System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Mary Murphy
Mary Avis Murphy, 88, died June 30, 2005, at her home at Meadowbrook Place in Baker City.
Her memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate.
Mary was born on April 22, 1917, at Trafford, Pa., to John and Edith Morgan Piper. She attended school at Trafford and graduated from high school there.
She married Robert E. Murphy in Washington, D.C., in December 1941. They moved around with the military and settled near Mount Vernon, Va., where their two children were raised.
Robert's work for United Airlines took them from Virginia to San Jose, Calif., until 1991 when they moved to La Grande. Mary moved to Baker City to be near her daughter in 2004.
Mary worked for the U.S. Postal Service for a while. As an active mother, she worked with the Brownies. She enjoyed arts and crafts, history, her owl collection and lunches and shopping trips with her friends. She loved to travel and especially loved her cats.
Mary was a member of the Presbyterian Church and Order of Eastern Star.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Murphy on Nov. 15, 1997; her parents; and three brothers.
Survivors include her daughter, Cindy Vergari of Baker City; her son, Robert Murphy of Dumfries, Va.; her grandchildren, Peter and Tessa Vergari of Baker City; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty and Quentin Proctor of Mount Jackson, Va., and Nancy and Paul Woodall of Mesa, Ariz.; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Loretta Han
Loretta Dee Han, 74, of Baker City died June 28, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
At her request there will be no service. Following her wishes, Loretta's family will return urns containing her remains and those of her husband, Ron, to their home at Lincoln City.
Loretta Dee Wirth was born July 17, 1930, at Elk, Wash., to Earl Fredrick and Alice Hazel Loynes Wirth.
Loretta meet Ronald Lee Han in Lincoln City. The couple were married on Jan. 31, 1977. Together for many years they ran Captain John's Restaurant at Lincoln City. Later relocating to Baker City, they purchased the Main Event and ran the tavern/restaurant together until Ron's death in 2001.
She was very social and well-liked by all who met her. She made many good friends at her Baker City business.
Loretta really enjoyed spending her vacations in Las Vegas.
Survivors include her sisters, Barbara Sneed of Baker City and Luanne Grinstad of Goshen, Ind.; a niece, Celestial Grinstad; and two nephews, Derrik Santy and Richard Sneed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ron, and parents Earl and Alice Wirth.
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.
Mary Ann James
Mary Ann James, 60, a former Baker City resident, died June 26, 2005, at the Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston.
Her graveside funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Hermiston Cemetery.
She was born on Dec. 14, 1944, at Nyssa to John Edward and Lucile N. Stephens Mahoney. She was raised at Nyssa and later at Baker City. She was a 1963 Baker High School graduate.
Mary married Leo James on June 8, 1963, at Huntington. They lived there until 1968 when they moved to the Hermiston area where they had lived since.
She worked as a housekeeper at the Hinkle Hotel for more than 15 years before retiring in 2002. She enjoyed flowers, fishing, traveling and sightseeing.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.
Mabel Dinnick
Mabel Ann Dinnick, 93, a longtime Baker Valley resident, died June 28, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Care Center.
There will be no funeral, at her request. A private family celebration of life will be scheduled later.
Mabel, the daughter of Arch and Lizzie Long, was born on on June 26, 1912, at Muddy Creek at the home of her grandparents, Alonzo and Julia Long. She was the fourth of six children and attended her first 12 years of school at Haines.
Mabel was the final surviving member of the Haines High School Class of 1930. After graduating from high school, she continued her education at Eastern Oregon Normal School in La Grande. In 1960, she obtained her bachelor's degree in education from Eastern Oregon College.
Mabel taught 28 years in the Baker School District, 26 of those years were at North Baker School and two years were at Muddy Creek. Her great-grandparents donated land for the first Muddy Creek School in 1876.
She also taught for three years at Bourne and Columbia mines. One of the greatest pleasures Mabel experienced was a visit from her former students.
During her first year of teaching, she met and later married Wilbur "Bill" Dinnick. They were married on Dec. 30, 1933, at Weiser, Idaho.
Wilbur and Mabel moved to Cornucopia, where Wilbur worked in the mines. Their first daughter, Evelyn, was born during that time.
During World War II, Mabel and her family lived in the Los Angeles area where their second daughter, Roberta, was born. In 1946, they returned to Baker Valley, where they spent their remaining years.
The many interests Mabel had through the years included fishing, hunting, camping, lapidary, crocheting, reading, dancing, playing cribbage, and collecting antique bottles. She made beautiful winter scene collages, was an avid Trailblazer fan and always exercised her dry wit as well as her great sense of humor.
Mabel was outspoken, adventurous and spirited. She liked to have a good time and will be missed by many.
Mabel belonged to the National Education Association, Baker Retired Teachers Association, Oregon National Educational Foundation and Order of Eastern Star Halfway Inland Chapter, No. 136. She also did volunteer work for Baker Senior Citizens and the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.
Survivors include her daughters, Evelyn Davis and her husband, Larry of Bend, and Roberta Donaldson and her husband, Jim, of Baker City; a sister, Georgia Sieg, of Baker City; grandchildren, Buck and Joe Davis of Bend, Eric Donaldson of Portland, and Laura Palmer of Framingham, Mass.; great-grandchildren, Brandon Davis of Pendleton and Olivia Palmer of Framingham, Mass.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur; her siblings, Floyd Long, Beulah Bell, Pansy Maxwell and Dora Allen; and her nephew, Mike Allen.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice or Eastern Oregon Museum at Haines, through Gray's West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Dewey Flowers
Dewey Flowers, 66, of Star, Idaho, a former Baker City resident, died June 25, 2005, at Boise after an extended illness.
His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the First Christian Church in La Grande. His graveside service will be immediately afterward at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City.
Visitations will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Loveland Funeral Chapel in La Grande.
Dewey was born at Baker City on Sept. 29, 1938, to Ardes I. Regan Flowers and Dewey G. Flowers. While attending Baker schools, he achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended the national Eagle Scout convention at Irvine, Calif., in 1953.
Dewey was the first drum major for the Baker Elks Drum and Bugle Corps, which he held dear to his heart. He gave many years as a leader, taking many kids through their memorable years to state and national Elks conventions.
He was a 43-year member of the Baker Elks Lodge. He attended Eastern Oregon University at La Grande from 1957 to 1959. He married Mardene Estes in December of 1959. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 37 years, retiring in 1994.
Dewey married Janice Conklin in August of 1997 and later relocated by himself to Star, Idaho. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and his cabin he shared with his son, Don, at New Bridge. His love was his children, grandchildren and family. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Survivors include his three children and their spouses, Don and Brenda Flowers of La Grande, Jani and Duane McLaughlin of Island City and Michelle and Kenny Wells of Bloomington, Ill.; 14 grandchildren, Heather, Justin, Jami, Jered, Sheena, Shawn, Brandon, Kyli, Dena, Dale, Kyler, Kadon, Madison and Kobe; seven great-grandchildren; four sisters, Winnifred Ward of La Grande, Virginia Foster and her husband, Richard, and Beverly and Art Klingman, all of Portland, and Ferriel and Paul Gregory of Salem; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Doernbecher Children's Hospital through Loveland Funeral Home.
Darrell Willems
Darrell Harold "Knuckles" Willems, 61, of Halfway, died June 21, 2005, at the Boise Veterans Hospital.
Darrell was born at Algoma, Wis., on April 13, 1944, to Leonard and Doris Willems. After graduating from high school he joined the U.S. Army. He served from October 29, 1958, until May of 1970.
After his discharge from the Army he lived and worked in the Portland area as a heavy equipment operator. He later made his permanent home in Halfway.
Darrell and Fadyne Hurtado were married on Aug. 28, 2002, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Halfway. Darrell enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his friends. He was a member of the VFW Post, No. 7847.
Survivors include his wife, Fay; his son, Guy Willems; four stepdaughters; numerous grandchildren; and other relatives; and his faithful canine companion, Sari.
Memorial contributions may be made to VFW Post, No. 7847, through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Helen Crane
Helen Iva Ranes Crane, 80, of Baker City, died June 21, 2005, at Baker City.
There will be no service. She will be buried in the family plot at Lostine.
Helen was born to Fred Richard Ranes of Forest Grove and Iva Agnes Harris Ranes of Pomroy, Wash. She was raised in Wallowa County and then spent the rest of her life at Sumpter and Baker City.
She was married to Billie Jerome Crane at Weiser, Idaho, on Nov. 29, 1941. They divorced in 1950. She married Dorrel George Dotson in La Grande on Dec. 19, 1950. They divorced in 1966.
Helen worked at The Salvation Army, the Baker Cab Service and retired from St. Elizabeth Community Hospital where she worked as a housekeeper.
Helen was a good cook. She enjoyed going to the family mine on Dry Creek. She treasured her time in the outdoors, and she especially loved to fish. She enjoyed horses all of her life and she was very considerate and helpful to her friends.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Nelleta Jean Ranes in 1929; and her brother, Don Merle Ranes, who died in 1998.
Survivors include her sons, Gary Crane of Albany and Warren Crane and his wife, Betty, of Baker City; daughter, Nelleta Bailey, and her husband, Rick, of Headquarters, Idaho; granddaughters and their spouses, Coral and Mike Widman of Baker City and Amy and Rylan Cheney of Cody, Neb.; and great-grandchildren, Chelsie Zenner of Culdesac, Idaho, and Anlan, Gillian, Erin, Ry and Quinn Cheney of Cody, Neb.
‘Bill' Dixon
Bill Dixon, 62, of Baker City died June 19, 2005, after a 15-year battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loved ones.
His memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Coles Funeral Home. Greg Baxter will conduct the service. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery with Oregon State Police honors. Visitations will be until 7 o'clock tonight at the funeral home.
Bill was the second child of Eldred Dixon and Virginia Ione Miller born at Salt Lake City on Feb. 18, 1943. His only sibling was his sister, Betty Lee Stone.
His childhood years were spent in the Portland, Oregon area where he graduated from Clackamas High School in 1961. After graduation, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. He served on a light ship off the coast of California. He went through flight school in North Carolina and then was stationed in Alaska.
While serving in Alaska, he participated in two historic Arctic expeditions on the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker, Northwind. These expeditions were the United States' first voyages through the Northeast Passage. He was honorably discharged at Astoria after serving 4 years.
During his time in the Coast Guard, Bill took up photography as a hobby. After his discharge he attended Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, Calif.
He joined the Oregon State Police in 1969 and was stationed at Baker City. There he met his loving wife, Joanna Miller. The two were married on Feb. 18, 1970. The couple remained in Baker City while raising two daughters, Marie and Ginger, and a son, Bill.
Bill spent most of his 25 years of service as a state police officer in the Fish and Game Division working throughout Baker County. The place that was closest to his heart was Hells Canyon and the surrounding area.
Due to the nature of his work, it was not uncommon for the family to help take care of the many injured and baby animals that Bill would bring home. He retired from the state police in 1994.
He then was employed with Marvin Wood Products as a safety officer. Bill's standards for excellence are reflected in the quality of hardworking employees and the safety awards the plant has received.
There were many other activities Bill treasured. He was a strong believer in the Boy Scout program and served in various leadership positions for many years.
Bill is remembered for being honest and direct with people. He was an extremely hard worker and one who paid attention to details. He was firm in what he believed, even to the point of being stubborn at times.
He is also remembered for his eye-to-eye discussions with his children, the many camping trips, plus the way he could intimidate their friends and spouses with his voice and presence. He expected his children and grandchildren to do quality work the first time and every time.
The family would like to publicly thank Marvin Wood Products and FirstBank for the support they have given to both Bill and Joanna over the years while Bill fought valiantly against cancer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister and a niece, Sallie Jacobson.
Survivors include his wife, Joanna; his daughter and son-in-law, Marie and George Shimer of Nyssa; his daughter, Ginger Soderholm of Baker City; his son, Sgt. 1st Class Bill Dixon of Pinehurst, N.C.; five grandsons, Chris, Jamie, Sean, Gregg and Ray; a granddaughter, Jenna; and two nieces, Pam Stone of Ohio and Laura Long of Montana.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mountain States Tumor Institute, 151 Bannock Road, Boise, Idaho 83712-9988.
Robert Gordon
Robert D. Gordon, 72, a former Baker City resident, died June 20, 2005, at his home in Sheridan.
His memorial service will be Thursday at Sheridan. His ashes will be scattered at Sparta.
Bob was born on June 11, 1933, at Sunnyside, Wash., to Harry and Elizabeth Stuber Gordon. When he was 2, the family moved to Richland. When Bob was 6 they moved to Sparta. At the age of 8, Bob helped in the haying. He drove a team of horses, mowed hay and used a buck rake to move hay to the stock yard.
He and his sister, Fern, rode horses five miles to school each day, sometimes through 4 to 5 feet of snow. These were very dear times for Bob.
He was a 1951 Baker High School graduate. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1952 and served at Pusan, Korea, until February 1954. He was honorably discharged and settled in Pendleton to pursue the tire business he had learned while working at Lew Bros. during his high school days.
He moved to the Willamette Valley in 1970 and continued the tire business. After he retired in 2002, he started cutting firewood and selling it on the coast to allow him to spend time in the mountains that he loved so much. He had to give this up three weeks ago when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara; his stepdaughter, Shelly Cameron of Sheridan; his daughter and son-in-law, Jodi and Tracy Haff of Cheyenne, Wyo.; his son, Robert John, who is serving in Iraq with the U.S. Army, and his wife, Serina; his daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Damian Grimalde of Winder, Ga.; a brother and sister-in-law, Walter and Cleo of Midvale, Idaho; sister and brother-in-law, Fern and Bob Taylor of Sumpter; niece, Teresa Vaughan of Baker City; uncle, Sanford Stuber of Mount Vernon, Wash.; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins and nieces and nephews.
