System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Barbara Sturgill
Barbara Ann Sturgill, 82, of Baker City, died June 20, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 2130 Second St. The Rev. Dick Toll of Milwaukie will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at the church.
Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday at Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.
Barbara was born to L.D. and Neva Chidsey Clabough on Aug. 12, 1921, at Heppner. She moved with her mother, Neva, and her sister, Dorothy, to Baker City in 1927 when she was 6 years old. She has been a continuous resident of Baker County until her death. She was assimilated into the McCord pioneering family legacy when her mother married Robert McCord in 1932.
Her teen-age years were marked with her characteristic qualities of independence, strong will, exuberance, compassion and tremendous energy. She was active in sports, school activities and summer fun. She often championed the underdog and social misfit, and often exhibited a streak of roguish behavior in the form of prankish, but harmless, practical jokes.
Her headlong charge into life was slowed a bit when, at age 19, she was stricken with the dreaded crippling poliomyelitis. The disease left all her muscles paralyzed from the waist down.
After two years of almost constant hospitalization, surgeries and treatment in Portland, she was released, with her physician's dire predictions she would never walk again, would never be able to bear children and would, in effect, be restricted to a comparatively sedentary lifestyle.
Through sheer grit and determination, Barbara defied all the odds. With the aid of leg braces, laced corseting of her upper body, and a cane for balance, she did learn to "walk" again, swinging her legs by using her upper body muscles. Eventually over the years, she was forced to use two canes, then crutches and finally a wheelchair and electric cart. For the las year and a half she was confined to bed, first at home, then at the St. Elizabeth Health Care Center where she finished out her days.
She married returned World War II Navy veteran Kenneth W. Sturgill on April 21, 1946, in Baker City. She subsequently bore and nurtured two sons, often relying on her far-reaching cane or well- trained dog, Fawn, to retrieve active little boys when they were sure they had outfoxed their mother.
She was an active farm wife, during the first year of marriage sometimes cooking for as many as 16 hay hands, all before electricity or indoor plumbing were installed.
Life became a little more convenient when the family moved into a modest, electrically wired and plumbed house in Baker City in 1952. More convenient, maybe, but only encouraging her to become more involved in family, neighborhood and community affairs.
She actively supported the World War II effort by serving as a volunteer in the local United Service Organizations. She communicated regularly with local servicemen abroad, keeping them apprised of happenings on the home front.
She worked as a secretary to the appeals panel of the local Draft Board. She was an active and creative Cub Scout den mother and helped organize and support PTA, Little League and Babe Ruth.
She was an advocate and strong supporter of all sports and school extracurricular activities. She was a tireless and dedicated 4-H worker in numerous ways, for both her own sons and a multitude of other participants. She either organized or solicited funds for yearly fund-raisers of the National Polio Foundation, Cancer Society and American Heart Association.
She served as a Sunday school teacher and in other positions in her church, was a longtime working member of the popular Me 'N' You dinner/dance club and was active in Lady Elks and CattleWomen for many years.
She unselfishly served as "physician, " "counselor, " and "second mother" to many, feeling free to chip in with some homespun advice, whether solicited or not, but fondly recalled and appreciated in the recipient's later years.
In addition to nurturing her own family, she often baby-sat the children of friends and neighbors, with or without pay. Periodically, she worked outside the home for KBKR radio station, Leo Adler Magazine Distributors and Realtor Lyle Laeger.
Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Kenneth W. Sturgill; sons, Blair, and his wife, Carolyn, of Roseburg and Robert and his wife, Peggy, of Fort Worth, Texas; sisters and their husbands, Dorothy, and Melvin Durgan of Baker City, Shirley and Robert Clemens of Salem, and Sharon and Joe Hindman of Pullman, Wash.; a brother, Oliver McCord, and his wife, Kay, of Cheney, Wash.; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Stephens Episcopal Church or to the charity of one's choice through Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Tony Smith
Tony Howard Smith Jr., 61, of Baker City died June 17, 2004, at his home.
There will be an informal celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Gray's West & Co. Interment will be at the Sumpter Cemetery.
Tony was born on Aug. 31, 1942, at Weatherford, Okla., to Howard and Exxie Hughes Smith. As a child, he came to Oregon to live with his father and stepmother, Ruby. He grew up in Eastern Oregon.
He played football while attending high school at Mitchell and also was also involved in track and field. Tony loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, hunting and gathering mushrooms. He often spent most of the summer camping.
Tony enjoyed many other things in life including food, antiquing, auctioning, and flea markets. He had a special place in his heart for babies and little children, who brought out his most kind and gentle traits.
He was preceded in death by his birth mother; his father and step-mother; a son, Jody Smith; two brothers; and two sisters.
Survivors include his companion, "Ma" Anita Buzzard and her three children and his children, Tony Franklin Smith, Tammy Wright and her husband, Troy, Sherry Smith, Tina Stritmater and her husband, Dave, Sheila Smith, TJ Smith, and Russell Smith; brothers and sisters, Dennis, Larry, B.J., Rose, Anna, Lori and Dana; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Eugene Deiter
Eugene "Gene" Deiter, 66, died June 18, 2004, at his daughter's home in Vancouver, Wash. He had been ill for the last few years.
There will be a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 349 South Egan in Vancouver, Wash.
Gene was born on Oct. 17, 1937, at Rifle, Colo., to Edwin and Pearl Nichols Deiter. He attended grammar school in Colorado until 1949, when the family moved to Burns, where he continued his education. When he was 17, he joined the military and served during the Korean War.
During his military service, he married Elaine Williams in 1955. Later, they divorced. In 1974, he married Joann Kennedy. They had two children, Rose and Tracy.
For 19 years he was employed by Edward Hines Lumber Co. Gene enjoyed gardening, working, traveling and talking with people.
Survivors include his wife, Joann of St. Helens; mother, Pearl Deiter of Burns; brothers and sisters, Lana and Bob Barber and Vivian and Brent Drury of Hines and Dennis and Novell Deiter of Burns; children, Albert Deiter of Burns, Kelly and Ray Gregg of Redmond, Danny and Lou Ann Deiter of Burns, and Rose Quigley and Tracy Deiter of Vancouver, Wash.; stepsons, Joseph Fox and Jason Tryon of Vancouver, Wash.; 16 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Edwin Deiter; brothers, Ronald Deiter and James Deiter; and a sister, Karen Deiter.
‘Betty' Lovelace
Elizabeth V. "Betty" Lovelace, 81, a longtime Baker City resident, died June 17, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
A memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, 2235 First St. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception at St. Francis Parish Hall after the service.
Betty was born on Nov. 17, 1922, at South Canaan, Pa., to Valeria and Andrew Jarusik. After her high school graduation, she worked as a secretary for RCA and DuPont corporations before coming West.
She married William Edgar Lovelace at St. Francis Cathedral in 1946. During her years in Baker City, she worked as a secretary to Leo Adler and later for Baker County in both the Health Department and County Court.
After her employment with the county, Betty worked for Irving Rand and then became a real estate agent with Curfman Real Estate and Lovelace Real Estate.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, William and Frances Lovelace of Baker City; a brother, Stanley of Frenchburg, Ky.; and sister, Antoinette James of Toms River, N.J.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William; and brothers, Charles, Carl, Henry, John, Joseph, Leo and Louis.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Baker County Meals on Wheels Program through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Theresa Dean-Moore
Theresa Marie "Terry" Dean Moore, 86, died Nov. 29, 2003, at Providence Hospital in Portland.
A graveside memorial will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Terry was born March 29, 1917, at Baker City. She moved to Portland in 1939 and resided in the Portland/Vancouver until her death.
She retired from the Multnomah Athletic Club in 1982.
Terry is survived by her daughter, Mary Ann Cantrell of Portland; two brothers, Robert E. Dean and Jefferson E. Dean Jr., both of Vancouver, Wash., and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John, in December 1988.
Her countless friends, colleagues and loved ones will miss her quick wit, generous nature, outspokenness and fun-loving spirit.
The family requests no flowers.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice in care of Gray's West & Company, P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Alvin Willits
Alvin Ray Willits, 65, of North Powder, died June 15, 2004, at his home.
His graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Lane Memorial Gardens, 5300 West 11th Ave., Eugene. Visitations will be from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the Lane Memorial Gardens Chapel.
Mr. Willits was born on Feb. 4, 1939, at Des Moines, Iowa, to Raymond Dewey and Stella Marie Monroe Willits. As a small child, he moved with his family to Eugene, where he attended school.
In August 1968, he married Kara-Jo Dean-Mather. He worked as a driver and a mechanic for Swift Logging Co. at Springfield. In 1980, Alvin and Kara-Jo moved to North Powder where they owned and operated Evans Corner Grocery Store. Alvin also drove farm trucks for Kerns Ranch and Browne's Haying and drove school bus for the North Powder School District.
Alvin enjoyed fishing, deer and elk hunting, and spending time with his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Raymond and Stella Willits; sisters, Eva Wyatt, Lucille and her husband, Addy, and Clovalee; brother, Leland Willits; and a nephew, LeRoy Wyatt.
Survivors include his wife, Kara-Jo Willits; four daughters, Lisa Fouts, and her husband, Jason, of Union; Tami Myers of Eugene, Janie Sweeney and her husband, John, of Eugene, LaVona Mathers and her husband, Ed Wallace, of Eugene; two sons, Clifford Mather, and his wife, Rhana, of Mount Hood, and John Daffern of Eugene; a brother, Albert, and his wife, Carmen, of Eugene; five sisters, Blanche Patrick, and her husband, Bill, of Springfield, Alice Willits of Myrtle Creek, Marylou Jenkin of Myrtle Creek, Janna Walton and her husband, Wayne, of Eugene, and Nancy Johnson and her husband, Jim, of San Diego; 21 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Bruce McMurren
Bruce Joseph McMurren, 67, a lifelong Baker City resident, died June 10, 2004, at his home.
Friends and family will officiating at Bruce's service at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Bruce's family would like family members and friends to join them for a reception and to visit at Joan's house after the service.
Visitations will be at Gray's West & Co. on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from noon to 8 p.m.
There will be a private family inurnment later at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Bruce was born on Dec. 23, 1936, at Baker City to Joseph Samual and Ruth Charity Spencer McMurren. He worked as a laborer in sawmills and construction. He ended his working days at Ash Grove Cement.
Bruce liked hunting, fishing, camping and boating.
He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and four brothers: Harry Smith, Arthur McMurren, Cecil McMurren and David McMurren.
Survivors include his wife, Joan Alene Duncan McMurren; a brother, Lloyd McMurren of Wrangell, Alaska; three children, Jody Califf and her family of Corvallis, Mary Williamson and her family of Baker City, and Robert McMurren; six grandchildren, Courtney, Charles, Zachary, Amber, Ryan and Rachel; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Jack' Driscoll
John Allen "Jack" Driscoll, 77, of Baker City, died June 2, 2004, at his home.
His memorial service at sea will be on July 11, 2004, off Dana Point, Calif.
Mr. Driscoll was born on March 31, 1927, at Chicago to John Clifford and Bessie Allen Driscoll. He worked as an electronic technician in aviation and was retired from the Air Force. He had lived at Baker City since 1991.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra; seven children and stepchildren; two sisters; two brothers; 16 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, all living out of state.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Elizabeth Hospital Auxiliary through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Pauline Lewis
Pauline Lewis, 84, of Baker City, died June 6, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her graveside memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a potluck at Geiser Pollman Park after the service. In case of bad weather, the potluck will be moved to 2750 College St.
Pauline was born in a farm home at Onarga Township, Ill., on May 25, 1920. Her mother died when she was young so she and her sisters went to live with their paternal grandmother in Campbellsburg, Ind., for four years.
Afterward, the oldest sister, Leona, stayed in Indiana with an aunt and uncle. Pauline and her other two sisters moved to Chatsworth, Ill., for five years, where each lived with a different family.
Then the 16-year-old Pauline and her youngest sister moved to West Chicago, Ill., where she maintained her father's household. Her daily chores included fixing meals on a wood-burning stove, pumping and carrying water from a well 300 feet from the house, washing clothes with lye soap on a washboard in a galvanized tub, drying laundry on an outside clothesline, and ironing clothes with Sad Irons heated on the wood stove. Preparing meals for the family laid the foundation for her lifelong love of cooking and baking.
At 20, Pauline married Lawrence D. Lyman of West Chicago, Ill., a father of three sons from a previous marriage. Over the next 15 years, five children were added to the family. When the youngest was up and about, the couple enjoyed horseback riding and raccoon hunting with friends.
In 1968, the couple and two youngest children moved to Estacada. In the following years, Pauline was known for providing friends and family with a continuous supply of delicious baked goods.
Lawrence died in 1975 after a lengthy illness. Pauline remarried in 1976 to Joseph P. Lewis of Estacada. The couple spent the next years working as watchmen at area gravel rock-crushing sites, before retiring and moving to LaPine in 1977. Joseph's health declined and he died in 1996.
Pauline left LaPine and spent the next several years dividing her time between her children's homes. Her final home was with her son, James Lyman, and his special friend, Ronda Irey, Baker City residents. In Baker City, she enjoyed daily two-mile walks to the Truck Corral for coffee unless prevented by icy conditions.
Pauline will truly be missed by her family and wide circle of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Lawrence Lyman and Joseph Lewis; a daughter, Violet Donovich; and daughter-in-law, Evelyn Lyman.
Survivors include three sisters, Leona Hughes of Salem, Ind., Rose Stover of Birchwood, Wis., and Mary "Betty" Marlowe of Estacada; sons, James Lyman of Baker City and David Lyman of Springfield; daughters, Delores Stuart of Butte, Mont., and Donalda Weinmann of Mable, Minn.; 21 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
