Jimmie Garrett

Jimmie Owen Garrett, 58, of Baker City, died April 17, 2002, at his sister’s home in Baker City.

His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Gray’s West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. The Rev. Ed Niswender of the Baker Calvary Baptist Church will officiate. The eulogy will be given by Duane Ewing, Aerie past president, and prayers by John Price, Aerie chaplain.

Visitation will be for family only.

Disposition was by cremation by Gray’s West andamp; Co. Pioneer Crematory. Inurnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.

There will be a reception afterward at the Eagles Lodge, 2935 H St.

Jimmie was born on June 25, 1943, at Harriman, Tenn., to Harlan and Mayme Garrett. The family moved from Tennessee in 1953 to Baker City where they became involved in the logging industry.

In the early 1970s, Jimmie and several of his brothers began working on the Alaskan pipeline. Their work was performed under harsh conditions and with unique machinery such as Rolligons and other equipment designed for specific tasks and the sub-zero environment.

Jimmie will be remembered as a kind and generous man and a wonderful, caring father.

Among his most endearing qualities were his perseverance through chronic illness and the positive, optimistic demeanor he maintained.

His unconditional love and empathy enriched the lives of those he touched.

Survivors include his mother, Mayme Garrett; his identical twin, Jackie; his brothers, Ray, Bobbie, John and Ken; sisters, Unafay McAdams, Thelma Elliot, Lenny Rasmussen, Debbie Haris and Amber Emery; numerous nieces and nephews; his five children, Mayme Stromme, Michelle Vercruysse, Christina Witham, James Garrett and Mandy Masterson; three grandsons and five granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his father, Harlan Garrett; and his brother, Clifford Garrett.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association through Gray’s West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Virginia Jones

Virginia Francis Butterfield Jones, 69, a lifetime Baker County resident, died April 13, 2002, at her home in Baker City.

Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Bishop Greg Baxter of the 1st Ward will officiate. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.

Virginia was born on Jan. 9, 1933, the second of three daughters to John Butterfield and Elsie Bernard Butterfield on a mining claim near Sparta Butte. In her early school years, her dad would put her on a horse and she would ride horseback to school. Her parents moved to Baker City around 1940. She attended Baker schools and was in the class of 1951.

She married Kenneth Jones in Baker City on Oct. 7, 1952, while Kenneth was on leave from the Air Force. They immediately moved to Spokane, Wash., where their daughter, Cheryl Lynn, was born.

They were then stationed at McCord Air Force base in Tacoma, Wash. In 1955, they were transferred to Washington, D.C., where their son, Patrick John, was born. They were discharged in Washington, D.C., in January 1959, and returned to Baker City.

Virginia enjoyed crocheting, embroidery, puzzles, and was involved in the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed outdoor activities and her calling in the LDS church, which she and Kenneth joined in 1999.

Her great love was riding motorcycles. Over the last 28 years, she rode on the back of the motorcycle with her husband driving. They traveled 281,000 miles and she loved every mile of their travels. They would often ride 400 miles to Missoula, Mont., or to Lincoln City just for a dinner date together.

She loved to wave to all the kids she saw in the cars as they drove down the highway. On the back roads, she loved to watch the deer and the antelope play. Kenneth called her his andquot;motorcycle mama.andquot;

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Elsie Butterfield, and one granddaughter, Virginia Walker.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Jones of Baker City; sisters, Jean Woolery and her husband, Kenneth, of Springfield and Patricia Stacy of Eugene; her children, Cheryl Walker of The Dalles and Patrick and Theresa Jones of Redmond; grandchildren, Jennifer and Katie Walker of The Dalles and Justin and Stacey Jones of Redmond; and great-grandson Brenden Jones of Hood River; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was an honorary grandmother to Shaun, Tamra, Aaron, Adam, Daniel, and Brandon Lutz of Baker City.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice, 1904 Resort St., or through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

Ava Fullerton

Ava Marie Fullerton, 70, of Baker City died April 11, 2002, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise of lung cancer.

At her request, her body was cremated. There will be a memorial service April 27 to celebrate her life. The time and place will be announced later. The family asks that no flowers be given.

Ava was born on Dec. 29, 1931, at her home in Lamar, Colo., to Chester and Olive Hopkins. The family moved to Idaho when Ava was young.

She attended grade school at Houston, Idaho, and Notus, Idaho, and attended high school at Caldwell, Idaho.

Ava married John Nysingh at Caldwell and they had one daughter, Mayree.

Ava later married Earl Cantrell of Cascade, Idaho. Ava, Earl and Mayree lived at Smiths Ferry, Idaho, and at Cascade, Idaho, for several years.

Ava worked at Cascade, Banks and for Alan Fackrell at Clear Creek. She also worked in Emmett and Salmon, Idaho.

Ava married Jim Fullerton in the late 1960s. They lived at Nyssa, Bellingham, Wash., and Klamath Falls. She lived at Payette, Idaho, and worked in Ontario before moving to Baker City.

Survivors include a brother, Orange Hopkins of Winnemucca, Nev.; a sister-in-law, Eila Lewis of Baker City; and numerous nieces and nephews living in Oregon, Idaho, Washington, California, Utah, Nevada, Oklahoma and Florida.

Samuel Hornbeck

Samuel E. Hornbeck, 96, of Baker City died April 12, 2002, at his home.

His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Sam’s son, Gary Hornbeck of Hood River, will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Visitations will be from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West andamp; Co.

Sam was born on May 25, 1905, at Portland to Michael and Mallie Hall Hornbeck. He was raised in the Baker Valley, attending school at Haines and Muddy Creek. He was one of four graduates of the Muddy Creek High School Class of 1925.

His father sharecropped on several ranches in the valley and he had many fond memories of growing up at the base of the Elkhorn Mountains.

After graduation from high school, he worked in Los Angeles for a few years before returning to Baker Valley and meeting Iva Srack. Sam and Iva were married for 44 years before her death in 1979.

The Hornbecks lived in La Grande for a short time before moving to Pondosa where Sam worked as a machinist for the Collins Pondosa Lumber Co. for 23 years. They lived at Pondosa until the mill was closed down and the homes were moved out of the area.

From Pondosa, Sam and Iva moved to Huntington whey they lived for 19 years. Sam worked at the cement plant at Lime and on the freeway construction between Ontario and La Grande.

He also worked for Ellingson Lumber Co. in Baker and at the mill in Halfway. He was known as an honest man and a hard worker. He was appreciated by his employers and his fellow workers alike.

He will be remembered as a wonderful caring father and husband. Many times he gave of himself to provide for the needs of others. He had a great sense of humor that endeared him to those around him. He was very appreciative of everything that others did for him, especially during these last few years of needed care.

Four years after Iva’s death, Sam married Elsie Best. They had many good times traveling to Arizona during the winter along with many other trips around the country until his health would not permit further travels.

When his wife, Iva, died, he placed a headstone to mark their graves that reads: Iva Hornbeck, 1910-1979 and Sam E. Hornbeck 1905-19__. He had no thought of living until 2002. As one person pointed out, Sam Hornbeck had fooled the maker of that headstone.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Iva; a brother; three sisters; and many friends.

Survivors include his wife, Elsie; two daughters, Jeanne Cates and her husband, Dub, of Baker City, and Leanne Johnston and her husband, Dan, of Ontario; a son, Gary M. Hornbeck, and his wife, Noretta, of Hood River; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice of Baker City or Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital through Gray’s West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

George Guthrie

Ort George Guthrie, 76, of Baker City, died April 6, 2002, in Baker City.

His funeral was at 2 p.m. April 12 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Burial was at Mount Hope Cemetery.

George was born on Oct. 10, 1925, in Fresno, Calif. He completed elementary school at Dunlap, Calif., in a one-room schoolhouse. He then attended high school in Fresno. During his high school years he boarded with many families, earning his way on his own, and learning many of the skills, work habits and ethics that he used throughout his life.

He answered the call to arms for his country during World War II and served in the U.S. Navy until the end of the war. He attained the rank of motor machinist mate 3rd Class and was an engineer and gunner on LCMs and LCNPs during invasions, landing troops and supplies on the islands of the Pacific.

After miliary service he married Marion Rose Marsik and moved to Oregon. They started a family in 1948 and had five children. In 1954, George moved his family to Baker City and started the Baker Valley Septic Tank Service. He also started Guthrie Distributing, dealing in scrap metal.

With the urging of some friends, he opened a gun shop in 1960. It was called George’s Custom Firearms and was located on Campbell Street. This was his most noted business. His gunsmithing and stock-making abilities are still talked about today.

During the late ’70s and ’80s, fur trading and trapping took up his work time. With the passing of time, he returned to his love of firearms and gunsmithing.

George loved the outdoors, trapping, hunting, fishing, archeology, anthropology and most any nonfiction book. He also enjoyed gardening and canning produce from his gardens. George baked a great pie and was known for telling a great story or two.

Survivors include his two sisters of California; and his five children, Steven Alan of Baker City, John Marsik of North Powder, Barbara Lynn of Colorado, Ort Scott of Haines, Timothy George of Colorado; and many grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program through Gray’s West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Dick Towell

Dick Towell, 60, of McMinnville, a former longtime Halfway resident, died April 5, 2002, at his home after an ongoing battle with cancer for the past four years.

His funeral was Saturday at the Church of Christ at McMinnville. There was a graveside service afterward and a potluck at the Towell home.

Dick was born at home in the country by Scholls on Nov. 23, 1941, to Edith Alice and Euidas Scott Towell. He attended a two-room school in first grade and then moved to a newly built school for Grades 2-4. In fifth grade he went to a one-room Lutheran school. In sixth grade his family moved to Hillsboro where he finished high school. He was a 1960 graduate of Hill High.

Dick was a hard worker his whole life. When he was growing up he picked berries and beans, picked up nuts and prunes, baby-sat and did general farm work. Starting after sixth grade, and through high school, he worked milking one cow and cleaning one stall for $1 a day.

At 15, he boarded at a dairy that summer and did all sorts of farm jobs for $125 a month, plus room and board. He worked at Noble Craft Cabinet Shop when he was 16 through age 19. Then he worked for Biltwell Furniture Factory for 10 years. The next four years he worked for West Side Concrete in the Willamette Valley doing construction work. Also, he took care of an orchard and did general work for the owner on weekends.

On June 30, 1962, Dick and Jean Cookman were married. On June 13, 1964, their daughter, Dana, was born. Their son, Jeff, was born on April 25, 1966.

In 1962, they moved into a two- bedroom home purchased by Dick the spring of 1962. Then in 1963 they sold it and bought 33 acres with a new home and a farm house they rented, at Cherry Grove.

In 1967, Dick and Jean were divorced. In 1970 he sold that place and bought an 80-acre farm with an old farmhouse in Halfway.

On Jan. 23, 1970, Dick and Patty Theer were married. For their first month they lived with Dick’s sister, Linda Van Fleet. Then they bought a 15-foot trailer and lived in it at the home of Dick’s folks, Scotty and Edith Towell, for about six months. Next, they lived with an elderly couple for at least a month caring for them. Then, they rented a house in Hillsboro for a year and a half. In 1972 they bought a small house in Portland.

Their son, Ricky, was born on July 2, 1975, and they moved to their farm in Halfway when he was just a week and half old. Dick worked as a relief milker and did farm work for two dairymen. He also ran his own farm.

In 1976, he started driving school bus, and drove many sports trips for Pine-Eagle School District. About 1977 Dick bought a new tractor, bailer, and swather and stared doing custom farming. They sold barley, hay, milk and eggs.

In 1980, their daughter, Jennifer, was born. That same year they converted their barn to a dairy and bought 25 cows. Dick milked before and after driving bus. In 1986 they went on the government andquot;Dairy Buyout Programandquot; and got out of the milking business.

In November 1990, the school contracted for buses, so Dick started his own bus service. He bought a 1988 Ford Eldorado Bus, and a 1972 motorcoach, and Dick bid and won sports trips from the EOSU and several other companies.

He did very well until his car accident in February of 1998. He was in the hospital for nine days. It was there that he was given a biopsy for the suspected lump in his neck and discovered it as cancer. He underwent neck surgery in Boise.

In July of 1999 Dick and Patty sold their Halfway farm and bought 58 acres with a newly remodeled farm house just out of McMinnville. Two days after they moved, Dick had a second extensive neck surgery at Oregon Health and Science University.

Dick persevered and drove countless trips back and forth from Halfway to McMinnville moving and having an auction at their old place. Dick’s family helped out a lot too.

Once settled, Dick drove bus for Gaston School District, driving regular routes and some trips. He also drove a huge tractor for a farmer and did some custom farm work. Dick worked so hard, never wanting to give up. It was getting harder and harder so he finally retired in June 2001.

Everyone there really loved him, especially the kids. Dick had always been a favorite bus driver clear back to when he drove in Halfway. He was always so patient and kind to the children and they really appreciated it.

Everyone who knew Dick knew that he loved cars and was a andquot;FORDandquot; man. At age 15 he bought his first car, an old 1929 Model A pickup truck.

Dick enjoyed buying and selling cars, pickups, trucks and even tractors. He almost always made a profit, and had a real understanding of cars and could tell them apart. He had a passion for old cars!

Dick lived a good clean life and always stayed out of trouble. He never drank, or smoked, and was a good Christian. He was a good example to those who loved him, and also loved his children very much. He and his wife, Patty, were baptized into Christ in 1970 and met with the Church of Christ faithfully then, and throughout his life. He loved the Lord and strove to do what is pleasing to him, and is now at peace with his Father in heaven where there is pain no more.

Survivors include his wife, Patty; parents, Scotty and Edith Towell, of Hillsboro; daughter, Dana Lacefield of Enumclaw, Wash.; sons, Jeff Towell of Baker City, Ricky Towell, of Wagoneer, Okla.; daughter, Jennifer Barnes of McMinnville; sister, Linda Van Fleet of Hillsboro; brother, Roger Towell of Cherry Grove; sister, Paula Petsche of Gaston; grandchildren, Jared, Daniel, and Bethany Lacefield of Enumclaw, Wash., and Jeffrey and Angela Towell of Elgin; 17 nieces and nephews, two sons-in-law, five brothers-in-law, and three sisters- in-law.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth Towell.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.