Obituary

Hayes, Betty J. Gail Mrs. – Obituary

Betty J. Hayes, 65, of Baker City, died Oct. 7, 2006, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz. Her graveside funeral was Friday morning at Mount Hope Cemetery. Her family officiated. Betty J. Hayes was born March 7, 1941, at Prineville to George and Ethel Werner Gail. Betty was raised and schooled in Prineville, and still has many friends there. While living in Prescott, Ariz., Betty met her soulmate, Frank. They were married 11 years ago. Since then they have traveled the United States, visiting her many friends and playing as many rounds of golf as possible. Everywhere she went … Read more

Coles Glennie Opal Putman Mrs. – Obituary

A Celebration of Life service for Glennie Opal Putman Coles was held at Felida Baptist Church in Vancouver, Wash., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. Glennie went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Sept. 29, 2006, at the age of 89. She was born in Baker, Ore., on May 30, 1917, to Rufus and Bertha Putman. She graduated from Baker High School and attended Business College. She married Roger Duane Coles on Jan. 3, 1945, and was married for 58 years, until Duane passed away on Jan. 22, 2003. Glennie is survived by her three children, Larry Coles of Sandpoint, … Read more

Shaw, Shirley M. Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Shirley M. Shaw, 75, also known by “Ma Shaw,” died in her home in Baker City, Ore., with her family by her side, Sept. 26, 2006. Shirley requested that no services or memorial service be held. Cremation was done by Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory in Baker City. Shirley was born and raised in California and moved with her family to Baker City in 1972. She considered Baker City as her home. Shirley loved and lived life to the fullest with her family and friends and acquaintances. She will be missed by all who knew her. Any contributions … Read more

Poston, Marjorie A. – Obituary

Marjorie A. Poston, 81, long time Baker City, Ore., resident died Sept. 29, 2006, in Boise, Idaho. A private family service will be held at a later date. Cremation was done by Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory in Baker City. Arrangements are by Coles Funeral Home, Baker City, Ore. Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, October, 2006 Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor

Steele, Clayton “Buck” – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Clayton “Buck” Steele, 68, died Jan. 16, 2007, at his home in Halfway after a recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Halfway Kingdom Hall. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception afterward at the Halfway Lions Hall. Buck was born in 1938 at Laona, Wis., to Bert and Louise Thurber Steele. The family moved to western Washington where he grew up. He was a 1957 graduate of Snohomish High School. It was there that he married “the girl next door,” Rose Servine, in 1961. Their … Read more

Buzzard, James Roy “Butch” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon James Roy “Butch” Buzzard, 67, of Baker City died Jan. 14, 2007, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His graveside funeral will be Saturday, Jan. 20, at 11 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception at the Truck Corral following the service. Butch was born July 21, 1939, at San Francisco to James and Dorthey (Dodd) Buzzard. He graduated high school, did a stint in the Army, then became a paver and worked construction. In 1986 Butch moved to Baker City. He loved hunting, fishing, shooting matches … Read more

Coombes, Donald, Ernest – Obituary

Haines, Oregon Donald Ernest Coombes, 82, of Haines died Jan. 11, 2007, at his home. A celebration of Donald’s life will take place Saturday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Haines United Methodist Church. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception to be held immediately after the service at the church. Donald was born July 18, 1924, in Spokane, Wash., to Oscar and Maude Coombes. Early in Donald’s life, the family moved to Baker County where Donald started school in Sparta and later attended schools in Eagle Valley, Virtue Flat and South Baker. At the age … Read more

Sheehy, Thomas Wellman – Obituary

Thomas Wellman Sheehy, 96, a former Baker County resident, died Jan. 8, 2007, at Riverside Nursing Home in Missoula, Mont. Funeral Mass took place this morning at St. Katherine’s Catholic Church in Enterprise. Interment followed at the Wallowa Cemetery. Tom was born Jan. 14, 1910, in Great Falls, Mont., the son of Hugh F. and Helen Holbrook Sheehy. He moved with his family in 1917 to Oregon, where they ranched at Durkee. Tom graduated in 1927 from McLoughlin High School in Milton-Freewater. He served with the U.S. Navy from 1932 to 1936, assigned to the battleship USS Nevada (BB-36). Returning … Read more

Mankins, John – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon John Mankins, 50, of Baker City, died Jan. 12, 2007, at his home. There will be no funeral. John was born Nov. 23, 1956, at Braintree, England, to Peter Lee and Birgit Hansen Mankins. He worked as a mechanic first on airplanes and then on automotive and diesel engines. As a young adult, John was working on his pilot’s license when he had an unfortunate motorcycle accident that left him with permanent disabilities. He enjoyed spending most of his time watching drag races or NASCAR and racing his own car. He also was a sportsman and enjoyed … Read more

Fuller, Alfred Leroy – Obituary

Alfred Leroy Fuller, 68, of Meacham, died Jan. 11, 2007, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. A celebration of his life will take place Saturday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. at the office of his daughter, Colleen Harris, at Harris Worksystems, 9800 S.W. Nimbus, Suite 300, in Beaverton. Colleen can be reached at 503/643-3018. A local service will be held at a later date Mr. Fuller was born June 30, 1938, in Toledo, Ore., the son of Leroy Alfred and Effie Mae Remington Fuller. He was raised in Portland and graduated from Grant High School. He married Deloris Culver; … Read more

Swanson, Robert Lloyd “Bob” – Obituary

Halfway, Oregon Robert Lloyd “Bob” Swanson, 77, of Halfway, died Jan. 10, 2007, at his home. At his request there will be no formal service. There will be a private scattering of his ashes at his favorite fishing spot. Robert Lloyd Swanson was born June 26, 1929, at Polson, Mont., to Albert and Ruby Sizemore Swanson. He was raised and educated in Montana. During his youth, starting at the age of 4, Bob and his brother began and enjoyed golfing. He boasted his 2 handicap. When he joined the U.S. Navy, his golfing career took a second seat. Bob served … Read more

Trindle, Bill – Obituary

Haines, Oregon Bill Trindle, 94, of Haines died Jan. 9, 2007, at this home. His memorial service and celebration will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Haines United Methodist Church. There will be a storytelling lunch afterward. Bill lived a rich life, full of many memories of the times he had seen, the family he so dearly admired and the opinions to which he adhered. He was born at Salem in 1912 to Alice and William, both college-educated and quite involved with local politics and development. He loved flying and received his pilot’s license at the age of 16. … Read more

Mollert, John Karl – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon John Karl Mollert, 72, of Baker City, died Dec. 23, 2006, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. Private burial was Dec. 29 at Mount Hope Cemetery. John was born Feb. 21, 1934, at Oregon City to Cecil J. and Melissa Helene Mollert. He was a 1952 graduate of Cleveland High School at Portland. After serving in the U.S. Army National Guard, he joined the U.S. Navy. At the end of his military career, he had honorably served his country for 18 years. While serving in the U.S. Air Force at Orlando, Fla., he met Joanna Katherine Hinds. … Read more

Ingram, Lyle Chester – Obituary

Lyle Chester Ingram, 67, of Ensenada, Mexico, a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 4, 2007, at his home. His funeral was in Mexico. Lyle was born April 1, 1939, the eldest of three children born to Chester and Elaine Ingram. Elaine later married William Leigh in 1947 and they added two more children to their family. Lyle attended Baker schools and was a 1958 Baker High School graduate. A two-way starter for the Bulldogs football team, he was elected to the Intermountain Conference All-Star team in the fall of 1957 at the center position. Months after his graduation, Lyle … Read more

Doud, Carl Glen – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Carl Glen Doud, 64, of Baker City, died Jan. 4, 2006, at Baker City. His memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande. Mr. Doud was born on Sept. 15, 1942, to Ira Lorenzo and Nellie Williams Doud at La Grande. He was raised at Summerville and attended school there. After he was married, he and his wife lived at Elgin where he owned and operated Carl Doud Logging until illness forced his retirement. He recently moved to Baker City. He enjoyed fishing, demolition derbies, and … Read more

Sipp, Phyllis ‘Jean’ Meng Crane Mrs. – Obituary

Phyllis ‘Jean’ Sipp 85, of Baker City, Ore., died Jan. 1, 2007, at her home. At her request, Jean will be cremated and there will be a family service at a later date. Interment will occur next spring. Jean was born on April 6, 1923, in Red Oak, Iowa. She was the oldest child of Jacob Meng and Nellie Weidman Meng and had two brothers, Kenneth (Bud) and Robert,; two sisters, Donna and Nita. She attended school in Red Oak through grade 7. Jean’s family moved to Oregon when she was twelve years old and she attended junior high and … Read more

Justus, Daniel S. “Bob” – Obituary

Daniel S. ‘Bob’ Justus, 84, Baker City, Ore., died Dec. 27, 2006, at his home with his family by his bedside. There will be a memorial service at a later date. Cremation was done by Gray’s West & Co. in Baker City. ‘Bob’ was born March 28, 1922, in Rye Valley, Ore., to Lula Head Justus and Rollie Justus. He was the 5th son in a family of seven. The only remaining sibling is Betty Coleman of Eagle Creek, Ore. The family moved to Kellog, Idaho, when his father worked in the mines, but was killed in a cellar cave. … Read more

Cole, Violet Jewel “Vi” Birman Mrs. – Obituary

Violet Jewel Cole, 80, was born in Ionia County, Mich., on July 29, 1916, and passed away in Weiser, Idaho, on Dec. 31, 2006. Vi’s Funeral Service will be held Friday, Jan. 5, 2007, 1 p.m. at the Pine Baptist Church in Halfway, Ore. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception immediately following the service at the Pine Baptist Church. Interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway, Ore. Vi was the first-born child of John Birman and Esther Hess Birman. In 1933, the family moved to Roseburg, Ore., area where she met and married Daniel … Read more

Sister Cecilia Alice (Kovach, Dora Cecilia) – Obituary

Sister Cecilia Alice Kovach, 89, who had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 68 years, including service in Baker City, died Jan. 6, 2007, at St. Ann Convent in Tacoma, Wash. Sister Cecilia Alice (Dora Cecilia Kovach) was born at Tacoma where she was a member of Sacred Heart Parish. She graduated from St. Leo High School at Tacoma. Prior to her entrance into the congregation in 1936, she worked as a seamstress at St. Ann Orphanage in Tacoma. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Holy Names College at Spokane, Wash. … Read more

German, Jaunita Gaylene O’Rear Mrs. – Obituary

Sumpter, Oregon Juanita Gaylene German, 55, died Jan. 7, 2007, of breast cancer at her home on Deer Creek Road near Sumpter. There will be no funeral. Gaylene was born Sept. 7, 1951, at Firebaugh, Calif. She grew up at Gerber, Calif., where she graduated from grade school. Later, her family moved to Gustine, Calif., where she graduated from high school. After high school, she attended Sacramento State College for a year majoring in interior design, which she loved to do. After college, she moved with her family to a ranch at New Haul, Calif., where Westerns such as “Gunsmoke,” … Read more