don, of Baker City; six grandchildren, Jennifer and Benjamin of Bellingham and Lynden, Wash., Bradley, Jake and Justin of Salem, and Julee, who attends Eastern Oregon University at La Grande; five great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Kavika, Tanner, Megan and Mckennah, all of Salem; a sister, Catherine Howell of Baker City; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver and Elsie; his brother, Ernest; and his sisters, Louise, Ruby and Marjorie.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice or Mountain States Tumor Institute of Boise through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, February 22, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor