Obituary

Austin, Robert C. “Bob” – Obituary

Robert C. “Bob” Austin, 66, a former longtime Baker City resident, died of prostate cancer on Nov. 29, 2007, at his home in Imnaha. There will be a celebration of Bob’s life at 11 a.m. Saturday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. After the service, friends are invited to join the family for lunch and sharing memories at the Wingville Grange Hall. Bob was a 1959 graduate of North Salem High School. He later attended Salem Technical Vocational Community College and graduated with a degree in highway engineering. He worked in the construction business for about … Read more

Fleetwood, Johannah Morrissey Mrs. – Obituary

Johannah Morrissey Fleetwood went to her eternal rest on May 10, 2008 at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. She was born on June 26, 1916, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Baker City. She was the daughter of James and Kate Morrissey originally from County Wexford Ireland. In 1940, she married C.A. “Rastus” Fleetwood. Upon his enlistment in the Navy Seabees in 1942, she became a war bride until the conclusion of World War II in 1945. She was raised on the family ranch in the Medical Springs/ Keating area. After the completion of the 8th grade at Medical … Read more

Leick, Martha E. Jacoby Mrs. – Obituary

Martha E. Leick, 95, a former Baker City resident, died March 10, 2008, at Columbia Basin Hospital Nursing Home at Ephrata, Wash. Vigil services were March 17 at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, of which she and her late husband were founding parishioners. The Rev. Dennis Wassmuth presided. Burial was at Cloverdale memorial Park. Cloverdale Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Martha was born on May 21, 1912, at Aspen, Colo., to ranchers Michael and Elizabeth Jacoby. She attended school for one year at Owl Creek in rural Colorado. Martha rode a horse to school through the … Read more

Rizzuti, Jessie Nell Adams Mrs. – Obituary

Jessie Nell Rizzuti of 1976 Scarpelli died Thursday, March 6, 2008, at her home. She was 80. Memorial contributions may be made to Walla Walla Catholic Schools. Jessie was born April 6, 1927, in the community of Muddy Creek near Haines, Ore., to Leo K. and Edna C. (Weise) Adams. She attended Muddy Creek School, which stood on a corner of her family’s ranch, from 1st grade until her graduation in 1944. Following graduation, she moved to Baker City, staying with family friends while working at Baker State Bank. Jessie developed several treasured friendships with her co-workers there, staying in … Read more

Larsen, Luella June ‘Lue’ Brainard Mrs. – Obituary

Luella “Lue” Larsen, 83, of Baker City passed away March 9, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Care Center with her daughter Gayle and compassionate staff members at her side. Numerous phone calls were received from other family members expressing their love for her. A private family celebration of life will be held at a later date. She was born Luella June Brainard on July 31, 1924, in Englewood, Calif., to Albert and Bessie Dunson Brainard. She was the youngest of three children growing op in Long Beach, Calif. She married Kent Larsen, Jan. 23, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas, while he … Read more

North, Oral Buford – Obituary

Oral Buford North, 84, died on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at St. Lukes Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. Oral will be interred with his wife, Gladys Toth, in Okanogan, Wash. Oral was born on Aug. 12, 1923, in Warsaw, Mo., to James and Mary Elizabeth (Edison) North. He was one of nine children born into this family. Oral was raised and educated in Warsaw. As soon as Oral turned 18, he enlisted in the United States Army. He served from 1943 to January of 1946. He met and married Ida May Wallace in Warsaw, Mo. They had two sons, Don … Read more

Carlson, Madelyn Ocumpaugh Mrs. – Obituary

Madelyn Ocumpaugh Carlson, 79, died at her son’s home in Baker City, on March 21, 2008. Madelyn was born Oct. 30, 1928, to Clinton and Irene Mostchetti Ocumpaugh in Glendale. She was raised and educated in Cottage Grove. Madelyn graduated from Cottage Grove High School and also attended the University of Oregon for two years. On Feb. 14, 1947 she married Eldon Leonard Carlson in Cottage Grove. They had two sons, Kenneth and Gary. Madelyn enjoyed cooking and gardening. She was a devout member of the Church of Christ and spent countless hours at her church. Madelyn was also a … Read more

Jackson, Shirley Lavern Williams Mrs. – Obituary

Shirley Lavern Jackson, 68, a resident of Baker City since 1992, died March 20, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., followed by interment at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Roger Scovil of Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Visitation will be held today from noon to 5 p.m. Shirley was one of nine children born to Elmer and Lucille (Powell) Williams. She had five brothers and three sisters, all of whom were born in Glover, Okla. She loved to tell how she and two of … Read more

LeaMaster, Avonne Mae ‘Von’ Hinton Mrs. – Obituary

Avonne “Von” Mae (Hinton) LeaMaster, a longtime Haines resident, died March 22, 2008. A funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the Haines First Baptist Church. Long time family friend Clifford Cole will officiate. A private family internment will follow at the Haines Cemetery. Von was born May 4, 1929, at Wallowa to Velma Margaret Davis Hinton Plass and Harry Hinton. She grew up on the family ranch near Crow Creek a few miles northeast of Enterprise and spoke fondly of those childhood years. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandmother Myrtle Davis. Von and her … Read more

Newell, Brennon ‘Buck’ – Obituary

Brennon K. “Buck” Newell, 78, died March 21, 2008. Internment will be at a later date. He was born Nov. 22, 1929, in Montour, Idaho, to Mae and Ben Newell. He and his siblings worked their father’s ranches until 1944. At age 15, Brennon ran away from home and joined the army. One year later they found out how old he was and sent him home where he stayed until he was 17, when he left again to join the navy. He met Rosellen “Teri” Pritchard in Seattle in 1949. They married in 1950 and separated in 1954. Buck then … Read more

Rea, Deanna Gayle – Obituary

Deanna Gayle Rea, 65, died March 19, 2008, at her home in Baker City. Her funeral will at 11 a.m. Monday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Baker City. Bishop Ernie Collard will officiate. Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Deanna was born on Feb. 27, 1943, at Baker City to Lloyd and Darelene Downs Rea. She was raised in Baker and was a 1961 Baker High School graduate. After dating Frank Spriet Sr. through high school, the couple eloped to Winnemucca, Nev., on Oct. … Read more

Powell, Milton “Dean” – Obituary

Milton “Dean” Powell, 63, of Sparta, died March 15, 2008, at his home. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the New Bridge Grange. Friends are invited to join the family for a potluck reception after the service at the Grange hall. Dean was born on July 14, 1944, at Kuna, Idaho. He was the second son and the fourth of eight children born to Milton Wesley Powell and Nellie Frances Barnes Powell. His family moved to the New Plymouth/Fruitland, Idaho, area in 1950. Dean worked on the family farm, was active in the Nazarene Church and … Read more

Wilcox, Phyllis Cook Mrs. – Obituary

Phyllis Wilcox, 75, of Baker City died March 18, 2008, from St. Elizabeth Hospital. Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Baker City Christian Church, 675 Highway 7. There will be a reception afterward at the church. Phyllis was born on June 15, 1932, at her home in Baker City to Carl and Crystal Stonder Cook. She later married and had a son, Carl. After her divorce, she attended Eastern Oregon College in La Grande (now Eastern Oregon University) where she earned a teaching degree. She was hired to teach at Richland Elementary School in the … Read more

Davis, Daniel James – Obituary

Daniel James Davis, 55, of Baker City died March 18, 2008, at his home. At his request, his body was cremated and there will be no service. Dan was born on April 10, 1952, at Baker City to Joseph “Pat” and Margaret V. Nation Davis. Dan was a 1970 Baker High School graduate. He attended college for a couple of years before returning to Baker City. He worked several years for Cecil Dye Janitorial Service and then for Orchard Wood Products for more than 25 years. He will be missed by family and friends. Dan was preceded in death by … Read more

McCullough, Vera “Valoria” Harrington Carroll Mrs. – Obituary

Vera “Valoria” Harrington McCullough, 90, of Haines, died on March 11, 2008, at her daughter’s home in Boise with her daughters at her side. There will be a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. Monday at the Haines United Methodist Church. Visitations will begin at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the North Powder Cemetery. The Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. Valoria was born May 22, 1917, at Altoona, Kan., to Ervin and Allie Harrington. She was the oldest of five daughters. She spent her early years in Kansas before moving … Read more

Potter, Lane R. – Obituary

Lane R. Potter, 64, of Baker City, died March 16, 2008, at his home after a battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life service will be scheduled later. At his request, his body was cremated. Lane was born on May 7, 1943, at Bloomberg, Pa., to Richard D. and Harriet R. Diehl Potter. He was educated at Newark, Del., and worked at various occupations. He met Gail Curtis and they were married on June 7, 1986, in Delaware, where they lived until moving to Baker City in 1989. Lane worked as a landscaper. He loved to sing gospel songs and … Read more

Banes, Charles Ronald “Ron” – Obituary

Charles Ronald “Ron” Banes, 57, a former Baker City resident, March 12, 2008. His memorial service was at 11 a.m. today at Hillcrest Memorial Center, 9353 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Wash., with a brief graveside service afterward at Riverview Heights Cemetery. There was reception after the burial at the Eagles Lodge in Kennewick, Wash. To sign the guestbook, go to www.hillcrestmemorialcenter.com. Ron was born on March 8, 1951, at Brawley, Calif., to Antero and Dorothy Irvin Banes. Ron married Kandy Ann King on Dec. 15, 1983. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was an active member of the … Read more

Huffman, Cecil G. – Obituary

Cecil G. Huffman, 86, of Sweet Home, a former Baker City resident, died March 15, 2008. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday, March 24, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Cecil was born on May 21, 1921, at Mutual, Okla., to William and Feign Ritterhouse Huffman. During his life, he lived in Oklahoma and California and came to Oregon in the early 1930s. He was a 1939 Sweet Home High School graduate. Cecil served in the U.S. Navy from Sept. 22, 1942, to Nov. 13, 1945. He served aboard ship in the South Pacific with the medics during … Read more

Nevala, Lucille Mrs.

Lucille Nevala, 76, a longtime Baker City resident, died March 9, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Family and friends will gather in her honor at noon Thursday at The Sunridge. At her request, her body was cremated. Mrs. Nevala was born on May 8, 1931, at Baker City where she was raised by her mother, Frances Calder Merritt, and her stepfather, Charles E. Coffelt. She moved to Boise in 1947 where she met her future husband, William B. “Bill” Nevala, while working at Walgreens Drug Store. They were married on May 14, 1949. They returned to Baker City and … Read more

Van Patten, Gordon “Pat” – Obituary

Gordon “Pat” Van Patten, 85, a longtime Baker City resident, died March 7, 2008, at Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center in La Grande. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. There will be a reception afterward at the American Legion Club. Gordon was born on Aug. 11, 1922, at Town Gulch near Bridgeport to Chester Arthur and Tina Whitworth Van Patten. He was the youngest of three children. He grew up in the Burnt River Canyon area including Town Gulch, Clarks Creek Dredge Camp, and by the Burnt … Read more