Leonard Baker
Carol Andrea McKim
Patricia Lee Thompson
Leonard Baker
(Aug. 25, 1927 - Oct. 25, 2008)
Leonard Charles Baker, 81, passed away Oct. 25, 2008, at his home in McMinnville Ore. A graveside memorial service was at 10 a.m., Friday, April 10, 2009, at Mount Hope Cemetery. Bishop Ernie Collard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officiated. Friends were invited to join the family for a luncheon at the LDS meeting house following the service.
He was born in Arlington, Calif., to Edward Andrew Baker and Lorraine Lucinda Dennis Baker on Aug. 25, 1927. He was the eighth of nine children.
In 1950 he married his first wife Nancy Watts. They had two children, Diane Painter of Oregevale, Calif., and a son who died at child birth. He worked on a ranch in Lancaster, California until he moved to Washington in the mid 60’s with his sister Doris and family. He served as a Police Officer in Washington for a couple of years. During this time he met his lovely wife Mary. After they were married they relocated to Baker City, Ore. His real passion was for driving trucks, which he did for much of his adult life. He retired in 1996 to take care of his ailing wife until her death on Sept. 6, 1999. After Mary’s death he started driving a water truck for a mining company, which he continued to do until 2006.
In his younger years he enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson. He always loved being around family and friends. His favorite past time was teasing and joking with people. He enjoyed camping, fishing, traveling, old western movies and classic country music. He was a great story teller and liked tinkering around in his work shop.
He leaves behind a daughter, Diane and three step children Sherry, Jim and Bud. Plus many grandchildren and great grandchildren. One brother, Kenneth and many nieces and nephews.
Leonard was a joy to be around and was loved very much by all who knew him. We look forward to the wonderful time when we are all reunited, until then he will be deeply missed.
Memorial contributions may be made to the LDS Family History Center through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814.
Carol Andrea McKim
(April 5, 1939—April 8, 2009)
Carol Andrea McKim, 70, was born April 5, 1939, in Halfway, Oregon, to George Theodore (Ted) Steele and Alma Effie (Hulse) Steele. She passed away on April 8, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center in Baker City, Ore.
Carol spent her childhood in the company of five brothers and six sisters. She attended Halfway High School until her junior year, when she married Oklahoma-native Martin McKim on July 25, 1956. Her life was spent as a dedicated and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and housewife. She enjoyed reading, writing letters, crossword puzzles, sewing, and chatting with friends and family on the telephone. Nearly every Christmas, those closest to her could expect a homemade calendar.
Most of Carol’s life was spent in Halfway, Ore., except for a brief stay in La Grande, Ore. She resided in Baker City, Ore., from 1965 to 1974, when Martin worked on construction of the Mason Dam, and interstate freeway I-84.
Carol McKim’s children included Andrea, who was born in 1957, and married Fred Hesus in 1978. Richard was born in 1958, and married Kathy Sinnott in 1990. Ivan was born in 1959, and married Susan Moore in 1985. Harriet was born in 1963, and married Jeff Cable in 1982. Carol had twelve grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Her children’s friends, and grandchildren’s friends, were always welcome in her home. They were never denied a warm meal, a kind word, or a cold soda.
Carol liked listening to country music. In recent years, she became a huge fan of music with a Gaelic flavor, such as Daniel O’Donnell, Celtic Woman, and Celtic Thunder.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Alma Steele, brothers Gene Steele and George Steele, sisters Marvel Savage and Shirley Marker, and daughter Andrea Hesus.
A family gathering, in honor of Carol, will be held in July, date and time to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations go to help with final costs through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home P.O. Box 543 Halfway, Ore.
Patricia Lee Thompson
(Sept. 8, 1937—April 3, 2009)
Patricia Lee Thompson, after a long illness, passed away April 3, 2009, at Mt. Grant Hospital in Hawthorne, Nevada.
Pat was born near Halfway, Ore. to Gene and Florence Ryall on September 8, 1937. She received most of her primary and secondary schooling in or near Halfway, but she graduated from high school at Brownsville, Ore. in 1955.
After a period of time as a switchboard operator at the Benson Hotel in Portland, Ore., she joined the United States Navy where she trained as a Radioman. As a member of an All Navy Talent Show, Pat toured numerous cities throughout the United States.
Possibly the highlight of the group's tour was an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (Kirk Douglas was standing in for Sullivan). Pat had the privilege of singing a solo of "Wayward Wind," as well as participating in the group singing on national television.
Pat received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy in December 1959. She worked for Pepsi Cola in Washington D.C. before returning to Oregon in 1962.
On September 8, 1962, Pat married Norman Thompson at the Presbyterian Church in Halfway, Oregon. Their first son, Blaine, was born in Corvallis, Ore. in 1964, and their second son Clayton was born in Bakersfield, Calif.in 1965.
Pat treasured her many friends, especially those in Gabbs, Nevada and the surrounding area. She was proud of her service; in the U.S. Navy, as an EMT in Dorris, California, and as a member of the Baker County Fair Board. Moreover, she was proud of her family, and we are proud of her.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband Norman of Gabbs, Nev., sons Blaine of Las Vegas, Nev. and Clayton of Portland, Ore.
Those who would like to make a donation in memory of Pat may do so to the Baker County Fair Board through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home P.O. Box 543 Halfway, Ore. 97834.
|
