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 forested and mountainous country and during the winter months she rode on the back of her brother Mike’s skis to school.
Martha’s family then moved to Baker City where she attended school through her sophomore year of high school. She married Joe Leick on July 4, 1935, at Baker City and the couple moved to Boise.
They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in July 2005. Martha was a homemaker until World War II. After Joe volunteer to serve in the U.S. Navy, she worked at First Security Bank in the bookkeeping department until 1946.
She also worked at Idaho Hardware from 1949 to 1953. After completing training, she was employed by Albertsons in 1957. She worked for the company for 10 years.
After Joe’s retirement in 1973, the couple enjoyed traveling. They visited 39 states. Martha was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and served as president of the organization for several years.
She and Joe were members of Capitol Gypsies Good Sam Club. They also were members of the Happy Hoofers and Ecumaniacs walking groups.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Joellen and Monty Hormel; four grandchildren, Gretchen Tomkins, Steve Hormel, Teresa Hormel and Leontina Hormel-Ekins; 11 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; three sisters, Nina Jacoby, Beatrice Baldock and Grace Warfield; three brothers, Ben Jacoby, Ivan Jacoby and Mike Jacoby; and her grandson, John Hormel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 1, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor