Obituary

Obituary of Craig LaVerne Carey

Craig LaVerne Carey, 55, of Baker City died Aug. 10, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services with Tenee, his dearest love present. Visitation will be held today from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the McEwen Bible Fellowship Church near Sumpter. Craig was born on April 18, 1953, at the Mountain Home Air Base in Mountain Home, Idaho, to Marion and Marian Carey. He grew up in Grangeville, Idaho, where he attended school and received his GED. After high school, he joined the … Read more

Obituary of Jack O. Thompson

Jack O. Thompson, 81, of Baker City died Aug. 10, 2008, at home with his faithful dog Dutch at his feet. At his request, there will be no funeral service. Interment will take place at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery in Milton-Freewater. Mr. Thompson, the youngest son of Bress Thompson and Annie Bowyer Thompson, was born Sept. 12, 1926, in Wallowa. He graduated from McLoughlin Union High School in Milton-Freewater in 1944. He served proudly in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps during the late 1940s and 1950s. He was stationed in California and in Asia. He also served in … Read more

Obituary of Robert Edward Seevers

Robert Edward Seevers, 73, a former Richland resident, died Aug. 8, 2008, at Gresham surrounded by his family. His graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a picnic afterward at Geiser-Pollman Park. A future memorial service is planned for September at Ashland. Bob was born on March 18, 1935, to Helen Schutt and Clifford Seevers. He grew up at Richland, graduating from Eagle Valley High School in 1953. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. After earning his doctorate in chemistry at Oregon State University, at Corvallis, he taught … Read more

Obituary of Mrs. Hilda Ellen Schacher Nelson Cable Overton

Hilda Ellen Overton, 83, of Baker City, died July 30, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. At her request, there will be no public service. Hilda was born on May 10, 1925, at Washburn, N.D., to Andrew and Louise Pfiefle Schacher, who had immigrated from Germany. She was the third of 10 children. She attended school at Washburn and lived on a farm as a child. When they moved to town, she got polio. She had the disease three times and wasn’t able to talk until the age of 9. At the age of 13, she was put into braces … Read more

Williams, Franklyn Spence – Obituary

Franklyn Spence Williams, 70, a former Baker resident, died July 10, 2008, at Providence Medical Center in Portland, Ore. A service was held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at Omega Funeral & Cremation Service in Portland. Franklyn was born July 1, 1938, in Baker, to Jay and Marjorie Williams. He graduated from high school in Baker. He worked during his early years in Baker, and in 1959 moved to Portland where he worked for Johnston Bros. contract carriers providing services at the Oregon Journal, which later sold to The Oregonian. In 1968 he bought the Husky Service Station … Read more

Obituary of Mrs. Barbara Lee Burris West

Barbara was born Sept. 30, 1920, in Corvallis, Ore., to Clarence and Hazel Burris. She grew up in North Powder, Ore., where she met her future husband, Howard West. They were married in 1941. While her husband was serving in World War II, Barbara owned and operated a beauty salon in the town of Hermiston, Ore. After the war the couple settled in Eastern Oregon where her daughter was born, followed by son William. After a few years in Boise, Idaho, the family moved to Portland, Ore., where a third child, Gregory was born. Howard built them a home in … Read more

Francis, Mary Jean Winkels Mrs. – Obituary

Mary Jean Francis, 69, of Boise, passed away on Monday, July 7, 2008, at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Wash. Her family was by her side and her passing was very peaceful. Mary was born to Frank and Eva Winkels on Dec. 28, 1938, in Nyssa, Ore. She later moved, with her family, to Baker, Ore. Where she attended and graduated from St. Francis Academy. Mary worked for the Democrat Herald as a young adult, until she married David D. Francis, also of Baker, and started her family. Mary was very devoted to her husband and son, … Read more

Obituary of Mrs. Sarah Savilla Bowman Holt

Sarah Savilla Holt, 90, died May 18, 2007, at her home in Baker City. Her funeral was at 10 a.m. today at Coles Funeral Home. Vault interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery. Friends joined the family afterward for a reception at Geiser-Pollman Park. Sarah S. Bowman Holt was born on May 29, 1916, at Pendleton. She was the second to the youngest of six children born to Charlie Felix and Luetta McCartney Bowman. Growing up, Sarah lived at Pendleton, Medford and Weiser, Idaho. After high school, she went back East and studied nursing and cared for her aunt at Englewood, … Read more

Obituary of William Roy Christie

William Roy Christie went to be with the Lord on July 6, 2008, in Ontario, Ore., at the age of 82. Bill was born Dec 9, 1925, in Colorado Springs, Colo., to Clarence and Sadie (Mittan) Christie, the youngest of five children. The family moved frequently, eventually ending up in Yakima, Wash., when Bill was a teenager. On Oct 29, 1944, he married Sarah “Ruth” Walker and they made Yakima their home. After completing military service in World War II he worked as a painter with his father-in-law and became acquainted with Bud Buele who taught him to repair cars. … Read more

Obituary of Mrs. Betty L. Colson Van Cleave

Betty L. Van Cleave age 81, passed away July 7, 2008 in Pendleton, Ore. She was born Feb. 5, 1927 in Baker, Ore. Betty was the seventh of 13 children to Carl and Florence “Doolittle” Colson. She attended school until the 10th grade, and then went to work to help the family. She was a waitress and owned two restaurants, one in Durkee, Ore. and one in Burley, Idaho. Betty is survived by two daughters and one son, Sandy Howland of Pendleton, Ore., Sonny and wife Bonnie Van Cleave of Parma, ID and Georgia and husband Steve Wallis of Pendleton, … Read more

O’Mohundro, Leslie Ann – Obituary

Leslie Ann O’Mohundro, 58, of Gresham and formerly of La Grande, died April 7. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Omega Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements. Leslie was born June 23, 1949, in Pendleton to Lewis R. and Dorothy Christine Petersen O’Mohundro. She moved to Portland 20 years ago, but was raised in La Grande. She graduated from La Grande High School and attended Eastern Oregon University. She worked as a salesperson at Linen N’ Things and Meier and Frank. Survivors include her parents, Lewis and Dorothy O’Mohundro of La Grande; brothers, … Read more

Hooker, Frances Harriet Wilsey Mrs. – Obituary

Frances Harriet Hooker, of La Grande and formerly of Union, died Friday, April 4, 2008, at a local care home in La Grande; she was 92. A life tribute and celebration was held at 3p.m. on Friday, June 6, 2008, at the Union Cemetery in Union, Ore. Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory handled Arrangements. Through the last 92 years, Frances touched many lives and helped many people whether volunteering at senior meals and the local food bank at the United Methodist Church in Union. She was usually the first one at Church on Sundays and would turn up the heat, … Read more

Morris, Robert Charles “Chuck” – Obituary

Robert Charles “Chuck” Morris, 90, of La Grande, died July 28, 2008, at his property at Wallowa Lake. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Elks Club in La Grande. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City. Chuck was born on March 20, 1918, at Haines to Edward Jenkins and Fanny Ann Borton Morris. He was a Haines High School graduate and became an engineer for the railroad. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August 1943. He married Mary Jean Metcalf on Nov. 9, 1945, at Baker City. The couple moved to Seattle, … Read more

Obituary of Donald R. Orr

Donald R. Orr, 64, of Baker City, died July 19, 2008, at Boise. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Keith Chadwell will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at Community Connection, 2810 Cedar St. Donald was born on Aug. 14, 1943, at Torrance, Calif., to Joe and Ina McNeal Orr. He graduated from high school at Bakersfield, Calif. He married Sharron Kohl in June of 1974 at Weiser, Idaho. Don spent the majority of his working career outside doing various types of logging. Over a 30-year … Read more

Mayes, David Mark – Obituary

David Mark Mayes, 43, of La Grande died July 18, 2008, at his home. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of the Valley in La Grande. David was born on Sept. 1, 1964, at Sacramento, Calif., to Donald and Jo Elaine Mayes. His family moved from Northern California to Haines when he was 9. David was a fourth-generation descendent of early Oregon pioneers. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1980. He was a 1982 Baker High School graduate. David attended Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, graduating in 1986 with a Bachelor … Read more

Obituary of Richard Lee Hamman

Richard Lee Hamman, 68, of Baker City, died July 17, 2008 ,at Settler’s Park. His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Apostolic Lighthouse Church, 2047 Seven St. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception at the church after the service. Richard was born on May 30, 1940, to Roy and Fern Hamman at Fort Archambault in French Equatorial Africa, during their time as missionaries. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1959 to 1963. He worked as a hydroelectric engineer most of his life, retiring in 2000. Survivors include his children, Robert … Read more

Halley, Gregory Wayne – Obituary

Gregory Wayne Halley, 69, of Richland, died July 10, 2008, at his home, surrounded by his family. Greg’s battle with melanoma cancer over the last 1 year was fierce, but finally took its toll. There was a celebration of Greg’s life Sunday at the New Bridge Grange. Gordon Bond of the Richland Christian Church officiated. Greg was born on April 6, 1939, at Bend to Ronald Lloyd and Grace Margret Jones Halley. When he was 4, the family returned to Richland where his parents were from originally. Spending his youth in Eagle Valley, Greg loved hunting, camping, trapping, 4-H and … Read more

Hull, Thelma Jean Searles Mrs. – Obituary

Thelma Jean Hull, 72, a longtime Baker City resident, died July 9, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Internment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a luncheon afterward at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Visitations will be until 5 p.m. today at the funeral home. Thelma was born on Feb. 3, 1936, at La Grande to Archie and Augusta Searles. Thelma moved to Baker City in the 1950s and worked at her father’s cafe. She eventually … Read more

Lyman, Dorothy Maud Widdowson Netteship Mrs. – Obituary

Dorothy Maud Widdowson Nettleship Lyman, 80, died July 9, 2008. Funeral services were held today at the Boulder, Colo., LDS Ward Chapel. Burial follows in the Boulder Cemetery. Dorothy was born Oct. 7, 1927, in Haines to Arthur Vincent and Gladys Amelia Widdowson Nettleship. She joined a sister, Naomi. She married her sweetheart and life-long companion, Ivan Lyman, on June 10, 1946, in the Salt Lake Temple. Their lives were blessed with eight children: Gladys (Dell) LeFevre; Marilyn (Ned) Artz; Arthur (Julee) Lyman; Mark (Mary) Lyman; Jack (Amy) Lyman; Ronald Lyman; Alice (Dave) Shaw; and Buddie Lyman. They have 37 … Read more

Jennings, Shirley Mrs. – Obituary

Shirley Jennings, 83, a longtime Baker City resident, died July 8, 2008. At her request, there will be no funeral. Instead, she asked that family and friends gather and swap stories at a picnic at Anthony Lake. The gathering will begin at noon on July 4, 2009. Shirley was born on March 17, 1925, at Denver. “Married for 53 of those years to John Jennings, Shirley has been wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and fearless bull terrier for all who knew and loved her,” her family said. People in the communities of Baker City, where she moved in 1984, … Read more