Brandon Cribbs
Daniel Smith
Robert Wickam
Brandon Cribbs
(Jan. 17, 1981 - April 20, 2010)
Brandon T. Alan Cribbs, 29, of Baker City, OR passed away April 20th. A viewing was held from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 23, 2010 at Coles Tribute Center. A memorial service was held Saturday, April 24th at 11 a.m. at Coles Tribute Center with Pastor Lennie Spooner from First Church of the Nazarene officiating. Family and friends were invited to attend a reception directly following the memorial at Calvary Baptist Church, 2107 3rd Street, Baker City, OR.
Brandon was born Jan. 17, 1981 in Baker City, OR to Fred and Ruth Cribbs. Growing up in a military family Brandon attended schools in Guam, California and finally Baker City. He excelled in football and baseball from childhood through high school. Most of his adult years he could be found outdoors fishing and archery hunting or indoors working on computers.
Brandon is survived by his father and step-mother Fred and Christine Cribbs of Hermiston, OR; mother and step-father Ruth and Cecil Sangston of Baker City, OR; his brother Travis Cribbs of Corvallis, OR; two beautiful daughters Kadence Cribbs of Boise, ID and Khloe Cribbs of Baker City; grandparents Duane and Beulah Shumway of Bridgeport, OR and Angie Refior of Baker City; numerous aunts and uncles, cousins and friends. Brandon was preceded in death by his grandfather Fred T. Cribbs and sister Ashley Rene Cribbs.
Memorial contributions in support of Kadence and Khloe's educational trust fund can be directed through Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place St. Baker City, OR 97814.
Daniel Smith
(March 11, 1944 - April 17, 2010)
Daniel “Dan” Harold Smith, 66, of Baker City, lost his battle with cancer and passed away April 17, 2010 at home with loved ones in attendance. Per Dan’s request, there will be no formal service or interment. An informal get-together will be planned later this year.
Dan was born March 11, 1944 in Caldwell, Idaho, to L. Harold and Geraldine (Talbot) Smith. He was the second of four boys born to the family. From age six on, Dan grew up in Huntington, Oregon, where his father worked for the Idaho Power Company. Dan’s experiences while growing up in Huntington were good and rewarding. He fondly recalled summer times working on ranches in the Burnt River area and the family fishing trips. He did well in high school where he served as student body president, class president, and was a multi year lettermen in four sports. He always got a kick out of seeing old basketball programs that listed him as 6’1”. He would remark that was only true if they measured him with his shoes on and his hair combed up.
After graduating in 1962 from Huntington, he attended several colleges, finally graduating from Eastern Oregon College (now Eastern Oregon University), in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. During part of this period, he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad to help pay tuition and housing. After graduation, he married and continued to work for the railroad in La Grande.
With the prompting of a friend who had become an Oregon State Police Officer, Dan himself applied for and became an Oregon State Trooper in 1969. He was assigned to the Salem area and worked various assignments including patrol, riot control, and security at the Governor‚s Mansion. With the new interstate being completed through Eastern Oregon, Dan applied for and was transferred to the Baker Patrol Office. He had requested the transfer so he could raise his family in the same area he and his wife had grown up in.
While working out of Baker, Dan ended up with the nickname of “Radar” due to his ability to sense a speeder coming down the road before they came into view.
Unfortunately, Dan’s career was cut drastically short in 1978. Abdominal pain, which he had first suffered from during college, came back acutely. He was then diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and parts of his intestinal tract were removed. After the surgeries, he continued to have discomfort and suffered from other side effects. Unable to continue his full duties as a trooper, he was medically retired from the department in 1979.
In the years following his retirement, he focused on his family while working on projects in and around the house. Dan provided help to friends, neighbors, and family members throughout these years. He took great joy in his four grandchildren, district/state basketball tournaments, and all the pets including the wild deer that had come to the backyard the last few years.
He was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, Johnny. Survivors include his wife Kathy of 43 years, brother David with wife Rhea, brother Mike with wife Linda, son Dan Jr. with wife Amy, daughter Becky, and the grandchildren Kenny, Andy, Marty, and Danica.
Memorial contributions may be made to the La Grande Humane Society through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Robert Wickam
(Sept. 25, 1921 - April 3, 2010)
Robert Clark Wickam, 88, of La Grande died April 3, 2010, at his home surrounded by family and friends. A memorial service is planned for May 1, 2010 at the Blue Mt. Conference Center, in La Grande, Oregon at 1 p.m.
Robert ‘Bob’ Wickam was born Sept. 25, 1921 at home in Baker, Oregon. He was the youngest of 10 children born to Jonathan Halsey and Amy Blanche (Clark) Wickam. He attended school in Baker, Oregon and graduated from Baker High in 1939.
Robert married Charlene Mynatt in 1940 in Washington State, where they worked in apple orchards and then Robert worked for Boeing from 1942-1944. The family then returned to Baker and Robert joined the U.S. Navy in May 1944 where he served in the Pacific during WWII. After a decorated and honorable discharge in 1946, he returned to Baker, Oregon.
He married Myrtle Cook in 1947 in Baker, Oregon. He drove taxi and school bus and worked for family at their dairies. His 38-year fire service career started in Baker, Oregon in 1950. During this time, Robert taught First Aide classes to the citizens of Baker through the extension office.
He married Wilma Francis in 1954 in Baker, Oregon. In 1960 he became the first paid Fire Chief of Beaverton Oregon in which he designed a map system for the fire hydrants in Washington County. He hosted the Oregon Fire Chief Convention in 1963 where he was co-chair. In 1963 he took the position of Fire Chief in Milwaukie Oregon and in 1966 moved to La Grande, Oregon to take the position of Fire Chief. At all his Fire Stations he was dedicated to having well trained Volunteer and Paid Personnel and initiated many “Burn to Learn” exercises. He was elected President of the Oregon Fire Chief Association 1965-1966. Robert was instrumental in the hiring of the first Fire Marshal in the State of Oregon, which Governor Hatfield signed into law. In 1969 he took a position with the U.S. Embassy Vietnam as Civilian Fire Chief in charge of training at all US installations and training the South Vietnamese. He was there until 1975 when Vietnam fell and was on the second to the last helicopter out, the last being the Marines.
In 1975, Robert took a position with ITT NARL as the O & M Civil Supervisor Fire & Safety Department, which sent him to the North Slopes and then to Germany. He married Thuy Vo in Washington State. In 1983 Robert went to work in King County Washington as Deputy Fire Marshal until 1985 when he had a near fatal car crash and was forced to retire from the fire service in 1988.
In 1990 Bob moved back to La Grande, Oregon. He served as Commander of the American Legion Post 43, in La Grande for the past two years and was very passionate about the Legion projects he was involved in. He was also a past member of the Elks, Eagles, and Lions for many years in several of the cities he lived.
He is survived by son R. Dale and Doris Wickam of Silverton, Idaho, daughter Sharon and Richard Blacketer of Mullen, Idaho, daughter Linda and Fred Foersterling of Baker City, Ore., son Rodney and Carmen Wickam of Baker City, Ore., daughter Lawanna Wickam of La Grande, Ore., daughter Lalonni and Kelly Haggerty of La Grande, Ore., daughter Lalessa and Jim Wyatt of Crystal Beach, Fla., daughter Laletta and Archie Benner of Pochetello, Idaho, daughter Desiree Hong of Kent, Wash., daughter Letta Wickam of Santa Monica, Calif., son Ricky Wickam of Kent, WA and daughter Melissa Wickam of La Grande, Ore., 33 grand children, 38 great grand children, 3 great-great grand children and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 8 sisters, 1 brother and his son Neil C. Wickam.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eastern Oregon Chapter of the American Red Cross in care of Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh Street in La Grande, OR.
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