Judith Joy Brady
John Anthony Burritt
James Pat Fitzgerald
William Stephenson
Judith Joy Brady
(Oct. 10, 1947 - Dec. 6, 2008)
Judith Joy Brady, 61, of Baker City, died Dec. 6, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
A private service will be held at a later date.
Judith was born Oct. 10, 1947, to Walter and Ruth (Haley) Reich in Roseburg, Ore. Judith was first married to Doug Allen, and was later married to James R. Brady Sr. on March 18, 1978, in Salem. After a divorce, James and Judith had reconnected, and James was with her for the two weeks prior to her passing.
Judith loved to travel and especially enjoyed visiting the coast. She liked spending her time listening to music and with her grandchildren. She was a good cook and made the best food for her family and friends to enjoy. Judith was a gardener and loved to grow flowers, she was especially proud of her roses. Judith had a certificate in floral design and a held degree in floristry. She had done some landscaping in Florence.
She was the owner and operator of the Silver Lake Shell. She also owned and drove long haul trucks.
Judith is survived by ex-husband and close friend James Brady, Sr.; children: Dennis Allen of Eugene, Ore, Shari Allen of Florence, Ore. and Jamie Larson of Baker City; grandchildren: Michael Brady, Mikayla Burton and Alexander Larson all of Baker City; and brother Mike Reich of Glide, Ore.
She was preceded in death by her parents Ruth and Walter Reich, sisters Carmen Reich and Marsha Price, and an infant daughter.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s in care of Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, Ore. 97814.
John Anthony Burritt
(Aug. 31, 1920 - Dec. 4, 2008)
John Anthony Burritt, 88, of Baker City died Dec. 4, 2008, at his home.
A memorial service was held 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Gray’s West & Co Pioneer Chapel, with a reception at the Eagles lodge immediately following the service. Jack Pittman of the Baker City Christian Church officiated.
John was born Aug. 31, 1920, to William and Christina (Krunbach) Burritt in Shelby, Neb. He attended Oscola High School in Oscola, Neb., and graduated in 1940.
John served in the Merchant Marines in 1942 as a Mess Boy on the ship Indian Victory. From 1944-1945 he served as an Automotive Equipment Operator in the U.S. Army Air Force. He moved to Wallowa in 1946, and worked at several ranches throughout the county. In 1950 he went to work for Baird’s Tavern, where he was employed for 10 years. He was then hired to manage the Elk’s Lodge in Enterprise until he moved to Baker City in 1972 to manage the Baker Elks Lodge. In 1973 he went to work for Burnt River Plywood Mill as a clean-up man. In 1974, he began work as a Fireman in the boiler room at Ellingson Lumber Co. He retired in 1988.
John was married to Dorthy Hook on May 18, 1964, in Medford, Ore.
John’s hobbies included hunting, fishing and camping. He enjoyed spending time with his family, attending his daughter’s games and most recently his grandchildren’s games. John was a member of Fraternal Order of the Eagles and The American Legion.
John’s true accomplishment was his family. He adored them, and their needs were always first. John had many friends and touched the lives of everyone he came in contact with. He didn’t know a stranger, as he talked to anyone he came in contact with. John was always the first person to volunteer whether it was family, friends or organizations. He was loved by many as he loved them.
John Anthony Burritt is survived by his wife Dorthy Burritt; daughters Kay Burritt, Jonet Shepherd and husband John; grandchildren Aubree Shepherd, James Shepherd and Stephanie Shepherd; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents William and Christina Burritt, three brothers and two sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans Van Fund, in care of Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave, Baker City, OR 97814.
James Pat Fitzgerald
(Died Nov. 29, 2008)
James Patrick Fitzgerald died Nov. 29, 2008, after a long life of hard work and joyful play. Dedicated to his country Pat served a full term in the Navy and in the Civil Service. He is survived by his sisters Judy Daw and Sally Vinyard, his brother Austin (Jerry), wife, Rita, seven children, Deborah Edwards and husband Bruce, Nancy Jo Fitzgerald, Peggy Harris and husband Daniel, James Jr. and wife Cindy, Kathleen Dalpiaz and husband Tom, Susan Hoover and husband Jim, Mark and his wife Peggy, and his later companion, Mae Wagner. Patrick’s clan includes seven grandsons and eight granddaughters, four great-grand daughters and four great-grandsons.
Born in Russell, Ken., Pat of Kirby and Constance Fitzgerald, was often found working hard, barefoot in the fields. Joining the Navy he fought in World War II proudly as a Gunner’s Mate on a PT boat while also traveling the world. He was an avid fisherman, a lover of nature, a gardener, a canner and an expert hunter which added to his repertoires an outstanding butcher. Why only a few days before passing he was out elk hunting. His career took him and family to Great Lakes NAS, Ill., Sandpoint NAS Washington and Fallon NAS Nevada. After his military retirement his career shifted to the Civil Service. He often donned on various other job hats to help support his family, for example managing a tugboat for FOSS & TUG in Seattle, or driving a wagon team of which he was the wagon boss. Pat spent his later years in Montana and Oregon with Mae honing his gardening skills (of which he enjoyed sitting on the deck and watching the corn grow), fishing the rivers, hunting with his sons. Pat loved John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. He had a dry sense of humor and would take full advantage of those who were gullible listening to a story or two. He had lots of true stories as well, of which he enjoyed sharing with family and his retired buddies. Family and friends now share fond memories of Patrick living life to its fullest!
A memorial service will be held on his birthday in April 2009 honoring his military career and life at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland, Ore.
Those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Pat may do so to the VFW Post #7847 through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, PO Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
William Stephenson
(Oct. 11, 1919 - Dec. 1, 2008)
William “Bill” Stephenson was born in Holdrege, Neb., Oct. 11, 1919, to William Roy Stephenson and Mabel Blount Stephenson. Bill died Dec. 1, 2008, in Baker City, Ore.
During Bill’s childhood, his father operated a creamery in Holdrege and his mother ran a café across from the train station. Bill and his sister Margery helped their parents with both family businesses. Bill often reminisced about riding with his father in a modified Model T flatbed to pick up milk from local area farmers and deliver dairy products to residents of Holdrege. Among Bill’s fondest memories are the summers he spent on the family farm in Western Kansas working on his grandfather’s grain and cattle operation. During high school Bill excelled in academics and enjoyed acting, photography and tennis.
Bill left Holdrege in 1937 after graduating from high school, taking a job with the Western Pacific Railroad in Northern Nevada. Bill later met and married Martha Madge Brown. The couple ultimately settled in Winnemucca, Nev., where they raised their three children. The couple’s life was interrupted during World War II when Bill joined the U.S. Navy, serving as a radio operator on the USS Louisville, a Heavy Cruiser assigned to Aircraft Carrier support. Bill saw action on several occasions during the pitched naval battles for control of the South Pacific.
After the war, the family settled on a small acreage where they grew a large vegetable garden, raised chickens and stocked the freezer annually with trout and venison taken during their frequent fishing and hunting trips. When computers replaced telegraph and teletype in the 1960s Bill relocated to San Francisco, where he helped operate and maintain the railroad’s new communications systems. After Bill’s move, Bill and Madge divorced and the family dispersed.
Bill met his second wife, Irene Lubowski, in San Francisco. Bill and Irene bought a beautiful home across the Golden Gate Bridge in Mill Valley, where they enjoyed 40 years of blissful marriage. After they retired, Bill and Irene continued to participate in their favorite activities - Irene taught piano and played in the church choir; Bill perfected his game on the tennis courts. Bill and Irene attended several local churches over the years had many friends in Mill Valley. Irene preceded Bill in death in December 2005.
After Irene’s death, Bill moved to Richland, Ore., to be close to his daughter Maryjo. Shortly after his 89th birthday, Bill moved into Meadowbrook Place, an assisted living facility in Baker City. Bill received loving care from Maryjo and from the staff at Meadowbrook and the wonderful nurses from Pathway Hospice until his death on Dec. 1. Maryjo and son Michael shared Bill’s last few days and were with Bill when he died. Bill’s and Irene’s ashes will be interred in the family burial plot in Saint Francis, Kan.
Bill is survived by daughter Maryjo Stephens of Richland, Ore.; sons Michael and Bruce Stephenson of Anchorage, and Fairbanks, Alaska; granddaughters Lori Bacci of Lakeport, Calif., Teri Boggs of Arlington, Wash., and Mariah Doyle Stephenson of Fairbanks, Alaska; grandson Ambler Stephenson of Anchorage, Alaska; great granddaughters Sausha Racine of Lakeport, Calif., and Makala Black of Arlington, Wash.; nieces Mardon Reiner of Colfax, California and Janice Zimbrick of Sacramento, Calif.; and cousin Keith Stephenson of Estes Park, Colo. Bill will be remembered fondly by all.
The family sends special thanks to the administration and wonderful staff at Meadowbrook Place; to the highly competent and loving nurses at Pathway Hospice and to Tami Waldron of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home - all of whom treated Bill with special kindness and genuine care, and helped immeasurably to ease Bill’s and the family’s burden to the end.
Those who would like to make a memorial contribution in memory of Bill may do so to Pathway Hospice or the charity of your choice through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, PO Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
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