Baker City, Oregon
Samuel E. Hornbeck, 96, of Baker City died April 12, 2002, at his home.
His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Sam’s son, Gary Hornbeck of Hood River, will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Visitations will be from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West & Co.
Sam was born on May 25, 1905, at Portland to Michael and Mallie Hall Hornbeck. He was raised in the Baker Valley, attending school at Haines and Muddy Creek. He was one of four graduates of the Muddy Creek High School Class of 1925.
His father sharecropped on several ranches in the valley and he had many fond memories of growing up at the base of the Elkhorn Mountains.
After graduation from high school, he worked in Los Angeles for a few years before returning to Baker Valley and meeting Iva Srack. Sam and Iva were married for 44 years before her death in 1979.
The Hornbecks lived in La Grande for a short time before moving to Pondosa where Sam worked as a machinist for the Collins Pondosa Lumber Co. for 23 years. They lived at Pondosa until the mill was closed down and the homes were moved out of the area.
From Pondosa, Sam and Iva moved to Huntington whey they lived for 19 years. Sam worked at the cement plant at Lime and on the freeway construction between Ontario and La Grande.
He also worked for Ellingson Lumber Co. in Baker and at the mill in Halfway. He was known as an honest man and a hard worker. He was appreciated by his employers and his fellow workers alike.
He will be remembered as a wonderful caring father and husband. Many times he gave of himself to provide for the needs of others. He had a great sense of humor that endeared him to those around him. He was very appreciative of everything that others did for him, especially during these last few years of needed care.
Four years after Iva’s death, Sam married Elsie Best. They had many good times traveling to Arizona during the winter along with many other trips around the country until his health would not permit further travels.
When his wife, Iva, died, he placed a headstone to mark their graves that reads: Iva Hornbeck, 1910-1979 and Sam E. Hornbeck 1905-19__. He had no thought of living until 2002. As one person pointed out, Sam Hornbeck had fooled the maker of that headstone.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Iva; a brother; three sisters; and many friends.
Survivors include his wife, Elsie; two daughters, Jeanne Cates and her husband, Dub, of Baker City, and Leanne Johnston and her husband, Dan, of Ontario; a son, Gary M. Hornbeck, and his wife, Noretta, of Hood River; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice of Baker City or Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 19, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor