Raymond Edward Barzee
Roger ‘Bill’ Fisher
Edith Nell Morin
Wanda Teter Parkhurst
Raymond Edward Barzee
(July 22, 1937—Nov. 2, 2009)
Ray was born to John and Ludean Barzee on July 22, 1937 in Los Angeles, Calif. At age two, his family moved to Placerville, Calif., and at age seven, they moved to Baker City.
Ray attended school in Baker City and graduated from Baker High School in 1956. He took chef’s training in Pendleton and Spokane and attended Fullerton Community College receiving an associate’s degree in business administration.
He served in the Naval Reserves until 1963, receiving an honorable discharge. He worked as Division Manager with Kirkhill Rubber in southern California, then for five years as Regional Manager for Hyatt House Restaurants in the Oakland, Calif. area.
He moved back to Baker County in the spring of 1969 and built a small rock cabin on the old foundation of the dredge powder house on the Cemetery Road in Sumpter. It was in Sumpter where he met his future wife, Judy, and her “brown eyed baby boy,” Chris, when they moved to Sumpter in the spring of 1971. Ray and Judy often marveled that they had both lived in cities with very large populations, but they met their life’s partner in a town of just 75 people.
Ray and Judy were married Nov. 1, 1972 and made their home in Sumpter for most of the next 37 years. Together they owned and operated the Sumpter Nugget Restaurant between 1977 and 1985. Ray managed restaurants until he retired in 1999.
During his years in Sumpter, he served on the Sumpter Planning Commission, the Sumpter Volunteer Fire Department and the Baker County Rural Planning Board.
Over the years, Ray loved to do a little gold panning, mushrooming, huckleberry picking, motorcycle riding and snowmobiling, but most of all, he loved to fish. Anyone who knew Ray can attest to that. He especially loved to go fishing with his son, Chris. Those times with his son were his favorites. Chris brought Ray his greatest joy in life. Phillips Lake was his favorite place to fish, and he called it “his lake.” Ray truly loved the woods and often said the woods were part of his soul. He and Judy shared that love of the woods and mountains, and he was always thankful to have someone who understood and shared his feelings.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, and two brothers.
He is survived by his loving wife, Judy, their son Chris Watkins and daughter-in-law Jennifer, two sisters, three brother and many friends.
At his request, there will be no services. He died at his lake, and in the spring his family will scatter his ashes there in the place he called “Ray’s Cove” where there is a glorious view of his Elkhorn Mountains. He will be greatly missed by all of us who knew and loved him.
Roger ‘Bill’ Fisher
(Aug. 18, 1921—Nov. 7, 2009)
Roger Wilbur “Bill” Fisher passed away on Nov.7, 2009, at his home in Echo, Ore., at the age of 88 years. Bill was born on the family ranch at Muddy Creek, near Haines, Ore., on Aug. 18, 1921, the last of 6 children to George and Esther Heard Fisher. He graduated from Muddy Creek School in 1939 and worked with his brother Orville on the ranch until WWII. He served on the battleship, USS Mississippi with the Marie Corps from 1943 until his honorable discharge in 1946. Bill returned to the ranch after the war to once again work with Orville. He also worked one day a week for 14 years at the Baker Livestock Yard. In 1950, while tending bar in Haines for a friend, he met Connie Frericks. They were married in Portland, Ore. on March 12, 1951. Bill left the ranch in 1966 to work for Staggs & Weber at Keating, Ore. and later for Johns, Smith & Beamer, of Athena, Ore. He moved to Echo in 1968 and a few years later he went to work for PGG. He retired from PGG in August of 1986 although, he continued to work on farms around the area, including Dick Snow and Kent Madison. He finally quit working at the age of 83 due to health problems. Bill was president of the Haines Rodeo Association for several years in the 1950s and was honored with being Grand Marshall of the Haines Fourth of July Parade in 1996. He served as president of the Echo Quarterback’s Club, raising funds for high school sports. He was on the Echo City Council for a number of years. He was also a long time member of the VFW, the Elks Lodge # 338 in Baker, and the Eagles Lodge # 2909 in Hermiston, Ore. Bill enjoyed dancing, hunting, fishing, traveling, playing basketball ( both in high school and later community basketball).
He is survived by his wife of 58 years: Connie Fisher, Echo, Ore., four children: Pat Fisher and his wife Marianne, Antioch, Ill., Roger Fisher and his wife Myrna, Spring Creek, Nev., Teresa Voorhees and her husband Steve, Hermiston, Ore., and Ed Fisher and his wife Kathy, Pendleton, Ore.; and nine grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Orville and H.K., and three sisters: Thelma, Marie, and Georgia.
A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, at 10 a.m. at the Elks Lodge # 338 in Baker, Ore. Burial with military honors will follow at 2 p.m. at the Haines Cemetery, Haines, Ore.
There will also be a gathering in Bill’s memory on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 at the Hermiston Eagles Lodge # 2909 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
Those who wish may make contributions in Bill’s memory to the Shriners Hospital for Children at 3101 SW Sam Jackson Road, Portland, OR 97239-3009 or Vange John Memorial Hospice at 1050 W. Elm St., Ste. 220, Hermiston, OR 97838.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon is in care of arrangements.
Edith Nell Morin
(March 27, 1916—Nov. 3, 2009)
Edith Nell Morin, 93, a lifelong resident of Baker City, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Robert Richmond officiated a public service on Monday, Nov .9, 1 p.m. at Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, followed by vault interment at Mt. Hope Cemetery. A lunch was held at the Missouri Flat Grange after the service.
Edith was born on March 27, 1916, to Nellie Truscott and Leonard Kenton Bond. She graduated from Baker High School in 1933, and she attended business school in Baker City. She worked as a secretary for various locations in Baker, including Basche-Sage Hardware Company and Baker Education Service District.
She married Glen Jefferson Morin which later ended in divorce. During their marriage they had a daughter, Glenabell Marie. Edith’s hobbies included reading and writing letters. She loved to type and was very fluent, but her letters were written by hand. When her brother, Truscott, was serving in the war, she wrote to him everyday, sometimes four times a day. She even wrote to the soldiers who did not receive much mail. She loved to connect to people by writing letters. Edith was considered the ever caring, loving and gentle matriarch of her family. She was a compassionate person and had a loving heart and an open ear for family and friends. Edith truly enjoyed spending time with her family at dinners and picnics and cherished every get together.
She was affiliated with the Wingville Grange and served as secretary for over 50 years. The Wingville Grange later merged with the Elkhorn Grange; after if dispersed, she affiliated herself with the Missouri Flat Grange. She served as secretary for Baker County Pomona Grange for over 50 years. Edith was also a member of the Oregon State Grange and the National Grange. She served on the Youth Committee and Progress Committee of the Oregon State Grange for a number of years. Edith was also a member of Esther Chapter No. 11 Order of the Eastern Star, and served as their warder for several years. She was a member of Nydia Temple No. 4 Daughters of the Nile and the Baker County Nile Club. She was also a member of the First Christian Church. She served as secretary-treasurer of the Friendly Circle Sunday School class for a number of years.
Edith’s accomplishments included that she received all seven degrees of the Grange. A personal accomplishment is that she attended eight National Grange Conventions held in various states including West Virginia, California, Washington, Idaho and Oregon. She was able to see Lawrence Welk at three of his concerts in Portland. She also knew Robert Goulet in South Pacific in Portland. And twice she got to see Gene Autry at the Nampa Stampede. She was also proud that she had a chance to tour Washington, DC, and Arlington Cemetery. While there, she saw President John F. Kennedy’s grave, the Tomb of the Unknown, and the changing of the Guard.
She is survived by her daughter, Glenabell Lewis; brother, Truscott Irby; niece Lenora Way and husband Richard of Waldport, Ore., and their children Lisa and John and their families; her nephew Roderick Irby and his wife Susan of Baker City, and their children Krystal and Heather and her husband Trevor; her niece Zona Hiatt and her husband Mick of Baker City; her niece Carolyn Irby and her husband Stu Davis, of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada; her in-law Elwin (Andy) Anderson of Boise, Idaho; and many cousins and a host of friends.
Edith was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Charles Kenneth Irby; her son-in-law Charles Bink Lewis; her sister-in-law Grace Irby; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests to give donations to the Edith Morin Memorial Fund for maintenance of the Wingville settlement sign that is near the former Wingville Grange. Edith and her brother Kenneth spent numerous hours writing the passage for the sign. The donations may be sent in care of Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, Ore. 97814.
Wanda Teter Parkhurst
(Sept. 2, 1910—Nov. 7, 2009)
Wanda Teter Parkhurst, 90, passed away Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, at a Baker City adult foster care home. She was a long time resident of Halfway and Oxbow, Ore. At her request, Wanda will be cremated and buried along side her husband Oren in Burley, Idaho. Memorial services will be held at a later date in Halfway, Ore. and Twin Falls, Idaho.
Wanda was born Sept. 2, 1919, at Plymouth, Utah, to Wilburn and Emma Estep. She was the fourth of six children and grew up on family farms in Plymouth and Burley, Ida.
Wanda married Oren Teter on Nov. 8, 1938 at Soda Springs, Idaho. They had four children and lived in Burley and Kimberly, Idaho. They then moved to Boise and finally to the Oxbow/Halfway area in 1966. Oren was a truck driver working at Hells Canyon Dam and Wanda cooked at the Hells Canyon Inn. Oren passed away May 9, 1971 at Alpine, Idaho, while working there.
Wanda married Harry Parkhurst on July 12, 1972 at Elko, Nev., and they lived at Oxbow, Ore. until Harry’s death in 1973. Wanda continued to live there until she moved to Halfway in 2002.
Wanda always worked as a waitress or cook wherever she lived. When she moved to Oxbow, she worked at the Hells Canyon Inn as a cook, then the Dew Drop Inn in Halfway (now know as D&D Auto Parts). She also worked at other local restaurants and then two years as a cook for Pine Eagle School district. Wherever Wanda worked, she always had a loyal following of people who enjoyed her cooking.
After she married Harry, Wanda decided to retire and enjoy her flowers gardens at Oxbow.
When Harry passed away, Wanda decided retirement wasn’t for her and worked for MK and operated the Idaho Power kitchen with Don Scott while work was being done on Brownlee Dam. This led to her running the kitchen for Idaho Power for the next 21 years. She was known as “Kitchen Wanda” throughout the company and everyone looked forward to working in the canyon and eating at Wanda’s. She loved this job and all the great people she was able to meet and the life long friendships that developed.
Wanda loved any time she could spend with any of her 12 grandchildren. She proudly kept pictures of them throughout her home and enjoyed showing them to visitors. Wanda also loved music and dancing. She never wanted to miss the chance to dance so she would find different people to dance with. Several times you would see Wanda dancing with several friends, Dorothy Huff, Virgene Payton, Glenna Smith and Helen Gover. This was because this group had worn out all the guys there.
Wanda’s other loves was her home on Pine Creek and her flower beds. She raised a variety of flowers, but her favorite were irises. She had a wide variety of types and colors. She loved to share them with friends and several of her irises are planted at Copperfield Park at Oxbow and you can see them blooming in the spring.
Wanda moved to Baker City in 2006 due to the advancement of Alzheimer’s disease. She spent the last three years in the loving atmosphere at Ash Court Adult Foster Home. Due to the quality of care and love she received, she knew she was home.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, Rinnie, Clara and Lorene, two brothers, Woodrow and Lloyd and both husbands. Survivors include her children, Barbara Nations and husband Harlan, Robert Teter and wife Darlene, Linda Kvamme and husband Rod, Janet Miles and husband Duane, 12 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer‚s Association or the Pine Eagle Clinic in Halfway, this maybe done through the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Baker City, Ore. 97814.
|
