System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Albert Wicks
Albert G. Wicks, 100, of Warren, a former Baker City resident, died Feb. 24, 2005, at Warren.
His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Visitations will be until 6 o'clock tonight at Gray's West & Co.
Albert was born on Sept. 21, 1904, at Hereford. He was the third child of Arrie Jane Osborn and Jasper E. Wicks.
Albert's father and grandfather, Henry M. Wicks, traveled to Oregon by covered wagon and homesteaded property in the Hereford area. Albert lived for many years in the Baker City area. As a young man he worked for his uncle, Jeff Phillips of Wingville. He later worked for John Rouse at Unity, Fred Phillips at Keating and Harlin Wendt at Baker City.
During World War II he worked as a welder at the Swan Island Shipyard in Portland. He later worked on the construction of the Bliss Dam in Idaho.
After Albert's retirement from ranching, he made his home with his eldest son at Tigard and Warren. He was active in raising a large vegetable garden until 1999 when the infirmities of age kept him more confined to the house.
He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene.
Survivors include five children, Ronald, Clayton, Margaret, Wayne and Joyce; 32 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters; two brothers; three wives, Effie, Lola and Imogene; three stepchildren, Homer, Raymond and Betty; stepgranddaughter, Kimberly; and a great-great-grandson, Christopher.
Bertha Ridpath
Bertha Pauline Ridpath, 91, of Baker City, died Feb. 25, 2005.
Her graveside service was at the City View Cemetery in Salem. The family expressed heartfelt thanks for the assistance of Coles Funeral Home, which transferred arrangements to Howell Edwards Mortuary.
Mrs. Ridpath was born on June 12, 1914, at Odessa, N.D. She had lived in Baker City since 1999. She will be missed by her family.
Survivors include Bert Osborne, and his wife, Ann, of Albany; Miss Ilena Fleming and Miss Fritzi Aldrich of Baker City; Francis Pierce and her husband, Tom, of Keizer; 15 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Luella Densmore
Luella Harrison Densmore, 91, of Pendleton, died Feb. 20, 2005, at Willowbrook Terrace in Pendleton.
At her request, there will be no funeral services. Arrangements are in care of Bishop Funeral Chapel in Pendleton.
Mrs. Densmore was born in New Bridge on April 14, 1913, the daughter of William and Lavina Chipman Ewing. She lived her younger years in New Bridge, where she received her education.
She married Victor Lee Harrision in Payette, Idaho, on Nov. 18, 1929. They had a son, Harvey L. Harrison.
She lived in Myrtle Creek for several years and was a beautician. Mr. Densmore preceded her in death in Myrtle Creek on Nov. 9, 1988.
She later married Sheldon Lee Densmore.
She had resided in Pendleton since 1989 to be near her son and his family.
Mrs. Densmore is survived by her son, Harvey Harrison, and his wife, Merledene, of Pendleton; a granddaughter, Holly Harrison Davis, and her husband, Jeffrey, of Pendleton; three great-grandchildren, Kendall, Mason and Mallory Davis, all of Pendleton; a sister, Veda Ewing Knoblauch of Baker City; a niece, Sharla Knoblauch Stevens of Old Town, Idaho; two nephews, Carlton Knoblauch of New Orleans and Duane Ewing of Baker City; stepdaughter, Shelley Mazoral of Bend and two sisters-in-law, Doloros Densmore Holloway of Scio and Barbara Densmore Baxter of Jefferson.
Erma Cole
Erma Cole, 95, a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 18, 2005, in a care home at Aloha.
She was born on Feb. 26, 1909, and was raised at Baker City. She was the 11th child of Eva Lovina and John Dexter Willey.
She was a tomboy growing up. She loved reading history and graduated from Baker High School. She met Leonard "Doc" Cole at a Grange Hall dance at Hereford where she was visiting a sister.
Doc was working on the highway construction at that time. They were married on Feb. 2, 1929, at his sister's home in Vale.
The couple bought 40 acres on April 24, 1935, about seven miles north of Vale. Since Doc was raised on a big ranch in Malheur City, he had a love and knowledge for the lifestyle. They had no ditches or water until the spring of 1937, so Doc went to Homedale to drive truck.
They lived in a tent house complete with wood flooring and a wood-burning stove while this house was being put together. It was a two-room home, with a wood-burning stove for cooking and heat. Doc carried water for Erma from the outside pump. They had no electricity or running water.
Erma was an excellent cook and baker and she always had plenty of food for company or whoever showed up at mealtime. She sewed her own dresses and knitted and crocheted many things.
Erma's dad came to live with them until he died in 1939. The couple had big hearts for helping people and especially loving their many nieces and nephews. Every summer (which was their busiest time of year) they had kids staying on the farm — gathering eggs, slopping hogs, riding a gentle horse, baking with Erma or following Doc around.
In 1944-45, they bought 160 acres and some dry land 7Þ miles north of Vale. They moved into a house they bought and had moved from Vale in 1946.
In 1970, they sold the ranch and moved to Vale. Doc worked for the Flying Realty for several years. Then they bought a trailer house and traveled all over the country.
Erma loved her friends. She played bridge in several clubs and belonged to the Garden Cub of Vale, PEO, Eastern Star and was active in the Christian Church.
In the early 1970s, they flew back for a month's visit with their niece, Sally, and her family at Berkeley Heights, N.J. They toured the East Coast, Florida, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and New York City.
Doc died at home in Vale on Sept. 30, 1992. Erma handled her sadness well until she fell and broke her hip and crushed her shoulder. This landed her in a nursing home at Ontario for two months. When she was released she sold her house and moved to Lake Oswego to live with Sally and her family. She remained there for five years.
She stayed in touch with old friends and family by mail. She celebrated her 90th birthday in 1999.
A few days later she fell and had to move to a care home at Aloha, where she lived for six years.
She died a month before her 96th birthday.
Roy Jones
Roy Vernon Jones, 79, of Haines, died Feb. 21, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
At his request there will be no service. Disposition was by cremation.
Mr. Jones was born on March 5, 1925, at Doniphan, Mo., to Eddy and Lina Eagan Jones. He was the youngest of 11 children.
He started his education in Missouri and completed it at Rockbridge, Ill. At age 18 he was inducted into the U.S. Army at Peoria, Ill. He suffered injuries in a training plane crash and was given a medical discharge after three months.
He had a beautiful voice and played the guitar. He, his brother and a friend played music and entertained for dances and for a short while on the radio at St. Louis, Mo.
He later moved to New Plymouth, Idaho, to live with a sister. He met the love of his life, Wanda German. They were married on June 1, 1946, at Payette, Idaho. After spending some time in Idaho, they moved to Iowa. Their first son was born and died in infancy.
They returned to Oregon and lived around Vale where Mr. Jones worked on a ranch. He started his career as an auto mechanic at the Chevrolet garage at Ontario in 1948. The couple's second son was born at Ontario in 1948.
They moved to Baker City in 1952. Mr. Jones worked at the Chevrolet garage for several years. He started working for the U.S. Forest Service in 1967 and continued there until his retirement in 1991.
The couple's daughter was born in Baker City in 1954 and a third son was born in 1959.
Mr. Jones loved to hunt and fish and took every opportunity to take his family with him. He was a loving husband and a devoted father. He enjoyed playing his guitar and singing for his family. His mother and beloved mother-in-law enjoyed his singing so much.
After their retirement, he and Wanda made several hunting trips to New Mexico and Montana. Between hunting trips they made several trips to Montana each summer and spent a lot of time driving in the mountains around Baker County. He dearly loved the mountains.
Survivors include his loving wife, Wanda; a son, Michael, and his wife of Ontario; a daughter, Deborah, and her husband of Sacramento, Calif.; a son, Jeffrey, of Portland; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; a brother, Willis; sister-in-law, Geneva, of Corning, Ark.; a brother-in-law and hunting buddy, Bud German, and sister-in-law, Myrna, of Baker City; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; nine brothers and sisters; his father-in-law and mother-in-law; infant son, Roy Marlin; a grandson, Roy Elton; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, the American Diabetic Association or the charity of one's choice through Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel, 2543 S.W. Fourth Ave., Ontario, OR 97914.
Norman Morris
Norman Elton Morris, 72, a longtime Baker City resident, died Feb. 20, 2005, at Baker City.
His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Elkhorn Baptist Church, 3520 Birch St. Friends are invited to join the family after the service for a reception at the church.
Norman Morris was born in Baker on June 11, 1932. He was a 1950 Baker High School graduate. He was involved in FFA throughout school, which was a prelude to years of his love for farming.
After graduation, Norman joined the U.S. Army and served from 1951 to 1954. In 1953 he and Margaret Craig were married in Baker City.
Norman and Margaret had four children; Rick, John, Norma and Jim.
After fulfilling his duty in the Army, Norman and Margaret returned home to Baker. Norman went to work for Ward Ranches and farmed most of his working life.
He loved doing anything with his family. Camping and fishing were two of his favorites. He attended bull riding competitions and any sport that his children and grandchildren were involved in.
Because of his love for farming, Norman never truly retired. He enjoyed working in his yard and garden and spent some time building birdhouses.
Church was important to him, as were all of his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Margaret Mae Morris; his son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Leslie Morris of Moses Lake, Wash.; son and daughter-in-law, John and Terri Morris of Moses Lake, Wash.; daughter, Norma Haye, of Baker City; son, Jim Morris of Baker City; brother and sister-in-law, Delbert and Charlotte Morris of North Powder; sister Betty Klilepier of Turner; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, William and Myrtle Morris; a stepmother, Lena Morris; an aunt and uncle, Bill and Eva Robinson, (who raised him from the age of 3); two brothers, Bob and Duane Morris; and a cousin, Pug Robinson.
Memorial contributions may be made to Guardian Hospice through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Sonja Estes
Sonja Estes, 64, of Richland, died Feb. 21, 2005, at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Boise.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Richland Methodist Church. Friends are invited to join the family for a potluck afterward at the Richland Grange.
Sonja Lou was born in Bend on Sept. 6, 1940, to Leonard and Lucille Larson. She lived in Central Oregon most of her childhood. She moved to Milton-Freewater with her family where she graduated from high school in 1958.
She married James Franklin Estes on June 13, 1968, at Lewiston, Idaho. Sonja was a ranch wife, cowboy, helper, hunting companion, fishing partner and best friend.
She enjoyed the outdoors, laughing and joking with family and friends. Sonja loved her work as a bartender of 28 years and never knew a stranger. She was a member of the Oregon Chapter of CowBelles, a dedicated volunteer at Jacob's Dream and coach of the Pee-Wee T-ball baseball team.
Survivors include her husband, Jim, of Richland; brother, James "Pinky" Larson of Umapine; stepchildren, Rusty Estes, Rita Bergstrom and Ginny Nairns, all of Heppner, Buck Estes of Irrigon, Robyn Curtis of West Richland, Wash.; four stepgrandchildren, Emily and Adam Bergstrom and Kiel and Krystal Nairns of Heppner.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Joe Larson.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eagle Valley Ambulance Service through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Ora Huey
Ora Huey, 74, of Boise, died Feb. 17, 2005, with her husband of 55 years, Donald Huey, by her side.
Her memorial service was Monday at the Cloverdale Funeral Home in Boise.
She was born in Baker on Jan. 8, 1931. She worked for the Bureau of Land Management until moving to Boise in 1967, where she continued to work for the BLM and the Forest Service. She enjoyed fishing, camping and traveling after her early retirement from the Forest Service. Until her illness, she was an avid bridge player and played several times a week with her good friend and bridge partner Helen Vanderwyk.
She will always be remembered for her love and dedication to her family.
Survivors include her husband, Donald Huey; children Wally Huey and his wife, Val, of Hillsboro, Crystal Bennett and her husband, Larry, of Portland and Bryan Huey and his wife, Traci, of Boise; four grandchildren, David, Rachel, and Diana Huey of Hillsboro and Nicholas Huey of Boise; she also had many loyal and valued friends, including her good friend, Pat Eardley, who was with her for 62 years.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Nola Hale of Baker City.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society.
Donnie Gervais
Donnie Gervais, 74, of Baker City, died Feb. 19, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
At her request, cremation was held. Inurnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Ms. Gervais was born on Nov. 21, 1930, at Elizabethton, Tenn., to Samuel and Myrtle White Cole. She came to Baker City from California and worked as a waitress in various restaurants in Baker City and for the Haines Steak House during the 1980s.
She loved to make handmade quilts, crochet and knit. She enjoyed her home and took pride in it. She was a very family-oriented person, who will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her daughter, Deborah Harris of Baker City; brothers and sisters-in-law, Roy and Wanda Cole of Baker City, Howard and Mona Cole of California and Buford and Cledith Cole of Elizabethton, Tenn.; a sister, Wanda Byers of Baker City; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and a daughter, Susan.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Elizabeth Health Care Foundation through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Baker City, OR 97814.
