Joan Cordell Boyer
Eldon Clapp
Paul Curts
Elizabeth McGonagill
Beverly McLean
Lewis Moser
Gilbert Wayne Skeels
Rosalie Stowe
Joan Cordell Boyer
(Nov. 24, 1933-March 24, 2010)
Joan Louise Thompson Cordell Boyer, 76, of Hermiston, Ore., died after a lengthy illness on March 24, 2010 in Salem, Ore. A graveside service will be conducted by her youngest brother, James Thompson in Baker City, Ore., at Mt. Hope Cemetery on Saturday, May 15, at 1pm.
Joan was born Nov. 24, 1933, in Baker City and was raised in Durkee, Ore. She was the oldest of three children of Ivan S. and Mary A. Thompson. She served as a Rose Festival princess at the Portland Shriners Children's Hospital, where she had been treated as a young girl for an injury that put her in a body cast for more than a year. She went to school in Durkee for elementary years, and graduated from high school from Baker City High School.
She married Sam Cordell on Aug. 15, 1951, at her parent's home in Durkee. They had three children all of whom survive her: Debra L. Deenin of Salem, Mary L. Rucker of Boise, Idaho, and Bryan E. Cordell of Vashon, Wash. Following her divorce from Sam in 1972, she marred David L. Boyer on Jan. 19, 1973. Both Sam and David predeceased Joan.
Living in Durkee as a young mother, Joan sold Jafra Cosmetics and participated in the Home Economics Club, the Bridge Club and the Grange. Following in the footsteps of her parents, she was the postmaster of Durkee from 1962-1976, and she and her husband Sam owned the general store there. During that time she enjoyed a variety of crafts, as well as decorating special birthday cakes for her children. The young family traveled and camped extensively, visiting many of the country's national parks.
In 1976, Joan retired from the post office and moved with her second husband to Hermiston. She started a Brazilian Embroidery business, which she continued until her health began to decline. She taught more than 300 people the specialized art of Brazilian Embroidery, winning many awards and widespread recognition for her original designs.
Joan was a longtime member of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints with her husband David. They enjoyed traveling in their motor home, and taking cruises to exotic locations. Later after David's death, Joan enjoyed hosting Bible study meetings in her home with close friends.
In addition to her three children, she is survived by sons in law, Robert Deenin of Salem and Gary Rucker of Boise, Idaho. She is also survived by three grandchildren and one great grand-daughter: Timothy J. Deenin, his wife, Lucy and daughter Abigail Rose (who was born on Joan's birthday) of Greenville, Texas; John R. Deenin of Salem; and Darby L. Rucker of Boise. Also surviving her are her two brothers and their wives, Eugene and Philena Thompson of Boise, and James and Judy Thompson of Yakima, Wash. She also leaves many nieces and nephews.
The family has requested in lieu of flowers that any donations in her name be made to the Portland Shriners Children's Hospital. Arrangements were by City View Funeral Home.
Eldon Clapp
(Oct. 2, 1921-May 3, 2010)
Eldon Clapp, 88, of Baker City passed away May 3, 2010 at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. A memorial service will be held at Coles Tribute Center Friday, May 7, 2010 at 11 a.m. His cremated remains will be scattered in the Elkhorn Mountains at a later date. Pastor Monte Holt of Church of God of Prophecy in Nampa, Idaho will officiate. The US Army National Guard will provide military honors. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception luncheon at the Geiser Grand at 12:30 pm.
Eldon Charles Clapp was born October 2, 1921 to Milton C. and Elva L. (White) Clapp in Haines, Ore. He was joined by a younger brother, Howard two years later and a sister, Shirley, four years later. He was raised and educated in Haines, graduating from high school in 1940.
Eldon joined F Company, 186th 141st Division Infantry in Baker when he was 18 years old. Progressing through five and a half years of Military during World War II, he was over seas with the 9th Bomb Group, 5th Squadron B29s on Tinion Island as Crew Chief on the aircraft called Purple Heartless. (See history book 9th Bomb Group at the Baker Library for details).
Eldon married Frances Shyrack April 2, 1946, and he continued his Air Force career until 1961. He and Frances lived at Rapid City Air Force Base in South Dakota, Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., March Air Force Base in Riverside, Calif., Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, Calif., and Paine Air Force Base in Everett, Wash., before retiring at age 39 after 21 years of active service.
Eldon spent one year with Alaska Airlines while in Everett, Wash., and one year with Snap-On-Tools before becoming the Maintenance Supervisor Mechanic for the City of Lynnwood, Wash., for the next 20 years. He retired in 1984. They returned to Baker City in 1992 to be with family. Frances passed away in 2002.
Eldon married Norma Baker Nov. 26, 2003 in Nampa, Idaho, and they made their home in Baker City.
Eldon is survived by his wife, Norma of Baker City; brother-in-law, Jack Shryack and wife Betty of Spokane, Wash.; nieces and nephews: Linda Rosenberg and husband, Elliott and Terri Sternfield and husband, Bob; Stephen Clapp and wife Tracy all of Chicago, Ill., Barbara Melville & husband Michael, Jan Shryack and wife, Tina all of Spokane, Wash.; and numerous great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, brother and first wife.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Haines Eastern Oregon Museum through Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814.
Paul Curts
(June 7, 1920 - April 30, 2010)
Paul Edwards Curts, 89, of Baker City passed away peacefully at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home on April 30, 2010. A funeral service was held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel. Mike Webb officiated.
Paul was born in Harrison County, Indiana along the Ohio River on June 7, 1920, to Columbus Benson and Anna Etta (Brandenburg) Curts. He held numerous jobs as a young man, traveling to Butte Falls, Oregon with the “3 C’s” (Civilian Conservation Corps). He loved the west so much, when he went to work with the Davy Tree Company in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1939, he requested transfer to Boise, Idaho and worked his way through Western Idaho, Baker, La Grande and Pendleton, Oregon and Kennewick and Pasco, Wash.
Paul served in the Navy during World War II as a Pharmacist Mate First Class on a PT (Patrol Torpedo) Boat Tender named Oyster Bay. He spent most of the time in the South Pacific with 2 stops in Australia.
He worked for Eastern Oregon Light and Power Company as a Journeyman Lineman. In 1946, Eastern Oregon Light & Power was purchased by California Pacific Utilities Company and he was later promoted to Line Foreman. He became Division Superintendent and transferred to Susanville, Calif., for 2 years, then returned to Baker in the same position until he retired in December of 1981.
Paul is survived by his son Keith Curts and wife Pim of Baker City; daughter Diane Robeck and husband Steve of Tonasket, Wash.; daughter Gail Worthen of Taylorsville, Utah; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Bruce Curts; his parents; and a brother and sister.
Memorial contributions may be made to the USO through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave, Baker City, OR, 97814.
Elizabeth McGonagill
(May 17, 1927 - April 30, 2010)
Elizabeth Ann McGonagill, 82, of Baker City died at home on April 30, 2010 surrounded by her loving family and friends. A memorial service will be held for her on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 1 p.m. at St. Stephens Episcopal Church.
Elizabeth was born May 17, 1927, in Sequim, Wash., to J. Kirk and Bessie S. Carr. She married Keith L. McGonagill on Feb. 25, 1945 in Seattle, Wash. After their many adventures with the Forest Service, Elizabeth and Keith retired to Baker City, Ore., in 1980.
Elizabeth was an active member of St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Baker City and St. Brigid Episcopal Church in Sumpter, Ore. She was also active in the Alpha Theta Master chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Keith L. McGonagill, daughters and sons-in-law, Marilyn and Phil Shankle of Puyallup, Wash., and Lynn and Bruce Sissel of Tacoma, Wash.; Son and daughter-in-law Jeffery and Rachel McGonagill of Corvallis, Ore.; 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Along with her parents, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her son, Stephen Eric McGonagill and her granddaughter, Jgeanaya McGonagill.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society through Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Beverly McLean
(June 18, 1931 - April 30, 2010)
Beverly Jean Bell McLean, 78, a longtime resident of Huntington, Ore., passed away on April 30, 2010. She was born on June 18, 1931 in Weiser, Idaho and attended school in Plano, Ore., and Huntington, Ore.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Neil; her children, Doni (Debbie) McLean, Janet (Arden) Abel, Jimmy (Merry) McLean, Debbie Mason, Steve (Heather) McLean, Sandra (John) Unger, Susie (Jim) Kolbaba. She is also survived by her sisters, Frances Crooke, Mabel Callihan and Georgie Bunch. Beverly was blessed with 25 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
Private interment will be held Thursday, May 6, with a public memorial service to be held the same day at the VFW Hall in Huntington, Ore., at Noon Pacific time. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Huntington Historical Society or the charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lienkaemper-thomason.com.
Lewis Moser
(June 18, 1930 - March 6, 2010)
Lewis (Cork) Moser died Feb. 23, 2010 a Skagit Valley Hospital, Mount Vernon, Wash. Memorial Services were held March 6, 2010 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Anacortes, Wash. Pastor Stephanie Hankey officiated.
Lewis was born June 18, 1930 to Gladys and Al Moser near Haines, Ore. He was married to Pat Brookhart on Feb. 15, 1952. They have two children, Debra Moser, Dunedin, New Zealand and Doug Moser, Anacortes, Wash., five grandchildren and one great grandson, one brother, Frank of Caldwell, Idaho.
Cork was a 50 year member of the I.B.E.W. He was a lineman for California Pacific Utilities. He enjoyed annual fishing trips to Alaska and hunting and fishing in Eastern Oregon. He’ll be missed for his dry wit and commitment to family and friends.
You are invited to celebrate the life of Cork at the Baker City Ore. Eagles Club, June 5, 2010, 1-4 p.m.
Memorial contributions in Cork’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice.
Gilbert Wayne Skeels
(Jan. 9, 1932-April 29, 2010)
Wayne Skeels, 78, passed away at his home in Baker City on April 29, 2010. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.
Gilbert Wayne Skeels was born Jan. 9, 1932 in Silverton, Ore., to Claude and Bessie Rossman Skeels (Hendrix). At the age of 10, he went to live with his father and grew up in Lobster Valley, Ore. Wayne was in the US Navy from 1951 to 1953. He served in South Africa and Cuba.
Wayne married Shameron McClure Oct. 23, 1980.
He was a timber faller by trade and worked for a number of logging companies in Eastern Oregon, California and Washington. He also worked as welder maintenance serviceman for various logging companies and as a welder for Commercial Welding.
Wayne retired in 1994. He loved to weld and make things from horse shoes such as gates, coat racks, tables and pickup tail gates. He helped his friends with odd jobs — anything from building barns, mending fences or plowing snow from his neighbor’s driveways.
He loved to hunt deer and elk and spend time in the woods getting firewood or hunting mushrooms. He also enjoyed taking his boat to Walport, Ore., and crabbing with his family.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Shameron Skeels of Baker City, his daughter Cheryl and husband, Orville Hopkins of Albany, Ore.; son, David Skeels from Albany, Ore.; daughter, Lorrie Skeels; daughter Wanda Kirtpatrick of California, so, Scott Skeels of Twin Falls, Idaho, son John Shukle and daughter Brenda Shukle of Baker City, Ore.; sister Gloria Banford and her husband Ernest from Springfield, Ore.; 17 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Dianne Andino and his brother Glenn Skeels.
Memorial contriubtutions may be made to Relay for Life (the Purple People Team) or pathway Hospice through Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814.
Rosalie Stowe
(June 22, 1941 - April 23, 2010)
Rosalie Marie Stowe, 68, died on Friday, April 23, 2010. A private family graveside interment was held on Monday, May 3, 2010, at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Baker City, Ore.
Rosalie was born on June 22, 1941 in Baker, Ore., to Dominic and Dorothy (Olsen) Harn. Her family moved from Baker to Nampa, Idaho, and Rosalie later graduated from Nampa High School. Rosalie met Dick Stowe and they married in Winnemucca, Nev., on March 5, 1960. Dick and Rosalie made their first home in Nampa.
During their married lives, Rosalie enjoyed being a mother and housewife but was also the official bookkeeper to husband Dick's logging business. They enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting. Rosalie loved to garden, go antiquing, reading, working in the yard and spoiling her dog "Missy".
She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Marilee Phillips.
Rosalie is survived by her husband of 50 years, Dick Stowe of Baker City, daughter Tammy and husband Joe Gini of Burns, Ore.,; son Randy and Sylvia Stowe of Apache Junction, Ariz.,; grandchildren Meghann Gini and Abraham Stowe.
Family served by Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, Halfway, Ore.
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