System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Altafae Schmidt
Altafae Zimmerman Schmidt, 77, died Aug. 15, 2001, at Scottsdale, Ariz.
Mrs. Schmidt and her husband, Richard Otto, recently relocated their home from Seattle to be near their daughter, Susyn Corrine, and son, Karl Otto, and grandson, Otto Jordan.
Mrs. Schmidt was always able to make friends easily and she will be missed by all of those who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, Ariz., 85104.
Vera Powell
Vera Louise Storie Powell, 104, a longtime Baker County resident, died Aug. 15, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Care Center.
Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Her great-grandson, Pastor Wayne Hart of Calvary Baptist Church at Xenia, Ohio, will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception before the service at noon at Janis Hart’s home, 3320 Birch St.
Mrs. Powell was born on March 28, 1897, at Durkee on the Horseshoe Ranch to Sidney and Iva Storie. She was the third in a family of seven children. When she was 11 the family moved from Durkee to Dixie.
She attended grade school at both Durkee and Dixie and three years of high school in Baker City where she stayed with a family friend, Mrs. Huffman, for the first year. Then she and her sister, Mary, lived in a drafty old woodshed on Elm Street that had been converted to living quarters. Once or twice during the school year she took the train home to Dixie.
Upon getting her teacher’s certificate, her first teaching job was on Lookout Mountain where she taught 11 students.
Her teaching career only lasted one year. While attending school in Baker City, she met Warren B. Powell. They were married on July 17, 1917. Their first home was on Pedro Mountain at the site of the sawmill run by Mr. Powell’s family. Timbers for the Mormon Basin mines were sawed at the mill.
The Powells had three daughters: Eleanor VanWinkle, now of La Grande; the late Dorothy Cameron, who lived in Baker City for a number of years before her death; and Mary Ellen Groen of John Day.
Mr. Powell served in World War I. Upon his return home, he and Mrs. Powell purchased a ranch in Rye Valley. For several years, Mr. Powell’s parents and brothers lived on the ranch while he was away working.
Mr. Powell worked at Lime, helping build the cement silos. During that time Mrs. Powell lived in a tent-house which had a wooden floor.
They also lived at Ludwig, Nev., for a few months, where Mr. Powell found work in a gypsum plant. Eventually, the family went back to the Rye Valley ranch. During the hard times of the Great Depression, and when her husband would be away working, Mrs. Powell stayed at the ranch and kept it going with the help of various nephews and other people who needed a home.
She raised turkeys, which she sold to the markets in Baker City, earning money for her family’s Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. She also helped milk a dozen cows and sold cream for cash. She raised chickens and a garden, sometimes trading eggs at the grocery store for staples.
In the spring of 1935, the family was unable to meet the mortgage payments on the ranch and had to give up. They moved to the Vale area and, with the resources they had salvaged from the Rye Valley place, were able to purchase an undeveloped piece of row crop land and again, her home was a two-room tent-house. Mr. Powell was not that type of farmer and a year later they sold the farm.
From then on they led a “gypsy life, ” going where work was available. Mr. Powell did sawmill work, carpentry, sheep shearing and custom threshing. They lived wherever Mr. Powell could find a job.
Their sheep shearing jobs took them from Nevada through Oregon and Idaho and into Montana. They started working in April and continued until July. Many times Mrs. Powell cooked for the shearing crews in a tent house, feeding 15 or 20 men, which was a challenging venture.
Sometimes she would have a cook helper; quite often it would be one of her granddaughters. She made a home for her family in every kind of place imaginable — from tents to one-room sawmill shanties and trailer houses.
No matter what the situation, whether cooking for the shearing crew in a tent, sawmill workers in lumber town shacks or in her home, when there were people to feed she could always put a meal on the tables; sometimes out of the most meager of supplies.
During World War II, the Powells moved to Portland, where Mr. Powell found work in the shipyards and Mrs. Powell worked in a small grocery store at Tigard. Also, while living in Tigard, they had her husband’s invalid mother in their home to care for.
When the war was over, they returned to Vale and together with daughters, Dorothy and Mary Ellen, built a new home on Smith Street. Mr. Powell continued with his shearing in the spring and building houses or doing remodeling jobs after their return to Vale.
He built houses in such places as Bridgeport, on Willow Creek below Ironside and at Weatherby. Mrs. Powell was always by his side, living in small camp trailers and cooking for him.
In 1955, they returned to Baker City and Mr. Powell in the spring continued to shear small bands of sheep in Baker Valley and do carpenter work. He built houses for their daughters, Mary Ellen and Dorothy, and their families and several other houses in the Baker City area.
They eventually bought an older home on Clark Street, which Mr. Powell remodeled and made into a comfortable home for their retirement years. Mrs. Powell now had a permanent, comfortable home, with a modern kitchen and a spot for a garden, which she loved.
The couple celebrated 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries in their Clark Street home. Mr. Powell died in 1981.
Mrs. Powell lived with her daughter, Eleanor, until 1992, when she moved to an assisted living home. She first lived at Ray Evans’ foster home in La Grande for about two years and then returned to Baker City in 1994 to live at Meadowbrook Place. She remained there until entering the hospital on Aug. 13 of this year.
Survivors include two daughters, Eleanor VanWinkle of La Grande and Mary Ellen Groen of John Day; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years; and one daughter, Dorothy Cameron.
Memorial contributions may be made to Meadowbrook Assisted Living Center, 4000 Cedar St., Baker City, OR 97814; or to a charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Carol Adams
Carol G. Adams, 84, a Baker City resident, died July 22, 2001, in a La Grande care center.
Her memorial service was Saturday at the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home. Pastor Ken Evans of the Baker City Baptist Church officiated.
Mrs. Adams was born on Sept. 30, 1916, at Winchester, Idaho, to William and Grace Chrisopher Cope. She received her education at Winchester, Idaho, and then moved to Bates where she stayed with her parents for a time.
She married Melvin Adams on Feb. 20, 1940, at Caldwell, Idaho. They moved to Baker City in the early 1960s from Bates and remained here. Mr. Adams died in 1997.
She was a homemaker and belonged to the Baker City Baptist Church. She liked crocheting and her CB radio and also enjoyed her friends.
Survivors include her son, Lawrence Millage of Walla Walla, Wash.; a granddaughter; two great-great-grandsons; and a great-great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and a sister.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association through the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Mary Margaret Sheehy
Mary Margaret Black Sheehy, 83, a former Baker County resident, died May 13, 2001, at the Wallowa County Memorial Hospital in Enterprise after a long and courageous fight against cancer.
Her funeral was May 21 at the St. Katherine Catholic Church at Enterprise. Interment was at the Wallowa Cemetery.
Mrs. Sheehy was the eldest daughter of George Alfred and Hanorah Margaret Doherty “Nora” Black. She was born on June 9, 1917, at The Dalles.
In 1935, she graduated from high school at Paisley. After graduation from Eastern Oregon Normal School in La Grande, she began her teaching career in one-room schools in the Halfway and Durkee areas and taught at other elementary schools in Baker and Malheur counties for many years.
While teaching at Weatherby near Durkee, she met Tom Sheehy. They were married on Aug. 14, 1941, at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City.
They had five children: Thomas, Mary Jane, Dennis, Hugh and Margaret Ann. The family ranched for many years in the Durkee, Ontario and Wallowa areas.
A person of very wide ranging talents, Mrs. Sheehy was a strong supporter of education, her community and the arts and crafts. In 1965, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in education from Eastern Oregon University.
She served on library boards in Baker and Wallowa counties and her efforts were instrumental in establishing library service for the Durkee area. She was a 4-H leader and a member of both the Durkee and Wallowa granges.
She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority and the Wallowa County Retired Educators. With a deep love of music, she was always willing to quickly lift her voice in song at either a community event or her church.
Her love of music continues to inspire her family and friends. Her carefully handcrafted Christmas angels will always serve as a welcome reminder of both her talents and her view of life and will be treasured by many.
A member of St. Pius X Parish at Wallowa, she was a person of strong personal faith who followed her beliefs as her life’s guide. She worked tirelessly in support of her parish and was very active in religious education at both the parish and diocesan level. Her personal involvement was always important in her parish’s music ministry.
She is missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Grace Elizabeth; and an infant brother, George.
Survivors include her husband and children and her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wallowa Library or the Wallowa Memorial Hospital through the Bollman Funeral Home at Wallowa.
‘Tex’ Jackson
Preston “Tex” Jackson, 79, a former Baker County resident, died as the result of a stroke on Aug. 1, 2001, at Oklahoma City.
His graveside funeral was Aug. 3 at Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Edmond, Okla. Elder Allen Daniels, pastor of the Primitive Baptist Church of Tuttle, Okla., officiated. Arrangements were under the direction of the Baggerly Funeral Home.
Mr. Jackson was born on June 12, 1922, at Duncan, Okla., to James P. and Elizabeth Foster Jackson. After he was honorably discharged from military service, he married Nadine Marrow on Oct. 1, 1943. They would have been married 58 years this October.
Soon after their marriage, the couple moved to Oregon where they lived for 40 years in and around Ontario, Baker City and Huntington. Mr. Jackson loved the hills and mountains of Oregon. He and his wife spent much time hunting and fishing in the state’s streams and lakes. He was lovingly known by his friends and neighbors as “Tex.”
Mr. Jackson spent most of his working career in law enforcement. He retired from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission in 1975.
In 1989, he and his wife moved to Oklahoma to be near much of his family. There they spent the last few years of their married life together, enjoying numerous visits from their children, grandchildren and his wonderful nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Albert and Frank Jackson; and a sister.
Survivors include his wife, Nadine Jackson of Edmond, Okla.; a son, Hershel Jackson of Edmond, Okla; a daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Ken Cavin of Edmond, Okla.; a brother, Jewel Jackson of Longview, Texas; two sisters, Altia Wade of Abernathy, Texas, and Lorene Hill of Westville, Okla.; four grandchildren, Desi Stout, Ashley Cavin, Jessica Jackson and Rebecca Jackson; and one great-grandchild (his namesake), Preston Charles Stout, of whom he was very proud.
Dorris Roy
Dorris Mary Scott Roy, 88, a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 10, 2001, in Oregon City.
Mrs. Roy was born on Sept. 30, 1912, at Corvallis to Frank and Malinda Scott. She was proud of her roots and the fact that she was a native Oregonian. Her paternal grandfather came West in a wagon train from Dubuque County, Iowa, and settled at Tangent in 1853.
After graduating from Corvallis High School, she completed a degree in home economics from Oregon State University and earned a master’s degree in Extension Education from the University of Wisconsin.
She lived in Baker City from 1952 to 1959, where she started her 22-year career in the Extension Service. She also served in Yamhill, Jefferson and Clatsop counties. As an Extension agent, she received a Distinguished Service Award for her outstanding program development from the National Association of Extension Home Economics. After retirement, she moved to the Portland area.
Survivors include her son, Richard Roy of Portland; her daughter, Marilyn Torsen of West Linn; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oregon 4-H Foundation, Ballard Hall, OSU, Corvallis, OR 97331.
Norva Pullen
Norva Elvera Pullen, 89, a Baker Valley resident, died Aug. 9, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.
Her graveside service was today at the Haines Cemetery. Pastor Sally Wiens of the United Methodist Church officiated.
Mrs. Pullen was born on June 5, 1912, at Payette, Idaho, to Guy and Jane Inman. She was one of four children. She began school at the age of 5 in Baker City. She was an excellent student who received many scholastic honors and graduated from high school at the age of 16. She attended business college in Spokane, Wash., for a time.
After school, Mrs. Pullen worked for several retail businesses in Baker City. She was married to Raymond F. Pullen on Oct. 13, 1935. They were married for nearly 66 years.
The Pullens operated a small cafe in North Powder for 14 months and then opened Ray’s Cafe in Haines, which they operated together for 30 years. In 1966, the couple moved to Baker City, where they had lived for 35 years.
Mrs. Pullen loved reading and read a great many books over the years. She also enjoyed boating and fishing and vacationing at Payette Lakes. They also traveled to Nebraska several times to visit Mr. Pullen’s family.
Survivors include her husband; two sisters, Mrs. Al Applegate of Sonora, Calif., and Mrs. Myrtle Lay of Baker City; a niece, Barbara Bond of Shingletown, Calif.; three nephews, Kerry Lay of Ashland, Roger Inman of Tallahassee, Fla., and John Inman of Salinas, Calif.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Marion Inman of Baker City.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, Ore. 97814.
Frank Blankinship
Frank Carson Blankinship, 79, a longtime Ontario resident and businessman, and a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 11, 2001, at Baker City.
At his request there will be no services.
Mr. Blankinship was born Sept. 27, 1921, in an apartment on Resort Street to Etta Lurchin and Elmer Blankinship. He was raised by his grandparents, Kit and Dammie Harpham. He accompanied his grandparents as Kit worked as a dynamite specialist in various gold mines around Sumpter and in the Wallowas. He attended school in Homestead, and then in Baker.
He married Lela Mitchell in August 1941. Shortly after, World War II commenced, and he served in the Army Air Corps.
In the mid 1940s the family moved to Ontario, where Mr. Blankinship started his businesses, with service stations, oil distribution, tires and auto parts sales.
He was active in various veterans’ organizations and was a member of the Ontario Elks Lodge. He served on the Ontario school board and was board president for many years.
Mr. Blankinship is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Cathy Blankinship of Baker City; his daughter, Pam Brown of West Richland, Wash.; his brother and sister-in-law, Darrell and Pat Perry of The Dalles; his sister and brother-in-law, Sue and Darrell Brown of La Grande; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Blankinship was preceded in death by his wife, Lela; his parents; his stepfather, Merle Perry; a brother, Harold Blankinship; and his sisters, Louise Hixson, Norma Davis and Velma Blankinship.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice in care of the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Ore., 97814.
Eileen Farson
Eileen Farson, 75, died Jan. 25, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services from complications of diabetes.
Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. MST Tuesday at the Haren-Wood Payette Chapel, 840 6th Ave. S. at Payette, Idaho. Vault interment will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Payette.
Eileen Muriel Withrow Farson was born to Wallace and Viola May Hofeldt Withrow on March 7, 1926, at Cleveland, Mont. She spent her youth traveling with her family while her father worked construction.
Eileen was a 1944 Baker High School graduate. On July 3, 1947, she married W.H. “Bill” Farson at Payette. They made their home in the Ontario and Payette areas. They had three children: Jim, Jan and Joni. Eileen worked for 25 years as a nurse for Dr. I.R. Woodward.
Bill and Eileen lived in Halfway from 1951 to 1953. When they left Halfway, their intent was always to return. In 1979 they built their home in Halfway and were completely moved to Halfway by 1985.
Eileen enjoyed quilting and making afghans. She also enjoyed growing flowers, and her specialties were gladiolus, begonias and pansies. Eileen enjoyed her kitties and never missed an opportunity to travel.
She was a member of Pine Valley’s Carson Club and several bridge groups. Eileen will be most remembered as being a very kind person who was very thoughtful of others.
Survivors include her husband W.H. “Bill” Farson of Halfway; son, Jim, and his wife, Genia, of Boise; daughters, Janet Farson of Salt Lake City and Joni and her husband, Dennis Griffin, of Boise; three grandchildren, Jennifer, Thaniel and Megan; a sister Roberta and her husband, Bob Troyer, of Parma; brother, Lee, and his wife, Viola Withrow; and several nieces and nephews and many very special friends.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made to the Diabetes Foundation through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834.
