George James Coker
Del Terry
Gwen Weisner
George James Coker
(Died Sept. 2, 2008)
George James Coker, 100, passed away Sept. 2, 2008, at his home in Baker City, Ore.
Visitations was held on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 - Noon at the Schanzenbach Funeral Home in Rosalia, Wash., followed by a graveside service at 1 p.m. in the IOOF Evergreen Cemetery, Rosalia, Wash.
George James Coker was born the fourth of four children on the family ranch just outside of Rosalia, Wash., to Richard and Mary (Donahoe) Coker. He attended school at the country schoolhouse near Rosalia in Lone Pine. He had to ride the eight miles each day on horseback and sometimes with a buggy. After the eighth grade, George quit school to work on the family ranch. He left home at the age of 18 and took work briefly in Lewiston, Idaho. He later followed his brother further North in Idaho to work in the lead, silver and gold mines where he worked on and off from 1927 to around 1940.
George met Laura Ester Higgins in Kellogg, Idaho, and the couple married in 1933 at Spokane, Wash. Together they raised five daughters. In the 1940’s, George moved his family to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, where they purchased a small ranch and George worked as a logger, learning every aspect of the trade. In 1951 George and his family moved to Oregon in the Eugene area where George worked construction on the High Point Dam for several years. Following the completion of the dam, he went back to work in the woods, running his own logging operation. His last few years of employment were spent working for the school district in Eugene until his retirement in 1974. After retirement, George remodeled some homes for friends and family. He later bought some property and moved to Medical Lake, Wash., where he spent his time raising a big garden, fishing the lake, splitting wood, and hunting. At 90, he moved to Baker City to be near family.
Survivors include four daughters: Donna Norburn of Seattle, Wash., Cledith VandenBos and her husband Glen of Baker City, Ore., Mary Evenson of Medford, Ore., and Debra Coker of Portland, Ore.; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Laura in 1986, daughter Dixie Lee Harris in 2003, an infant daughter, Delva D. Coker, one brother Bill, two sisters, Beatrice and Marie and two half sisters, Irene and Velma.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hayford Community Church in care of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, Oregon, 97814.
Del Terry
(July 6, 1923 -Sept. 7, 2008)
Del Terry, 85, passed away Sept. 7, 2008 at her home in Boise, Ida.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, 2008, at Mt. Hope Cemetery followed by a reception for friends and family at Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel.
Del was born July 6, 1923, in Baker, Ore., to Samuel E. and Virginia Y. (Lowry) Worley. She graduated from Baker High School in 1942 and went to college at BYU for a while. She lived most of her life in the Baker area, having moved to Boise 11 years ago.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph Terry.
Del is survived by her three children: Robert Connell of Marietta, Georgia, Diana Sherrer of Boise, Idaho and Terry Dorman of Boise, Idaho; 14-grandchildren; 27-great-grandchildren; and 1-great-great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions can be made to Four Rivers Hospice or the American Diabetes Association in care of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Gwen Weisner
V. Gwen Weisner died on Aug. 19, 2008, at her home in Palo Alto, Calif., following a brief battle with cancer. Gwen was born in Boise, Idaho, but lived her early life in the small town of Baker City, Ore. Her birth was notable for the attending physician’s cry, “Somebody better catch the father before he hits the floor.”
She loved learning. After graduating from high school in Baker City, she went on to language studies at the University of Oregon, where she received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and at the Universidad de Guadalajara (Mexico). For two years she studied at the Université de Toulouse (France) as a Fulbright Scholar. Gwen then attended the University of California Berkeley as a PhD candidate in Romance Languages and Literatures. She spoke French, Spanish and Italian.
After her marriage, she resided briefly in Los Angeles, studying at the University of Southern California. She later returned with her husband to UC Berkeley. Although her formal learning ended at this point, she was a life-long learner and took courses at UC Santa Cruz, Stanford Continuing Studies, and various community colleges and adult schools.
She was well known in the Palo Alto Unified School District, where she held several positions. She worked at Terman Junior High School, Gunn High School, Pre-School Family and the District Office, retiring in 1989.
Gwen was an active community volunteer, serving as vice president of the Christmas Bureau, an art docent and Foundation member at the Palo Alto Art Center and coordinator and volunteer for the English In Action program at Bechtel International Center at Stanford. The latter position led to many friendships and she maintained an active correspondence with ex-Stanford students in many countries.
She loved the arts of music, dance, painting, and literature and was an avid quiltmaker and embroiderer. She was a dear friend, wife, and parent. Gwen’s marvelous sense of humor was a joy to all who were fortunate enough to know her.
A memorial gathering will be held at the Palo Alto Art Center on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Palo Alto Art Center, or to the CCIS Spouse Fund, Bechtel International Center, Stanford
Gwen is survived by her husband, John; her daughters Kirsten Aileen Flynn and Alison Gwen Weisner; two sisters, Susan Menhorn and Priscilla Anderson; two brothers, Edward Paugh and Robert Paugh; and three wonderful grandchildren: Kyle, Fiona and Declan.
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