System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!‘Bob’ Geddes
Robert Eugene “Bob” Geddes, 62, a longtime Haines resident, died Oct. 3, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
A memorial gathering is scheduled Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Haines Steak House.
Mr. Geddes was born on Nov. 8, 1938, at Baker City to Joseph F. Geddes and Viola M. McCurdy Geddes. The family lived at Hereford where Mr. Geddes was raised and educated.
After graduating from high school, he attended Oregon Technical Institute in Klamath Falls where he studied office machinery repair. Upon returning to the Baker City area, Mr. Geddes worked at Ryder Bros., Meadowgold and the Baker County Road Department. He then worked at road construction in Heppner, Hermiston and Alaska. He later returned to Baker City where he worked at Farmterials until 1985 when he was disabled in an accident.
He was married to Lois Spriet until 1975. They had two daughters, Kathy and Tammy; and a son, Keith Wade.
He married Nancy Painter in Baker City on Oct. 4, 1982. They had one daughter, Kimberly Kay.
Mr. Geddes enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling and golfing, but his main interests were always his yard and his home.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy Geddes of Haines; daughter, Kathy Brown, her husband, Aaron, and children, Cody and Alex Brown, all of Baker City; daughters, Tammy Jo Geddes of Hailey, Idaho, and Kimberly Kay Geddes Heitz of Haines; stepdaughters and their families, Zina and Bill Bryson and their children, Ronald Gentry and Mandy Anderson of West Richland, Wash., Cathy and Dennis Gardner and their children, Terri and Mary Linder, of Roseburg and Pam and Keith Arnzen and their children, Christopher and Brian Arnzen of Pampa, Texas; four great-grandchildren; his mother-in-law, Leola Painter of Baker City; brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill and Shiela Geddes of La Grande, Gerald and Roseanne Geddes of Baker City and Terry and Ellen Geddes of Ontario; nieces and nephews, Jerianne Hanley and her husband, Tom, of Baker City, Brian Geddes and his wife, Amy, of Boise, Rita Humphreys and her husband, Steve, of Gresham, Theresa Munn and her husband, Ryan, of Prosser, Wash., Gene Geddes and his wife, Emily, of Spokane, Wash., and Craig Geddes of Provo, Utah; and many great-nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and in-laws.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Keith Wade; a sister, Lulu Kay Geddes; his first wife, Lois Donicht; and a nephew, Ryan Geddes.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Presley Wayne Scholarship Fund or the Shriners Children’s Hospital through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Irene McCarty
Irene O. McCarty, 90 of Baker City died Sept. 27, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Care Center.
Disposition was by cremation at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Crematory. There will be a private family memorial gathering.
Mrs. McCarty was born on Feb. 20, 1911, at Vancouver, Wash., to Walter Austin Osburg and Nora Harris Osburg. She graduated from Oregon State University at Corvallis with a degree in mathematics and received a master’s degree in education from the University of Oregon at Eugene. She taught high school at Echo where she met and married Otis McCarty.
She taught another 30 years at Chula Vista, Calif. She taught math, English, Spanish and drama.
Survivors include her son, Jim McCarty of Baker City and Pacific City; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West & Co., P.O Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Ruth Lowery
Ruth I. Lowery, 72, of Baker City, died Sept. 29, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
At her request there will be no services. Disposition was by cremation.
Mrs. Lowery was born Jan. 2, 1929, at Vienna, N.Y., to Ralph Jordan and Ethel Margaret Cooke) Parker. She received her education in upstate New York. In her early years with her husband she lived in various locations, and spent most of her years managing properties they owned. With her husband she settled in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. She traveled between Lake Havasu City and Baker City to be close to her daughter.
Mrs. Lowery loved to travel, enjoyed playing cards, socializing with family and friends, and was a very kind and loving woman who had a great personality and loved jokes. She was a wonderful cook.
Mrs. Lowery is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Steve Robertson of Medical Springs; a son, Allan Kentner of Alameda, Calif., son and daughter-in-law, James and Susan Milliman of Rome, N.Y., and a son, Gary Milliman of Camden, N.Y.; a brother and sister-in-law, Ralph and June Parker of Alameda, Calif., a brother, Joe Parker of Camden; a sister, Micki Kennerknecht of Lake Havasu City; 13 grandchildren, also great-grandchildren and eight nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Lowery was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one son.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars or a charity of one’s choice through Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Margaret Pifher
Margaret Pifher, 85, a Baker City native, died Sept. 26, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her Celebration of Life service was at 3 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Pastor Monte Loyd of the Baker Valley Christian Assembly officiated. There was a reception at the church after the service.
Disposition was by cremation. Her cremated remains were buried at Mount Hope Cemetery next to her husband.
Mrs. Pifher was born on June 21, 1916, at Baker City to Jack and Edith Marshall. She was raised, educated and spent her entire 85 years living in two houses, both on Rose Street in Baker City.
She married Victor J. Pifher on April 21, 1935, at Baker City. Mr. Pifher died in 1988.
She was actively involved in church charities as well as community and individual needs. She enjoyed flowers, especially roses. And she loved her cat.
Survivors include her sons, Jim Pifher and his wife, Marla, of Portland, and Jack Pifher and his wife, Loett, of Fairview; a sister, Doris Shanks of Portland; a brother, Bill Marshall of Hermiston; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; a sister, Pearl; and a great-grandchild, Kory.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker Valley Christian Assembly through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Lillian Wheeler
Lillian Mae Wheeler, 86, of Hood River, a former Baker County resident, died surrounded by her family at Providence Brookside Manor on Sept. 17, 2001.
Her graveside service was at 3 p.m. Friday at Idlewild Cemetery Mausoleum.
Mrs. Wheeler was born on June 20, 1915, in Baker City to Willis W. and Ruth Jenkins Lillard. Her family also included two half brothers and a half sister. She grew up in Baker City, Haines and the North Powder area. She was a 1933 graduate of North Powder High School.
She married Arnold W. Wheeler on Aug. 5, 1935, at Stevenson, Wash.
She worked for many years for Diamond Fruit Growers at the Cascade House as a fruit packer. She enjoyed playing bridge with her many friends and continued that activity until her death.
Her main love in life was her family and home, loving and caring for her husband, children and especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a longtime member of Hood River Valley Christian Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, sisters and an infant grandson.
Survivors include her husband of 66 years, Arnold Wheeler of Hood River; her daughter, Jane Herman and her husband, Lee Roy, of Mosier; a son, Doug Wheeler and his wife, Jill, of Portland; granddaughters, Shelley Gove of Mosier and Nicole Wheeler of Monmouth; a grandson, Chris Wheeler, and his wife, Rachel, of Vancouver, Wash.; great-grandchildren, Emmy and Mariah Gove and Katelyn and Colton Wheeler; two sisters-in-law, Faye Lillard of Baker City and Kathryn Lillard of Klamath Falls; an aunt, Suzanne Jenkins McCulley of Baker City; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and many friends and caregivers from Brookside Manor and Hospice.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Gorge in care of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont, Hood River, OR 97301.
‘Cam’ Vermillion
Lynn C. “Cam” Vermillion, 87, of Spokane, Wash., a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 19, 2001, at his home.
There will be a graveside service Monday at 9:30 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery. His remains will be interred next to the grave site of his wife, Jackie. There was an open house memorial service at his home in Spokane on Sept. 23.
Mr. Vermillion was born and raised in Baker City. He was the son of Lynn V. and Grace Vermillion. His father was a former Baker stationmaster for Union Pacific Railroad.
During the 1930s, Mr. Vermillion was a lifeguard at the Baker Natatorium and at Radium Hot Springs near Haines. He played drums in a popular dance band called “The Four A’s, ” and even engaged in professional wrestling.
He married Jackie Head (also of Baker City) in July 1942. Mr. Vermillion had a 23-year career in the U.S. Air Force, serving in Florida, Germany, California, England, Louisiana, Arkansas and retiring at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington as a lieutenant colonel.
He worked mostly as a military police officer. After his military career, Mr. Vermillion worked as a special services manager at the Crescent Department Store in Spokane.
Mr. Vermillion was an avid skier, tennis player, drummer for jazz bands, and hunter. He loved to shoot squirrels on the farms and ranches in the Baker City area. He was well liked for his ready humor and wit.
Survivors include his brother, Bill, of Espanola, N.M.; a daughter, Susan, and her two children, Michelle and Matthew McCracken; and a son and daughter-in-law, Douglas and Mickey, and their five children, Michael, Christopher, Rachel, Jonathan and Emily.
Bonnie Skidgel
Bonnie LaVone Skidgel, 58, of Granite, died Sept. 25, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services after a valiant 15-month battle with cancer.
Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the McEwen Bible Fellowship Church. Pastor Bill Cox of the church will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the Skidgel home on Clear Creek.
Mrs. Skidgel was born on Sept. 13, 1943, at San Diego to Alva and Wilma Burgess.
She attended high school at Salem. She also attended Central Oregon Community College at Bend and took a geology course in La Grande.
She met her future husband, Steve, one morning at 3 o’clock at a restaurant in La Pine where she worked as a waitress. He was a logger who came in for a cup of coffee on his way to work. They were married on July 1, 1962.
In 1966 they moved to John Day where they lived until 1980, when they moved to Granite.
Mrs. Skidgel loved to paint. She painted the sign on the Depot Inn at Sumpter and a picture of a train inside the inn. She took lessons from some notable artists and gave art lessons herself while living in John Day. Some of her students are still painting.
She was very interested in mining history and geology. She enjoyed digging into the history of the area and did research on the Sumpter Valley Railroad. She also dabbled in politics.
While living in Granite, she and her husband owned the Granite Store in 1991 and 1992. It became know for the best hamburgers around and as a great place to go just to have coffee and visit.
She was a good mother and an excellent wife.
Survivors include her husband, Steve Skidgel; her daughter, Kelly Skidgel Elliot; her parents, Alva and Wilma Burgess; her brother, Larry Dell; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Naomi Terry
Naomi Jeanne Terry, 73, a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 25, 2001, at her home in Elgin.
There was a private family service at her home.
Mrs. Terry was born on Nov 6, 1927, at Baker City to Richard Wyatt and Blanch Combs Lane. She married Wallace Terry on Sept. 6, 1962, at Jerome, Idaho.
She was a member of the Pythian sisters of Elgin. She also belonged to art clubs at Chino and Prescott Valley, Phoenix, Ariz. One of her loves was oil painting and she won several awards for her artwork. Her other joys were sewing, cooking and spending time with her family.
Survivors include a son and his wife, Rick and Teresa Taylor of Polson, Mont.; a daughter and her husband, Frankie and Dale Thamert of Elgin; stepsons, Gerald and Cookie Bacon of Asotin, Wash., Douglas and Carol Terry of Enterprise, Glen and Glenda Terry of Spokane, Wash., and Stan and Vickie Terry of La Grande; sisters, Alma Comstock of Pendleton and Betty Trump of Elgin; a brother, Maurice Lane of Portland; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Loveland Funeral Chapel of La Grande was in charge of arrangements.
Nan Hix
Nan LaRee Hix, 78, of Newberg, a Hereford native, died Sept. 25, 2001, at a Portland hospital.
Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Newberg Christian Church. Pastor David Case will officiate. There will be a private committal at the Unity Cemetery.
Mrs. Hix was born on Dec. 27, 1922, at Hereford to William Asa and Rebecca Ruth Van Cleave Koontz. She grew up and received her early education at Hereford and was a Hereford High School graduate.
She married Thomas G. Hilger in 1941 and they moved to a lumber camp at Bates. Mr. Hilger died in 1962.
She moved to Newberg in 1963 and had lived there since. She married John Wesley Hix at Newberg on Sept. 5, 1971. She was employed as an assembly worker for Adec, retiring after 22 years with the company. A homemaker, her hobbies included crocheting, reading and traveling.
Survivors include her husband, John Hix of Newberg; two sons, Shaylor Hilger and Norven Hilger, both of Newberg; four daughters, Ardith Burnett, Fonda Schmidt, Tanya Dehart and Rebecca Bertagna, all of Newberg; two stepdaughters, Laura Reed of Newberg and Cheryl Henderson of Elkins, Ark.; two brothers, Henry Koontz of Kennewick, Wash., and Chester Koontz of Hereford; three sisters, Edith Derrick of Unity, Wilma Loeks of Dundee and Maxine Brouillette of Brookings; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and those who had come to know and appreciate her where she had lived and worked.
She was preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Bandon Gene Hilger; and a sister, Donna Bradford.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society through Attrell’s Newberg Chapel, 207 Villa Road, Newberg, OR 97132.
Wallace Shephard
Wallace D. Shephard, 82, of Ontario, a former longtime Baker City resident and well-known chef, died Sept. 22, 2001, at an Ontario hospital of natural causes.
His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Ontario’s Lienkaemper Chapel. There will be a graveside service at 2 p.m. PDT at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Mr. Shephard was born Nov. 13, 1918, at Baker City to Delbert W. and Cordelia Yeager Shephard. He married La Neva E. Scott on June 20, 1937, at Klamath Falls.
The couple returned to Baker City soon after their marriage and remained here until 1964. Mr. Shephard became a well-known chef, including successful working stints at both the Hotel Baker and Geiser Grand.
During World War II, he served as a ship’s cook 3rd Class in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1945 as a disabled American veteran.
Returning to Baker City, he continued his restaurant business in which his most memorable functions were as an originator of the Durkee Steak Feed and the chef for Sen. John F. Kennedy’s campaign luncheon.
In 1964, he and his wife moved to Weiser, Idaho, where they operated the restaurant in the Washington Hotel. They moved to Ontario in 1970. They operated the La Paloma Restaurant for five years and then retired after 10 successful years at the Charlois where Mr. Shephard was executive chef.
He was a valued charter member of the Chefs De Cuisine of Idaho, past commander of the Disabled American Veterans of Baker City and a member of the Weiser Elks Lodge and the American Legion.
He was a great man, a dedicated husband and an excellent father and grandfather. “Our memories of him will be forever cherished and the love he gave to his family and friends shall never be forgotten, ” his family said.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, La Neva; children, Sharron Ewing and her husband, Duane, Wallace Shephard and his wife, Sherrie, Carolyn Medlin and her husband, Jerry, Delbert Shephard, and Christina Bonadiman and her husband, Brent; 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, three sisters and a great-granddaughter.
