System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Oscar Linkous
Oscar Linkous, 89, a former Baker City, Haines and La Grande resident, died April 24, 2004, at a local care facility.
A celebration of Oscar's life will be conducted Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Haines Methodist Church. Sally B. Wiens will officiate.
A lunch and gathering of family and friends will follow after a brief ceremony at the Haines Cemetery. Visitations will be Tuesday from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande.
Oscar was born November 25, 1914, in Knoxville, Tenn., to Millum and Monty Bernard Linkous. When he was two, the family moved west to settle in the Weiser, Idaho, area. Oscar attended school in Weiser and left school after the eighth grade to work for his family, packing camp supplies to their summer mountain sheep camps.
While growing up along the Weiser River, Oscar started his lifelong affair with horses, cattle and dogs. He was always called upon to work with horses that no one else could handle. He told stories of riding green-broke horses into the mountains, fishing the high lakes, cougar encounters and all of the interesting and infamous people that he had met along the way.
When Oscar was 17, he moved to the Baker area and went to work for the Phillips Ranches, where he worked as a general ranch hand until the outbreak of World War II. It was in Baker that he met his future wife, Leora "Jackie" Blunt. They married on August 25, 1942 in Caldwell, Idaho.
Oscar enlisted in the Army in 1942 as a private and was encouraged by his officers to enroll in Officer Candidate School, where he attained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Oscar served as a training officer until his discharge from the service in 1945.
After he and Jackie moved back to the Baker area, Oscar went to work for the Baker Livestock Auction Yards. In his 35 years with the organization he was known as one of the best cattlemen in Baker County.
Oscar was also known as one of the best cowboys around. His roping skills had everyone clamoring to have him as their partner in team roping, and a lot of cowboys shuddered when they heard he was in the pot for calf roping, bull dogging and steer roping. He augmented his regular salary with his rodeo winnings for many years.
After retirement, Oscar and Jackie moved to La Grande to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren. Oscar's greatest loves were his family, his horses and dogs, baseball, a good book and the mountain where he grew up.
Oscar was preceded in death by his wife Jackie, brother Lester and a nephew, Gary Linkous. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Richard Procsal of La Grande; grandchildren, Bill Sproul and Jamie and Beau Thomas; nephews and their wives, Rod and Donna Linkous of Seattle and Mike and Paula Linkous of Florida; and other relatives and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker High School Rodeo Team in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, OR 97850.
Beulah Flint
Beulah May Flint, 95, a long-time resident of Nye Road near Baker City, died April 23, 2004, at her home.
Her funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate. Private vault interment at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Visitations will be until 7 o'clock tonight and from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the funeral home.
Beulah was born Jan. 19, 1909, at Roberts southeast of Prineville to Granville and May Connett Nye. Her early years were spent at Sweet Home, Klamath Falls and Wilbur near Roseburg.
In 1946, Beulah moved to Baker City with her parents to join her brother, Everett, who operated an electric shop in Baker City. The family members wanted to be close to each other. Beulah and her parents bought a small farm east of town on what is now Nye Road, named after the family.
Beulah married Earl Flint on July 1, 1957, and he joined the family on Nye Road.
Beulah worked at Oregon Lumber Co. where she pulled green chain, at the Ranch Motel, the Oregon Trail Motel and at St. Elizabeth Hospital.
Beulah had been a member of First Christian Church for many years.
Beulah and Earl had many good years of traveling in their travel trailer with friends Alan and Mary Sigler.
Survivors include her first cousins, Lloyd Coffey and his wife, Rosemary, and Faye Selmer all of Portland, Marie Dominquez of Eureka, Calif., and Pat Connett of Moscow, Idaho; stepniece, Penny Chamberlain of Pendleton; and numerous second and third cousins, stepnieces and nephews; friends, Alan and Mary Sigler; and many other good friends and wonderful neighbors.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, in 1994; her father, Granville, in 1962; her mother, May, in 1967; and her brother, Everett, in 1969.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Maxine Burbank
Maxine Burbank, 84, of Ontario, a former Baker County resident, died of complications of diabetes and the results of four strokes on April 22, 2004, at Life Care Center in Boise.
Her graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Riverside Cemetery in Payette, Idaho.
She was born on June 13, 1919, at Emmett, Idaho, to Emory John and Etta Mae Rynearson. She lived for many years at Hereford where she and her husband owned the Hereford Store. They moved to Ontario in 1957.
Although retired for many years, she spent more than 20 years as a waitress at the Eastside Cafe' in Ontario. She liked to go fishing, berry picking and shopping, but her passion was for crocheting and sewing. She also liked working in her yard and growing beautiful flowers.
Survivors include a sister, Mary Redfeldt of Emmett, Idaho; a brother, Everett Rynearson of Sacramento, Calif.; six grandchildren, Wes Christensen, Wade Christensen, Cindy Christensen, Carole Shankle, Bruce Jeffords and Sharilyn McMaster; 15 great-grandchildren; a few great-great-grandchildren; and two nieces, Kathie Schroeder and Elana Parrot.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Ronald Christensen and Grant Burbank; a son, Jack Christensen; and two daughters, Julia Christensen and Loetta Christensen Stump.
Arrangements are by Summers Funeral Homes, Ustick Chapel, at Meridian, Idaho.
Christopher Ellis
Christopher John Ellis, 38, of Silverton, a former Baker City resident, died April 25, 2004.
A small family memorial service will be scheduled later.
Chris was born on Aug. 21, 1966, at Portland and spent his early years in Medford. In 1978, the family moved to Silverton where he completed high school and was active in athletics, particularly baseball.
He graduated from Eastern Oregon University at La Grande with a degree in accounting. He married Sami Baisley of Baker City, and moved to Burns to work as an accountant. He became a certified public accountant CPA, remained in Burns for several years and was active in the Harney County Chamber of Commerce, eventually serving as president.
In 1998, he took a position in Baker City as an accountant/CPA with Guyer, Lindley, Bailey and Martin. A few months later he was diagnosed with brain cancer and struggled with it until his death.
In 2002 he moved to La Grande to be near his daughter. For the past year he resided in Silverton with his parents.
The family wishes to acknowledge the caring and support provided by hospice services in Baker City, La Grande, and the Willamette Valley. They especially acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Guyer, Lindley, Bailey and Martin on Chris' behalf.
Survivors include his daughter, Taylor of Riverview, Fla.; brothers, Steve of Renton, Wash., and Tim of Seattle, Wash.; and sister, Prema, of San Diego. His parents are David and Sonja Ellis of Silverton.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice.
Mena Norris
Mena Norris, 99, died April 25, 2004, at Settlers' Park Assisted Living.
Her graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Robin Harris of the Cornerstone Baptist Church will officiate.
Mena Norris was born on Dec. 18, 1904, at Granite. She was the daughter of Grant County pioneers, J.W. "Walkie" and Margaret McNulty Tabor. She attended school at the Columbia Mine and Sumpter.
In July 1923, she married Earl Hackett at the Methodist parsonage in Baker City. Earl followed mining and their first home was at Homestead.
After several years of working at small mines they moved to northern Idaho and Earl worked as a shift boss at the Hecla Mine at Burke until his retirement because of ill health. At that time Mena began working as a cook at the Wallace Elks Club.
She continued in charge of the kitchen and she was noted for her excellent home-style cooking. Earl died in 1961.
In 1965 she married Carl Norris. At the time of his death in 1982 they were living at Osburn, Idaho. Mena continued living there until 1999 when she moved to Baker City to be near family.
Mena was active in community affairs. She was a noble grand of the Rebekah Lodge, a longtime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, a member of the Eagles Lodge, the Lady Elks, and the Garden Club.
Survivors include her sister, Theresa Fowler of Baker City; nephews, Albert Tabor, and his wife, Eldamarie, of Prineville, and Richard Tabor and his wife, Virginia, of Burns; nieces, Christina Beck of California, Gail Boes and her husband, John, of Spokane, Wash., and Ronda McLean of Lewiston, Idaho; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews, several cousins; her many friends in the Wallace area and the girls at Settlers' Park who will miss her.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice through Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Milton Starr
Milton E. Starr, 75, of Baker City, died April 26, 2004, at Wallowa Memorial Hospital.
His graveside funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Mr. Starr was born on Oct. 27, 1928, at Crosby, N.D., to Jesse Lyle and Margaret Nelson Starr. He worked as a mechanic.
Survivors include his brothers and sisters-in-law, Harvey and Margaret Starr of North Powder and James and Della Starr of Pocatello, Idaho; sisters and brothers-in-law, Loraine and Charlie Smedley of Roseburg, Carolyn Palmer of Baker City and Evelyn and Marvin Lovell of Joseph; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Loren.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Bollman Funeral Home of Enterprise is in charge of arrangements.
Keith Remington
Keith Lavern Remington, 73, of Fruitland, Idaho, and Sumpter, died April 28, 2004, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise.
His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at West Valley Free Methodist Church in Fruitland. Pastor Don Brown will officiate.
Visitations will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel in Fruitland.
Keith was born on Nov. 29, 1930, at Big Springs, Neb., to Clair and Pauline Remington. He loved people and helped so many. He also loved children and animals.
He loved to fly his planes. He started flying in 1955. Keith worked for Idaho Power Co. from 1951 to 1959, living at Bliss and Brownlee. He also did emergency hospital flights and at one time even stocked fish in the high lakes with his plane.
Keith loved to cook and owned and operated the Polar Bear Cafe' at Nyssa from 1960 to 1970. Keith loved Sumpter, where he and Cindy built a beautiful home together. He and Cindy loved to take rides on their ATVs with his "little girl, " their dog, Misty. Keith owned the Sumpter General Store for several years.
He had a wonderful sense of humor and was loved by many people and will be missed by so many. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Cindy A. Remington of Fruitland; his mother, Pauline Elizabeth Remington Tomjack of Weiser, Idaho; his children, Michael Remington and his wife, Ahn, and grandsons, Jason and Jeremy, of Fredericksburg, Va., his daughter, Marsha Meeker and her husband, Brent, and grandchildren, Barrett and Lara of Camarillo, Calif.; two stepchildren, Michelle Sherman, of Keizer; and Laura Mann of Gram, Wash.; three sisters, Ruth Hill, and her husband, Glenn, Nancy Whetton, and Beverly Hess and her husband, Duane; four nephews and three nieces.
He was preceded in death by his father, Clair Remington; and his stepfather, Walter Tomjack.
Memorials may be made to Sumpter Valley Historical Dredge Park through Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, Idaho 83661.
Mary Yoder
Mary M. Weir Yoder, 46, of Sandy, died April 11, 2004, after a multi-year battle with cancer.
There will be a celebration of Mary's life at the Richland Grange Hall from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Friends are invited to stop by to visit with her parents and family. At Mary's request, her body was cremated.
Mary was born on Oct. 22, 1957, at Baker City and grew up at Richland. She was a 1975 graduate of Pine-Eagle High School at Halfway. She then moved to the Portland area where she became a successful businesswoman.
Mary began her professional career with First Interstate Bank (later Wells Fargo Bank) in 1975. She worked her way up through the company to become division vice president. She took an early retirement in 2001 when her medical challenges began.
Mary traveled extensively and loved working for Wells Fargo. She had many friends within the banking industry and was a respected employee and manager at Wells Fargo.
Mary was generous in every way to family and friends. She made special efforts to help and mentor her nieces and nephews in any way she could. She loved to travel and spent winters in Arizona with her parents. Mary was the center of attention when in Arizona, and made many new friends wherever she went.
Mary loved to garden and to shop. She had many unique items, which always made her home and garden a delight to explore and experience. She was well known for her style and flair in decorating.
She was bold yet sophisticated. Mary loved everything about home decorating, both inside and out. She was an avid gardener and master of finding that odd, yet tasteful item that would absolutely set the tone for her creative decorating.
Mary's stylish manner and unique humor were well known to her family and friends. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her, but will remain in their hearts and minds for eternity.
Survivors include her parents, John and Donna Weir of Richland; sister, Judi Grantz, and her husband, Ron, of Sandy; brothers and sisters-in-law, Neil and Cindy Weir of Mountain Home, Idaho, and Jerry and Mary Weir of Halfway; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
James Donald
James Cleveland Donald, 75, of Acton, Mass., a former Baker City resident, died April 11, 2004.
He was a third-generation citizen of Baker County. His father, James Donald, was a member of the Baker City law firm, Nichols, Hallock, Donald, Banta, which is now Silven, Schmeits and Vaughan.
James attended Baker schools until he was 16 when he transferred to Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass. He kept close to his classmates at Baker High School and attended every reunion of the Class of 1946. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service during his college vacations.
He was a 1950 graduate of Stanford University where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry. After serving two years with the 2nd Infantry Division, which saw action in Korea, he graduated from Harvard School of Business.
His working career spanned 45 years and seven companies, including DuPont and Almy, where he achieved the Daran patent. His last job was as president of his own company, Six States Engineering. He was active in community affairs in Acton and traveled twice to Romania to help support the church people who had suffered during the dictatorship.
He was an early feminism enthusiast, encouraging his wife to continue her medical practice and civic activities. He kept in close touch with his friends and classmates in Baker County and always was proud of his Baker County heritage.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Donald, M.D., of Acton; sister, Jane Creighton of San Rafael, Calif.; and three children, James Wylie Donald of Fair Haven, N.J., Amy Donald Pualwan of Greensboro Bend, Vt., and Lt. Commander Elliott Judson Donald of the U.S. Navy at Norfolk, Va., and his wife, Olivia Cole of Haines; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Judy.
Baker City friends suggest memorial contributions to the Crossroads-Carnegie Project since James Donald spent many happy hours in the Carnegie Library and would take great pride in seeing its restoration as a cultural center.
