System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Ruth Clausen
Ruth I. Clausen, 88, of North Powder, did May 1, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her funeral will be later at Ojai, Calif. Interment will be at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura, Calif.
Ruth was born on May 15, 1914, at Chicago to Charles W. and Bertha O. Lichty Isenbise.
Survivors include his two sons, Jerald F. Clausen, and his wife, Barbara of Ojai, Calif., and Robert Clausen of Cave Junction; a daughter, Marie Marks and her husband, Gene, of North Powder; a grandson, James Marks of North Powder; granddaughter, JoAnne Hufford and her husband, Kody, of North Powder; grandson, Ted Clausen and his wife, Kathy, of Dayville; granddaughter, Kim Strong of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; grandson, Wayne Clausen and his wife, Janice, of Bakersfield, Calif.; granddaughter Julie Taylor, and her husband, Gary, of Bishop, Calif.; and grandson, Brian Clausen and his wife, Anna Marie, of Summerland, Calif.
Memorial contributions may be made to Doernbecher Children's Hospital through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Douglas Nebelung
Douglas Paul Nebelung, 44, of Haines, died April 20, 2003.
Disposition was by cremation. A celebration of his life will be announced later.
Doug was born on Sept. 11, 1958, at Eugene to Paul E. and Charlotte D. Erickson Nebelung. He attended school at Eugene and worked there as an automobile painter and auto body repairman for 25 years.
Doug was an avid outdoorsman and liked the far outback country of both the mountains and desert. He liked fishing and camping with his friends and his dad, who was also his friend and buddy.
Survivors include his father, Paul Nebelung, and his sister, Lori Powell, who both loved him very much, both of Haines; a nephew, Aaron Powell; two nieces, Angela Cimmigatti and Nicole Edwards; an aunt, Mary Leavitt, and family, Gary, Robert, Carol, and Kathy of Eugene; an aunt, Myrtle Olson, and family, Judy, Rick, Rod, and Tiny Yeager; Dorothy Cooper of Kirkland, Wash., and family, Vanessa, Leonard, Gail and Terry; his girlfriend, Kris Marsh, and a friend, Julie, of Kennewick, Wash.; and his many friends in and around Baker City.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Charlotte Nebelung.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association through Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Bryan Cardwell
Bryan Stanley Cardwell, 75, a former Baker City resident, died April 27, 2003, at his home in Netarts.
At his request, disposition was by cremation.
Bryan was born Aug. 16, 1927, at Caldwell, Idaho, to Lloyd E. "Blackie" and Clara W. Shuey Cardwell. He was the oldest of three children.
The family moved to Baker City in the early 1930s. He married Eujeanna O'Brien on Sept. 5, 1946. She died in 1965.
Bryan and Eujeanna had four daughters.
He married Nellie Padgett in September 1965. She died in 1997.
Bryan worked in the logging industry, sawmills and mining. He also worked for Commercial Welding and Carlson Construction. For many years he drove taxi in Baker City. He and Nellie moved to Netarts in 1984. He was working as a landscaper for Shiveley Apartments at the time of his death.
His five daughters and their families, and music were the loves of his life. Everyone loved to hear him sing. Most times when he entered a room he was singing.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Jim Cardwell.
Survivors include his loving daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara Johnston of Netarts, Maxine and Tom Chandler of Sumpter, Lorna and Gorden Allen of Absarokee, Mont., Karen and Don Peterson of Sacramento, Calif., and Rhonda and Ron Hender of Camas, Wash.; a sister, Louise Mattes of Baker City; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; numerous nephews, nieces and many friends.
Dale Mehlhorn
Dale Mehlhorn, 72, of Hood River died April 24, 2003 at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital.
A memorial service will be scheduled later. In lieu of flowers, Dale would have appreciated your donation to your school sports program.
Dale was born Nov. 2, 1930, at Halfway to Audrey and Clyde Mehlhorn. He attended school at Halfway where he played football, basketball, baseball and ran track.
He married Jean Smith in 1948. They moved to Corvallis where Dale attended and graduated from Oregon State University.
Dale and Jean made their home in Baker County with their two sons. Dale acted as coach and fan throughout his boys' sports careers and was instrumental in starting the Little League program in Baker City.
Dale was an avid fly fisherman and hunter all of his life. Golf, gardening and travel kept him busy and active in his later years.
He retired as manager of Farm Credit Services in 1993. He and Jean moved to Hood River in 2000.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Fred Mehlhorn.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Jean; a son, Ed, and his wife, Jana Mehlhorn; grandchildren, Ragan McBeth, Sara Mehlhorn, Pam Kelly and Christopher Mehlhorn; two great-grandchildren; and lifelong friends, Roger Rode, Dean Miller, Forrest Miller, Galen Wilson, Fred Smith, Bud Smith and many other friends and relatives who will miss his willing smile and his quiet manner.
Anderson's Tribute Center at Hood River is in charge of arrangements.
Gene Ego
Gene F. Ego, 84, of Halfway and a former Baker City resident, died April 25, 2003, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Portland.
At his request, disposition will be by cremation at Gray's West Pioneer Crematory and there will be no service.
Gene was born Oct. 11, 1918, to C.B. and Bessie S. (Doolittle) Ego at Cove. His family moved to Baker City when he was 5. Gene attended school at a one-room school-house on Sutton Creek, just south of Baker City. He worked for different ranches in the area during this time.
After leaving school in 1938, he went to work for the Oregon Lumber Co. where he remained until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942. He was sworn in at Fort Lewis, Wash., on Feb. 18, 1942, and moved to Fort Leonardwood, Mo., where he received engineer training.
He then was relocated for heavy equipment school, eventually joining the 120th Engineer Battalion Headquarters Co. Gene later ended up at Pine Camp, N.Y., where he had to dig tunnels through 13 feet of snow just to get to the street.
Along with his engineering duties, he also served as a chauffeur for some generals of the time, one of which was General Patton. Other places he was stationed included Virginia, North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Southern France. He was honorably discharged on Sept. 18, 1945, when he returned to the states.
After his discharge from the military, Gene continued to live in Baker City for several more years. He then moved to John Day, where he went to work in various sawmills. After moving to John Day, Gene married Dorothy Masterson on Aug. 29, 1952, at Boise.
Gene later took a job with the U.S. Forest Service, working primarily in the Malheur National Forest. The couple then moved to Medford where Gene worked for the Bureau of Land Management until his retirement in 1985.
He and Dorothy moved to Halfway in 1989 to enjoy their retirement. Gene enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and rock collecting. He was a life member of the American Legion, Post 41, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 3048. He was also a former member of the Powder River Good Sam Club.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Dorothy Ego of Halfway; one daughter, Erna Kay Williams, and her husband, Eric, of Troutdale; one grandson, James Paul Thompson of Troutdale; one sister, Adealia Veristain, and her husband, Mark, of Ontario; two brothers, William Ego and his wife, Flora, of Payette, Idaho, and Howard Ego of Vale; many cousins, numerous nieces and one nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and three brothers.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion, Post 41, or the V.F.W., Post 3048, through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Rita Bork
Rita Joylean Bork, 67, a former area resident, died April 1, 2003, at Oroville, Wash.
Her memorial service will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at McEwen Bible Fellowship in Sumpter Valley. Friends and family are invited to a potluck after the service.
Rita was born April 19, 1935, at Dayridge, near Flora. She married Bernard Murphy at age 17. Rita became a Christian when she married Bernie. They had five children.
Rita lived at Halfway, Baker City and Sumpter before moving to Oroville, Wash., four years ago.
Survivors include her children, Earl Murphy of St. Helens, Audrey Murphy Handyside of Oroville, Wash., Ladean Murphy Lyons of Oroville, Delbert Murphy of Spokane, Wash., and Terry Thompson of Oroville; sisters, Alma Gribling of La Grande, Ila Greiner of Scappoose and Erma Sewell of Scio; one brother, Neal Bork of Sumpter; and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Merna Murphy; her husband, Bernard Murphy; her mother, Lora May Bork; father, Ira H. Bork; and brothers, Raymon Bork, Everett Bork and Ivan Bork.
‘Chuck' Simpson
Dr. Charles D. "Chuck" Simpson, 66, a longtime Baker City resident, died April 23, 2003, at his home.
His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate. There will be a reception afterward in Rogers Hall.
Charles Daye Simpson was born July 29, 1936, at Montrose, Colo. The family moved to Idaho in his early years and he was raised and received his schooling at Caldwell and Idaho Falls, Idaho.
He continued his education at Idaho State at Pocatello and then went on to Pacific University at Forest Grove where he received his degree in 1960 and doctorate in optometry in 1961.
On May 7, 1960, he married Verjean Rancore at Forest Grove. On July 25, 1961, he entered the U.S. Army and served his country for three years as an optometrist.
He was honorably discharged at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., in July of 1964 at the rank of 1st lieutenant. He came to Baker City in 1964 after his discharge from the army.
He began his career as an optometrist in Baker City and purchased a practice at 2011 First St. in 1964. In the early 1980s he and Dr. Steve Tronnes purchased Baker Vision Clinic from Drs. C. A. House and C. E. Cummins at the present building.
In 1986, he offered a partnership to Dr. Sheryl Blankenship. He retired from his business in 1996.
Chuck was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder and deacon, Baker City Lion's Club, Baker Historical Society, Community Concerts, and Crossroads. He was a past Salvation Army Advisory Board member, past Boy Scout leader, past Meals On Wheels driver, past Head Start Board member, past City Council member, past Chamber of Commerce Board member. He also had been a member of the Baker Jaycees, the Optometric Association, was a past president of Eastern Oregon Optometrist Association and a longstanding member of the Senile Businessmen's Association Coffee Group, and served as a docent for Geiser Grand Hotel Tours.
In 1968 he received the honor of being named Young Man of the Year and in 1990 Baker Vision Clinic received the Baker County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Simpson of Baker City; his daughters and sons-in-law, Jill and Dan Harlan of Lakeview and Christy and Scott Swindlehurst of Unity; a sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Craig Crooks; a nephew, Matthew of Virginia; an aunt, Dorothy Bragg of Baker City; grandchildren, Zackery and Ginna Swindlehurst of Unity; Nathan, Nick and Jennifer Harlan of Lakeview; stepgrandchildren, Rory Swindlehurst and his wife, Kristal, of Fox and Ryan Swindlehurst of La Grande; and stepgreat-grandchildren, Shelby and Shea Swindlehurst of Fox; in-laws Dennis and Heather Rancore and Rose and Pat Neirenhausen; and former business partners, Steve Tronnes and Sheryl Blankenship.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Irving and Mildred Simpson.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, the Alzheimer's Association or Pathway Hospice. This may be done through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Richard Griffey
Richard Gordon Griffey, 55, a former Baker City resident, died of sudden heart failure on April 8, 2003, at Baldwin, Wis.
His funeral was April 12. The Rev. Jason Harris, River Church pastor, conducted the service. River Falls Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars performed military honors. Interment was at the Greenwood Cemetery at River Falls, Wis.
Richard was born on Jan. 21, 1948, to Gordon and Virginia Biller Griffey. He grew up in the Kinnickinnic Valley and was a 1966 River Falls, Wis., High School graduate. He received his bachelor's degree in farm crops from Oregon State University at Corvallis in 1970. At OSU he was an active member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity.
He joined the U.S. Army Reserve in June 1970. He was honorably discharged in July 1977.
Mr. Griffey was a loan officer for Baker Production Credit Association in the late 1970s and 1980s. He worked in sales, banking and farm-related industries his entire career. Richard was active in the United Methodist Church in Baker City.
He had been manager of the Country Elevator at Woodville and Baldwin, Wis., for the past several years.
‘Dick' Humphries
Richard "Dick" Alfred Humphries, 71, of Baker City, died April 21, 2003, at his residence.
Services will be Friday at 2 p.m. at the Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church, 2047 Seventh St. Pastor Nathaniel Neff of the Lighthouse Church will officiate. Military graveside services will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. A potluck reception will follow at the Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St.
Disposition was by cremation at Gray's West Pioneer Crematory.
Dick was born in Poplar Bluff, Mo., on Jan. 8, 1932. He resided in West Yellowstone, Mont., from 1937 until 1942. In 1943, he and his family moved to Baker City, where he resided for 62 years.
He served in the United States Navy on the U.S.S. Baltimore Cruiser from March 1951 through March 1955.
In September 1955, he returned to Baker City and married Vickey M. Reeves.
Dick was known and loved for his remarkable gift of carpentry and restoration throughout Oregon, such as the Brownlee dam and various bridges on Interstate 84.
One of his last projects was the Geiser Grand Hotel in which he postponed his retirement in order to participate in the project.
Dick was also well-known for his love of country music and his mastery of the steel guitars. For many years he enjoyed playing music with his many musician friends and family members at various events and numerous gatherings. In his earlier years he loved to hunt, fish and camp with his family and friends.
Dick was well-loved and respected by all who knew him. He has impacted many lives and we are all better people for knowing him. He will be missed by all.
Survivors include his children, Autumn of Prineville, Richard C. and his wife, Jeannie, of Prineville, and Meriedeth of Davis, Calif.; seven grandchildren, ages 22 years to four months old; and brothers, Marshall, Clifford, Carl, Steven and Robert.
He was preceded in death by both parents, one sister, and two brothers.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mountain States Tumor Institute in care of Gray's West & Company, P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Earl Robb
Earl Robert Robb, 81, a former Baker City resident, died April 18, 2003.
A celebration of his life will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church, Cathedral of the Rockies, in Boise.
Earl was born Jan. 20, 1922, the first child of Albert and Lola Robb at Oxly, Mo.
He married Shirley Mahan on March 14, 1948, and lived at Moorpark, Calif., and Baker City before moving to Boise in 1974. He was involved with various agricultural ventures during his working years.
Earl served his country during World War II as a pilot flying the Burma Hump in the Himalayan Mountains India. In 1945 he was awarded the Presidential Citation.
Earl was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he served his Lord and church. He ushered most Sundays until his health failed. His friendliness and kindness will be remembered by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley, in 1998; his brother Paul Robb in 1999; and his parents Albert and Lola Robb.
He is survived by his daughter, Eileen Robb of Boise; and son, Rodney Robb and his wife, Susie, of Tri-Cities, Wash.
Inurnment will be next to his beloved Shirley in the Island City Cemetery at Island City.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Boise VA, Boise Medical Center, 500 W. Fort St., Boise, ID 83702 or the First United Methodist Church, 717 N. 11th St., Boise, ID 83702.
