System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Corky Combs
Corky Combs, 75, a long-time Baker City resident, died Feb. 10, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
His funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Ritualistic rites will be accorded by B.P.O.E. Lodge No. 338. Vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Visitations will be today until 7 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home.
Corky was born July 7, 1929, in Baker City to Carl and Thelma (Shephard) Combs. He was raised in Baker City and attended school in Baker and Huntington. He graduated from Huntington High School in 1947. He attended Western Oregon College at Monmouth for several months. He married Betty Brewer in 1946. They left Monmouth and moved to Baker in 1948.
He bought a grocery delivery service and after several years he sold it and went to work for Darigold Dairies of La Grande, delivering milk in Baker. After several months, he started his own milk business called Corky's Independent Milk Service. Then he merged with Meadow Gold Dairies. Later he bought out Valley Dairy and the business became Baker Dairies. Then he added an ice business with two other partners and it was called B.J.C. Ice Co. In 1972, he started a food wholesale company known as Baker Wholesale. As the business grew, he sold the milk business.
His wife and three sons were always a part of the business. Corky retired in 1987.
After his retirement, golf became his great love. He became very involved in the Baker Golf Club. He served as president of the Social Club. He ran the Baker Elks Golf Tournament for many years and he also helped with many of the other tournaments. He had his own golf tournament for many years called the Meadow Gold Golf Tournament. It is now the FirstBank Tournament.
In his earlier years, his interests were hunting, basketball and fast pitch softball. He was instrumental in bringing the 1968 Fast Pitch State Softball Tournament to Baker. He also brought Eddie Feiner, known as the "King and His Court" (the famous four-man fast pitch softball team) to Baker City.
Corky was a member of the Baker Elks Lodge, B.P.O.E. No. 338 for 53 years.
Corky is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty; sons, Steve Combs and his wife, Pixie, Craig Combs and his wife, Penny, and Bart Combs; sister and brother-in-law, Carmen and Bob Macy; grandchildren, Hannah and Rafael Rigueiro, Sada Combs, Danielle Combs, Andrea and Tory Weimer, Jeremy Combs and Cristopher Endicott; great-grandchildren, Kersey Jordan, Tristan Weimer and Jamisun Rigueiro; several nieces and nephews and an aunt, Ella Shephard Hunt.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his father and mother and an uncle.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions in Corky's memory may direct them to Corky Combs Golf Memorial through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Wanda O'Grady
Wanda O'Grady, 77, died Feb. 9, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Clifford Cole of Baker City will officiate.
Wanda Roberta O'Grady was born on April 15, 1927, at Stockville, Neb., to Elizy and Florence Powell Wollam. Her early years were spent at Stockville.
The family then moved to Portland where she was educated and worked for a time in the shipyards as a welder. She married Donald James O'Grady Sr. on Aug. 12, 1960, at Stevenson, Wash.
The couple lived at Portland until they moved to Haines in 1968 where she took care of her family. She had a good sense of humor and loved life and the outdoors. She also loved growing her roses and other flowers.
Survivors include her son, Donald James O'Grady Jr. and his wife, Dawn, of Haines; her daughter, Kathleen O'Grady of Lewiston, Idaho; grandsons, Tanner and Colby O'Grady of Haines; sisters, Mary Helm of Portland and Marge Frels of Nebraska; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald James O'Grady Sr.; and several brothers and sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Literacy Coalition through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Tom' Boyd
Arthur Thomas "Tom" Boyd, 76, a longtime North Powder community leader and rancher, died Feb. 10, 2005, at his home in Baker City.
There will be a celebration of life memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday at the North Powder Community Methodist Church with a reception afterward at the Wolf Creek Grange in North Powder.
Tom was born on Oct. 19, 1928, at Baker City to Arthur Stanley and Sarah Miller Boyd. He attended school in Baker City and was a 1951 graduate of Oregon State University at Corvallis with a degree in animal husbandry.
In 1946, he married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Ellen Wood. The couple celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary in June. They had three sons.
Upon graduating from Oregon State, Tom and Ruth moved to the ranch on Wolf Creek at North Powder. The 43 years he spent on the ranch were the best years of his life.
He truly enjoyed ranching and working with his father and sons in the lamb and wool industry. He also enjoyed working with his brother-in-law, Boyd Brown, in th purchase of local wool pools.
Tom traveled the Western United States buying lambs for numerous packers and feeders and buying wool for Draper Wool & Co. based in Boston. The Boyd family affiliation with Draper Wool & Co. encompassed three generations and more than 70 years.
Tom's honesty and integrity was well known and was the basis of his long and successful career. He made many lifelong friends in the livestock industry and was honored by the Idaho Wool Growers Association in 1998 for his contributions to the industry. He remained active in the affairs of the industry and discussed the sale of lambs the day he passed away.
Tom was very active in the local community. He served on the local school board and was chairman in his final year. He also served on the Education Service District Board.
He was a lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge and a Shriner, receiving his 50-year pin last year. He learned to fly while still in high school, having been taught by his uncle and role model, Harvey Miller.
Tom flew aerobatics and gave rides at many local county fairs in the PT-19 and aspired to be a World War II pilot, but the war ended too soon. He continued his love of flying by earning his commercial license and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol through his high school and college years. Later he served in the Oregon National Guard.
Tom loved to hunt. A major event every fall was the gathering of many of his friends from all over the state for hunting season. He knew and loved the mountains around North Powder, especially the Shaw Mountain, Summit Springs and Rock Creek areas.
He was a successful hunter and instilled in his sons the love of hunting. His favorite food was venison back strap with sheepherder potatoes.
Tom and Ruth enjoyed traveling. They made several trips overseas. In his later years, they enjoyed snowbirding to the Southwest and Mexico, searching out aeronautical museums and historical sites.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Monona Weber; grandson, Jacob Arthur; and nephews, Carl and Kevin Weber.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth Ellen; sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Kathy of Walla Walla, Wash., Stan and Ann of Eagle, Idaho, and Dave and Urmi of Bend; grandchildren, Kim Boyd of Milton-Freewater, Jon and Terri Boyd of Walla Walla, Wash., Regan and Sam Boyd of Eagle, Idaho, and Nicholas and Ross Boyd of Bend; great-granddaughter, Chelsea Boyd of Milton-Freewater; a sister, Margaret Brown of Baker City; Uncle Harvey and Aunt Dorothy Miller of Beaverton; cousins, Zona and F.B. Clarke of Baker City, Elinor Marie Neilson of Salt Lake City, Joan Barlow of Lindon, Utah, Helen and Larry Berg of La Grande, Paul and Cheren Wood of Salt Lake City, Keith and Virginia Long of Baker City; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker County Library Foundation Board, the Shriners Hospital for Children, the North Powder Community Church, Pathway Hospice or a charity of one's choice through Gray's West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Hudson Miller
Hudson Linden Miller, 84, of Dolan Springs, Ariz., died Feb. 8, 2005, in Kingman, Ariz., of congestive heart failure.
His funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane in Baker City. Bishop Tom Brock of Baker Valley Ward will conduct the service. Public visitation will be Saturday from noon until 1 p.m. in the Relief Society Room at the church.
He was born Sept., 22, 1920, at Midvale, Idaho, to Philip and Alice Miller. He served as a cook in the Army Air Corps during World War II, ranched in Baker County for many years and retired from Roseburg Lumber in Roseburg in 1985. He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for many years, serving in many capacities including two full-time missions.
He is survived by his four children: Nina Stephens, Alice Sheldon, Philip Miller and LaFawn Smith and their families; his second wife, Berniece Miller, and six stepchildren: Shirley Benjamin, Leland Carlson, Ralph Carlson, Dennis Carlson, Ivan Carlson and Louise Cunningham and their families. He was beloved by all.
He was preceded in death by his beloved Anna in 1966, and by one infant daughter, Maryann.
Contributions in Mr. Miller's memory can be made to the LDS Mission Fund through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Liz' Casteel
Cora Elizabeth "Liz" Casteel, 70, of Baker City, died Feb. 4, 2005, at her home.
Her memorial service will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor David Deputy of Calvary Baptist Church will officiate.
Liz was born Feb. 2, 1935, at Kokomo, Ind., to Andrew and Ruth (Cunningham) Ireland. She was raised in Kokomo and received her education there. She worked in a plastics factory. On April 15, 1972, she married Robert Casteel in Las Vegas. They moved to Baker City from California in 1989.
Liz was a remarkable mother, wife, grandmother and friend. She enjoyed being around her grandchildren, her dog, Mac, and her cat, Pepper. She enjoyed the snow and needlework. She made beautiful afghans and enjoyed puzzles.
She is survived by her husband, Bob of Baker City; her children, Rochelle Stoaks and her husband, Ron, Michael Shelton and his wife, Peggy, and Dennis Shelton, all of Baker City, Robbin Llamas of Upland, Calif., and Mickie Sharp of La Grande; grandchildren, Candi Linde, Theresa Kinney, Robert Flores, Shannon Regan, Shelley Flores, Jamie Taylor, Jennifer McCarthey, Josh Shelton, Janet Llamas, Monique Gonzalez, Joseph Gonzalez, Natasha Gonzalez, Jaime Shelton and Justin Shelton; great-grandchildren, Cherish Drake, Shawn Murray, Kayla Kinney, J.R. Kinney, Tanis Kinney, Chelsea Davis, Izah Gonzalez, Novalee Gonzalez, Josh McCarthey, Alyssa McCarthey and Zach Taylor.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Ruth Ireland.
Contributions in her memory may be directed to Pathway Hospice, in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Chuck' Hausauer
Clarence C. "Chuck" Hausauer, 84, a longtime Baker City resident, died Feb. 7, 2005, at his home with his family at his side.
A private family graveside service for Mr. Hausauer will be Monday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Nathaniel Neff of Apostolic Lighthouse will officiate.
Chuck was born Oct. 8, 1920, at Drake, N.D., to Jacob and Hulda (Sonnenberg) Hausauer. He was raised in North Dakota until the age of 14 when his family moved to Astoria. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942 until 1945. In his early years he drove log truck and then went to work in construction. He married Rachel Irvin in March 1947 at Astoria. They moved to Eastern Oregon in 1957 to work on the Brownlee Dam. He then went to work for Clubb Brothers and in the late 1960s he opened Chuck's Appliance Repair. He worked in his own shop until he retired in 1998.
Chuck was a musician and played guitar and bass. He played at various clubs in a three- or four-piece band. He was instrumental in starting the Rhythm Kings and played at the Veterans, Eagles and Elks clubs. After the band split up, he played at the Senior Center in the Buddy Band. He and Rachel enjoyed traveling and they visited most of the United States except the East Coast. They also visited Paris and went on a Mediterranean cruise. He loved hunting and fishing and enjoyed camping with friends and family, bowling and spending his mornings with his friends at the office.
He was a loving husband, father and friend and will be greatly missed
Chuck is survived by his wife, Rachel Hausauer, and his daughter, Judy L. Hausauer, both of Baker City; his son, Michael M. Hausauer of Townsend, Mont.; granddaughters, Candice Hausauer of Lebanon and Mellisa Thirsk and her husband, Don, of Bozeman, Mont.; a special niece, Diane Rodden of San Bruno, Calif.; nephews, Richard Zachman of San Ramon, Calif., and Myles Zachman of Clear Lake Park, Calif.; and numerous nieces and cousins in Minnesota. Rachel and her family would like to say thank you to Doug and Sue Spade for being good neighbors and special friends over the last several years.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Vern Hausauer; and his grandson, Michael Hausauer.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make contributions in Mr. Hausauer's memory may direct them to MSTI or Guardian Hospice, in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Gayle Christenson
Gayle Arlyn Christenson, 74, a longtime Baker City resident, died Feb. 7, 2005, at home surrounded by family and friends.
An Elks service and celebration of his life will take place Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St.
Gayle was born in 1931 at McMinnville to Chester and Lola (Johnson) Christenson. He attended school in Newberg and graduated there in 1950. He received training in radio engineering and moved to Salt Lake City where his distinct deep voice got him a job as a radio announcer. From there, Gayle worked a short time in the oil fields of Wyoming before he moved back to Detroit, Ore. There he went to work for his granddad, who owned and operated Detroit Phone Company. The town of Detroit was being relocated for the damming of the Santiam River. Gayle worked to rebuild and move the phone system of Detroit and two smaller towns nearby.
His career with Pacific Northwest Bell as janitor for three months months began in Portland, then he soon moved to Baker City. Here he met Karen Metcalf, who was working as a telephone operator. They were married in 1954. Gayle retired from the phone company in Baker City in 1989. He worked the central office in Baker and several microwave stations of Central Oregon where his troubleshooting and problem-solving skills were well known.
Gardening, hunting, travel and A LOT of fishing were Gayle's favorite pastimes. He was a longtime brother of the Baker Elks Lodge and he coached Little League and Babe Ruth baseball for several years. Many people say Gayle could give meaningful advice without you knowing he did. He possessed patience and wisdom and topped all of that off with a great sense of humor.
Gayle is survived by his loving wife, Karen; sister and brother-in-law, Norma and John Sanford of Keizer; brother-in-law, Chuck Morris of La Grande; daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Dave Phillips and their kids Katie and Billy Phillips, and Toni Phillips Zikmund and her husband, Paul, all of Baker City; a daughter and son-in-law, Joni and Kirk Sager, and their kids Jim and Clint Sager, Luke Kolb and Katie Strong of Grants Pass; two great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews also survive.
Gayle was preceded in death by his father and mother.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Baker Sports Complex and/or the Baker Elks Drum and Bugle Corps, in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Chet' Koontz
Chester David "Chet" Koontz, 73, a lifelong Hereford resident, died Feb. 7, 2005, at his home due to complications from rheumatoid arthritis.
His funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Unity High School. Lynn Shumway and Matthew Schnetz of the Burnt River Community Church will officiate. Burial will be at Unity Cemetery. There will be a reception at the Unity Community Hall after the service.
He was born Oct. 29, 1931, at the family ranch, only a half-mile west of the home where he died. He was the sixth child born to William Asa and Rebecca Ruth Van Cleave Koontz. He was a star athlete in high school, and upon graduation he married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Marilyn Mitchell (Myrnie).
In the early years, Chet drove log truck and eventually bought his own truck. In the late 1950s he was asked to operate the Koontz family ranch. He subsequently purchased the property adjacent to it, which was originally owned by his grandfather, Orlando Chester Koontz. Chet was well respected in the community and was still ranching up to the present time.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was well known for his love of babies, and he loved spending time with all of his family. He enjoyed hunting, camping, picnicking, and especially huckleberry picking when he could find the time. He was an avid card player and truly enjoyed the camaraderie around the table. He was an awesome dancer, and he and Myrnie were quite a pair out on the dance floor.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Myrnie; nine children and their spouses: Davey and Dale Baker of La Grande, Jonda and Butch Myers of Unity, Gwynneth and Quinten Anderson of Unity, Kristi and Denny Ping of Bonney Lake, Wash., Valerie and Rod Wilson of Unity, Richelle and Loren Brown of La Grande, Kimala and Tim Hoskins, Chip and Cathleen Koontz, and Shauna and Corey Andrews, all of Hereford. He was the proud grandfather of 40 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Edith Derrick of Unity, Wilma Loeks of Dundee, and Maxine Brouillette of Brookings; as well as numerous other relatives and good friends.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother; two sisters, Donna Bradford and Nan Hix; and a brother, Henry (Hank) Koontz.
Contributions may be made to the Koontz family in care of Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Pete' Peterson
Duane Irwin "Pete" Peterson, 72, a former Halfway resident, died on Feb. 5, 2005, at Spokane Valley.
At his request there will be no viewing. There will be a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home in the Spokane Valley. There will be a family reception/potluck afterward.
Pete was born in Halfway, Oregon on January 19, 1933 to Dick D. Peterson and Bessie I. Peterson Irwin. The gold rush days relocated Pete and his parents to Cornucopia, a small mining community close to Halfway, where his parents ran a store. They returned to Halfway in 1942. He was one of five to graduate from Pine Valley Union High School at Halfway in 1950.
While in high school, Pete participated in various activities including football, track, the Glee Club. He was in several plays and was the secretary of both his senior class and the Agricultural Club.
He went on to the University of Oregon at Eugene before entering the U.S. Navy. He served his country from Jan. 18, 1951, to January 18, 1954. He was discharged in Seattle, Wash., where he met his first wife, Viola Marie Anderson.
They were married on Feb. 18, 1954, at Baker City. They moved back to Halfway where Pete worked as a clerk in the U.S. Forest Service. He then went on to work on both the Brownlee and Hells Canyon dams near Halfway.
They then moved to Wenatchee, Wash., where he started as a fireman for the then Great Northern Railroad and on onto Spokane, Wash., where he later became an engineer. He retired from the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1995.
Pete had eight children from this marriage. He married Jo Mason in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on Aug. 20, 1976. They had one child.
Pete was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and was an avid hunter and fisherman. In recent years you could find Pete on the lake, playing cards with his many friends or feeding his pet squirrels. He was loved and will be missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and children, Sherry Peterson, Dickie D. Peterson, Randy Peterson and Billie Joe Peterson.
Survivors include his wife, Jo; children, Robert Peterson and his wife, Donna, of Bend, Dawn West and her husband, Bob, Sandra Kaye Schaich, Richard Peterson and his wife, Tami, and Mary Baker and her husband, Dexter, all of Spokane, Wash.; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous relatives throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House at Spokane, Wash.
