Madonna Ashby
Wesley Barnhart
Edmund G. Brownell
Irene Lang
Johannah M. Lyon
Bertha Rowena Oliver
Charles ‘Pat’ Shirtcliff
Madonna Cummings Ashby
(Aug. 9, 1928 –Dec. 4, 2007)
Madonna Lou Cummings Ashby, 79, a former Richland resident, died Dec. 4, 2007, in Seaview, Wash. A graveside service at Eagle Valley Cemetery has already been held.
Madonna was born to Albert and Jessie Sullivan Cummings on Aug. 9, 1928, in Portland, the fifth of six children. Her happiest memories were of those times spent on the ranch with her brothers and sisters and loving parents.
Madonna attended school in Richland, graduating from Eagle Valley high. She went on to college in Portland. On May 25, 1946, she married Dale Ashby. Madonna and Dale were the parents of three children; Randall Jay, Lucinda Rae, and Marissa Allene. Dale’s career took her away from Eagle Valley and Baker County, but friends and family always kept those places “home.”
She is survived by her daughters Cindy and Rissa, her adopted daughter, Angela Oliver, stepchildren David and Patty Oliver, and daughter-in-law, Sharon Ashby.
She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, her beloved sisters Emma Jean Greener of Halfway, and Lillian Densley of Baker City, a cousin, Norman Masterson of La Grande, and sister-in-law Geneva (Ashby) of Baker City, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale; three brothers, Wayne, Eylar, and Tuffy Cummings; sisters-in-law, Verna and Nancy Cummings; brothers-in-law, Jack Greener, Raymond Ashby, and Glenn Densley; a nephew, Eldon Greener; and by her beloved son, Randy.
Wesley Barnhart
(Feb. 6, 1920 – Dec. 14, 2007)
Wesley Barnhart, 87, died on Dec. 14, 2007, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center in Baker City, Ore.
At his request there will be no funeral service.
Wes was born Feb. 6, 1920, in Falls City, Ore., to Clifford and Laura (Perry) Barnhart.
When he was six years old the family moved to a farm west of Nampa, Idaho where he spent his childhood.
He spent 18 months in the Army from 1945 to 1946, stationed in Okinawa in the occupation forces. Then he spent several years as a buckaroo on large cattle ranches in Nevada. Most of his life was spent in the cattle business. He loved horses and the great outdoors.
On Oct. 7, 1950, Wes married Natalie Joy Patrick in Halfway, Ore. They had one son Larry. Later the couple bought a farm in Pine Valley and spent 33 years on it. Wes and Joy moved to Baker City in 2002.
Wes is survived by his wife, Joy of Baker City; three nieces; Roxylee Rumgay, Patty Smart and Hazel Atkinson; two nephews, Vernon Barnhart and Ron Chase; several great and great great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son, Larry; parents; one sister, Helen Chase; three brothers, Eugene, Lewis and Glen.
He will be greatly missed by those who loved him.
Those who wish to make a memorial contribution in memory of Wes may do so to the charity of their choice through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home P.O. Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834.
Edmund G. Brownell
(July 10, 1917 – Dec. 15, 2007)
Edmund Garrett Brownell, 90, of Canby, Ore., formerly of Haines, and Baker City, Ore., died Dec. 15, 2007, at Hope Village in Canby.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 29, at the Assisted Living section of Hope Village in Canby. Graveside inurment for both Edmund and Jean will be held at Haines Cemetery at a later date. Canby Funeral Chapel is entrusted with his arrangements.
Edmund was born on July 10, 1917, in Cove, Ore., along with his twin sister, Leona Jane. He grew up in Muddy Creek on a family farm. He graduated from Muddy Creek School. He attended the University of Idaho for 1 1/2 years. At the death of his father he was called home to run the family farm. He farmed until he got a job with the Forest Service in the summer of 1962. He worked for the Forest Service for seven years and later had his own general contracting business.
He met Jean Louise Taylor in 1941 at a PTA meeting. They married Nov, 8, 1942. They shared 63 wonderful years together. Jean passed away on July 18, 2006.
Edmund loved the mountains where he hunted, fished, hiked and photographed. He and Jean loved to travel in their motor home and toured much of the United States.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows, a 4-H Leader, and a member of the Haines Methodist Church and later the Methodist Church in Baker City. After moving to Woodburn he was a member of the Methodist Church there.
Surviving family members include his four daughters, Sarajean Abel of Junction City, Patricia Kingman and her husband Louis of Wilsonville, Beverly Van Steinburg of Sutter, Calif., and Nancy Bradetich of Wilsonville; son, Robert E. Brownell of Newberg; two sisters, Annabelle Leland of Fall City, Wash., and Wilma Bowers of Stanwood, Wash.; cousin, Bert Vanderwall of Haines; eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, Edmund A. and Leona Brownell Compton; and his twin sister Leona Jane Griffin.
The family suggests memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Irene Lang
(Aug. 8, 1941 –Dec. 16, 2007)
Irene Lang, 66, was born on Aug. 8, 1941, to Audrey Estella Shelton and Harvey Woolstrum in Union City, Penn. She was raised in Prescott, Ariz.
Irene loved riding horses as a child. She was a talented watercolor and mural painter. Humorous childhood family memories, her love of animals and of life itself were captured in her artful use of color.
Irene led a full and varied life. She was a WAVE in the Navy from 1958 to l961. In 1964 she was the first rodeo queen at the opening of the Long Beach Convention Center. She worked for KHEY radio station in the era of Elvis Presley and the Grand Ole’ Opry singers, where she met Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Mathis. She worked as an extra in movies, (including Kojak), was a model and a sales manager for Lowes in New York City. Irene owned a dress and silk flower shop in Volcano, Calif., and designed uniforms for Las Vegas Convention Center. She worked for charities there and met stars such as Martin, Sinatra and Elvis. Irene enjoyed living in Mexico for 15 years during the 70’s and 80’s, first in Vallarta, then in San Miguel de Allende. She loved to travel to Europe and Central America and snorkel in The Bahamas, Camen Islands and Hawaii She was a small plane pilot, flying all over Mexico. Irene also spoke five languages fluently.
Irene was married to Dave Mathias, a Marine and they had one daughter Lori. Her second marriage was to Fred Valentine, an airline pilot and her third marriage was to Roger Lang, who was in construction. They moved to Baker City, Ore. in 1990. For the last 20 years Irene had been challenged with the limitations of MS. Some may remember seeing her drive her motorized cart around Baker City with her Pomeranian dog riding in the basket. In 1998 Irene moved to Halfway, where she lived for 6 years and enjoyed the friendship of Spring Bartlett and her daughters, Robin and Elena. She returned to Baker City to Idlewood Manor, a foster care home, where she lived for three years. In October 2007 she moved to St. Elizabeth Care Center. Irene appreciated the hospice nurses and her caregivers until she died of cancer on Dec. 16, 2007.
Irene is survived by her daughter, Lori Matthias Rose, of Crestline, Calif.; grandchildren, Tennelle, Cris, Greg and Carli; brother, Richard Woolstrum and his wife, Joni of Ione, Calif.; and her Pomeranian ‘Buttons’.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Robert Woolstrum.
Those who wish to make a memorial contribution in memory of Irene may help to defray her funeral expenses through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home P.O. Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834.
Johannah M. Lyon
(Nov. 6, 1911 – Dec. 12, 2007)
Johannah Madora ‘Jo’ Lyon, 96, of New Plymouth, Idaho passed away Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007, at Royal Villa Care Center, Payette. Mass of the Christian Burial was at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Fruitland with Fr. Calvin Blankinship as celebrant. A committal service was held at 2 p.m. (PST) at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Baker City, Ore., with Fr. Julian Cassar as celebrant. A visitation for family and friends was from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007, at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette. Funeral services and arrangements were under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette.
Jo was born Nov. 6, 1911, to James and Mary (Lonzway) Griffin in Baker City, Oregon. She was a graduate of the Intermountain Institute in Weiser, Idaho.
Jo married Bruce Lyon in Rye Valley, Ore., on Nov. 26, 1930. Together they farmed in Rye Valley, Ore, Oregon Slope, Drewsey, Ore., and New Plymouth, Idaho. Jo worked at Ore-Ida Foods and upon her retirement from there in 1975, she worked at several dress shops until retiring again at the age of 86.
She was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Fruitland. Jo enjoyed gardening, raising flowers, sewing, canning, and being a 4-H leader.
Jo is survived by her three children, Jodell (Dennis) Barber of McCall, Idaho, James (Karen) Lyon of Fruitland, and Patrick Lyon of New Plymouth; a sister-in-law, Lucy Gibbs; five grandchildren, Thomas (Jennifer) Barber, Paige (Greg) Ugrin, Tyler (Kelsey) Lyon, Leslie (Dave) Allen, and Lisa Lyon; four great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Bruce Lyon and a grandson, Dalin Lyon who preceded her in death.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Barbara Little and her staff at Royal Villa Care Center.
Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice, c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, Idaho 83661.
Bertha Rowena Oliver
(Sept. 20, 1916 – Dec. 12, 2007)
Bertha ‘Betty’ Rowena Oliver, 91, a former resident of Ironside, Ore., passed away on Wednesday Dec. 12, 2007, at her home in Baker City, Ore.
Visitation was held at Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel on Monday, Dec. 17 and Tuesday, Dec. 18 .
Her funeral was held at 1:30 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at Gray’s West & Company. Pastor Loren Calkins officiated.
Bertha Rowena Murray was born on Sept. 20, 1916, to Hardy and Bertha Murray in a log cabin nine miles east of Unity. She completed grades 1-12 in Baker where she stayed with her grandmother, Angeline Murray. During her school years, Betty was a competitive swimmer. Her grandfather ran the Baker Natatorium (now the Oregon Trail Museum.) She graduated in 1934. She loved helping her father on the ranch during the summers. She was pegged as being quite a tomboy!
Betty met her husband Earnest (Scotty) Oliver in 1934. He was employed at the Record Mine as a miner, on Bull Run Mountain. They married in 1938 and moved to New Bridge where Earnest worked for another mine company. After the mine closed, they moved back to the Murray Ranch to help Betty’s parents.
Their first child, Rowena, was born in 1942. In 1943, they bought the ranch from Betty’s parents. David was born three years later.
Several years later, they bought a neighboring ranch. In 1966, they incorporated it with their children, and called it the “Flying O Cattle Company.” Earnest and Betty were very active community members. They belonged to the Ironside Grange and went to many dances. It was a sad loss when Earnest passed away in 1965.
Betty is survived by her children, daughter, Rowena Gardner and her husband Dale of Ironside and son, David Oliver and his wife Sandy of California; seven grandchildren, Everett Baumeister, Robin Pugh, Janet DeLong, Kristy Loverin, Becky Czuppon, Bonnie Oliver and Bo Oliver; 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest; brother, Bruce Murray; great-granddaughter, Deidra Baumeister.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Ironside Cemetery or the Oregon Trail Museum in care of Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Charles ‘Pat’ Shirtcliff
(Feb. 9, 1946-Nov. 28, 2007)
Charles P. “Pat” Shirtcliff, a former Baker county resident, died Nov. 28, 2007, following an automobile accident.
He was born Feb. 9, 1946, in Roseburg to Sheila and Henry M. Shirtcliff. He grew up in Myrtle Creek, where he attended school. In 1964 he graduated from Myrtle Creek High School, where he participated in basketball, football, cross country, track, the Drama Club and many other activities. He also attended Oregon State University.
He married Beverly Tapp in 1966. They were married 22 years and had four children. Pat served on the South Umpqua School Board during the 1980s while his children attended school there.
He was an office manager for construction companies and an insurance salesman for the Farm Bureau and other agencies.
He moved to Baker County during the 1970s and purchased an insurance agency owned by his friend Buck Buckner. It was here that he made lifelong friends, including Don Everson, and where he developed his interest in ranching and purchasing cattle from friends including Bob Thomas.
Pat became self-employed as a business owner and rancher and worked in real estate and land development.
He had recently semi-retired and moved to the Oregon Coast to enjoy being a fisherman, one of his favorite pastimes.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his son, Matt, as well as his many good hunting and fishing buddies.
Pat is survived by his son Matt Shirtcliff and his wife, Beth, of Baker City; daughter, Melody Cobb and her husband, Ben, of Tigard; daughter Mindy Cockrell and her husband, Andy, of Richland, Wash.’ their mother, Beverly Parsons of Roseburg; brother John Shirtcliff of Myrtle Creek; special friend, JoAnn Williams of Myrtle Creek; and many other family members and friends. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Kylee, Danielle, Asa, Kara, Kaitlin, Spencer, Payton and Bennett.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Frank Shirtcliff and a son, Mark Shirtcliff.
Services have been held.
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