System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Elizabeth Gronke
Elizabeth M. Gronke, 87, of Baker City, died Jan. 16, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her graveside funeral will be Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 1 p.m. at City View Cemetery in Salem. Pastor John Maas of Christ Lutheran Church will officiate.
Mrs. Gronke was born March 3, 1913, at Aurora to Henry and Hulda Ida (Kupkee) Muessig. She was raised across the river from Wilsonville and received her schooling in Wilsonville and Canby.
After graduation from high school, she attended one year of nursing training until her marriage took priority. On Aug. 20, 1933, she married Otto William Gronke at the Meridian Reformed Church, otherwise known as the “Frog Pond Church, ” in Wilsonville. They made their home in Salem.
In 1998 Mrs. Gronke moved to Baker City, where her daughter lives.
Mrs. Gronke loved singing in the church choir and playing her organ, a skill she taught herself. She also enjoyed painting, drawing, cooking and gardening. She was a member of the Christ Lutheran Church in Salem and an associate member of the First Lutheran Church in Baker City.
Mrs. Gronke is survived by her daughters and their husbands: Ida Jo and Bill Bradford of Salem, Barbara and Frank Robinson of Tacoma, Wash., and Charlene and Robert Carlton of Baker City; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Otto; and by two brothers and two sisters.
Contributions in Mrs. Gronke’s memory may be made to the First Lutheran Church in Baker City or Christ Lutheran Church in Salem, in care of Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Ore., 97814.
Ray Greathouse
Ray Lowell Greathouse Sr., 66, of Hereford, died Jan. 16, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
His memorial service will be later at the Oregon Coast. His body was cremated by Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Crematory.
Mr. Greathouse was born on March 21, 1934, at Pekin, Ill. He graduated from high school in 1952 at Armington, Ill. He served in the U.S. Army and was a member of Eagles, Aerie 1664, and the Elks Lodge, No. 2105.
He was a long-haul truckdriver for 32 years. He drove log truck locally for Don Cate and FJF Trucking.
He married his wife, Jana, on Dec. 9, 1989. He loved to play country music and played locally and was known as The Country Gold Band. His hobbies were gold mining, playing music and camping.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ford Greathouse; and his brother, Robert Greathouse.
Survivors include his wife, Jana Greathouse of Hereford; his mother, Evelyn Greathouse of Siletz; a sister, Bette Turner; five sons, Raymond Jr., Jeff, David, Mike and Todd; a daughter, Kathy; two stepchildren, Jennifer Miller and Kenneth Paul; nine grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.
‘Ben’ Haynes
Thomas Benjamin “Ben” Haynes, 95, a longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 19, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.
At his request there will be no service or memorial.
Mr. Haynes was born on Aug. 22, 1905, to Thomas Martin Haynes and Laura Etta Adams Haynes at Laurel. He was the second of seven children born on the family homestead at Chehalem Mountain.
He spent a majority of his life working in the construction business. He made his living in his younger years working in logging camps. In later years, he built sawmills in many logging towns throughout the Pacific Northwest, California and Arizona.
In the early ’70s, he and his wife, Marvel, moved to Baker City from Kingman, Ariz. It was at “the little green house in Baker City” where Mr. Haynes became known for his ability to build and repair instruments, to play music, and to grow a beautiful garden.
There was never a visitor turned away for lack of time to chat or a story that wasn’t important enough not to be discussed. Mr. Haynes was a man full of so much information; as a listener you could only stand in awe of the knowledge he conveyed.
He and his wife were married for 67 years, traveling and exploring life side by side. They had no children together, but found great happiness in the families that grew around them. His happy eyes, hearty laugh and undying companionship he shared with his wife, will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Esther Morgan; three brothers, Chad Haynes, Don Haynes and Pete Haynes; and a son, Thomas Jr.
Survivors include his wife, Marvel Haynes of Baker City; a daughter and her husband, Ilene and John Newton; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Baker City nieces and their husbands, Marilyn and Keith Shollenberger and Cindy and Jack Henner; two brothers, Jake Haynes of Lexington and John Haynes of Inchelium, Wash.; and many more nieces and nephews and their extended families.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Mountain Old Time Fiddlers Association through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, Ore. 97814.
Evelyn Reaves
Evelyn R. Jackson Reaves, 60, a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 18, 2001, at Providence Yakima Medical Center in Yakima, Wash.
Her memorial service was Saturday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Yakima 4th Ward.
Mrs. Reaves was born at Prosser, Wash., on Aug. 14, 1940. She was a 1959 Baker High School graduate.
She married Mike Reaves on June 5, 1959. They lived at Anchorage, Alaska; Newark, Ohio; Hof, Germany; and Brindisi, Italy. She and her husband settled at Yakima in 1978. Mrs. Reaves worked at Deaf ACCESS in Yakima.
She was active as a flute player for many years with the Yakima Valley Community Band and traveled to Europe with the group on two concert trips. She was an avid bowler and enjoyed knitting, quilting and amateur photography.
Survivors include her mother, Marguerite Jackson of Yakima; her husband, Mike, of Yakima; two sons, Michael, of Beaverton and Dennis and his wife, Kajsa, of New York; a granddaughter, Paris, of New York; and a sister, Darlene, of Portland.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Northwest Kidney Foundation through the Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, Wash. 98902.
‘Bud’ Reese
Horace Gaylen “Bud” Reese, 81, died Jan. 18, 2001, at Evergreen Health and Rehab Center in La Grande.
His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., in La Grande. There will be a full military honor service at Hillcrest Cemetery afterward. Visitations will be until 8 o’clock tonight at the funeral chapel.
Mr. Reese was born on Jan. 22, 1919, at Tyrone, Okla., to Cline Maynard and Mary Gurtrud Hampton Reese. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1936 at the age of 17. He changed his birth date from 1919 to 1918 in order to join.
He served at various commands and duty assignments including Fort Logan, Colo.; Fort Jackson, S.C.; Fort Custer, Mich.; Fort Hood, Texas; Camp Kilmer, N.J.; the Oregon National Guard at Pendleton; and finally the Oregon National Guard at La Grande.
He entered the Army as a private in 1936 and was promoted to first sergeant in 1941 and then to the rank of warrant officer.
He participated in World War II and the Berlin Air Lift. He received these decorations and awards: Armed Forces Reserve Medal, expert rifle badge, Oregon Faithful Service Medal (20 years), Silver Medal, excellence in competition (rifle/national), Oregon Faithful Service Medal (10 years), World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupational Medal, EAME with three Bronze Stars, American Defense and Good Conduct.
He retired from the Oregon National Guard in 1975 and began working at Eastern Oregon State College. He continued working until 1983.
He married Esther Adoline Keller in November 1953. She died in January 1982. He married Marjorie Hale Taylor on Oct. 25, 1983 at Colorado Springs, Colo. He loved his family very much and enjoyed joking with his friends.
He had a passion for woodworking. He would spend endless hours making handcrafted toys for family, friends and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He will truly be missed.
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie of La Grande; sons, Tommy Gaylen Reese of Clovis, N.M., Bill Barnes of Liberal, Kan., Les Taylor of O’Fallon, Mo., Tim Taylor of Baker City and Nathan Taylor of La Grande; daughters, Tonie Reese Fry of Garden Valley, Idaho, Bobbie “A” Kaczkowski of Oak Harbor, Wash., Melanie Fronk of Houston and Michelle Robarge of San Antonio, Texas; a sister, Betty Barbara Moser of Idaho Falls, Idaho; 30 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Cline Maynard Reese; his mother, Mary Gurtrud Reese; brothers, Marvin Lemen Reese and Cline Maynard Reese Jr.; and a sister, Naomi Lee Stevens.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elks Eye Clinic in La Grande or to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Laura Wade
Laura Jane Wade, 83, of Baker City died Jan. 20, 2001, at her home in Union.
Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Her longtime friend and neighbor, Pastor Ralph Holcomb, will officiate.
Mrs. Wade was born on April 16, 1917, at Salt Lake City to Charles W. Bulkley and Nellie Sewell Bulkley. She was raised at Boise where she attended school.
She moved to Baker City in 1942 where she met and married Thomas W. Wade. She worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital from 1963 until her retirement in 1982. She was an excellent seamstress and was always sewing for her family. She also enjoyed crocheting, gardening, hunting and fishing.
Survivors include her daughters and their husbands, Barbara and Don Baggerly of Baker City, Roberta and Jim Litchner of Hermiston, Sandra and Ken Barber of Hermiston and Ronda Denton of Albany; stepson, Dennis “Whitey” Wade of Tye Valley; 20 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Tom Wade; a son, Linford “Buck” Wade; a daughter, Mildred Holloway; and a stepdaughter, Shirley Brewer.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, P.O. Box 726, Baker City, Ore., 97814.
Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Paul Thomas, 19, of Baker City died Jan. 20, 2001, as the result of an automobile accident.
His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church. Pastor Ed Niswinder of Calvary Baptist Church will officiate. Interment will be at the Haines Cemetery. For visitation times, call Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 523-4300.
Isaiah was born in Boise on May 10, 1981, the son of Charles and Linda McElhose Thomas. As a youngster, he was involved in many typical activities of Baker youth.
He was involved in various sports at the YMCA, but soccer was his passion. He had a paper route with Baker City Herald and was awarded “Carrier of the Month.”
He participated in 4-H programs, and he received an invitation to state for his “demonstration project.” Biking, hiking, and camping were some of his favorite activities with friends and family.
He was home educated with the aid of excellent tutors and a home-education support group. He also attended classes at Baker High School.
He had superior math skills, and he loved to read. Because of his exceptional scores, Isaiah was accepted into the Navy Nuclear Program. His goal was to attain a position on a nuclear submarine.
He had just graduated from the Power Training School and had begun Prototype School. He was very excited with the “hands on” training he was receiving and was excelling.
He was raised with a knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He and his family attended Calvary Baptist Church, though he had friends from various churches.
He was preceded in death by his loving grandfather, Jack A. Thomas Jr. and cousin, Joshua Tomlinson.
Survivors include his parents, Charles and Linda Thomas of Baker City; brother and wife, Jeremiah and Mary Thomas; sister Char-Lette “Charlie” Thomas; sister and husband, Honalee and Adam Smith; sister, Spring Thomas; Adena Ashby; grandmothers, Anita Thomas and Diane Proctor; and many uncles, aunts, and cousins.
During his teen years, he was contemplating becoming a New Tribes missionary. He had many friends associated with New Tribes. Memorial contributions may be made to New Tribes Missions through Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, Oregon 97814.
'Pearl’ Black
Margaret “Pearl” Black, 89, of Baker City, died Jan. 24, 2001, at Prairie Acres Foster Care home in Baker City.
Her funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at the Poole-Larsen Funeral Home, 1100 Charnelton St., in Eugene. Vault interment will be at Lane Memorial Garden in Eugene.
Mrs. Black was born Nov. 30, 1911, at Eugene to Willis H. and Maggie Crabtree Elliott. She lived in Eugene for most of her early years. In 1930 she married Robert N. Hinkson. They had two children: Pat Hinkson Leonard and Bud Hinkson. Mr. Hinkson died in 1946.
Mrs. Black worked for many years as a restaurant manager and owner. In 1950 she married Harold Black. They lived in Lowell.
She was very active in the church and Grange, and she made many wonderful friends. After she retired, she moved to Baker City and lived at Elkhorn Village.
She enjoyed playing bridge, bingo or just reading. Her favorite book was her Bible, and she was always involved in a Bible study. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Eugene and later attended the Baker Bible Church and Haines Baptist Church. The last few years of her life she lived at Prairie Acres Foster Care home.
The delights of her life were her grandchildren. She referred to them as the flowers in the garden of her heart. She was a loving and cherished mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed but is now rejoicing in her heavenly home.
Mrs. Black is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Pat and John Leonard of Baker City; daughter-in-law, Shirley Hinkson; grandchildren, Brad Leonard of Albany, Kirk Leonard and his wife, Michelle, of La Grande, Rory Leonard and his wife, Linda, of Haines, Shan Wattenburger and her husband, Bruce, of Redmond, Jon Hinkson and his wife, Anita, of New Haven, Conn., and Joi Christians and her husband, Roy, of Deerfoot, Ill.; great-grandchildren, Zack Leonard, Beka Leonard, Allyson Wattenburger, Kyle Wattenburger, Jayce Leonard, David Christians, Laura Christians, Vienna Hinkson and Geneva Hinkson.
Mrs. Black was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Robert N. Hinkson and Harold Black; her son, Bud Hinkson; and sisters, Thelma E. Warren and Ruth VanFossen.
Memorial contributions may be made to Campus Crusade, in care of the Poole-Larsen Funeral Home in Eugene or the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. in Baker City.
‘Joe’ O’Connor
William Joseph “Joe” O’Connor, 93, a symbol of Baker City, died among family and friends on Jan. 31, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.
A vigil service will be said at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, First and Church streets. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the cathedral. Celebrant will be the Rev. Robert C. Irwin of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.
Mr. O’Connor was a familiar sight around town. He was born on Jan. 8, 1908, to John and Walburga O’Connor. He lived his entire life in Baker City. He attended and graduated from St. Francis Academy and went to college for a year.
He joined the U.S. Army during World War II and served in the Aleutian Islands. Except for his wartime stint, he owned and operated his Gun Shop in Baker City from 1932 to 2000 when it finally closed.
During his life, he was an avid outdoorsman, hunter and miner. He also enjoyed history, writing and photography. He was a man who could tell you just about anything about the history of Baker County and Baker City. He wrote and published the book “The Old Grey Eagle” (about Col. Baker for whom Baker City was named). He also published numerous articles in the “American Rifleman.”
Mr. O’Connor was constantly involved in groups and organizations of interest to him. He was a charter member of the Powder River Sportsmen’s Club in 1953 and was made an honorary life member in 1965.
He worked as an editor of the Powder River Sportsmen’s newspaper from 1958 to 1987. In 1988, the Powder River Sportsmen’s Club started an annual competition shoot in his honor.
He received many awards for conservation during his lifetime, including the Golden Beaver Award from the Oregon Division of the Izaak Walton League in 1976 and the Wildlife Conservation Service Award in 1982.
He was a lifelong member of St. Francis de Sales Parish and the Knights of Columbus. In his lifetime he made unique contributions to the history of Baker City and left a lasting mark on those who knew him. His stories and presence will be deeply missed by family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Walburga O’Connor; his sister, Walburga Brennan; his brothers, Francis and Micheal O’Connor; and a grandnephew, John Day.
Survivors include his four nieces and one nephew and their spouses, Ann and Matt Kniesel, Margaret and Jon Eyer, Mary and Tom Norton, John and Sandy Brennan and Colleen and Jeff Collier; 14 grandnieces and grandnephews and their spouses, Tony Day, Michael Day, Theresa and Brett Hamilton, Colleen and Lenny Keiser, Christine Eyer, Jon and Jennifer Eyer, Matthew Eyer, Jenell and Jimmy Zamora, Benjamin and Cynthia Norton, Calvin Collier, Joseph Collier, Jacob Collier, Michael and Becky Brennan and Angela Brennan; and six great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, Thomas Hamilton, Samuel Hamilton, Jonathon Brennan, Samantha Brennan, John Keiser and Joseph Keiser and two soon to born.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Francis de Sales Knights of Columbus Scholarship Fund through the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Ore. 97814.
