System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Laura Gebert
Laura Gebert, 82, of Haines died June 22, 2002, at her home.
Her graveside funeral will be at 11 a.m. Sunday at Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland.
Laura Bell Bennett Gebert was born on Jan. 7, 1920, at Green Creek, Polk County, N.C. She was a daughter of Willard Bennett and Kitty Mae Higgins.
At the age of 14, she left North Carolina with her husband, Charles Willis, and they traveled by Model T to Oregon, camping along the way. She lived at La Grande and Pondosa for a short period and then walked with a small baby, husband and her two sisters into the Portland area where she spent 66 years raising family and working at various jobs. She loved family, quilting, and gardening.
Survivors include her children, Paul Bennett of Vancouver, Wash., James Bennett of Sedona, Ariz., Charles Bennett of Canby, JoAnn Illingsworth of Haines, and Fred Dennis of Gresham; sisters, Betsy Mercer of Dallas, Ore., and Geraldine Riddle of Gray Court, S.C.; stepsister, Irene Pedersen of Portland; and 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Diabetes Research through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Jean van Biene
Jean Ann van Biene, 65, a former Baker City resident, died of pancreatic cancer on June 23, 2002, at Scottsdale, Ariz.
Her memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Messinger Mortuary Chapel in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Jean was born in Chicopee Falls, Mass., on March 4, 1937. She graduated from Philip Schuyler High School at Albany, N.Y., and received a bachelor of arts degree in theater and sociology from Eastern Oregon University at La Grande.
Jean and her husband, Frederic, and son, Steven, moved to Scottsdale, Ariz., from San Gabriel, Calif., in 1979.
Jean was actively involved professionally, owning and operating Diet Center franchises in the greater Phoenix, Ariz., area throughout most of the 1980s. She was a past president of the Business and Professional Women's Organization (BPW).
Later, she was active as a tour guide and as an actress in historical reenactment at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center on Flagstaff Hill. Jean was always active in community theater in Scottsdale and in Baker City. She was a member of the East Valley Teller of Tales as well as being a docent and guild member at the Heard Museum at Phoenix, Ariz.
Jean was a member of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Scottsdale. All who knew Jean will miss her love and presence in their lives.
Survivors include her husband, Frederic; a son, Steven Grumkoski of Scottsdale; stepdaughter, Laura Miller of Baker City; sisters, Joyce Nead and Denise Schultz of Schenectady, N.Y.; and three grandchildren, Aaron, Cal and Emily Miller of Baker City.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Hospice of the Valley, 5111 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 280, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85250-7091.
Margaret Taylor
Margaret Catherine Taylor, 85, of Tacoma, Wash., died June 12, 2002, at Tacoma.
There will be no funeral.
Mrs. Taylor was born at Santa Cruz, Calif. She lived there for 59 years before moving to Oregon in 1977. She moved to Tacoma in 1998.
Mrs. Taylor worked at the John Ingalls Cannery in Santa Cruz for 10 years.
She enjoyed crocheting and reading.
Survivors include her daughter, Margaret Blackledge of Lakewood, Wash., Judy Abma of Scotts Valley and Peggy Caso of Rainier; a son, George E. Taylor of Baker City; 19 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Edward Taylor; and a daughter, Linda Joyce Taylor.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Dryer Mortuary at Tacoma.
Stephen Miscoe
Stephen John Miscoe, 59, of Seaside, a former Halfway resident, died June 11, 2002, at his home.
A Celebration of Life service will be scheduled later at Halfway.
Steve was born on Nov. 23, 1942, at Akron, Ohio, to Michael James Miscoe Sr. and June Leone McMullen Miscoe. He grew up and attended school at Seaside and later served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam.
He worked as a long-haul truck driver and a heavy equipment operator. He also worked as an underwater welder on the Astoria Bridge and was a crew member on the Salvage Chief.
Steve had lived in Halfway since the early 1980s and returned to Seaside in 2000 to care for his mother. He enjoyed horses, hunting and the outdoors. He was a volunteer member of the Halfway and Seaside fire departments.
Survivors include his mother, June Miscoe of Seaside; his brother, Michael Miscoe of Yachats; his sister, Mary Lee Mathers of Albuquerque, N.M.; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
‘Jim' Graham
James E. "Jim" Graham, 82, a resident of Rock Creek near Haines, died June 20, 2002, at his home.
His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home and again on Monday from 9 a.m. to noon.
Mr. Graham was born at Little Rock, Ark., on Aug. 28, 1919. He married Faustina Stevens at Paragould, Ark., on Nov. 11, 1939.
Mr. Graham was drafted and entered the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his discharge, the couple moved to California where he worked as a driver for the Greyhound Bus Lines until his retirement.
After retirement, he and his wife moved to Rock Creek about five miles west of Haines in 1973. He enjoyed working on his small farm with his cows and being around the neighbors. He also enjoyed making cabinets, doing mechanical work, hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his children, Tommy Lee Graham of Hartfield, Va.; Lee Graham of Willits, Calif., and John Graham and Mona Arends, both of Baker City; and numerous grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two brothers, a sister, a son and a daughter.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society through the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.
‘Gil' Horn
Lewis Gilbert "Gil" Horn, 79, a longtime Baker City resident, died June 17, 2002, at his home.
His graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Mount Hope Cemetery. Christopher A. Beam will officiate. There will be a reception at 525 Valley Ave. after the service.
Visitations will be until 8 o'clock tonight at Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.
"Gil" was born on July 28, 1922, at Lewiston, Mont., the sixth of eight children born to Albert Vernon and Laura Peters Horn. He grew up in Montana where his love for the land was kindled. Hunting, fishing and horses were a part of his life from an early age.
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942, rising to the rank of chief machinist. During World War II his assignment took him to the North Atlantic aboard a minesweeper. While on patrol in 1943, the ship was lost at sea during a hurricane. After 40 hours it was relocated. There were no casualties.
"Gil" was discharged in 1945 after he had married Myrtle E. Smith at Portland. Soon afterward, he joined the U.S. Forest Service as a mechanic at Walla Walla, Wash. There were many transfers and added responsibilities as two daughters increased the family's size.
In the summer of 1961, the final transfer brought "Gil" and his family to Baker City. He retired in 1977, after 32 years of service. He left the position of fleet manager to spend more time with family, friends and outdoor activities.
Since 1977, "Gil" had worked in custom haying, for Milo Moffitt of Moffitt Bros. out of Enterprise, raised Appaloosa and quarter horses and enjoyed his real reason for retiring.
An avid outdoorsman, "Gil" has returned from hunting and fishing trips with success of trophy-size salmon, steelhead, deer, elk, moose and antelope. All have given him joy and contentment in a job well done, but he would make it all seem insignificant if his hunting or fishing partner was successful or not.
He was a friend to all he knew and a help to those in need.
He succumbed to cancer while still at home with family at his bedside.
"Peace be with our beloved. We rejoice knowing he is at rest, free of pain, " his family said.
Survivors include his wife of nearly 57 years, Myrtle; daughters, Gayle DelPero of San Mateo, Calif., and Carol Vanderbeit of Clackamas; two sisters, Lula Horn of Las Vegas, Nev., and Hazel Gore of Kalispell, Mont.; five grandsons, two granddaughters, three great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and all of his wonderful friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pathway Hospice Inc. or Best Friends of Baker County through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Mary King
Mary Mae Staley King, 88, of Blackfoot, Idaho, a former Baker City resident, died June 18, 2002, at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center at Idaho Falls.
Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Blackfoot Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center, 1650 Highland Drive. Gerald Humphreys will conduct the service. Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday at the church.
Interment will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Mount Hope Cemetery.
She was born April 16, 1914, in Nez Perce, Idaho, the daughter of George Allen and Molly Gertrude Humphries Marshall. She was educated in Baker City and graduated from high school in Eugene. She had lived in northern Idaho, Missouri, Pocatello, Idaho, Reseda, Calif., Boise, Homedale and Fruitland, Idaho. She moved to Blackfoot in 1979.
Mary married Orland A. Staley in August of 1932 at Weiser, Idaho. She later married Loren Hayden and he died in 1981. On Oct. 6, 1983, she married Sam King at Blackfoot.
She was a member of the LDS Church and helped with the name extraction program. She spent a lot of time at the Bingham Senior Citizens Center with her many friends.
Mary worked as a salesperson in women's clothing in California, Oregon and Pocatello, Idaho.
She enjoyed golfing, fishing, working and putting together fashion shows.
Survivors include her husband, Sam King of Blackfoot; sons and daughters-in-law, Allen and Dawn Staley of Groveland, Idaho, Orland Scott and Tammy Staley of Boise, and Jim Marshall and Karen Staley of Fargo, N.D.; a daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Ronald P. Jensen of Provo, Utah; stepchildren, Billy and Brenda King, Russell and Calisse King, Sam and Michelle King, Kevin King, Steven King, David and Angela King, Will and Kathy McBride of Moreland, Idaho and Peggy Shipman; 14 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, George H.; and sisters, Esther Ranger, Cora Cook and Edna Marshall.
Betty Brooks
Betty Brooks, 75, a former Baker City resident, died at her home in Victorville, Calif., on April 16, 2002.
Betty was born to Mildred and Allen Bond in Baker City in 1927. She finished school at Baker City and attended Eastern Oregon College (now Eastern Oregon University) at La Grande.
Betty married Lloyd "Bud" Brooks in Baker City. They would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this August. Bud was employed by Weyerhaeuser Lumber Co. for many years and they lived at Medford until he retired and then moved to Victorville.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Bonnie. Survivors include her husband and children, Cheryl and Allen.
Carl Greenwood
Carl M. Greenwood, 83, of Unity, died June 15, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Care Center.
His graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Unity Cemetery. Pastor Mathew Schnetz of the Unity Community Church and Lynn Shumway will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the Unity Community Church.
Carl was born on Feb. 10, 1919, at Oglesby, Okla., to Myrtle and Clarence Greenwood. He was educated at Oglesby and Ramona, Okla.
He married Mildred Packard on June 8, 1940, at Bartlesville, Okla. They came to Unity in 1957 and worked for Harold Grabner for two years. From 1959 until he retired because of health reasons, he worked for the Rouse Brothers Ranch at Unity.
He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association. He raised quarter horses and loved to ride and work with horses.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, Clarence Laverne; and a sister, Allene Evans.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred of Unity; a sister, Dortha Shorter of Bartlesville, Okla.; two sons and their wives, Jay and Eddie June Greenwood and Joe and LeaAnne Greenwood, both of Unity; two daughters and their husbands, Kay and Lee Silva of Winston and Carlene and Dave Herburger of Mount Vernon; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Pearl Harkness
Pearl E. Harkness, 92, a longtime Baker City resident, died June 14, 2002, at the Evergreen Vista Health Center in La Grande.
Her graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor George Rau of Elkhorn Ministries will officiate. Visitations were Monday at Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.
Pearl was born on Jan. 22, 1910, at Blackrock, Ark., to John and Oma Guntharp Smith. She attended school at Blackrock. In 1925, she married Eugene H. Harkness at Powhatton, Ark. While living in Arkansas, Pearl gave birth to five children.
The couple moved their family to Northeastern Oregon in 1939, and in 1945 they moved to Molalla. While living at Molalla, Pearl worked at a cannery for a while, then at a flax plant at Woodburn. The family moved to Baker City in 1965, where she worked as a certified nurses aide until her retirement.
Pearl enjoyed fishing, the outdoors, crocheting and reading various types of books, including her Bible. She was a member of the Baker City Assembly of God Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Billie Dix, and her husband, Bud, of Cottage Grove and Ruth Watson and her husband, Robert, of La Grande; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Harkness; two daughters, Freda Harkness and Emma Roy; and a son, Thurlow Harkness.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker City Senior Center through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Betty' Cordell
Elizabeth Bonnie "Betty" Cordell, 83, a former Baker City resident, died June 6, 2002, at the Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital at Elko, Nev., after a long illness.
Her memorial graveside service was Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church officiated.
She was born on Dec. 21, 1918, at Isley, Wyo. She was the third child of Charles and Bonnie Harnish. She was raised at Horse Creek, Wyo., and spent most of her adult life in Baker City. She had lived at Elko, Nev., just a short time before her death.
She was a housewife who enjoyed crocheting, fishing, singing, participating in the Kitchen Band, bowling, keeping bowling scores and playing the piano for family and friends.
She married Robert C. Johnston in 1938 and they had four children together. After her husband's death, she married Sammy Cordell in 1974.
She also was preceded in death by her second husband; her parents; three brothers, Chuck, Ivan and Jake; a sister, Ruby Harnish; a son, Robert C. Johnston; and a daughter, Ruby Roy.
Survivors include her four brothers, Ben and Rick Harnish of Wheatland, Wyo., Jim Harnish of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Ray Harnish of Littleton, Colo.; her son, Guy Johnston of Elko, Nev.; her daughter, Betty Lou English of Fairview; three stepchildren, Brian Cordell, Mary Lynn Rucker and Debbie Deenin; 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and many loving friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association through Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
