Rev. Luther Ison
Esther Luciel Lewis
Florence Nedrow
Ambrose Pearson
Rev. Luther Ison
(1917 – Oct. 17, 2007)
The Rev. Luther Oliver Ison, an Episcopal priest for 61 years, passed away on Oct. 17, 2007 at the age of 90, in Vista, Calif. Fr. Ison was born and raised in Baker City, Ore., and was the son of Virgil Strother Ison, M.D., and the grandson of Judge Luther Buford Ison, both of Baker.
He attended Reed College in Portland; The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee; and General Seminary in New York City. Luther was a builder of congregations, rectories, schools, church buildings, as well as an 8-story HUD residential building for seniors and the disabled. From 1945 to 1949 he was the pioneer Vicar at Gold Beach and Brookings, Ore.; 1949-1957 Rector of St. Mary’s Parish, Napa, Calif.; 1957-1971 Rector and Builder of Trinity Church, Escondido, Calif.; 1971-1987 Rector and Headmaster St. Mark’s Parish and School, Van Nuys, Calif.; and President and Builder of the 97 unit HUD project “West Valley Towers” in Van Nuys. Fr. Ison retired in 1987 and became president of the Board of the Americas Foundation, an organization that builds schools and clinics in Tijuana’s poorest barrios. In December of 1993 Luther suffered a severe stroke, which left him paralyzed and greatly hindered his activities, though his spirit grew ever stronger and his faith never wavered.
Luther was preceded in death by his wife Helen in 2002, and is survived by his five children, Todd Ison, Eric Ison, Tawnya Ison, Jeana Ison, and Angela McCabe; five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Esther Luciel Lewis
(May 28, 1938-Oct.16, 2007)
Esther Luciel Jeffords Lewis passed away Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007, at the Wallowa Valley Care Center in Enterprise, Ore. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007, 10 a.m. at the Wallowa Christian Church.
Esther was born at home on May 28, 1928, the first child of Wendell Richard and Myrtle Esther Wickam Jeffords, in Baker, Ore. The family was completed with the addition of a sister, Muriel, and two brothers, Ray and Vearl. Esther attended Churchill Elementary School and graduated from Baker High in 1947. She then worked at the Baker Hotel as a waitress until she moved with her parents to Wallowa, Ore., in 1950.
Esther and Robert (Bob) Vance Lewis were married in Jerome, Idaho on Jan. 27, 1951, while visiting her sister there. A year later a daughter, Carmen, was born with two brothers, Vearl and Bobb following the next two years. She took a job at the Wallowa Memorial Hospital in the laundry when the children were in high school. She planted trees several years for Boise Cascade developing a lasting friendship with her coworkers. Esther then cooked for the Wallowa Senior Citizen Meal Site and drove School Bus in Wallowa for Moffitt Brothers until her retirement in 2000. She and Bob enjoyed going to the coast in their travel trailer or camping with the Wapiti Chapter of the Good Sam Club. She liked to attend her sons and grandchildren’s sports events and was an avid Trail Blazers fan.
Esther is survived by her husband, Bob Lewis, daughter and son-in-law, Carmen and Rodney Wickam, son and daughter-in-law, Vearl and Linda Sue Lewis, son and daughter-in-law, Bobb and Kayleen Lewis, one brother and sister-in-law, Ray and Janet Jeffords and a brother-in-law, Jack Taylor; 11 grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews will carry on her legacy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Wendell and Myrtle Jeffords, her sister, Murial L. Jeffords Taylor, and her baby brother, Vearl Roy Jeffords.
Florence Nedrow
(April 26, 1929 – Oct. 15, 2007)
Florence “Flip” Nedrow, 78, longtime Eagle Valley resident, died at home in Richland, Ore., Monday, Oct. 15, 2007. A Graveside service was held on Friday, Oct. 19, at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland, Ore.
Florence “Flip” Lottie Nedrow was born on April 26, 1929, to Wesley Cyril Nedrow and Myrtle Helen Blank Nedrow in Richland, Oregon. She attended school in Richland and graduated in 1947 from Eagle Valley High School.
Following high school Flip moved to Colorado Springs for a short time, and then moved to Portland, Ore. She worked for American Can Company until it closed, then went to Beaverton and worked for Tecktronix until 1972. In 1972, she bought Allen’s Sporting Goods in Richland, Oregon. She had never worked with the public before and was scared to death. But she found that she really enjoyed it, and in short order the name of the business was changed to “Flips.” The store carried groceries, liquor and sporting goods. In 1987 the building was remodeled into a restaurant, which she and her sister Joan operated. In 1999, they sold the business and Flip officially retired.
Flip served on the city council for years and then enjoyed a two-year stint as Mayor of Richland, Ore., in 1977 and 1978. She enjoyed woodworking, being outdoors, the mountains, flowerbeds and books.
Flip is survived by her son Mark and wife Jackie Nedrow of Reno, Nev.; granddaughter Amber Nedrow of Phoenix, Ariz.; sister Joan and husband Marvin Schaber Jr.of Richland, Ore.; Aunt Leona Speelman of Richland, Ore.; nephews Clifford Jones of Richland, Ore., Steven and wife Terri Schaber of Ione, Ore.; nieces Tammy and husband Pat Mallon of Stanfield, Ore., Lori and Hector Cano of Hermiston, Ore.; special family members Melissa and Eric Masterson, Kyle and Kaylee Palmateer.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Ethel and brother-in-law Herschel Jones and “special sister” Flurine Blank Weir Sjoberg.
Those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Flip may do so to the Eagle Valley Cemetery through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Ambrose Pearson
(April 11, 1922-Oct. 13, 2007)
Ambrose Paul “Slim” Pearson, 85, of Baker City passed away Oct. 13, 2007, in Boise, Idaho.
Visitations were held Friday, Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. on Friday, Oct. 19, 2007, followed by interment at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Ambrose Paul (Slim) Pearson was born April 11, 1922, in Grove Springs, Mo., to the late Samuel A. and Dora Mae (Buttram) Pearson. He served in the Navy as a Sea Bee during World War II. He reentered the Army serving during the Korean War where he was decorated with the Silver Star and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. He spent most of his life with logging and construction work. He proudly showed his membership in the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 701. This career and membership gave him the opportunity to work all over the Pacific Northwest building freeways, pipelines, and dams. It included working on the movie set for Paint your Wagon and a trip for Morrison Knudsen to Africa in 1975 and 1976.
Slim was a member of the Eastern Oregon Miner's Association. He loved to spend time in the mountains prospecting. He was an avid outdoorsman, sharing this passion with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Slim is survived by his wife Noda (McNabb) Pearson of Hermiston, and four children Jim Pearson and partner Linda Cooper of Emmett, Idaho. Michael Pearson and wife Susan of Boardman, Ore. Fred Pearson and wife Susan of Hermiston, Ore., and daughter Francine Pearson of Columbia City, Ore..
Slim was preceded in death by two wives, Ruth and Gwen Pearson, sisters Alta Henderson and Annabelle Ashby, and brother Andy.
Slim was proud of his seven grandchildren - Jim Pearson of Fredericksburg, Va., Mike Pearson of Baker City, Ore., Joy Pearson of Sacramento, Calif., Marty Pearson and Mikkijo Walker of Cascade Locks, Ore., Jessica Pearson of Caldwell, Idaho, Pat Higgins of Clinton, S.C., Amanda Adams of Defiance, Ohio. Slim is also survived by 17 great-grandchildren.
Memorials can be made to the “Help Our Troops Call Home” program or any charity that would benefit military families in lieu of flowers in care of Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
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