System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Maxine Williams
Maxine Williams, 84, a native of North Powder, died Jan. 18, 2005, at Sun City, Calif. She had been disabled by arthritis the last two years of her life and had lived in a residential care center, where she died.
Maxine was born at Union to Walter and Leila McGrath and grew up at North Powder. Her father, a coal dealer, served as mayor there and led a dance band.
She grew up in a family of musicians and card players, and although not a musician herself, she did love good music and was a skillful card player all her life.
After graduating from high school, Maxine married Russell Williams, a Muddy Creek native, in 1939. In 1951 his job with Basche-Sage Hardware in Baker City took them to Payette, Idaho, where they raised two daughters.
Maxine began her working life at Payette with a job in the high school lunchroom. She then worked for the City of Payette before going on to become deputy county treasurer for Payette County in 1961. She retired with her husband to Sun City in 1978. He died on Dec. 13, 2004.
Maxine was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church at Payette and later of St. Vincent Ferrer Church at Sun City, where she organized the bridge marathon for several years. In addition to bridge, she loved knitting, reading, entertaining and travel.
In 1989 she and Russell celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on an Alaskan cruise, accompanied by their daughters and their families and by Russell's brother, Ed, and his wife, Ella. In 1991 Maxine fulfilled a longtime dream by touring England with her daughters.
Survivors include her daughter, Diane Wilson and her husband, Gary Wilson, of Washington D.C.; her daughter, Maryann Green of Tacoma, Wash.; a sister, Vivian Davis of Spokane, Wash.; two sisters-in-law, Hazel Toney and Ella Williams, both of Baker City; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Kenneth Cavin
Kenneth Dean Cavin II, 53, of Edmond, Okla., a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 16, 2005, at Edmond.
There will be a Celebration of Life service for him at 11 a.m. Thursday at Baggerley Funeral Home at Edmond.
Ken was born on May 31, 1951, at Baker City where he grew up and attended school. He was a 1969 Baker High School graduate.
He joined the U.S. Army National Guard in 1969 and served his basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas. He then attended the Oregon Military Academy and was commissioned as first lieutenant in the Guard upon his graduation.
He commanded the Baker Guard unit. He was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant from the U.S. Army in 1980.
Ken married Donna Jackson in 1970 and they had two daughters: Desiree Stout and Ashley Cavin. Desi is married to Charles and the couple have two children, Preston and Chloe. Ashley is attending graduate school and is engaged to be married to Jason Thomas. Ken's parents live in Oregon, and he was especially close to his mother-in-law, Nadine Jackson, of Edmond.
He also was very close to his father-in-law, Preston "Tex" Jackson, who died earlier. He also was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Hershel.
Ken worked for and was president of the Kempton Group for 15 years. Family members expressed appreciation for the kindness and friendship shown to Ken by the men and women in that organization.
He enjoyed golfing and traveling with his wife. He was especially proud of his two daughters and enjoyed and loved his two grandchildren.
"Ken will leave quite a void in the close-knit family, but we will rejoice that we were honored to know him and love him, " his family members said.
In addition to his wife's side of the family, Kenny was survived by his mother and stepfather, Ray and Mary Morin of Ukiah; his father and stepmother, Norman and Hazel Hansen of Baker City; his sister, Debbie DeMastus, her husband, Jim, and children, Charley, Seth and Tabitha; his uncles, Buzz Howard and family of Rocklin, Calif., Ken Howard and family of Cool, Calif., and Bub Howard and his family of Brookings; and many other friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Chris and Laura Hansen; an uncle, George Hansen of Baker City; an aunt, Martha Queen of Pendleton; grandparents, Stub and Ruth Howard; and an uncle, Robert Howard of Smith River, Calif.
He was loved by all his family members. They will miss him.
Ross Hunt
Ross D. Hunt, 81, of Baker City, a former Baker County sheriff, died Jan. 17, 2005, at his home.
His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Baker City Christian Church, 2998 Eighth St. Pastor Roger Scovil will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at Community Connection, 2810 Cedar St.
Visitations will be from noon to 8 p.m. Friday at Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory will conduct the cremation after the funeral.
Ross was born on Aug. 15, 1923, at Richland, Wash., to Harry and Florence Cline Hunt. As a young boy his family moved to Grandview, Idaho, where Ross attended school. He was a graduate of Grandview High School.
Ross excelled in high school sports and was offered a full-ride scholarship to Boise State University in both football and boxing. However, having had his fill of school, he declined the offers.
While in high school, Ross met and dated Violet Geddes who turned out to be the love of his life. The two were married on June 15, 1942, at Mountain Home, Idaho, after her high school graduation. They remained happily married until her death in February of 2003. The couple lived their entire lives in the Northwest, residing in Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Ross wore many hats throughout the course of his life, working as a cowboy, journeyman blacksmith, building contractor, millwright, truck driver, logger, mechanic, sheriff and deputy sheriff, deputy assistant coroner, and even as a mortuary assistant.
He had a tendency to rise to a leadership role in every venture he pursued and he knew the importance of getting a job done. Being a man of more action and less words, Ross would often survey the task at hand and say, "Well, let's get 'er done!" He was always willing to do jobs that others refused to do.
Ross was also a great teacher. He was willing to teach anybody who was interested in anything he had knowledge about. He taught as a Boy Scout leader, law enforcement officer, first aid/CPR instructor and taught search and rescue courses.
He was also a good mechanic and would not just fix vehicles, but would teach friends and family how to do it at the same time.
As a young man, Ross could always be found hunting or fishing or doing any kind of cowboy work. Hunting and fishing remained some of his favorite hobbies throughout his life. He also enjoyed gardening and became a master gardener.
He was always entertaining as well, telling stories and jokes; he usually kept a smile on the faces of the people around him. Ross enjoyed spending time with his family and most of all with his wife, Violet, whom he loved with all his heart. They were truly soul mates.
Ross was involved in the Baker County Sheriff's office until 1982, when he retired as sheriff. His accomplishments in law enforcement as well as his involvement and work with the Masonic Lodge in McEwen were among his most prized and favored memories.
Family first, then friends, kept Ross' life meaningful. He loved people and he loved helping people. There was nobody more important to him than his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Survivors include four sons, Dan Hunt of Klamath Falls, Bob Hunt of Baker City, Russel Hunt and wife, Anita, of Summerville, and Eugene Hunt and wife, Rhea, of Federal Way, Wash.; three granddaughters, Cheryl Porter, and her husband, Robby, of Baker City, Paula Wigger and husband, Cade, of Meridian, Idaho, and Alyson Hunt of Federal Way, Wash.; two grandsons, Daniel Hunt of Ontario and Curran Hunt of Federal Way, Wash.; two stepgrandsons, Lane and Ross Kemp of Summerville; three brothers, Dan, David and Paul; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Violet; two sisters, Alice and Helen; four brothers, Lloyd, Gene, Glen, and Deemer; and by his parents, Harry and Florence.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice or the Shriners Hospital for Children through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Paul Murray
Paul Murray, 80, a longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 17, 2005, at his home with his family around him.
His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Visitations will be from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Private vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Paul was born on Aug. 21, 1924, at Baker City to Elbert and LaRita Murray. He was a World War II veteran. After Paul returned home from the war, he went back to work for Safeway Grocery Store as a produce manager.
He also worked as a produce manager for Chaves' Food Store and in the produce department for Albertsons. As a young man, he worked various jobs around Baker City. He was a delivery truck driver for a beer company and worked for Cascade Natural Gas, converting propane stoves to natural gas.
He married Irene Williamson on Feb. 19, 1950. They had three children: John, Paula and David.
Paul studied at home to become a carpenter, working for several local contractors. He built homes around Baker City and Grizzly Bear Pizza Parlors in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
He will be missed. He loved working in his yard keeping it watered and groomed. He loved roses and it showed in the many he cared for in his yard.
But his first love was produce; he was a produce man to the core. Always checking out produce displays in every store he visited.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Irene Murray of Baker City; his children, John Murray of Bagdad, Ariz., Paula Taylor of Haines, and David Murray of Boise; and many loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother Vernon "Tiny" Murray.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Mike' Jewell
Robert "Mike" Jewell, 65, of Boise and a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 16, 2005, at Capital Care Center. He died of Alzheimer's disease which he battled for more than eight years.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Calvary First Assembly of God Church, 102 N. 18th St. in Boise. Burial will be at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery.
Visitations will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Accent Funeral Home, 1303 N. Main St., Meridian, Idaho.
Mike was born at Boise on Aug. 11, 1939. He attended grade school at Franklin Elementary and East Junior High. At the age of 16, he joined the Navy Construction Battalion where he served until 1959. His tour of duty included one year each at Oahu, Hawaii, Kodiak Island, Alaska, and Port Hueneme, Calif.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Mike got his first big construction job with Woodall Construction Co. as an equipment operator. That year the construction company's project was to build the first and only road from Lowman to Stanley, Idaho. In the years afterward, Mike worked construction in Idaho and drove truck for several companies. He later owned his own truck, which he leased to Beall Mer. Lumber Co. and Baker Trucking of Grangeville, Idaho.
Mike also graduated from Welding School at Hood River Community College in 1967. His favorite job started in 1990 as ranch manager at the Allison Ranch on the main Salmon River.
In 1993, Mike was working the trucking division for the Boise City Wastewater Treatment Plant. In 1996 he was disabled while on that job.
Mike married Arlita Logan on July 21, 1978. He took Jesus Christ into his heart as Lord and Savior in 1976 and was baptized in 1978. He loved and served the Lord with all his heart, soul and spirit.
He served as an assistant visitation pastor with other pastors in Bruneau, Idaho, and with the Prison Ministry at the Idaho State Penitentiary and the Ada County Jail.
Survived include his wife, Arlita; his little "O' Poopsie"; two sons, Randy, and his wife, Nancy, and Tony and his wife, Chris, of Baker City; stepchildren, Angie, and her husband, Karl, Edgar and his wife, Jenny, and Shane and his wife, Kris; a brother, Ted Jewell; a sister, Ann Mattoon; grandchildren, Shawn, Brandon, Jessica, Sara, Brook, Daniel, Kaileigh, Paige, Zoe and Lizzy; great-granddaughter Alexis; friends Fred, Neil, JoAnn, Les, Walt and Larry and JoAnn; cousins, Jill, Janie, Steve, Bobby and Jimmy; seven nieces and nephews; and Idaho blood brother buddy, Mike Poz.
He was preceded in death by his father, Bob, and his mother, Pat.
Mike had many friends and will be missed. The family extend a special thank you to friends, Dale Taylor, Rudy Ortega, Charlie Anderson, and Bobbie Howell for their early support; caregivers Toni, Joan, Samaria, Brenda and Jana; the hospice team, Dennis, Kannette, Judy and volunteers; and advanced home care, Kevin, Brian and Kevin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Greater Idaho, 1111 S. Orchard St., Suite 200, Boise, Idaho 83705; St. Luke's Hospice, 190 E. Bannock, Boise, Idaho 83712; and Mission Aviation Fellowship, P.O. Box 3202, Redlands, CA 92378-0998.
Karen McCuen
Karen Lee McCuen, 41, of Baker City died Jan. 15, 2005, at her home.
Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Mountain Foursquare Gospel Church, 1837 Third St. Pastor Gene Saunders will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family after the service for a luncheon at the church.
Karen was born on Aug. 7, 1963, in Baker City to Benjamin Thomas and Ida Marie Beers Hudecek. Karen was raised in Baker City and attended Baker High School. After completing her GED in 1984, Karen moved to Portland and attended college to further her education.
She married Bill McCuen on Jan. 27, 2004, at the Blue Mountain Foursquare Gospel Church in Baker City. The couple met at a support meeting and Bill asked Karen to marry him in June of 1993. They had a very good and strong relationship.
Karen loved her work, and took much pride in all of her occupations. She worked at her church as the secretary, at the Baker House as a drug and alcohol counselor, and at home as a housewife. She also ran a diaper service in Baker City.
Karen spent her free time camping and fishing. She loved music and was known for her dancing at A.A., New Years, Christmas, Thanksgiving and large gatherings. She enjoyed beadwork, selling it at flea markets; arts and crafts; and helping Bill work on cars and the pickup truck.
Karen took pride in her garden and flowers; she always kept a beautiful garden. Karen was very active in A.A. and N.A. She was a member of the Blue Mountain Gospel Church.
Friends knew Karen as friendly, outgoing and the first to offer help. You could always count on her to be direct and to not hold back her opinions.
Survivors include her husband, Bill; her children, Anastasia McDermott of Milton Freewater, Cassandra McDermott of Pendleton, Jackie Mankins of Bend, and Brandon Honner of Haines; her sister, Lori Osborne of Reno, Nev.; and her brother, Tommy Hudecek of Baker City.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Mountain Foursquare Gospel Church through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Frances Leep
Frances W. Leep, 87, of Baker City, died Jan. 16, 2005, at her home.
Memorial services for Mrs. Leep will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Baker City Christian Church. Pastor Roger Scovil and Mr. Jack Pittman of the church will officiate.
Mrs. Leep was born in King City, Mo., on July 11, 1917, to Nelson Oscar and Clara Belle (Keeney) Williams. She moved to Oregon with her family at the age of 14 and settled in Eugene, where her father was a pastor and her mother taught school.
She attended schools in the Eugene area and graduated from Oregon State University. She followed in her mother's footsteps and became a Home Economics teacher.
She taught two years in Halfway, one year in Lebanon and two more years in Grants Pass. On Sept. 11, 1943, she married George E. Leep in Eugene. They moved to Baker City in 1943.
Frances went to work for the State of Oregon Family Children Services department and retired in 1972 after 22 years of service. She was a member of the Baker City Christian Church for more than 50 years.
Mrs. Leep is survived by her children, Elizabeth Erwin and her husband, David, of Oregon City; Marydee Rea and her husband, Lloyd, of Baker City and Margy Heilman and her husband, Eric, of Milwaukie; grandchildren, Georgene Rea, Marianne Stone and her husband, Daniel, Francine Rea, Lloyd Rea III, Jimmy Heilman and Jeffery Heilman; three great-grandsons, Griffin and Gavin Stone and Aiden Ellis Heilman and three nieces and two nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, George, two sisters and two brothers.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Leep's memory may be directed to the Baker City Christian Church Building Fund through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, Oregon 97814.
George LaBaun
George Bradford LaBaun, 82, a Baker City resident from 1996 until moving recently with his wife to Roseburg, died Dec. 29, 2004, with his family at his bedside after several years of battling with a rare lung disease.
His memorial service was Jan. 3 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit. A celebration of his life will be scheduled later at Corvallis.
He was born on Feb. 13, 1922, at Sheridan, Wyo., to George and Cora Burdick LaBaun. When he was 2 years old he moved with his parents to Eugene.
He was a 1939 graduate of Eugene High School. After completing two years of engineering at Oregon State University, he worked as an engineer at Boeing Aircraft Co., the Spokane Army Air Depot and Lockheed Aircraft Co. before enlisting in the U.S. Army.
During World War II, George served in the Pacific Theater as a combat engineer in the 715th Ordinance DLM Co. ("Flaming Bomb"). After his discharge, George worked 10 years as a construction superintendent, before returning to OSU to continue his education.
He completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering and began teaching at OSU. Later, as a liaison between OSU Civil Engineering and the construction industry, he was instrumental in creating the Construction Engineering Management Program at Oregon State University. Professor LaBaun taught at OSU for 28 years and retired in 1984.
He married his high school sweetheart, Jean Margaret Watson on Oct. 4, 1941. They recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.
George was a dedicated provider and loyal caretaker for his family. His grandchildren have referred to him as humorous, adventurous, generous, a great storyteller, superstar, hero and wonderful person who was always there for them.
When he shared his musical talent with his family and friends it gave them great delight and always put a grin on his face. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and friends.
George was a master builder, Morgan horseman, professional photographer and outstanding teacher. He was a leader and used his innovative ways to put his total self into all endeavors and encouraged others to do the same. Family and friends have expressed that George made a lasting difference on their lives.
Survivors include his wife, Jean; daughter, Patricia Edwards, and her husband, Richard, of Albany; granddaughter, Julie Edwards-Fulton, and her husband, Don, and great-grandchildren, Kimberly, Cassidy and Courtney Fulton, all of Roseburg; granddaughter, Jennie Edwards-Garcia, and her husband, Aaron; great-grandchildren, Cody and Nathan Garcia of Bend; daughter, Barbara Harding, and her husband, Michael, and grandchildren, Gregory, Sara and Jonathan Harding of Roseburg; and many cousins.
A scholarship fund will be established in George's name at Oregon State University for the Construction Education Management Program. For more information, e-mail ted.vinson@orst.edu or write to Patricia Edwards, 38577 Parkside Road, Albany, 97322.
