Arthur Moothart

Arthur Liddman Moothart, 76, a longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 15, 2001, after many years of battling emphysema.

There will be a private family service at 1 p.m. Monday at the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Private interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Monte Loyd of the Baker Valley Christian Assembly will officiate.

Mr. Moothart was born May 26, 1924, at Cartersville, Mo., to Edwin and Edith Barnett Moothart. He was raised in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

After fighting three years in World War II, he moved to Oregon where he met the love of his life, Jerlene Simpson. They were married on Jan. 24, 1958, and together they had four children.

He raised his children with lots of love and was a strong father figure they looked up to. He denied himself things so his children could have more.

Mr. Moothart was a loyal and honest man whose word was trusted. His children said they were very proud to call him Dad. He raised them with honest, God-fearing values and he always said, If your word isnt any good, then you arent any good.

Mr. Moothart loved to hunt, fish and trap. When he was no longer able to do those activities, he loved to hear hunting and fishing stories from his sons and sons-in-law. He will be forever missed by his family.

Mr. Moothart trusted in his Lord and Savior and is dancing on streets of gold with his wife, Jerlene, who died in 1998. He often told his children of the time his squad leader asked him to go out on scout duty during the war.

The duty was strictly volunteer, and every scout who had gone before him had been killed. He prayed about it and opened his Bible, which fell open to Psalms 91, which says in part No disaster will come near your tent for he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.

Mr. Moothart volunteered and he came back safely.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jerlene; his parents; three brothers, Levi, Pat and Herschel Moothart; and a sister, Inez Oliver.

Survivors include his children, Kathy and Doug Parker, Sheryl and John Smith, Jim and Barb Moothart and Tim and Lisa Moothart; grandchildren, Doug and Lynn Parker, Travis Parker, Bri Parker, Kayci and Coleton Smith, Tyler, Tarrah and Taran Moothart and Brandi, Chad and Camren Moothart; great-grandchildren, Cassidy, James and Adrienne; a brother, Mike, and his wife, Vie; a sister, Dotty, and her husband, Donald Oliver; a brother and sister-in-law, Gillis and Ophia Simpson; and his many friends at Settlers Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker Valley Christian Assembly through the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Ore. 97814.

Ida Hudecek

Ida Marie Hudecek, 66, a lifetime Baker City resident, died Jan. 13, 2001, at St. Lukes Hospital at Boise.

There will be a wake for her Tuesday and Wednesday at her home at 1007 Walnut St. All family and friends are invited.

Her body will be cremated in Boise and her ashes taken to the home of her brother, Bill Beers, at Biggs Junction.

Mrs. Hudecek was born on March 31, 1934, to Ed and Edna Beers of Baker City. She was a 1952 Baker High School graduate and worked as a bookkeeper at Commercial Welding in 1956. She was a billing clerk at Baker Wholesale in 1957. She always loved working with her father at his ice cream parlor, Roys 24 Flavors.

She was married to her husband, Ben, in 1962. The couple had three children: two girls and a boy.

Mrs. Hudecek enjoyed the outdoors, wildlife and all the beauties of nature.

Survivors include her husband, Ben of Baker City; her daughters, Karen Ramey of Baker City and Laurie Osborne of Bend; her son, Tommy Hudecek of Baker City; five grandchildren; her brother, Bill Beers of Biggs Junction; a sister, Nellie Edson of Reedsport; and several nieces and nephews.

Elizabeth Gronke

Elizabeth M. Gronke, 87, of Baker City, died Jan. 16, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

Her graveside funeral will be Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 1 p.m. at City View Cemetery in Salem. Pastor John Maas of Christ Lutheran Church will officiate.

Mrs. Gronke was born March 3, 1913, at Aurora to Henry and Hulda Ida (Kupkee) Muessig. She was raised across the river from Wilsonville and received her schooling in Wilsonville and Canby.

After graduation from high school, she attended one year of nursing training until her marriage took priority. On Aug. 20, 1933, she married Otto William Gronke at the Meridian Reformed Church, otherwise known as the Frog Pond Church, in Wilsonville. They made their home in Salem.

In 1998 Mrs. Gronke moved to Baker City, where her daughter lives.

Mrs. Gronke loved singing in the church choir and playing her organ, a skill she taught herself. She also enjoyed painting, drawing, cooking and gardening. She was a member of the Christ Lutheran Church in Salem and an associate member of the First Lutheran Church in Baker City.

Mrs. Gronke is survived by her daughters and their husbands: Ida Jo and Bill Bradford of Salem, Barbara and Frank Robinson of Tacoma, Wash., and Charlene and Robert Carlton of Baker City; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Otto; and by two brothers and two sisters.

Contributions in Mrs. Gronkes memory may be made to the First Lutheran Church in Baker City or Christ Lutheran Church in Salem, in care of Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Ore., 97814.

Ray Greathouse

Ray Lowell Greathouse Sr., 66, of Hereford, died Jan. 16, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

His memorial service will be later at the Oregon Coast. His body was cremated by Grays West andamp; Co. Pioneer Crematory.

Mr. Greathouse was born on March 21, 1934, at Pekin, Ill. He graduated from high school in 1952 at Armington, Ill. He served in the U.S. Army and was a member of Eagles, Aerie 1664, and the Elks Lodge, No. 2105.

He was a long-haul truckdriver for 32 years. He drove log truck locally for Don Cate and FJF Trucking.

He married his wife, Jana, on Dec. 9, 1989. He loved to play country music and played locally and was known as The Country Gold Band. His hobbies were gold mining, playing music and camping.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ford Greathouse; and his brother, Robert Greathouse.

Survivors include his wife, Jana Greathouse of Hereford; his mother, Evelyn Greathouse of Siletz; a sister, Bette Turner; five sons, Raymond Jr., Jeff, David, Mike and Todd; a daughter, Kathy; two stepchildren, Jennifer Miller and Kenneth Paul; nine grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society through Grays West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.