System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Fred Hodgson
Fred Peter Hodgson, 43, of Umatilla, a former North Powder resident, died Feb. 3, 2005, at Richland, Wash., of natural causes.
His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the North Powder Community Church in North Powder. Pastor Roger Cochran will officiate. Interment will be at the North Powder Cemetery. Visitations will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., in La Grande.
Fred Peter Hodgson was born on Jan. 28, 1962, to Fredrick and Phyllis Peters Hodgson at Sacramento, Calif. In the summer of 1962, the family moved to North Powder where Fred attended school. He was a 1980 graduate of Powder Valley High School at North Powder.
After high school, Fred attended Eastern Oregon University at La Grande where he receive a bachelor's degree in business and arts. He specialized in accounting.
Fred worked at Weiser, Idaho, and Salem before settling in the Umatilla area where he worked for Con-Agra Foods Inc. at Boardman for 15 years. He was a past member of the Hermiston Lutheran Church. He enjoyed helping others, video games, computers, golf and hockey. He loved to travel.
Survivors include his mother, Phyllis Hodgson of La Grande; brothers, Ross Hodgson and his wife, Sue, of Union, Mark Hodgson of La Grande and Tom Hodgson of North Powder; numerous nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Fredrick Hodgson.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association through Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, OR 97850.
Margaret Defrees
Margaret Elayne Defrees, 71, died Dec. 1, 2005, at her home in Sumpter Valley.
Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Bishop Jeff Daniels of Baker City 1st Ward will conduct.
Margaret was born on Feb. 6, 1934, at Yakima, Wash., to Dallas and Kathryn Rice. She lived her first 13 years at the White Swan Christian Indian Mission where her parents were superintendents of the mission school.
Her high school and junior college years were spent at Yakima where she graduated in 1954 from Yakima Valley Junior College. She continued her education at Oregon State College in Corvallis, graduating in 1956 with a degree in home economics. Margaret taught home economics at Gervais and at Tenino, Wash., until shortly after her marriage.
Margaret met the love of her life during a blind date at an Oregon State football game. A. Lyle Defrees and Margaret were married a little over a year later on Dec. 27, 1956, in Yakima, Wash. They spent the first two years of their married life at Olympia, Wash., while Lyle was in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Lewis. In 1958, they moved to the Defrees family ranch in Sumpter Valley where she resided the remainder of her life.
Margaret's life work was her family. She and Lyle raised three children, Nancy, Dean and Cheryl. She was a loyal wife, a gentle and caring mother and a loving grandmother. Margaret was a skilled seamstress, a superb cook, an avid gardener and a willing and able ranch partner.
She was never too busy to listen to others or to help those in need. She loved reading to and playing board and card games with her children, and later, her grandchildren. For 18 years Margaret spent two weeks each summer running the ranch and raising the family while Lyle attended National Guard Summer Camp.
Margaret was a consummate caregiver, spending many years caring for Lyle's parents, Albert and Ellen Defrees, and her parents, Dallas and Kathryn Rice, as their health failed.
Margaret was an active volunteer in her community leading a 4-H Sewing and Cooking Club and running the 4-H food booth at Sumpter Valley Days for 13 years. Margaret supported the ranching industry through her work in CowBelles, serving a term as president. She spent many years on the Sumpter Election Board and helping with the American Red Cross Blood Drive.
On June 20, 1978, Margaret and Lyle had their marriage solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was a devout member of the church, serving as Stake Relief Society president for more than three years. Margaret had many callings in Relief Society and Young Women's Organization and at the time of her death she was an instructor to the 12- and 13 year-old girls.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dallas and Kathryn Bothman Rice, and her in-laws, Albert D. and Ellen Izatt Defrees.
Survivors include her husband of 49 years, A. Lyle Defrees; her eldest daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and John Boyer of Haines and their children, Andrea and her husband, Brandon Eliason, Bjorn, Heidi and Monica Boyer; her son and daughter-in-law, L. Dean and Sharon Defrees of Sumpter Valley and their children, Nathan, Tyler and Dallas; her youngest daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Brian Orme of River Heights, Utah, and their children, Jacob, Kate, Kari and Sara; a sister, Joanne Price of Liberty, Mo., and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker County Livestock Association Scholarship Fund or to the LDS Humanitarian Fund through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Ralph Long
Ralph H. Long, 86, of Baker City, died Dec. 1, 2005, at his home.
His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Calvary Baptist Church, 2107 Third St. Pastor Ed Niswender of the church will officiate. His graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Elgin Cemetery.
Ralph was born on Nov. 26, 1919, at Elgin to Harlen and Lela Blanchard Long. He received his education at Elgin. He entered the U.S. Navy during World War II and served his country aboard the USS Antares where he served for four years as a storekeeper in the South Pacific.
Upon returning from the service, he worked for Standard Oil Refinery in California. He also worked as a bricklayer during that time. He moved back to the Grande Ronde Valley and farmed for 37 years in the Summerville area. He also worked as a logging faller, insurance agent and as a carpenter.
Ralph was a charter member of the Summerville Baptist Church. He enjoyed people, hunting, fishing, camping and gardening. He liked to play cards and attending pinochle parties. He liked to tease family and friends and enjoyed walks with his dog. He married his wife, Norma, in December 1997.
Survivors include his wife, Norma Long of Baker City; his sons, Wayne Long and his wife, Patricia, of La Grande, Ronald Long of Summerville, Gerald Long and his wife, Shirley, of Rock Springs, Wyo.; brother, Dell Long of La Grande; stepsons, Maurice Barclay of La Grande, Gerald Crawford and his wife, Lorraine, of Joseph and Donald Crawford and his wife, Beverly, of Pendleton; and eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harlen and Lela Mae Long; his sisters, Helen Long and Mildred Rollins; a brother Lawrence Long, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in World War II; one grandchild; one great-grandchild; and wives, Edna and Silvia.
Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Ray' Saunders
Raymond M. "Ray" Saunders Jr., 78, of Hermiston, a former longtime Baker City resident, died Dec. 2, 2005, at his home.
His graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Pastor Gordon Bond will officiate.
Ray was born on July 30, 1927, at Salem. He moved with his family to Eagle Valley at the age of 5. He was a 1945 graduate of Eagle Valley High School at Richland.
Ray married Alice Martin on March 10, 1946, at Richland. He joined the U.S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific on the USS Hollandia during World War II. He received the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal for his service.
After his honorable discharge, he and Alice moved to Baker City where they lived until moving to Hermiston in 2003. Ray retired as the parts manager at McNeil Auto Parts in Baker City in 1986.
He was a member of the American Legion and a past member of the Baker Elks Lodge. Ray enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, spending time with all of his girls, his family and his friends. He cherished gardening with Alice, his wife of nearly 60 years, as well as going on different special trips with her and other family members.
Survivors include his wife, Alice Saunders of Hermiston; two daughters, Terrilyn Kay Piquet, and her husband, Allen, of Hermiston, and Judith Ann Chapman and her husband, Charles, of Haskell, Texas; two sisters, Geneva Loughary of Baker City and Shirley Endicott of Riggins, Idaho; sister-in-law, Lorraine Braunder of Kettle Falls, Wash.; six granddaughters Raquel Piquet, Monique Piquet, Bridget Hinrichs, Danielle Piquet, Tonya Weatherman and Amy Burson; three great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; two nephews and six nieces; and his special companion, Taffy.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Carol Christopher; and his father and mother-in-law, Herman and Annavea Martin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eagle Valley Cemetery or the Eagle Valley EMTs. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.
‘Bob' Makinson
Robert Duane "Bob" Makinson, 68, of Halfway, died Nov. 30, 2005, at Syringa Chalet Nursing Facility in Blackfoot, Idaho, where he had lived for the past 13 years.
There will be a memorial/burial service in the spring.
Bob, the son of Ellis and Bessie Makinson, was born on Jan. 16, 1937. He grew up on the family farm and learned at an early age the ethic of hard work, which he carried throughout his life.
Bob liked "living on the edge." He got his first motorcycle at the age of 16, but shortly after was involved in a wreck. He survived the accident but had epilepsy as a result.
This didn't discourage him. He joined the U.S. Navy on Jan. 22, 1957, serving at the U.S. Naval Training Center in San Diego, Calif.
He didn't know how to swim, but struggled in the water and made it across the pool in fear that they would kick him out of the Navy. He later said that because of his stubbornness, he missed out on being taught to swim. On March 31, 1959, he was medically discharged.
Bob then began working as a ranch hand and later followed construction — working on the Snake River dams, and also in Washington, Idaho and Nevada — always returning home to Pine Valley.
He loved fishing, hunting, and helping his Mom with huckleberry picking and getting wood for the winter. Bob was a country boy — Levis, snap-button Western shirt, cowboy boots and hat — driving his Ford truck. He loved country music and he loved kids. He would let his nieces and nephews wrestle and climb all over him.
Uncle Bob was their champion. His "parental" advice was, the boys needed to be tough and the girls needed to have long hair!
Survivors include his three sisters, Wanda Ulbright, and her husband, Richard, of Boise, Eileen Carson and her husband, Danny, of Bryan, Texas, and Carol Rager and her husband, Mike, of Tigard; many nieces and nephews including, Karen Ulbright and her family of Waldorf, Md., Linda Kaufmann and her family of Spokane, Wash., Sherri Edwards and her family of Boise, Teresa Zimmer and her family of Boise, Barbara Anderson and her family of Bryan, Texas, Debra Daniels and her family, also of Bryan, Texas, Kathy Zimmerman and her family of Akron, Colo., Sue Mertz and her family of Houston, Brian Rager and his family of Beaverton, Chad Rager and his family of Maupin, Joy Lynn Holland and her family of Beaverton and Anjali Ram and her husband of Hillsboro.
He was preceded in death by both parents; and a nephew, Rick Ulbright.
Helen Pierce
Helen Pierce, 46, of Baker City, died Nov. 30, 2005, at Boise.
A family memorial service will be scheduled later.
Helen loved life and lived it to the fullest. She liked to travel and was a member of the Western Cherokee Nation. She loved her Cherokee heritage and tried to live it. She loved to sit by a stream for hours while feeling the soothing sound flowing through her bloodstream.
She loved her family and friends dearly and would give anyone the shirt off her back. Helen was an accomplished musician and artist. She will always be remembered for who she was.
Survivors include her husband, Tom Pierce of Baker City; her mother, Forrest Hyneck; her stepfather, Dennis Hyneck; her daughters, Coquille Blanchard and Seneca Lenz; and an aunt, Frances Scaramuzzi.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family to help with funeral expenses through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Allison Johnson
Allison Duncombe Johnson, 77, of Baker City, died Dec. 2, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.
Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Bishop David Richards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will conduct. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Visitations will be from noon to 7 o'clock tonight at the funeral home.
Allison was born on Sept. 26, 1928, at Salt Lake City to Henry Duncombe and Cornelia Elsie Barnes. She worked her way through high school as a clerk for Woolworth's, for Grant's and for Montgomery Ward, then, in her senior year, as an elevator operator in the Belvedere Hotel. She graduated from high school at Salt Lake City at the age of 16, then got a work permit so she could work at the telephone company.
Allison married Clifford Leonard Johnson on Oct. 11, 1947, at Salt Lake City. They lived at Salt Lake City until 1949 when they relocated to Baker City, where Cliff worked for a lumber mill and Allison worked for Pacific Northwest Bell for many years.
When the telephone company closed its Baker City branch, Allison went to work for several doctors and then later worked for St. Elizabeth's Hospital as a transcriptionist.
She enjoyed embroidery, fishing, camping and singing in the church choir. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Survivors include her four children, Steven Charles Johnson of Harrisburg, Diana Kay Bond of Baker City, Elizabeth Ann Fickenwirth of Lewiston, Idaho, and Larry Dale Johnson of Baker City; two stepdaughters, Arlene LaNore Hayes of Olympia, Wash., and Janice LaRae Petrovich of Rancho Mirage, Calif.; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two half-brothers, Harry Leslie Lane and Alfred Barnes Lane; and one half-sister, Dorothy Elsie Lane Johnson.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Carol Shives
Carol Ann Shives, 66, of Baker City, died Dec. 6, 2005, at her home.
Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Garth Johnson of the Agape Christian Center will officiate. Visitations will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Shives was born at Baker City to Howard Harrison and Lillian Hazel Stowell Hull. She was educated in Baker schools.
She lived at Portland for 18 years, where she worked for Chase Textiles until her retirement. She also had lived at Salem and was a member of The Salvation Army Salem Citadel Corps.
She returned to Baker City, where she had lived since. She married Charles Shives in September 1982.
She enjoyed shopping and spending time with the family. She dearly loved her "granddog, " Shasta.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Grace and Jeff Hadley of Baker City; brothers, Dick Hull of Baker City and Don Hull of Salem; a sister, Barbara Martinez of Baker City; a sister and brother-in-law, Robin and Roger Morin of La Grande; sisters-in-law, Thelma Hull and Vicki Hull, both of Baker City; and brothers-in-law, Bud Handy of Baker City and Kenneth Burnside of Warrenton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, several brothers and sisters and her husband, Charles Shives.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Hadley through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Mabel Humble
Mabel M. Humble, 100, of Prairie City, died Dec. 5, 2005, at Blue Mountain Nursing Home.
Her memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at the John Day United Methodist Church, 126 N.W. Canton St. Private vault interment was Friday, Dec. 9, at Mount Hope Cemetery.
She was born in Baker City on Feb. 9, 1905. She was the youngest of five children born to Martin and Nettie Humble.
After graduating from Baker High School in 1923, Mabel began a career as an elementary school teacher. She taught at several one- and two-room schools in Baker County, including Fairview, east of Baker City; Rock Creek, northwest of Baker City; and Little Lookout and Plano, both near Durkee.
She attended Seton Hall College in New Jersey and then returned to Oregon and attended Ashland Normal School where she graduated with a teaching degree in 1932. In the fall of 1932 she returned to Baker County and taught at McEwen, near Sumpter, and then spent two more years at Plano.
These were all one- and two-room schoolhouses where Mabel taught eight grades and did the janitorial work as well.
In 1935 she moved to Klamath County and taught at Merrill, Bonanza and Altamont schools until she retired in 1968. After her retirement she lived in John Day with her sister, Helen Southworth.
The Methodist Church was an important part of Mabel's life and she was an active volunteer at the John Day United Methodist Thrift Shop. She helped at the thrift shop into her late 80s.
She was a member of the Blue Mountain Hospital Auxiliary and crocheted many of the baby blankets that were given to the newborns at the hospital.
Mabel loved to travel and during her summer breaks from teaching was able to see a lot of the world. Foreign destinations included Europe, Japan, Canada, Norway, Mexico and the South Pacific. Within the United States she traveled to New England, Utah, and Florida.
Mabel will be remembered as a friendly, generous, hard-working and quiet-spoken person with a quick wit and good sense of humor. She was a source of quiet inspiration to her friends and relatives. Survivors include her nieces, Helen Bieghler of Medford; Brenda Pank of Connecticut; Barbara Hill of Massachusetts; a nephew, Ronald Southworth of Atlanta; and numerous great-nephews and great-nieces.
Memorial contributions may be made to the John Day United Methodist Church or to the Blue Mountain Healthcare Foundation through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.
