Olive M. Standerfer, 85, a lifelong resident of Baker county, died Dec. 6, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Graveside services will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery. Minister John Goodyear of Baker Valley Church of Christ will officiate.
Visitation will be today until 7 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, Oregon.
Mrs. Standerfer was born Feb. 19, 1917, on the Lower Powder Ranch in Keating. She was a daughter of William Henry and Pearl (Shulenbarger) Best. She received her education in the Keating School.
In 1940, she married Larkin Parsons. They later divorced. In October, 1972, she married Buford Standerfer. He died in 1993. After her marriage to Buford, the couple moved to Nyssa, where they remained until he retired and they returned Baker City.
Mrs. Standerfer enjoyed sewing, cooking and going on picnics. Being with her family meant a lot to her and she enjoyed camping and fishing with them. She enjoyed collecting pictures and liked her potted flowers, of which she had many.
She loved animals and always had cats. She really enjoyed watching and feeding the squirrels and loved being outside. In her younger years prior to her first marriage, she cooked on many ranches during the season. After her marriage, she worked in housekeeping and as a nurse’s aide at the hospital.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, L. David and Peggy Parsons of Baker City; stepson and daughter-in-law, Byron and Sylvia Standerfer of Grace River, Wash.; stepdaughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Roger Smith of Lynnwood, Wash.; grandchildren, Pearl Parsons of Portland, Rachael Parsons and Naomi Parsons, both of La Grande; 13 stepgrandchildren; brother, Elton Best of Baker City; sister, Goldie Ewing of Baker City; nieces, Betty Honea of Elko, Nev., Zelda Lion of Nampa, Idaho, Lynda Geyer of Florida and Bonnie Warden of Woodinville, Wash.; nephews, Jerry Best of Medford, and Duane Ewing of Baker City.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Buford Standerfer and Larkin Parsons, three brothers, Harold Best, Lloyd Best and John Best, and four nephews, George Best, Waldo Best, Roger Best and Carl Best.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions in Mrs. Standerfer’s memory may direct them to a charity of their choice. This may be done through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, December 13, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor