System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Bette Sawyer
Bette Hoge Sawyer, 79, a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 12, 2002, at her home in Reno, Nev.
A private service is planned.
Bette Norene Hoge was born on May 22, 1923, to Earl and Mary Hoge in Baker City. She was graduated from Baker High School in 1941.
Her parents were associated with Hoge-Wells Supply Co. in Baker City. The family moved to Reno, Nev. It was there Bette met future husband, Grant Sawyer.
They married in 1946 in Washington, D.C., where Grant was attending Georgetown University Law School. In 1928, the Sawyers moved to Elko, Nev. There they reared their only child, Gail, who survives them and lives at Las Vegas, Nev.
As wife of the late Governor Grant Sawyer, Bette was first lady from 1958 to 1966. Her husband died in 1996.
Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Nevada Medical School or the Grant Sawyer Studies at the University of Nevada at Reno.
Margaret Milford
Margaret H. Milford, 89, of Bend, a former longtime Baker City resident, died Sept. 13, 2002, at a Bend adult foster home.
Disposition was by cremation. Her funeral will be scheduled later.
Margaret was born at Pleasant Valley on Aug. 19, 1913, to Otto and Velma Lammert. She later married James Milford at Seattle, Wash.
She owned and operated the Coffee Cup restaurant for a while. After selling it she worked as a cook at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Baker City. Upon her retirement, she kept active by doing volunteer work for seniors.
Survivors include her two sisters, Eva Holland of Seattle, Wash., and Frieda Ringer of Bend; four brothers, Ray Lammert of Pleasant Plains, Ill., Arthur Lammert of Oregon City, Robert Lammert of Medford and Eugene Lammert of Gold Beach; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Milford; her parents, Otto and Velma Lammert; two sisters, Peggy Satterburg and Geri Weise; and two brothers, Alfred and John Lammert.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Lutheran Church in Baker City or the Bend-La Pine Hospice through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Chris' Christian
Camiel I. "Chris" Christian, 74, of Baker City died Sept. 15, 2002, at his home with his family by his side.
His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Rod Dickison will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at the American Legion Club, No. 40, 2129 Second St.
Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Gray's West & Co.
Chris, the second child of three, was born on Nov. 28, 1927, to Lewis J. Christian and Selma Van Doornbeldt at the family farm in Victor, Iowa. As the only son, Chris helped his mother run the family farm after his father's death at a young age.
He went to school for a half day and then walked the three miles home to feed the bummer lambs. When Chris came of age, he joined the U.S. Air Force and began a career in communications.
He served our country for more than 20 years, participating in three wars: World War II, Vietnam and Korea. He retired from the military in April of 1971.
During his time in the Air Force, he traveled to many places around the world and he had a story to tell about every place he'd been. After returning to Baker City, he worked as a night jailer for the next 12 years. Chris will be missed greatly by his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Selma Christian; and a brother-in-law, Ralph Albert Jr.
Survivors include his daughter, Denise "D.J." Riley, and her husband, Ted, of Baker City; grandchildren, Christopher and Hillary Pifher, Danielle Pifher and Rich Riley, all of Baker City; his beloved dog, Jessi, who meant so much to him; stepchildren, Richard Pierce of Seattle, Wash., Vickie Wallette of Spokane, Wash., Leslie Pierce of Grants Pass, Tanya Milanez of Boise, Shane and Tangie Colton of Emmett, Idaho, and Tom Pierce and Terry and Kimberly Suitter, all of Baker City; two sisters, Marie Albert of Ladora, Iowa, and Marcella Saylor of Brooklyn, Iowa; three nieces, Connie, Lori and Patty; and one nephew, Danny.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family of Chris Christian through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
George ‘Bill' Gwilliam
George Wildon "Bill" Gwilliam, 74, a longtime Baker City resident who served as mayor for 10 years, died Sept. 6, 2002, at his home.
His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Bishop Greg Baxter will officiate. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Visitations will be from noon to 8 p.m. today at Gray's West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave.
He was born on June 7, 1928, at Baker City to George Stanford and Vernice Sarah Gwilliam. In 1935, he moved with his family to Boise and lived there until 1942.
The family then returned to Baker City to help Uncle Joe Gwilliam in the bakery. Joe's four boys were serving in the military during World War II. The bakery was Gwilliam Brothers Bakery.
Bill was only 14 when he started to help in the bakery after school. He drove the bakery truck, greased bread pans and packed bread shipments. He was able to get a driver's license when he was 14 for that reason. He worked all during his high school years driving the bakery truck.
He was a 1947 Baker High School graduate. One of his favorite teachers was Harold Kirkland and his favorite football coach was Len Searles. He loved football. He played coronet and was quite good.
He met his sweetheart, Dorene Parry, who had just moved from Utah and the couple were married in 1948 at the Cardston Alberta LDS temple. They had two daughters, Carla Anne (named after her grandpa, Carl) and Georgene (named after her grandpa, George).
Bill continued working for 27 more years for Gwilliam Brothers Bakery. He worked for Chet Smith Motors for a short while after the bakery was sold and then he began working as an agent for Farmer's Insurance. He developed his own office and continued working there until he retired at age 65.
He was appointed as justice of the peace by Tom Young (representing the governor). He was on the Baker City Council for more than 20 years. He was a member of the Citizen Review Board and chairman of the CASA board, helping children have representation in court. He was instrumental in getting the program started.
He served as president of the Oregon Mayor's Association in 1987 and was a charter member of the Baker Rotary Club, which he had served as president, secretary and treasurer, a position he held when he died. He received the Paul Harris Award, the highest honor given a Rotarian for "service above self."
He was on the board of trustees for St. Elizabeth Hospital for many years and was a lifelong member and supporter of the chamber of commerce. He was a member and president of the Baker County Council on Alcohol and Drug Problems (now New Directions Northwest) from November 1980 to March 1989. He served as host for several Rotary and American Field Service foreign exchange students.
Regarding religious service, he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a counselor in the Bishopric for the LDS Church for five years and served as bishop of the Baker Ward for 11Þ years.
He later served on the high council of the La Grande, Oregon, Stake for the church. At the time of his death, he was serving as an ordinance worker in the Boise Temple, having served eight years.
Survivors include his wife, Dorene Gwilliam of Baker City; two daughters, Carla Christensen of Shelley, Idaho, and Georgene Doster of Salt Lake City; eight grandchildren, Shad, Brooke and Tyson Flower, Tanys Searle, Trina and Jacob Helmstetler, Gina Catenzaro, Ian Doster; and one great-grandchild, Leighton George Helmstetler; foster children, Marie Lindi, Kevin Getty, Don Sorensen and Sherry White; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Vernice Gwilliam; his father, George Stanford Gwilliam; and a brother, Glenn Gwilliam.
Memorial contributions may be made to Rotary International Polio Plus or the Perpetual Education Fund through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Earl Spivey
Earl M. Spivey, 84, of 2610 Indiana Ave., died Sept. 7, 2002, at his home.
His body was cremated. At his request, there will be no funeral.
Earl was born to Luther A. Spivey and Ora Lee Ellis Spivey at Haw Knob, Tenn., on June 18, 1918. He came to Baker City as a young man in 1929.
He attended South Baker School and then entered the U.S. Army in 1938. He was sent to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii with the 19th Infantry Co. He held the rank of corporal. He was a sharpshooter and machine gunner. He worked in the day room until he was discharged in September of 1940.
He returned to Baker City where he met Dorothy Margaret Hixson. They were married on Sept. 3, 1941, at Payette, Idaho.
He worked in the lumber industry most of his life as a truck driver and then as a log truck loader. He was employed by Bly Logging at Klamath Falls where they moved in 1958 and he spent the rest of his working days there. He retired in 1983.
He loved to hunt, fish and travel until ill health forced him to stop. He and his wife returned to Baker City in 2000 to be with the rest of their family and relatives.
The family expressed appreciation to Dr. Nowak, Debbie Vencil and "all the wonderful people at the Pathway Hospice for the care that they provided for Earl." They also expressed appreciation for the care given by the nurses at St. Elizabeth Health Services during his stay there.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Dorothy of Baker City; his sons, Larry D. Spivey and his wife, Pauline, of Reno, Nev., and Michael R. Spivey, and his wife, Victoria, of Klamath Falls; his grandchildren, David of Springfield, Michael W. of Klamath Falls, and Niechelle Lutz, and her husband, Steve, of Mac Doel, Calif.; stepgrandchildren, Elaine Perry of Reno, Nev., Steve and Lorrie of Coquille and Jason and Umanda and Mike Perry and Toni of Portland; brothers and sisters and their spouses, Claude and Tina, Clyde and Pat and Henry and Hallie, all of Baker City; LaVelle Jellick and Mark and Glenn and Connie Spivey, all of Prineville, Blanche Pearce of Durkee, Hazel and Robert Reid of Heppner and Roy and Margie Spivey of Salem; brother-in-law, William A. Hixson and his wife, Dorothy, of La Grande; and many nieces and nephews; and great-grandchildren, Matthew Lutz of Mac Doel, Calif., and Cody and Brandon Spivey of California.
He was preceded in death by one son, Dale; his parents; and a sister, Edna Springer.
‘Baby' Bunch
"Baby" Trace Junior Bunch, infant son of Herbert Hamilton "Hoss" Bunch Jr. and Mandy Sue Zemmer of Baker City, was born and died Sept. 6, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
There was a graveside service on today at 10 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Lenny Spooner of the First Church of the Nazarene officiated.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Survivors include his mother, Mandie Zemmer, and father, Herbert Hamilton "Hoss" Bunch Jr., both of Baker City; brother, Trevor Zemmer of Baker City; grandparents, Les and Trudie Zemmer of Baker City; grandfather, Herbie Bunch Sr. of Baker City; grandmother, Penny Bunch of Burley, Idaho; great-grandparents, Tom and Juanita Bradshaw of Pendleton; great-grandmother, Wanda Zemmer of Baker City; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by a great-grandfather, Jerry Zemmer; great-grandparents, Juanita and Sam Bunch; and great-grandfather, Buck Usleton.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Children's Hospital in care of Gray's West & Company, P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814
Gloria A. Brothers
Gloria Brothers, 78, of Newberg died Friday, Aug. 23, 2002, at her home.
Attrell's Funeral Home of Newberg was in charge of arrangements with inurnment in Valley View Memorial Park in Newberg.
Mrs. Brothers was born Nov. 1, 1923, in Port Angeles, Wash., the daughter of Evah and Edgar C. Newall. The family resettled in the Newberg area where landmarks like Newall Road and others record the family's influence in the community.
After graduation from high school in Vancouver, Wash., she attended the University of Oregon to obtain a degree in English. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.
She married Samuel A. Brothers Dec. 16, 1945, in Newberg. After a year in Roanoke, Va., during which she taught English at the National College, they returned to Newberg to establish a hardwood floor contracting business. In 1953, Mrs. Brothers joined the Newberg Graphic newspaper where she served as society editor until 1957.
For the next three years, she and her husband were active miners on gold claims in Baker County, after which her husband began a long career in the pressroom of The Oregonian in Portland. In 1964, Mrs. Brothers rejoined the Newberg Graphic as assistant to the publisher, a post she held until 1983.
Still an ardent miner, she joined Western Consolidated Mines Inc. of Baker City in 1986, serving as vice president, corporate secretary and member of its board of directors. For many years until her death she maintained dual residences in Sumpter and Newberg. She traversed many miles of mining land in the Blue Mountains on foot and had an unswerving love and respect for the land.
Although Mrs. Brothers enjoyed homemaking, she was much more comfortable in hiking boots than house slippers.
And though she could fill a room with laughter, her more serious side was marked by dedication to the plight of those she saw as bullied by bureaucracy. Always diplomatic, she left no doubt in people's minds about her opinions on issues affecting the small-scale miner and state and federal abuse of individual rights.
It was her perceived need to bring an organized presence into the political and judicial arenas that led her to become a co-founder of the Eastern Oregon Mining Association, which she served for many years as an officer and board member. Chuck Chase, executive director of EOMA and a longtime association colleague of Mrs. Brothers, termed her death "an immeasurable loss" to the organization.
Chase recalled that when federal authorities banned cabins on mining claims, it was Mrs. Brothers who took up the fight. Brothers vs. U.S. Secretary of the Interior, although unsuccessful in federal court, gave notice that miners were ready to defend their rights, Chase said.
Mrs. Brothers also was an active member in the American Association of University Women and a member of Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist in Portland.
Mrs. Brothers is survived by a son, Ladd Brothers of Newberg; a daughter, Brooke Mill of Gautier, Miss.; and a brother, Edgar Newall of Baker City.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel, in 1994.
Lela Shelton
Lela Shelton, 77, of Halfway, died Sept. 10, 2002, near Cornucopia.
Her graveside memorial service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway.
Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the VFW Hall.
Lela was the last of five children born to Fred and Okie Makinson in Halfway. She attended school in Pine Valley, graduating valedictorian of her class. After attending college in Boise, she married her high school sweetheart, Boyd Shelton, on Aug. 9, 1947. Her work career was focused in various business administration roles. She worked for firms in the Oregon, Idaho and Tri-Cities, Wash., areas. Upon retirement, Boyd and Lela returned to Halfway.
Lela never met a stranger in all her years. Her favorite things included her family, cooking, fishing, gardening, bingo, cards, crossword puzzles and doing for others.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Boyd; a son, Ron, and his wife, Kelly Shelton; daughters, Kae and her husband, Harold Roan, Greta and her husband, Paul Brooks; grandchildren, Michelle Drescher and her husband, Kelly, Brie Pardini and her husband, Fred, Cissy Hinkle and Allen Douglas, Dustin DeWeber, Sara Shelton, Sam Shelton and Seth Shelton; great-grandchildren, Kelsey Drescher, Tyler Hinkle, Karissa Drescher and Zerric Pardini; a brother, Don Makinson; a sister, Marie Columbari; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Contributions in Lela's memory may be made to the American Cancer Foundation in care of Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Leona Hoffman
Leona Maxine Hoffman, 80, of Ontario, died Friday, Aug. 30, 2002, at a Boise hospital.
Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Park Community Church, Highway 201 and Holly Road on the Oregon Slope across from Vern's Market. Ed Renk will officiate.
Burial will be at the Fairview Cemetery. There will be a dinner afterward in the Park Community Church basement.
Visitations will be Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ontario Lienkaemper Chapel, 78 N.W. First Ave.
Maxine was born Sept. 5, 1921, at Rye Valley to Elsie and Alvin Cartwright. She lived at Rye Valley, Weiser, Idaho, Baker City, Granite and Ontario. In July 1937, she married Si Hoffman in a Weiser church. They had two children: a daughter, Sandra, and a son, Charles "Pug."
Maxine drove a school bus from Rye Valley to the highway to meet the bus that would take the kids to school. She was also active in the community with 4-H clubs, Quilting Club, ceramics, Solona Club, Hyline Community Club and the Auxiliary Club. She was a member of the Park Community Church on the Oregon Slope.
Maxine was a loving mother, grandmother and friend. She will be missed by all who knew her. Survivors include her husband, Si; a daughter, Sandra Baker; a son and his wife, Chuck and Kathy Hoffman; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; a sister, Donna Ladd of La Grande; a brother and his wife, Gordon and Elaine Cartwright of Las Vegas; a sister-in-law, Norma Cartwright of Medford; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Orlin Cartwright.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Park Community Church or the Gideons International Organization in care of Lienkaemper Chapel, P.O. Box 970, Ontario, OR 97914.
