Baker City, Oregon
Suzanne L. Jenkins McCulley, 93, of Baker City died Feb. 14, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.
At her request, there will be no service. Her family will scatter her ashes in her beloved Eagle Mountains later.
Suzanne was born on Nov. 8, 1908, the 15th child of George W. and Lillian Shea Jenkins. She grew up on a farm in Baker County and attended Baker schools.
She married F. Ward McCulley in 1928. They lived in many towns in Oregon throughout their married life. Suzanne graduated from Eastern Oregon Normal School (now Eastern Oregon University) in La Grande in 1931 and taught in Baker County schools, including Wingville-Muddy Creek. She also taught at Granite.
After World War II the McCulleys obtained a potato farm at Tulelake, Calif., where Ward raised potatoes and Suzanne worked at the post office. Upon ‘retirement’ from Tulelake, they had what they termed ‘the best three years of their lives’ as they toured in their fifth-wheeler.
They traveled the United States, Canada and Mexico enjoying the back roads where they said they met real people and enjoyed the wildlife and natural artifacts. Suzanne loved all kinds of animals and she could identify almost any plant or flower in the forest.
Ward and Suzanne did not have children of their own, but they paid special attention to great-nieces, Kay Marie Duncan, and Jan Lillard Long, and a great-nephew, David Rudisill.
Suzanne was very devoted to her church, the First Church of the Nazarene. She also was a member of the Baker City Garden Club, the St. Elizabeth Hospital Auxiliary and for several years she was a member of the Retired Teachers Association.
Survivors living in this area include a great-nephew and his wife, Gene and Claire Duncan of Baker City; great-nieces, Sister Kay Marie Duncan of Baker City and Emmy Bellows and her husband, Duane, of Ontario; there are many other great-nieces and great-nephews as well as Ward’s nephew and wife, John ‘Jack’ and Pat Gertzen of Eugene and a niece and her husband, Virginia and Mike O’Connor of Phoenix, Ariz.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ward; and 14 brothers and sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Northeast Oregon Compassion Center, the National Humane Education Society or to the National Wildlife Federation through Gray’s West Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, February 22, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor