System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!‘Fred’ Moody
Fredrick Michael “Fred” Moody, 53, a longtime Pine Valley resident, died April 22, 2001 at his home.
His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Pine-Eagle High School in Halfway. Leonard Hill will officiate. Vault interment will be in Pine Haven Cemetery at Halfway. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., and from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at PEHS Friday. There will be a celebration of life service in his honor at the Lions Hall afterward.
Mr. Moody was born Nov. 14, 1947, at Boise. He lived most of his early years in Baker City and in the Eagle and Pine valleys. He attended the first two years of high school in Richland, then the last two in Halfway, graduating from Halfway High School in 1966.
After high school he lived for 18 years at Tri-Cities, Wash., where he spent the majority of his time farming.
In April 1984, Mr. Moody and his son, Shain, moved back to Halfway. Fred became manager of the Summers Ranch, which was the life he loved best of all. He loved all aspects of the ranching operation, especially taking care of the cattle.
He was a great horseman, loved competition roping and spent many hours at team roping events over the years. He loved the outdoors and spent his spare time snowmobiling, riding in the mountains, elk hunting, boating, waterskiing, and fishing.
On May 10, 1986, he married Mary Harris, whom he loved unconditionally. At that time, he proudly assumed the role of father to Mary’s daughter, Cortni, who was 8 years old. Whenever asked “How many children do you have?” it immediately changed from three to four with no hesitation.
He would say, “We have four children.” The Moodys enjoyed life together, which included many trips to places like Jackpot, Nev., and National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas annually. Some of the better times together were simple camping trips at Hells Canyon, fishing and just relaxing with friends.
Survivors include his wife, Mary; son, Shain Moody, and wife, Mari, and grandchildren, Emma and Jake, of Boise; daughter, Teri Moody and grandchildren, Tyler and Lindsey, of Tri-Cities, Wash.; son, Charlie Moody of Tri-Cities, Wash; daughter, Cortni Harris of Halfway; his father, Bill Moody, and stepmother, Venna, of Halfway; brother, Dan Moody of Enterprise; sister, Nancy, and husband, Steve Stover of Boise; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Belva Moody .
Memorial contributions may be made to the Panhandle Snowmobile Club or the Hells Canyon Junior Rodeo Association through Coles Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Daniel Phillips
Daniel S. Phillips, 50, a longtime Baker City resident, died April 23, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
At his request, there will be no funeral.
Mr. Phillips was born on July 21, 1950, at Baker City to Donald H. Phillips and Helen Berg. He graduated from Oregon State University in 1972, with a bachelor’s degree in business. At Oregon State University, he met his best friend and true love, Janet Anderson. They were married on June 27, 1971, at Tillamook before moving back to Baker City to start their lives together.
He was an integral part of Phillips-Long Ford Sales for 25 years until becoming dealer principal for Heritage Chevrolet. He worked in the automotive industry for a lifetime, but found happiness this last month farming the family land with his wife.
His life revolved around his wife, children, family and many cherished friends. He celebrated life with his family in the mountains, hiking, hunting, fishing and reveling in the splendors of the Elkhorns and the Eagles he loved so much. He took great pride and found peace while working on his farm and yard.
He loved children. He and his wife, Jan, were permanent fixtures at all the football, basketball, track and baseball games. He took pleasure in watching, encouraging and supporting, not only his own children, but also his many nieces and nephews.
Survivors include his wife, Janet of Baker City; his children, Geoff Phillips of Baker City and Adrienne Phillips of Bozeman, Mont.; his parents, Donald H. Phillips of Baker City, and Helen Berg of La Grande; his grandmother, Julia Phillips of Baker City; sisters, Terri Axness of Haines, Debbi Day of Grandbury, Texas, Minda Vaughan of Haines and Tami Maciejko of Gunnison, Colo.; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Baker Sports Complex through Gray’s West & Co.
Gary Wayne Shankle
Gary Wayne Shankle, 58, a longtime Baker City resident, died April 25, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services after a long illness.
His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Jehovah’s Witnesses will officiate. Visitations will be from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Gray’s West & Co.
Mr. Shankle was born on Sept. 24, 1942, at Elizabethton, Tenn., to Frank Chad Shankle and Martha Magdaline Peters. He enjoyed his younger years there with uncles and cousins, swimming, exploring caves and playing in the woods behind his grandfather’s house.
He spoke often of Stoney Creek and his times there in Tennessee, especially in the last days of his illness. He often wished he had returned for more visits.
He and his family moved to Baker City in 1954. He later left and moved to California. However, because he wanted to raise his children in Baker City, he returned shortly thereafter.
He was the owner of Carter’s Natural Foods for many years and also a dedicated member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation. He also moved briefly to Fairbanks, Alaska, working there for Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. He again returned to Baker City and spent his remaining years here close to family and friends.
At a young age he taught himself to play the guitar, a passion that stayed with him throughout his life. He often was found practicing and his guitar was readily found by his side until his death.
One of this favorite times of the year was when the family would get together for a reunion and he’d be able to play with his brother, Phil, and sing with his family.
He also was an avid book reader with an amazing range of interests; this made him a wonderful person to converse with. Many family, friends and former customers have commented on the fact that they truly enjoyed their conversations with him and it will be one of his many attributes that will be truly missed.
In his lifetime, Mr. Shankle found happiness by spending time with his family and loved ones. He was a man of honesty and compassion who took to heart the significance of a close family. He was loved by many and he will be missed immensely. Those he leaves are left with countless memories of love, laughter and wisdom that will never be forgotten.
He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Chad Shankle; grandparents, Elbert and Ethel Rains Shankle, Robert and Maggie Lipps Peters; a niece, Katrina Kay Blair; and a nephew, Rodney Lynn Shankle.
Survivors include his wife, Niki, of Baker City; his mother, Martha Whitt, and stepfather, Ivan “Jim” Whitt, of Benton, City, Wash.; a son, Wesley Shankle of Frankfort, Ky.; three daughters, Desi Bloom, Tonya Stiefvater and her husband, Paul, and Michelle Shankle of Baker City; two stepsons, Peter Papadopoulos of California and George Papadopoulos of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; three brothers, Jerry Shankle, and his wife, Ila, of Fruitland, Idaho, Phillip Shankle, and his wife, Marilyn, of Lacey, Wash., and Norman Shankle, and his wife, Mary, of Weiser, Idaho; four sisters, Brenda Rohner and Theresa Shankle of Prosser, Wash., Doris “Faye” Shankle of Hermiston and Kathy Baker of West Richland, Wash.; grandchildren, Sasha Bloom, Andrea Tucker, Dakota Birch and Ethan Miller of Baker City and Jordan Shankle of Frankfort, Ky; former wives and mothers of his children, Carolyn Logsdon and Charlotte Thomason of Baker City; and many aunts and uncles in Tennessee and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nephews and great-nieces.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kingdom Hall through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, Ore. 97814.
Izora Hall
Izora Gregory Hall, 96, a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 19, 2000, at Santa Barbara, Calif.
A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday a the Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., in La Grande. George Fleshman will officiate.
Mrs. Hall was born on Oct. 3, 1904, near Elgin. She was the first child of J. Frank and Tennessee Allen Gregory. She grew up on Smith Mountain near Wallowa.
After graduating from Wallowa High School, she taught for three years in rural Wallowa County schools. She then attended Oregon Normal School at Monmouth (now Western Oregon University) and received a normal school degree.
She taught junior high English in coastal Oregon towns. During these years she completed her college requirements by attending summer schools.
In 1949, she married Wade B. Hall of Wallowa. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service. They lived at Enterprise from 1950 to 1954 and Mrs. Hall taught high school English there. They moved to Baker City in 1954 and in 1992 they moved to La Grande.
Mr. Hall died in 1993. In 1997, Mrs. Hall moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., to be near family.
Survivors include her stepdaughter, Diane Hall Jackson of Santa Barbara; nieces, Beverly Johnson Kane of Boise and Donnajean Carla Gregory of Milwaukie; and the family of her deceased nephew, Greg Johnson, and other relatives and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker County Library Foundation, the Wallowa County Health Care Foundation or a charity of one’s choice through the Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, Ore. 97850.
Norma Painter
Norma Fay Painter, 81, of Halfway, died April 25, 2001, at Caldwell, Idaho.
Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Pine Baptist Church at Halfway. Pastor Shawn Thatcher of Pine Baptist Church will officiate. Vault interment will be at the Pine Haven Cemetery at Halfway.
Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home at Halfway and from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pine Baptist Church in Halfway.
Mrs. Painter was a granddaughter of pioneer settlers who moved to Halfway in 1889 from Franklin, Idaho. At that time there were only three houses on Main Street in Halfway.
She was born on Feb. 16, 1920, at North Pine, the youngest of four, to Albert and Augusta “Gussie” Stalker Abernathy.
Her grandparents, Wallace and Matilda Kelly Stalker, had a family home at Halfway and a ranch at North Pine, where the river runs into Pine Creek. These grandparents also ran the store on Main Street and had a house that was at one time located on the parking lot where the Old Pine Store is today.
She later met and married Lee Chetwood. They had one son, Wayne Chetwood.
She spent most of her early years on the North Pine, except for five years spent in the Marcola area.
In 1951, she married Merrill Painter. She and her husband spent many years on their ranch in Pine Valley. Her lifelong hobby was needlework, for which she won many ribbons at the Baker County Fair.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Merrill, in 1990; and two brothers, Albert “Bert” and Chester “Ted” Abernathy.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Halfway/Oxbow Ambulance Service through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
LeRoy Smelcer
“Old Hand” LeRoy Smelcer, 98, of Pine Valley, died April 25, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
At his request, there will be no service.
Mr. Smelcer was born on Feb. 6, 1903, to Marvin and Milda Schmidt Smelcer. He was a 1921 graduate of Halfway High School. After graduation, he worked with his parents on their ranch.
He married Leslie Inez Denney on June 7, 1926. The newlyweds began their lifelong career in farming and cattle ranching.
In the mid-1930s, the couple purchased property adjoining that of his parents. By the mid-1940s, their first Herefords were registered, and in 1951 the home place on Pine Town Lane was purchased from his mother.
That was the beginning of a successful cow/calf operation spanning almost 60 years. One of his favorite aspects of ranching was working with the land. He raised hay, grain and alfalfa for feed. At age 97 he still enjoyed operating the swather during haying season.
As a young man, he enjoyed woodworking. He created several furniture pieces still being used by the family. He was an avid hunter throughout most of his life. He liked to attend bull sales and while traveling to neighboring states he enjoyed seeing the countryside and the crops being grown. Reading Western novels was a leisure-time favorite.
In 1995, at the age of 92, he was honored at Haines with the “Old Hand” award. He was still actively working the ranch at that time.
He was co-grand marshal of the Baker County Fair at Halfway in 1996. He led the parade riding his favorite mount, “the red horse, ” a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle. On his left rode his longtime friend, Dude Douglas, a fellow co-grand marshal.
In the years that followed, he continued to ride his ranch atop “the red horse, ” always accompanied by his faithful black dog, Sam.
Leslie, his loving wife of 68 years, died in 1994. He also was preceded in death by his sisters, Vyril Agan and Aletha Hubell; and two granddaughters, Elizabeth and Judy Buttice.
Survivors include four daughters, Volney Facto of Dallas, Ore., Jane Buttice and her husband, Ernie, of Walla Walla, Wash., Benita Thompson and her husband, Carroll, of Halfway and Tiz Landers and her husband, Byrl, of Richland; 12 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Lawrence Smelcer, and his wife, Dorothy, of Halfway; sister-in-law, Lois Raabe; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Halfway Ambulance Service through the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
May Steele
May Elizabeth Steele, 98, a longtime Pine Valley resident, died April 26, 2001, at the Evergreen Health and Rehab Center in La Grande.
At her request, there will be no funeral. Private family interment will be at the Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway.
She was born on May 3, 1902, at Halfway to Sheppard and Effie Mitchell Hulse. She spent her childhood and most of her adult life at Pine Valley. She received her education in one-room schoolhouses at Langrell and Clear Creek.
She married Ben R. Steele in Halfway on March 14, 1921. They had one son, Ladd. Ben Steele died in 1965.
She enjoyed gardening, crocheting and being with family and friends.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Ladd and Juanita Steele of Halfway; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She also was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Halfway Ambulance Fund through the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Cliff Hagey
Clifford R. Hagey, 93, of Mesa, Ariz., a former Baker County resident, died April 25, 2001, after a four-month battle with spinal cancer.
Family and friends will remember Mr. Hagey by gathering in La Grande later this summer. Disposition was by cremation in Arizona. There will not be a funeral service.
Mr. Hagey was born at the family home in Island City on April 9, 1908, and lived in Union and Baker counties for 62 years. In 1972, he sold his farm at Haines and moved to Chandler, Ariz., to begin a new division of Commercial Welding cattle handling equipment and later a division of Port-A-Stall rodeo equipment.
Mr. Hagey lived life to the fullest with few regrets. He often talked about how his life had ranged from horse-and-buggy days to seeing man land on the moon. As a young man, he once rode a saddle horse from Hot Lake to Pendleton to see the first talking picture show to come to Eastern Oregon.
He was known as a hard worker and a good cowboy. He took pride in good horses, straight fences and gates that didn’t drag. During the 1950s, he was captain of the Baker County Mounted Sheriff’s Posse.
He worked diligently to put together the Old Oregon Trail Stampede, the 1959 Centennial Pony Express Ride and the Bucking Horse Remuda. He was a well-known rodeo announcer for more than 25 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; brothers, Darl and Ralph Hagey; and many very good friends.
Survivors include his sons and daughters-in-law, Darl and Annette Hagey of Missoula, Mont., and Brian and Debra Hagey of Gresham; grandchildren, Shane, Jenny and Jason Hagey; great-grandchildren, Logan, Hillary, Rachell, Connor and Kimberly; foster daughter, Cindy Parker; and brother, Floyd Hagey, and sister, Beulah Tahl, both of La Grande.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 2145 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, AR 85202.
‘Eva’ Hendrix
Evalenea “Eva” Hendrix, 93, of Halfway, died April 29, 2001, at Halfway.
Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Presbyterian Church in Halfway. Pastor Bill Shields of the Presbyterian Church in Halfway will officiate.
Mrs. Hendrix was born on Nov. 17, 1907, to John and Selenea Bassett Buchanan at Sunset Valley, now Buchanan Valley, an area of Pine Valley. Mrs. Hendrix lived in Pine Valley all of her life except for two years when she went to Wingville to milk cows and then to Payette, Idaho, where she worked in the apple orchards, picking apples for two cents a box.
During her life, she enjoyed crochet work. She started learning to crochet when she was 7. She also added to her handiwork by embroidering. She liked to travel and to cook. At one time she won an award for her lemon pie.
She married James Hendrix at Weiser, Idaho, on Nov. 17, 1936.
In 1942, she and Jim moved to the 1, 700-acre ranch which had been homesteaded by her father, John Buchanan.
Survivors include a son, James J. Hendrix, and his wife, Monique; a daughter, Ora “Skip” Selenea, and her husband, Dave Romine of Halfway; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Selenea; her husband, James J. Hendrix; her daughter, Marie Griffin; brothers, Robert and Orville Buchanan; and sisters, Ella Thomas and Beulah Crow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Halfway Senior Meal Program through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
