System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Steven Fletcher
Steven Lee Fletcher, 58, a longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 31, 2001, at his family’s home in Baker City after a long battle with cancer.
His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate.
Mr. Fletcher was born on Oct. 5, 1942, at Tonasket, Wash., to Wendell E. and Jean D. Fletcher. He grew up on the family ranch in the Okanogan Highlands between the old mining communities of Molson and Chesaw, Wash.
After graduating from Molson High School in 1961, he attended Central Washington University, Washington State University and graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in forest management in the fall of 1967.
He was inducted into the U.S. Army and served stateside the next two years.
His life’s work as a forester for the U.S. Forest Service began in the Blewett Pass area of Ellensburg, Wash., while attending Central Washington University. After leaving the military service, he started working for the U.S. Forest Service again in May of 1970 at Prairie City as a Forest Service representative.
For 30 years he also served as Timber Sale Project coordinator on the Baker District, silviculturist on the Hells Canyon National Recreation and Eagle Cap Wilderness Areas, forest health coordinator and watershed analyst and recently until his illness, in the planning department with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in Baker City.
He was always grateful for serving the communities of Prairie City, John Day, Enterprise and Baker City. He retired Dec. 18, 2000, after 34 years of government service.
His lifelong marriage to JoAnne Deardorff began on Nov. 4, 1972, at Canyon City. After moving to Baker City in 1974, the couple accepted the Lord at the Baker City Christian Church where Mr. Fletcher served as deacon until his illness.
Their love and faith brought two wonderful children into the world. They also became foster care and student foreign exchange parents and gave shelter for many youngsters through the years.
Mr. Fletcher’s primary interests were family, work and the church. Other interests included anything to do with the outdoors. Among these were fishing, hunting, wood cutting, motorbike riding and hiking. He will be remembered in the hearts of his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, JoAnne, and son, Neil, of Baker City; a daughter, Kristi, of Eugene; his mother, Jean of Oroville, Wash.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ron and Anita of Wenatchee, Wash., Gary and Tedi and Danny and Donna of Oroville, Wash., and Scott and Teri of Chelan, Wash.; and many other relatives and friends.
His father, Wendell, died in June of 1988.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pathway Hospice of Baker City through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, Ore. 97814.
Nancy Taylor
Nancy Ann Taylor, 58, of La Grande, died Jan. 30, 2001, at a La Grande care facility.
A memorial service will be scheduled later. The Daniels Chapel of the Valley in La Grande is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Taylor was born on March 14, 1942, at Lebanon to Alvin and Inez Kaufman Haman. She lived most of her life in Portland before moving to Pendleton where she worked for the Eastern Oregon Hospital and Training Center.
She married William Taylor in Boise on April 2, 1981. She enjoyed taking care of the elderly and the handicapped as well as music and reading.
Survivors include her husband, William Taylor of Scio; children, Debbie Robertson of Spokane, Wash., Larry Prock of Willamina, Taunji Haman of Hermiston, Michael Kenney of Ontario, Steven Kenney of Hermiston, Angela Hughes of Kennewick, Wash., and Greg Taylor of Willamina; 19 grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Nancy Taylor Memorial Fund through the Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, Ore. 97850.
Robert McElvain
Robert Lee McElvain, 71, a longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 26, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.
His body was cremated by Gray’s West & Co.
His memorial service will be scheduled later.
Mr. McElvain was born on Aug. 15, 1929, in Lemmon, S.D.
He was a 1947 graduate of Union High School. He was an all-around athlete in all sports. He was an exceptional player on the basketball court and on the football field.
He also boxed in his high school years. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1948 and served for three years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, along with other outdoor events.
He farmed some and also did some logging.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie; his father, Beryl McElvain; his mother, Margaret McElvain; and his sister, Beverly Marcum.
Survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, Herbert and Ida McElvain; his brother, Dick McElvain; four nieces and two nephews; and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, Ore., 97814.
Jack Brannock
Jack V. Brannock, 78, of Bend, a Baker City native, died Feb. 6, 2000, at Providence St. Vincent Hospital in Beaverton.
Mr. Brannock will be cremated and buried next to his wife at the Haines Cemetery. There will be a memorial service in the spring.
Mr. Brannock was born Oct. 10, 1922, to Judson and Alma Brannock. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II and later worked in farming. He also worked in logging and mill work. He retired to Bend in 1991.
Mr. Brannock is survived by two daughters, Arlene Rice of Tualatin and Anna Holliday of LaPine; a son, David Brannock, of Vancouver, Wash.; and a foster son, Robert Wood of Portland; six grandchildren, including Callie Beth Brannock of Yacolt, Wash., and Pamela Holliday of LaPine; and two sisters, Betty Wilson of Baker City and Lola Patterson of Oak Harbor, Wash.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Mina.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West & Co.
Cecille Guyer
Cecille Spence Guyer, 72, of Weiser, Idaho, a former Baker County resident, died Feb. 8, 2001, at a Boise hospital.
Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Thomason Funeral Chapel at Weiser. Burial will be at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Weiser. Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Thomason Funeral Chapel.
Mrs. Guyer was born on Feb. 24, 1928, at Haines to Fred V. and Melvina Heard Spence. She attended the first three years of school at the Muddy Creek School near Haines. Her family then moved to Baker City where she attended North Baker Elementary School. She was a 1946 Baker High School graduate.
She married Wayne R. Guyer on Nov. 30, 1946, at Baker City. The couple moved to Weiser in 1948.
Mrs. Guyer attended Treasure Valley Community College where she graduated from nursing school in 1969. She worked at Holy Rosary Hospital in Ontario for five years and then began working at Weiser Memorial Hospital in 1974. She retired after 20 years.
She was an active member of The Church of The Redeemer, 20th Century Club, PEO and the LOYAUTE, Chapter, No. 19, Order of Eastern Star, in Weiser.
She loved her family and enjoyed being with them. She also enjoyed sewing and working with other handcrafted items.
Survivors include her husband, Wayne of Weiser; four sons, Ivan of Weiser, Garth and his wife, Chris, of Minneapolis, Dean and his wife, Rhonda, of Baker City, and Lynn and his wife, Susan, of Twin Falls, Idaho; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and a brother, Meredith Spence of Provo, Utah.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and one sister.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Ore. 97220, or The Church of The Redeemer, State and Liberty, Weiser, Idaho, 83672.
Ellen Huckins
Mary Ellen Huckins, 96, a longtime Baker City resident, died Feb. 5, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.
Her funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Interment will follow at Rock Creek Cemetery west of Haines. Visitations will be today until 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mrs. Huckins was born April 14, 1904, at Lookout Mountain near Durkee to Ezard G. and Addie (Sinclair) Ramsey Jr. She was the first of eight children. She married David Henry Taylor on Dec. 8, 1923. They were later divorced. They had two boys, Kenneth and Bob.
She later married Maurice Huckins. He is now deceased.
Mrs. Huckins was very talented. She did a lot of crocheting and many different kinds of crafts, including tin can crafts, which she sold. She was also a seamstress, making all her own clothes and also doing alterations for other people for many years. This helped to supplement her meager income. She was also an excellent cook and cooked in many places, including farm labor camps, ranches and college fraternities.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Walla Walla, Wash., a life member of the Rebekahs Lodge No. 8 in Baker City, and played in the original “Buddy Band” in Baker City.
Mrs. Huckins is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Mary Taylor, a son, Kenneth Taylor, and a daughter, Mary Jean Orazine, all of Baker City; a sister, Zella May Ramsey Griffith of St. George, Utah; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters and three brothers, Edna Eliza, Walter Raymond, James, Bernice, Della Evelyn, and a stillborn boy; and by two grandsons, David Taylor and Steve Benson.
Contributions in Mrs. Huckins’ memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Ore., 97814.
Lorene Karrels
Lorene Karrels, 77, of La Grande, a former North Powder resident, died Feb. 4, 2001, at the Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande.
His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Island City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dedication of the grave and interment will be at the North Powder Cemetery. Visitations will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Daniels Chapel of the Valley and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday at the church.
Mrs. Karrels was born on June 27, 1923, at North Powder to Stonewall Jackson and Allie Gorham. She grew up in North Powder. She married Otto H. Karrels at North Powder on July 8, 1939.
She loved life and her family very much and was always raising a garden and many flowers, which she was always giving away. She loved to play games with her family and was good at winning. During the early 1950s she was a 4-H leader.
Mrs. Karrels was a nurse’s aide in the maternity ward of the St. Joseph Hospital from 1975 until it closed. She loved working with the babies. After the closure of St. Joseph Hospital in La Grande she worked for two years at Grande Ronde Hospital.
Mrs. Karrels was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was the secretary for the Relief Society and Sunday school. She also enjoyed bowling and bowled on a league team for many years until the old bowling alley closed.
Survivors include her sons, Alex Karrels and Ted Karrels, both of La Grande; daughters, Wynette Williamson of Cove and Linda Huck of La Grande; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; a brother, Noel Gorham of California and Marlin De Haas of Corvallis; sisters, Olive Craig of La Grande, Audrey Yarber of Myrtle Creek and Marleen Bowman of Oregon; and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Otto; an infant son; a grandson, Otto O’Brien; sister, Lena Fuchs; and brothers, Gordon and Owen Gorham.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Huntington Chorea’s Disease Association or the charity of one’s choice through Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, Ore., 97850.
Albert Smith
Albert Britton Smith, 90, of Pendleton, a former Baker City resident and Safeway manager, died Feb. 2, 2001, at Willowbrook Terrace in Pendleton.
His graveside funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Mr. Smith was born on July 7, 1910, at Durango, Colo., to William Albert and Jessie Farrell Smith. He married Marguerite L. Coleman on Nov. 29, 1935, at Weiser, Idaho.
The couple lived in Baker City for many years where he managed the Safeway store. He also was manager of Safeway in La Grande.
During World War II, he left his job in La Grande and went to work for the Kaiser Shipyards at Vancouver, Wash. He lived in Pendleton for more than 40 years and worked as an engineer at the Pendleton Community Hospital. He worked as a car salesman for eight years at Eastern Oregon Motors.
He and his wife enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping, horses and trips to the mountains. He was a past master of the Elgin Masonic Lodge.
His wife, Marguerite, died in 1994 at Pendleton.
Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Arlen and Kathie Smith of Sacramento, Calif.; a sister, Edith Patricia Pribgen of La Grande; a grandson, Gregory Wayne Smith of Salem; a granddaughter, Kristi Lea Butler of Salem; a great-grandson, Tate Butler of Salem; and two granddaughters in Sacramento, Calif.
The Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements.
'Jake’ Marcum
John Jacob “Jake” Marcum, 20, of Baker City, died Feb. 6, 2001.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Baker City Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Interment will be at the Haines Cemetery.
Mr. Marcum was born Sept. 29, 1980, at Oregon City to John and Laurie Marcum. He attended Park Place Elementary and Grace Christian schools at Gladstone as a little boy and was active in Oregon Junior Baseball where he pitched for the state championship team as a 10-year-old.
He and his family moved to Baker City when he was 11. He was an active member in 4-H, raising pigs for many years. He attended Baker Valley Christian School and Pine Creek School, a one-room schoolhouse under the direction of certified teachers. He had wonderful tutors. He remained active in basketball and baseball, playing on many all-star teams.
During his high school years, he attended A-Beka Video School and the Lighthouse Christian School. He played basketball and baseball for Baker High School.
He was active in the community as a volunteer and member of the Baker County Commission on Children and Families. He was a true outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and skiing with friends and family.
His passion in life was flying. He learned to fly at 15 under the instruction of his beloved friend, Cliff Bond. The two spent many hours together as kindred spirits; they both loved flying.
He received his private pilot’s license at the age of 17 though Baker Aircraft. In 1999, he graduated from Lighthouse Christian School.
He continued to pursue his dream in aviation at Southeastern Oklahoma State University where he had achieved junior status by his second year of college.
Always an honor student, he was president of Alpha Eta Rho Aviation Fraternity as well as president of The Young Republicans on campus. He held commercial and instrument ratings and a flight instructor rating. He was employed by the university as an FAA flight instructor.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lowell and Edna Chally and Sam Marcum, all of La Grande.
Survivors include his parents, John and Laurie Marcum, his sister, Lindsey, and brothers, Cale and Grant Marcum, all of Baker City; his grandmother, Gerry Marcum, uncle and aunt, Chris and Sherry Marcum, all of La Grande; an aunt, Susan Skinner of North Pole, Alaska; and his cousins and many friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Jake Marcum Memorial Scholarship Fund at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, P.O. Box 4187, Durant, Okla. 74701-0609, or through the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Ore., 97814.
