Doug DeRoest

Leon Douglass DeRoest, 52, of La Grande died Nov. 1, 2001, at Oregon Health andamp; Science University in Portland after a short illness.

His service will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be until 7 oclock tonight at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.

Mr. DeRoest was born on July 15, 1949, at Baker City to Toye Loudeen White and Leon Philemon DeRoest. He was a 1967 Baker High School graduate.

In 1968, he married Jean Hall. He worked for Leo Adler Shipping and then went on to become the manager for Grizzly Bear Pizza in Baker City. He worked his way up to a position on the board of directors for Grizzly Bear Pizza.

When Grizzly Bear sold the company, he decided it was time for him to go into business for himself. He started Klondike Pizza in 1983 and continued to own it until his death.

Mr. DeRoest was well known internationally for being an accomplished historian. He had many fans and followers throughout the world. He published many articles pertaining to the history of the Northwest, with an emphasis on postal history.

Mr. DeRoest was instrumental in starting the groundwork for the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. He also was adamant about the protection of the Chinese Cemetery in Baker City and its historical value.

Mr. DeRoest had many interests. He loved restoring old cars and participating in car shows. He won many awards with his 1966 Dodge Coronet 500 Convertible. He collected old pictures of Eastern Oregon and had them restored for future generations.

Several of his pictures were recently featured on a Fox Network special. He loved gardening, his deck, and mostly he loved birds. His most beloved pet was Elvis, a scarlet macaw. Mr. DeRoest spent a good deal of his life, with his wife and children, caring for and raising foster children. He always considered these children his own. Many children called him Dad.

Survivors include his wife, Jean DeRoest of La Grande; children, Julia and Michael Marostica of Ontario, Tamera and John Lannon of La Grande, Susan DeRoest of Ontario, Michael DeRoest of Baker City and Jim Hall of Baker City; six grandchildren; his mother and stepfather, Toye and Dee Spence of Baker City; sister, Madeline Kahn of Fallon, Nev.; his brother, Ron DeRoest of Baker City; his brothers, Dorrell and Patrick Spence; and numerous nephews and nieces. He was dearly loved by his children and grandchildren and will be greatly missed.

Mr. DeRoest was preceded in death by his son, Rickie Allen; and his father, Leon.

Memorial contributions may be made to the OHSU Foundation to help fund research for the lung disease that he had.

This may be done through the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

June Blank

June Marie Wells Blank, 80, a longtime Richland resident, died Nov. 6, 2001, at her home after a long battle with ovarian cancer.

Her graveside funeral was today at 3 p.m. at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland. Lowell Stidolph officiated.

Her loving sister and daughter took care of her for the past few years. She never complained, kept alert and sharp-minded, and she appreciated all of the kindness that both old and new friends showed her. Three years is a long time to be virtually helpless. She showed a strong will to hold it all together. Marie (as she was known) was buried next to her husband Earl.

Mrs. Blank was born June 14, 1921, in the small town of Heath, Idaho, up Brownlee Creek. She was living in Cambridge, Idaho, when the polio epidemic was raging throughout the country. Marie was six years old when she got the disease. She was taken to the Shriners Hospital in Portland when she was nine for treatment and an operation. It was not an easy trip back then. She was very brave and never complained. She stayed there for several months all by herself and always said they were wonderful to her. When she was able to go home, they even gave her a new dress.

Mrs. Blanks family moved to Eagle Valley in 1933. She attended the old Daly Creek School and graduated from Eagle Valley High School in 1940.

She attended nursing school and got top grades, but had to give it up as her legs were not strong enough.

She was married to Earl Blank on June 2, 1941.

Mrs. Blank enjoyed reading, sewing, tying knots, crocheting rag rugs, and being with her family. She loved to laugh and giggle and was known as Ree Ree by all of the kids who loved her. She was a quiet and shy lady, never a social butterfly, but she will be deeply missed by those who knew her.

She also made the best apple pies ever, and her crusts were gorgeous.

Mrs. Blank is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Earletta Marie and Steven Lee Baker of Portland; a granddaughter, Leslie Marie Cook, and her husband, Scott, and a great-grandson, Jeremy Cook, all of Kelso, Wash., a grandson, Travis Lee Baker and his wife, Christine, of Tucson, Ariz.; a sister, Billie Wells of Richland; nieces and nephews including Loretta Larkins of Richland, Diana Smith and her son, Coby Ryder, of Portland, Zona Ciochetti of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Davis Pollard and his children, Jessica and Logan of Lovelock, Nev.; many cousins who are very dear and close to her; and a special aunt, Fannie Blank.

Mrs. Blank was preceded in death by her parents, Harley and Maggie Wells; a five-year-old sister, Retha, and her husband, Earl, who died in 1981.

Contributions in Mrs. Blanks memory may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Eagle Valley Ambulance Fund in care of Tamis Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.

Tom Ingram

Thomas Fredrick Tom Ingram, 78, of Halfway, died Oct. 28, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

His funeral was Friday at Halfway.

Mr. Ingram was born on Feb. 13, 1923, to Earl and Pearl Gerberding Ingram in Eugene. He began his schooling at Burns, but finished his education in Baker County, graduating from Baker High School in 1941.

In his youth, he lived in Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho. After high school, Mr. Ingram worked at Yuma Army Air Base at Yuma, Ariz., during the war years.

On June 25, 1945, Tom and Ann met. They didnt see each other again until July 22. They were married on Sept. 2, 1945, at Reno, Nev. They had two children: Tanna and Connie.

During Mr. Ingrams life, he enjoyed ranching in Nevada County, Calif., and also attended college at Chico. For quite some time, he worked for Cal Trans, Department of Highways in California, retiring as a supervisor.

On May 6, 1984, the Ingrams moved to Halfway. Mr. Ingram enjoyed working with and riding for Darrell Thomas. He served as mayor of Halfway for two terms, from 1987 to 1991. He had also been the chief coordinator of the Pine Haven Cemetery, having a vast knowledge of who, when and where.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Ann Ingram; daughter, Tanna Ingram of St. Helens; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Vernita and John Personeni and Roberta and Joe Day of Nevada City, Calif.; four grandchildren, five great- grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Connie.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children or a charity of ones choice through Tamis Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.

Roselle Dowdy

Janice Roselle Dowdy, 64, of Irrigon, a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 5, 2001, at her home with her family at her side.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Hermiston. Disposition was by cremation.

Mrs. Dowdy was born the third of eight children on Aug. 22, 1937, in Baker City to John Joseph and Edith Maxine McNair. She attended St. Francis Academy in Baker City.

In the summer of 1955, she and Adolph M. Dowdy met at a Grange dance in Haines. They were married on Dec. 31, 1955, at St. Francis Cathedral in Baker City and enjoyed 45 years together.

Throughout their lives, the Dowdys lived in Baker City, Prineville, Parkdale, Tillamook and La Grande. They also spent a short stint at Wicksburg, Ariz., Green Leaf, Idaho, and most recently, the last two years at Irrigon.

In 1987, Mrs. Dowdy decided to get a degree in business, so she returned to Eastern Oregon University at La Grande and diligently worked for her associate degree. At the age of 50 her dream was realized. She had many interests and hobbies: traveling, pottery, oil painting, golf, fishing and occasionally writing a scalding letter to the editor.

She was an intelligent woman with a sharp, dry wit, a loving heart and a great love for her family and friends. She was a member of Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church at Hermiston.

Survivors include her husband, Adolph Dowdy of Irrigon; daughter and son-in-law, Janis and Regan of Tri Cities, Wash.; son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Genevieve Dowdy of Fort Collins, Colo.; brothers and sisters-in-law, David and Farrar McNair of Vandilia, Ill., Mark and Geri McNair of Hood River; brothers, Bill McNair of Portland and Hugh McNair of Baker City; six grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Danny McNair; and sisters, Joanne Hughes and Audrey Bradley.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church directly or through the Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, P.O. Box 289, Hermiston, OR 97838.

Bud Jacobson

Oscar Lee Bud Jacobson, 66, died Oct. 31, 2001, at Phoenix, Ariz., from complications of pneumonia.

There will be a memorial gathering in his honor at 1 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Haines Methodist Community Building adjacent to the Haines Methodist Church.

Mr. Jacobson was born on Aug. 30, 1935, to Walter Bud Jacobson and Marian Steward Jacobson in Baker City. He grew up on a ranch between Haines and North Powder. He graduated from Powder Valley High School at North Powder in 1954 and from Oregon Technical Institute (now Oregon Institute of Technology) at Klamath Falls in 1956.

He farmed in the Muddy Creek area for several years and also did some logging. He sold the farm and worked in construction until he retired in January of 2001. He enjoyed his work and like living in Arizona for health reasons.

His favorite pastime was visiting. He will be missed by his family and friends in Arizona and Oregon.

He married Rita Glenn in 1958. They had two children: Clark Lee and Kristen Marie Jacobson. They subsequently divorced. He married Polly Blakley in 1975.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Marian Jacobson; and his daughter, Kristen.

Survivors include his wife, Polly of Camp Verde, Ariz.; his son, Clark of Kennewick, Wash.; his brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Marsha Jacobson of Haines; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ed and Francine Glenn of Boardman, Kenneth and Paula Glenn of La Grande and Jerry and Donna Glenn of Yakima, Wash.; a sister-in-law, Ellen Rollins of Bend; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Haines Methodist Church to help with finishing the churchs new community building.