System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Ardyce Coleman
Ardyce L. Coleman, 64, of Lexington, Ky., a former Baker City and La Grande resident, died Sept. 9, 2004, at her home after an extended illness.
There was a private family memorial service on Sept. 15 at Grandview Cemetery in La Grande.
She was born on Oct. 28, 1939, at La Grande to Arthur S. and Laura M. Garrett. She attended Pondosa elementary school and was a 1957 Baker High School graduate. She was a 1961 graduate of Eastern Oregon University at La Grande.
She taught school in California and then married Larry Coleman in 1962. They made their home at Napa, Calif., for many years where she taught in the Napa public schools and at Napa College.
After retirement, the couple moved to Oregon and later to Kentucky. She was a member of the Lexington Community Church where she taught adult classes.
Music was always an important part of her life. She was an accomplished pianist and accompanist. She was active in the Lexington Opera Society.
Survivors include her husband of Lexington; her children, Jennifer of Nashville, Tenn., Justin of Monmouth and Josie of Cannon Beach; her mother, Laura Garrett of Star, Idaho; her brother, Jim, and his wife, Nancy, also of Star; and many aunts, uncles and cousins throughout Eastern Oregon.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Travis Bukowiec-Crow-Woolf
Travis Lane Bukowiec-Crow-Woolf, 25, of Halfway, died Oct. 4, 2004, as the result of a one-vehicle accident near Halfway.
His funeral was Friday at Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway.
Travis was born on Dec. 14, 1978, at Portland. He was raised in Vancouver, Wash., and was a graduate of Brush Prairie High School.
Travis loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest. He enjoyed drawing, hunting, fishing, old cars and just goofing off. He had recently remade his home in Halfway. Travis had two favorite sayings, "posse up" and "we're burnin' daylight.
Survivors include his parents, Daryl and Elaine Woolf; grandparents, Jack and Joyce Woolf; brothers, Jerrod Crow and his wife, Angie, Joseph Bukowiec and his wife, Melissa, Rickie Woolf and Robbie Woolf; sisters, Katherine Woolf, Billie Brown, Debbie Woolf, Kimberly Brock, Bobbi Jo Kubo and Ginger Selness; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews; one great- nephew, Justin; and his faithful companion, his dog "Patch."
He was preceded in death by his uncle, Larry Guniter; and his brother, Albert Woolf.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation or the National Wildlife Foundation through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Terry Sitkoff Jr.
Terry Wayne Sitkoff Jr., 26, of Yakima, Wash., died Oct. 4, 2004, in a one-vehicle accident near Halfway.
His funeral was Friday at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway.
He was born on March 10, 1978, at La Grande to Terry and Diane Sitkoff. He was raised and educated in the Yakima, Wash., area and attended Pine-Eagle High School at Halfway and Spokane Community College.
Terry enjoyed rooting for his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, and cheering Mark Martin, No. 6, of NASCAR. He enjoyed snowboarding, mountain biking, hunting and fishing. He loved spending time with his daughter, Ashley, his nieces, Katelyne and Kelsey, and his nephew, Blake. During high school Terry enjoyed playing football and wrestling.
Terry's mother said he was the best father she ever knew. His sisters added that he was also a wonderful brother and thanked him for taking care of his girls.
Terry, his cousin Travis Lane Bukowiec-Crow-Woolf, and his good friend, Michael Joseph Supnet, all died in the same motor vehicle accident.
Survivors include his mother, Diane Sitkoff of Yakima, Wash.; father, Terry, and his wife, Noel Sitkoff of Halfway; his 3-year-old daughter, Ashley, who was his pride and joy; longtime girlfriend, Jamie Stephens; sisters, Jennifer Taylor of Yakima, Wash., and Anna Sitkoff of Spokane, Wash.; brothers, James and Gene Sitkoff and Jeffrey Apple of Halfway; nieces, Katelyne and Kelsey; his nephew, Blake; grandparents, Don and Martha Hawn of Wenatchee, Wash., Marion and Colleen Crow and Bob and Jo Vowell of Halfway; aunts and uncles including, Don and Pam Hawn of Wenatchee, Wash., Dee Dee and Bob Nelson of Seattle, Wash., Donna and Jerry Sanders of Moxee, Wash., Denise Hawn, Doreen and Mark Russell, and Duane and Pam Hawn all of Yakima, Wash., Michelle and Norm Letchworth of Halfway, and Rick and Rene Crow of Prosser, Wash.; numerous cousins; and his faithful dog, "Scrappy Doo."
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834
Michael Supnet
Michael Joseph Supnet, 24, of Spokane, Wash., and Yakima, Wash., died Oct. 4, 2004, in a one-vehicle accident at Halfway.
A Memorial Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Spokane, Wash.
Local arrangements were under the direction of Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home.
H.D. Harmon
H.D. Harmon, 71, of Baker City, died Jan. 29, 2005, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise from lymphoma bone cancer.
At his request, there will be no service.
H.D. Harmon was born on May 28, 1933, at Las Cruces, N.M. He was raised at Marfa, Texas, and various places throughout New Mexico.
He worked all of his life building roads and doing heavy construction. He had been an Oregon resident for more than 40 years. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Norma Harmon of Baker City; his former wife, Janice Creel, his daughter, Robin Sammis, and son, Ryan Harmon, all of Grants Pass; stepchildren and their spouses, Wayne and Julie Roberts of LaCombe, La., Cary and Ruby Roberts and Susan and Dale Harber, all of Craig, Colo., and Thomas and Kathy Roberts of Tillamook; 19 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Robert Dallas Harmon, who died in 1986, and Randall Lee Harmon, who died in 2003.
Mozell Bracken
Mozell Bracken, 92, of Baker City, died Jan. 31, 2005, at her home with all of her six surviving children at her side.
Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Bill Cox of McEwen Bible Fellowship will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at Community Connection, 2810 Cedar St.
Visitations will be until 7 o'clock tonight and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at the funeral home.
Mozell was born at Marion, Ill., on Oct. 20, 1912, to John and Emma Douglas Strobel. She married Edward R. Bracken on Aug. 18, 1929, at Corning, Ark. The Brackens moved to Baker City in 1946 where they raised their eight children.
Everyone who knew her, knew Mozell for her loving kindness. She enjoyed singing, especially to her grandchildren, cooking and was especially known for her Christmas fruit cake and fudge. Children had a special place in her heart. No child was denied her love; her home was their home.
Mozell gave encouragement when people were down the most; she only saw the best in everyone and only gave the best — her heart and her love.
Survivors include her children, Roy Bracken and his wife, Ronda, Paul Bracken and his companion, Vickie Storie, Liz Risley, Peggy Owens and her husband, Sterlin, Joyce McGaughey and her husband, Joe, and Margaret Elliott; sisters and brothers-in-law, Nellie Arnold, Valetta and Red Sumpter, Helen Ennis and Billie Jean Fortenberry; sisters-in-law, Virginia Walker, and Pauline Robison; 29 grandchildren, 61 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, who died in 1984; her parents; her stepfather, Alfred Walker; sons, Edward R. Bracken Jr., and Stanley Bracken; grandsons, Joseph McGaughey, Bill Bracken and Roger Bracken; two great-grandchildren and one great- great-grandchild; two brothers, Roy Strobel and Herman Walker; and son-in-law, Larry Elliott.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Mary Smith
Mary Smith, 81, a lifelong Pine Valley resident, died Feb. 1, 2005, at her son's home at Prineville.
Interment will be at the Pine Valley Cemetery in Halfway. There will be a memorial service later at Halfway.
Mary was born to Willie and Minnie Cullum McFadden on Feb. 14, 1923. She attended primary school at Carson and was a graduate of Pine Valley High School at Halfway.
For many years, Mary worked as a telephone operator for the Pine Valley Telephone Co. Fred and Mary purchased the Jimtown grocery store in 1962 and continued its operation until 1974.
Mary enjoyed spending time with family, gardening, camping, embroidering and her favorite hobby, making quilts.
Survivors include her husband, Fred of Halfway; her sons, Terry Smith and his companion, Pam Wright of Prineville, and Larry Smith and his wife, Gail, also of Prineville; two granddaughters, Kyra Smith of Portland and Michelle Smith of Prineville; a sister, Juanita Steele and her husband, Ladd, of Halfway; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to hospice. The Whispering Pines Funeral Home at Prineville is in charge of cremation and arrangements.
Thelma Thomas
Thelma Gwendolyn Thomas, 92, of Baker City, died Feb. 1, 2005, at her home.
Private family interment will be Friday at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Wash. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Bus.
Thelma Gwendolyn was born on Sept. 25, 1913, at St. Louis to Alexander and Clair Erdman. She was raised and educated at Denver. Thelma met and married Louis "Bus" Thomas in 1935. Shortly after that they moved to Los Angeles. They had one son, Ron.
Thelma and Bus owned and operated a printing and calendar binding business. She was always known as a very hard worker and she was loved by everyone who knew her.
She enjoyed fishing, camping, gardening and canning, sewing and knitting. She loved raising and showing her Norwegian elkhounds, which received many trophies and blue ribbons.
They moved to Burlington, Wash., in 1980 to retire close to Ron, who was living there.
Bus died in 1984. Thelma remained in Washington until the mid 90s when she moved to North Powder and then to Baker City two years ago.
Thelma was living at Settlers Park when she died. She enjoyed all of the people and the activities there.
Survivors include her son and wife, Ron and Jennie Thomas of North Powder; a brother, Curtis Erdman of Mesa, Ariz.; and four grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bus; and her sister, Letha.
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.
Hilary Bonn
Hilary Bonn, 21, of Richland, died Jan. 28, 2005, at Oregon Heath & Science University in Portland surrounded by family and friends.
There will be a celebration of her life at 6 p.m. Thursday at Richland Elementary School.
Hilary was born on Nov. 22, 1983, with her twin sister, Gabrielle, at La Grande, to Anthony and Jan Bonn. She was raised at Richland and attended Richland Elementary School. She was a 2002 graduate of Pine-Eagle High School at Halfway.
Active in high school sports, she ran track all four years and loved the 400-meter relay. When not running in her own event she was there as a warm-up buddy and support for her teammates.
She participated in 4-H, raising and showing lambs at the Baker County Fair, and loved to hike, fish, and hunt with her dad, as well as walk the quiet roads, irrigation ditches and creek beds of Richland.
Joining her mother on the piano and her sisters, Elizabeth and Gabrielle, on violin, Hilary played the cello by ear and memorized countless classical pieces to play at weddings for family and friends. She cherished the times spent singing as a quartet with her sisters, Irene, Elizabeth, and Gabrielle.
Sundays were packed with church activities and Hilary was a member of both the Richland Methodist Church and St. Therese Catholic Church at Halfway, where she attended both services. She participated in community events and fund-raisers and treasured the experience of coordinating and organizing. She much preferred to be on the giving end, but accepted with grace the love and support given by others.
Hilary was a team player but also a willing leader ready to step in and fill any role needed. As soon as junior high school her mother remembers Hilary taking over as coach of the basketball team when the girls wanted to play the boys. There were no adult coaches on the floor that day, so Hilary took charge.
Hilary loved to perform and gave outstanding performances in her high school theater arts class, as The Witch, in the play "Into the Woods, " and made everyone cry as the character Sybil in "The Cover of Life."
Hilary's dream was to become a massage therapist. She was prepped to begin classes in the fall of 2002 but her education was delayed with the diagnosis of leukemia.
She stayed involved between treatments by joining Marylhurst Toastmasters in 2003. She worked toward achieving her Competent Toastmaster Award, and was a guest speaker for the Portland Red Cross at its 2004 conference for bone marrow transplant survivors.
She completed her first term in December 2004 at the East West School of the Healing Arts in Portland.
Hilary touched hundreds of people and had a way of making them feel special. Those who knew her were inspired by her tenacity, quiet strength, and unfailing heart.
Hilary's focus the past two years was on life and living, not on being sick. That was evident in how she dealt with being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
She created many friendships during her treatment and maintained them as part of her extended family. She was adamant that those around her focus on the positive and quick to point out that worrying about tomorrow would not help her today.
In her words, "Don't be negative or you'll ruin what time I do have, " and "Calm down, I'll either live which is good, or I'll die, which is also good."
Hilary was also an inspiration for both patients and staff at OHSU. She called to check on others, visited those hospital bound when she herself was not, sang Christmas carols, made and delivered ornaments, and provided a calming presence for those anxious and afraid. Fellow patients sought Hilary out as friend and empathizer, and hospital staff asked to be assigned to her.
She was loving and joyful, beginning with her childhood (when her mom would have to separate the twins at bedtime because they would giggle the night away) and continuing through her early adulthood.
People often said, "She's such an angel, " and many people claimed her as their very own angel, according to family members. Hilary will always be remembered and cherished by her family.
Survivors include her father and mother, Anthony and Jan Bonn of Richland; sisters, Irene and Gabrielle of Beaverton, Elizabeth of La Grande; grandfather, Walter Saunders Jr. of Richland; grandmother, Irene Bonn of Albany; 20 aunts and uncles; numerous cousins and countless friends.
She was preceded in death by Grandma Geneva Saunders, Grandpa Joe Bonn, and cousin Jerome Goin.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Richland Methodist Church Benevolence Fund through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834, or Richland Methodist Church, P.O. Box 378, Richland, OR 97870.
Valeria Simonis
Valeria Denise Simonis, 70, of Baker City, died Jan. 31, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
A memorial service will be scheduled this summer. Coles Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Valeria was born on March 9, 1934, at Baker City to John and Irma Williams Macy. Her family lived at Jacksonville until she was in the fourth grade, when they returned to Baker City.
She married Keith Simonis at Elko, Nev., in 1950. They made their home at North Powder until their divorce.
At that time, she and her children moved to Hermiston, where she went to work as a cook for various restaurants. Wanting to be near her cousin, she and the family moved to The Dalles. She worked as a cook, opening her own cafe near her home.
She later worked for R&R; Drafting as a drafts person. She worked there for nine years. After leaving R&R;, she opened her own ceramic shop in her former cafe. She operated the shop for five years until she decided to "see the world, " moving to North Carolina with friends.
After surviving several hurricanes, she decided to come back to Eastern Oregon to retire. She lived at Hermiston, and was the treasurer of her retirement community for many years. She was very proud of this accomplishment.
Because of her failing health, she returned home in Baker City in October of 2004.
Valeria loved making porcelain dolls and made all of their clothing. She enjoyed creating beautiful things. She loved her birds and owned a cockatiel and parakeet.
She was a hard worker and raised her children through difficult times with love. When Valeria was mad, she was mad all over, but the same applied when she loved, and she loved her children. She will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her children, Linda Burnside and her husband, Wayne, of Baker City, Suzanne Travis and her husband, Ted, of Prineville, Randy Simonis of Hermiston, Bobby Simonis of Monroe, Wash., and Jeanna Valencia and Lori Jo Horn, both of Hermiston; a brother, Glenn Macy, and his wife, Jane, of Mountain Home, Idaho; a close cousin, Neil Rogerson of Molalla; 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and one niece and one nephew.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a twin sister, who died at birth.
Memorial contributions may be made to Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814 to help the family with her funeral expenses.
