System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Gladys Byrne
Gladys Byrne, 97, a longtime Richland resident, died Dec. 31, 2001, at Elkhorn Village.
Her funeral was at 11 a.m. today at Elkhorn Village with the Rev. Roger Scovil officiating and at 2 p.m. at the Richland Christian Church with the Rev. Gordon Bond of the Richland Christian Church officiating.
Vault interment was at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland.
Gladys Byrne was born on Oct. 13, 1904, (“Friday the 13th — our lucky day, ” her family recalls), at Halfway to John Fredrick Garrett and Keturah Mary Coles Garrett. She was the fifth of eight children.
She often told how she was born in a smokehouse her father built for the Crow family, who then gave her the nickname of Little Smokey.
She married Ralph Byrne on March 5, 1921, at New Bridge. Ralph’s first job as a married man was in Durkee. He used a team of horses to build old Highway 30.
After this job he used his team to help work on the streets of Baker City. From there they were involved in farming in Eagle Valley and at Sparta. They purchased the Pearl Wright place on lower Powder River in 1934 where they lived until 1950 when they purchased the Bunch place. They retired from the farm and moved to Richland in 1964.
They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on March 5, 1971, at New Bridge in nearly the same spot where they were married. Her children recall that after the celebration, Bob and Roberta took Gladys to get her 1961 Rambler she had secretly purchased and she got her first driving lesson that day from Bob while the rest of the kids stayed in the house and worried. She was 66 years old at the time.
“Our dad said he ‘was not riding in that car!’ ” they said, but he did. Gladys and Ralph were married for 58 years when Ralph died in 1979. Gladys continued to live in Richland until 1994 when she moved into her apartment at Elkhorn Village where she lived until her death.
Her family fondly remembers what a wonderful cook she was; she canned fruit, meat and vegetables and Myrtle remembers she canned more than 1, 000 quarts of food one year. Her cinnamon rolls were the best in the world and her children remember how they could trade the school kids out of anything if they had a cinnamon roll to offer.
Her children also loved her baking powder biscuits, homemade cottage cheese with radishes, new peas and potatoes, homemade bread and canned peaches. “If we had company, the chickens had better watch out, because they were dinner, ” her family said.
Their mother was always part kid herself, according to her family. “She loved a good joke and water fights. She’d even bring the water hose into the house to get even with us. Bob accidentally locked her in the chicken house once and boy, was she mad when she got out. Mom loved her garden, her old milk cows, making quilts and making new friends.”
The Byrnes’ home was open to any child any time. The couple was known for standing up for children who had no one to stand up for them. They always had a bed, food and love for other kids.
Gladys’ family recalled, “Mom never knew who Dad would invite in off the highway to eat with us. One time a man knocked at the door and asked for food and they obliged him. When he left they found a silver dollar under his plate; this was at a time when a dollar really meant something.
“We were poor in cash, but rich with love, family and plenty of food they raised on our place, ” their family said. “There were hard times, but we all agree we’d go back in a heartbeat given the chance!”
She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Freda, in 1940; her husband in 1979; and four sisters and three brothers.
Survivors include four daughters, Myrtle Whittaker of Robertson, Wyo., Ada Patton of Irrigon, Betty Myers and Carl, of Baker City and Bonnie Dunn and Delaine, of La Grande; three sons, Joe Byrne and Marion, of Kennewick, Wash., Bob Byrne and Joye of Baker City; 28 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Eagle Valley Ambulance or Pathway Hospice through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Vada Garrett
Vada Clarine Garrett, a former Richland resident, died Dec. 29, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Care Center.
Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Christian Church at Richland. Interment will be at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland.
Vada was born on Jan. 12, 1915, at Summerville to Alva B. and Mary Nettie Woodell Carder. The family moved to Halfway when Vada was a child and later to Richland. She was a graduate of Eagle Valley High School at Richland.
She was employed as a ticket clerk in the Richland Theater, and drove an ore truck and worked in the boarding house at the Cornucopia Gold Mine. She also was a telephone operator for Eagle Telephone and a bookkeeper for Eagle Valley Creamery Association.
Vada was a member of the Richland Seventh-day Adventist Church and carried the position of treasurer for 30 years. She participated in all church activities and was always available to teach Sabbath School and Vacation Bible School.
Vada married Joe Harrison on Sept. 11, 1936. They had two daughters: Annette and Arleen Jane Harrison. She married Earl “Pete” Garrett on Oct. 4, 1945. They had three children, Arleen and the twins, Earlynn and Rosalynn.
Pete and Vada operated the family farm at New Bridge until Pete’s death in 1991. They were well known for the beautiful fruits from the orchard and vegetables from a garden large enough to feed the whole valley.
Vada was a wonderful cook and made all family celebrations memorable. Her passions in life were her family, her church and her love for God. She lived her life as the true example of Christianity. One of her favorite pastimes was taking the kids out to pick wild flowers when they bloomed in the spring. She knew the name of each flower. She was loved for her generosity, loving spirit and an every-ready radiant smile.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Pete; an infant daughter, Arleen Jane; her parents; a sister, Clara Carder; and brothers, Melvin and Glenn Carder.
Survivors include her daughter’s Annette Tomat of Medford, Arleen Thomason, and her husband, Bud, of Baker City, and Rosalynn Gorham of La Grande; a son, Earlynn Garrett and his wife, Rhonda, of Ione; 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; a brother, Orval B. Carder and his wife, Beth, of Bend; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eagle Valley Ambulance Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
“Chuck” Weiland
Charles “Chuck” Weiland, 87, a longtime Baker City resident, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. A family memorial service will be held at a later date. Gray’s West & Co. is in charge of arrangements.
Chuck was born Feb. 22, 1914, in Jamestown, New York, to Albert and Antoinette Weiland. He was raised and educated in Rochester, N.Y., with two older brothers.
On April 23, 1938, he married Evelyn Bosse, his high school sweetheart. He was a purchasing agent and later manager of Fasco Industries, a company that manufactures a variety of vent systems and electric motors.
All this time Chuck indulged his pleasures in the out-of-doors, especially fishing, which he enjoyed all over the country.
Chuck retired early and he and Evelyn traveled all over the lower 48 states. He moved to the Baker City area in 1985 to be near his only daughter, Joyce McKie, after his wife died
Chuck made friends easily and became an Elk and a Mason. He spent most of his time with his nose in a book and a dog at his feet. His favorite chair gave him a good, close view of the deer that were always hanging around his yard.
He had a lifetime passion for automobiles, especially sports cars. At times he owned two or three at once.
In the Baker City area, he was probably best known for driving around in his bright red Corvette well into his 80s. He was a wonderful father and a kind man who will be missed.
Survivors include his daughter, Joyce McKie, of Baker City; and friend Borden Granger.
Faye Bryant
Faye Carmella Page Kochis Bryant, 75, a longtime Durkee resident, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001, at her home. Her funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, at Sacred Heart Church in Durkee. A reception at the Durkee Grange will follow.
Viewing will be from 10 a.m. through 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, at the Pioneer Chapel at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City.
Vault interment will be at the Malheur Cemetery in Bridgeport.
Faye was born Jan. 14, 1926, in Rigby, Idaho, to Clyde and Katherine Mitchell. She spent her early life in Kilgore, Idaho, where she was raised and graduated from high school.
She worked much of her life as a security guard, mostly in the timber industry. She also worked in a boarding house, in vegetable production, accounting, gardening, housekeeping and caretaking.
Her hobbies included tending her garden, enjoying the outdoors, and caring for animals. The family considered her a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her husband, Fred Kochis; a brother, Gary Mitchell; children David Page, Don Page and wife Sue, Doug Page and wife Gina, Denny Page, and Beth Ann Page; a niece, Karen Hopke; a step-daughter, Wendy Flippo; 18 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Arla; and three children, Michael, Cathy and Brenda.
Ralph Geils
Ralph A. Geils, 86, a Baker City native, died Dec. 23, 2001, at Meadowbrook Care Center.
His memorial service will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Ralph H. Holcomb of the Christian Church will officiate.
Disposition was by cremation at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Crematory.
Ralph was born Oct. 27, 1915, in Baker City to Fred and Bertha Schiller Geils. He was raised and educated in Baker City, where he spent his entire life with the exception of three years and 10 months that he spent in the Army during World War II.
He married Pauline Whisman on Oct. 17, 1947, in Baker City. She preceded him in death on Jan. 16, 1983.
Ralph was a member of the Baker City Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Baker City Golf Club. He enjoyed the out of doors, his yard and garden, and he especially loved to golf.
He worked a number of years for the Sumpter Valley Railroad as a truck driver hauling lumber, and he later worked for the city of Baker.
Ralph is survived by his sisters, Ella Craven of Baker City and Doris Washington of Reedsport; his sister-in-law, Claire Rudolph of Baker City; a foster daughter, Donna Gardner of Irrigon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Don Adcock
Don Joseph Adcock, Sr., 68, of Sumpter, died Dec. 21, 2001, at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Boise.
His memorial service was Wednesday at Coles Funeral Home. Dr. Clifford Billings of Baker City Community Church officiated.
Don was born Aug. 16, 1933, at Oregon City to Joseph Granville Adcock and Theresa Marie Adcock.
Don graduated from Oregon City High School. He then joined the National Guard, Coast Guard and then the Air Force, where he was in the 22nd Air Refueling Squad and earned a college degree in hydraulic engineering. He had a total of 20 years of military service in all.
Don married Patricia Irene Hainline on March 21, 1959, in Bliss, Idaho. They raised five children. They lived in Oregon City until 1975, when they moved to Sumpter.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was a real history buff. He also enjoyed being with his family and friends. He always had a story to tell. He belonged to the Masons, Scottish Rite and Shriners. He also belonged to the Sumpter Valley Association.
Don is survived by his wife, Patricia Irene Adcock of Sumpter; two sons, Don J. Adcock Jr. of Baker City and Dean Adcock and his wife, Linda, of Eagle Creek; three daughters, Charlene Whiteside of Newport, Terri Adcock of Eugene and Judy Wells of Hood River; two sisters, Marie Anderson of Renton Wash., and Peggy Lewis of Estacada, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Granville Adcock and Theresa Marie Adcock; his infant twin brother, Dean Everet Adcock; and a sister, Dorothy Kern.
Contributions in Don’s memory may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children at 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201-3095 or through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Lillian McCoy
Lillian L. McCoy, 97, of Baker City, died Dec. 25, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her memorial service will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Services will conclude in the chapel. Private vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Lillian Louise “Peggy” McCoy was born Lillian L. Ray on July 5, 1904, to Ellen and Charles Ray on the Oil Comet Lease land in Bakersfield, Calif. She received a rural education. She married Austin Brooks Gribble and had one daughter, Elva L. Gribble Guyer. Austin preceded her in death.
Lillian later married George Henry McCoy. They lived in Caliente, Calif., where they owned and operated a grocery store for many years. After World War II, they moved to Keating, where they owned and operated the Keating Grocery Store. George drove the Keating School Bus and Lillian successfully sold Avon and Sarah Coventry jewelry and became a postmistress.
Peggy and George raised their two sons, George Guy McCoy and Ray Larkin McCoy, at Keating. Peggy loved music. She played the piano for dances at the Keating Grange and Medical Springs Grange where she was also a member. All who knew her remember how much she loved growing flowers. She used her other creative talents with sewing, crocheting, and all kinds of crafts.
Peggy’s survivors include her daughter, Elva Guyer and her husband, Don, of Baker City; her son, Guy McCoy and his wife, Sue, of Sunnyside, Wash.; her grandchildren, Ellen Youngbluth of Prineville, Robert G. McCoy of Mitchell, S.D., Sandra McCoy of Boise, Robert R. McCoy of Altadena, Calif., Kathy Krob of Snowhill, Md., and Carol Porter of Baker City; and great-grandchildren Matthew and Melissa Brooks and Kelly and Jacob Porter.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George McCoy, and her son, Ray McCoy.
Contributions in Peggy’s memory may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children at 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201 or to the United Methodist Church. This may be done through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Jack’ Taylor
Loreing E. “Jack” Taylor, 82, of Joseph, and a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 24, 2001, at Wallowa Memorial Hospital in Enterprise.
His memorial service will be Thursday, Jan. 3, at 11 a.m. at the Joseph American Legion Hall. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City.
Mr. Taylor was born Feb. 9, 1919, at Baker City to Balen Alonzo and Dorey “Higgins” Taylor. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a past commander of the Baker City American Legion post and a member of the Joseph American Legion post. He was also a member of the Blue Mountain Fiddlers, and enjoyed his violin.
He married Gwendoline Doak on Oct. 3, 1994.
Mr. Taylor is survived by his wife; his sons, William Taylor of Salem and Russell Taylor of Baker City; his daughters, Melanie Taylor of Baker City, Joan Taylor of La Grande, Debra Taylor of Coquille, and Valerie Taylor of Coos Bay; a brother, Howard Taylor of Baker City; a sister, Della Crelland of Baker City; stepchildren, James Doak, Margret Vandomelin, Robert Doak and Stephen Doak; 7 stepgrandchildren and numerous grandchildren.
Contributions in Mr. Taylor’s memory may be made to the Wallowa Memorial Hospital Foundation in care of the Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W. Main St., Enterprise, OR 97828.
Pearl Christensen
Pearl Rosetta Christensen, 75, of Baker City, died Dec. 19, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her memorial service will be Friday at 1 p.m. at the Community of Christ Church, 2428 Madison St. in Baker City.
Pearl was born Feb. 3, 1926, in Salmon, Idaho, to Rosetta and Cloyed Bailey. She had one son, who died in 1969 while serving in the Army. She married Ronald Christensen on Aug. 15, 1964, at Winnemucca, Nev. They lived for several years near the Oregon Coast, moving to Baker City in 1975.
Pearl worked in the St. Elizabeth Nursing Home for several years. After she retired she did volunteer work in the Foster Grandparents Reading Program at North Baker School, and also in the Summer Reading Program at the Baker Library. She loved working with the children.
Pearl was a great cook. She enjoyed cooking for her family. Being invited to her home for dinner was an extra-special treat.
She loved her family and friends, which were the main focus in her life. She was an encourager and supported her family through all of life’s celebration of births, birthdays, graduations, weddings, etc.
Pearl loved her cat, whose name was Kitty. She also cared about all animals. Pearl was a kind person with a generous heart.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Karen Christensen of Sumpter; grandchildren, Cindy Christensen, Wes and Vicki Christensen, Carole Shankle and Wade and Shelly Christensen, all of Sumpter, Shari McMaster of Boise, and Bruce and LeAnn Jeffords of Prineville; her sisters, Elvina Hughes and Virginia Carter, both of Baker City, and Sandra Cartwright of Grants Pass; her brothers, Joe Bailey of Baker City, Richard Bailey of Kellogg, Idaho, and Irvin Bailey of Arizona; 15 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Christensen; her son, Jack Christensen; and a daughter, Laetta Stump.
Contributions in Pearl’s memory may be made to the Community of Christ Church, the Humane Society, or to the charity of one’s choice in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814.
Georgie Proffitt
Georgie Lee Proffitt, 68, of Albany, and a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 22, 2001, at her home due to complications from cancer.
Her funeral will be Friday at 1 p.m. at AAsum Funeral Home, 805 Ellsworth Street S.W. in Albany. Interment will be at Willamette Memorial Park.
Visitations will be Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at the funeral home.
Georgie was born Oct. 21, 1933, at Adrian, Mo., the first of three children born to George M. and Helen Louise (Robbins) Jones.
The family moved from Missouri to the Nampa and Caldwell area of Idaho when Georgie was a small child. She graduated from Nampa High School in 1951 and began nursing school in Blackfoot, Idaho, graduating in June of 1954 from the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Nampa.
She had married Harland Glen Proffitt five months earlier, on Jan. 8, 1954, in Nampa. They lived in Portland for three years, then moved to Baker City in 1959, where Georgie worked for Doctor Fuller’s office.
She enjoyed square dancing and bowling, and was active in the Jaycees.
The family moved to Albany in 1967, where they joined the First Christian Church, and where Georgie worked in the offices of Doctors Curtis and Moore before working for 17 years as a nurse at Teledyne Wah Chang. She retired in 1995.
She enjoyed social activities, as well as walking, sewing, knitting and baking.
Georgie is survived by her son, Douglas Proffitt of Salem; daughters, Debra Haile of Corvallis, Rhonda Mann of Albany, and Sandra Cox of Portland; sisters, Rosie King of Murphy, Idaho, and Jackie Dines of Marsing, Idaho; grandchildren, Dustin, Kristina, Shawn, Tyler, Brandon, Jeremy, Braxton and Kelsey; three stepgrandchildren and three stepgreat-grandchildren; her companion, Hank Ketsdever of Albany and his children, Bret Ketsdever of Gates, Dena Kammerud and Troy Ketsdever, both of Portland, and Brad Ketsdever of Carmichael, Calif.; and his grandchildren, Freya and Adam.
Georgie was preceded in death by her husband, Harland, who died in March of 1984.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of the AAsum Funeral Home, 805 Ellsworth St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321.
