Obituaries for the week of June 16 to June 20
Published 12:00 am Friday, June 20, 2003
Tom Heacock
Tom Heacock, 68, of Richland, died June 16, 2003, at his home.
A celebration of his life will take place Wednesday, June 25 at 1 p.m. at Columbia View Park in St. Helens.
Thomas Alphonso Heacock was born on Dec. 27, 1934, in Pennington County, Rapid City, S.D., to Frederick Alvorado and Lola Nancy Wright Heacock. When he was seven his family moved to St. Helens. Tom graduated from high school in St. Helens and went on to work at Boise Cascade. It was from that job that he retired, 43 years later. Tom and Nancy were married in 1982 in St. Helens.
After retirement, Tom and his wife took their first trip to the Richland. They camped in the mountains and fell in love with the area. Tom was an avid fisherman, hunter and outdoorsman, and he had a wonderful sense of humor. He loved all animals, especially birds.
Tom was especially close to his children and grandchildren. He played a huge part of their lives.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy, of Richland; daughters, Diane Heacock of Rainier, Margie Heacock of Spokane, Wash., Christy Hess and her husband, Bob, of St. Helens, Leslie Stockdale and her husband, Randy, of Welches, and Christine Curtis and her husband, Steve, of Portland; 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; his sisters, Ellen Bergstrom and Patty Heacock; and his brothers, Don and Fred Heacock. Tom was preceded in death by his parents.
Contributions in Tom’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association in care of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Nettie Fuller
Nettie Lee Fuller, 87, a longtime Baker City resident, died June 16, 2003, at her home.
Her funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Bishop David Richards of Second Ward will conduct. Visitation will be today from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Interment will be Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande. Following the committal services, everyone is invited to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center on Gekeler Lane in La Grande.
Nettie Lee Whittenberg was born Oct. 13, 1915, in Detroit Lakes, Minn., to O.W. Whittenberg and Zoe Edson (Bandy) Whittenberg. In the fourth grade Nettie Lee and her family moved to Eugene, where she graduated from high school.
In 1945 she married the love of her life, G. Lowell Fuller. They lived in Baker City and raised their five children, Dee, Larry, Gary, Sonya and Zoe Anne. She and her husband opened and ran the Fuller Insurance Agency until 1962, when they sold their agency to son, Larry. They then bought and ran a cattle ranch along Pocahontas Road until Mr. Fuller died. Nettie Lee then bought a house in town, where she lived for the next 20 years.
Nettie Lee was very active in her church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was the Stake president of the Relief Society for six years, and later head of the German Extract Program. One of her many favorite pastimes was her beautiful drawings, as well as cooking for her family and friends. She also loved sewing quilts for her family, among other things. Another love was teaching and spending time with her many grandchildren, who were the apples of her eye.
She is survived by son, Dr. Dee Fuller and his wife, GeorgAnna, of La Grande; a son, Larry Fuller and his wife, Linda, of Umatilla, a son, Gary Fuller of Pleasant Valley, a daughter, Sonya Givens, who is serving her mission for the LDS Church in Australia, and a daughter, Zoe Anne Spriet of Baker City. She is also survived by 23 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Nettie Lee was preceded in death by her husband, G. Lowell Fuller; a brother, Jack Whittenberg; a sister, Martha Whittenberg; a son-in-law, Harley Spriet; her father, O.W. Whittenberg, and her mother, Zoe Edson (Bandy) Whittenberg.
Contributions in Mrs. Fuller’s memory may be directed to Pathway Hospice or to the charity of your choice. This may be done through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Jewell Wright
Jewell Josephine Wright, 88, a longtime Baker City resident, died June 17, 2003, at her son’s home in Nampa, Idaho.
Her funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Gray’s West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. in Baker City, with two of her sons, Pastor Rich Wright of the Calvary Chapel in Nampa, and Rod Wright of the Calvary Baptist Church in Baker City officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, with a reception following at the Rodeway Inn convention room. Visitations will be Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Gray’s West andamp; Co.
Jewell was born Feb. 27, 1915, at Springfield to Leroy A. and Lela D. Cross Speelman. She grew up and attended school in Haines, where she rode her horse, Mable, to school. The neighbors said she rode her horse so fast they thought she would get thrown. During the winter her dad drove her, her brother, Claude, and the neighbor kids to school in a horse-drawn sleigh.
She and her brother were best of friends. They went fishing in Rock Creek once with a willow stick for a pole and a safety pin for a hook. She caught a fish and it scared her so badly she ran home, dragging it behind her.
Jewell married Lee Wright on May 23, 1931, in Baker City. They lived in Baker Valley on different ranches, and in town, during their married life. Mr. Wright died in 1988. Together they raised four sons: David, Dwayne, Rod and Rick. Jewell gave her life to care for and to instill Christian character in her sons. She was an excellent cook and always seemed to have something in her hands to do, such as darning the boys’ socks, quilting, crocheting or embroidering. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles and putting together jigsaw puzzles. She loved to laugh, and when she got tickled she could stop laughing.
Jewell was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Baker City, where she served as deaconess and taught Sunday school. First and foremost, she loved her Lord and Savior, and her four sons and their families.
She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, David and Jeanie Wright of Baker City, Dwayne and Evonne Wright of Milton-Freewater, Rod and Carol Wright of Baker City, and Rick and Myrna Wright of Nampa; 17 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Marge McAllister and Lois Moberly of Milton-Freewater; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jewell was preceded in death by her husband, Lee; her parents and her brother.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Mercy Medical Hospice in Nampa, or Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, in care of Gray’s West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
‘Pete’ Pearson
Henry D. andquot;Peteandquot; Pearson, 73, a longtime Baker City resident, died June 15, 2003, at his home.
His graveside funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the North Powder Cemetery.
Pete was born on Nov. 13, 1929, at North Powder to Frank and Olive Davis Pearson. He enjoyed all types of hunting, fishing and the outdoors. One of his favorite pastimes in the summer was horseback riding. A trip to the Wallowa wilderness for fishing in the high lakes was an annual event.
Pete was the quarterback of the 1946 North Powder football team, which suffered only one loss, and that to the eventual state champions. Pete was an avid trapshooter. He won numerous trophies throughout the western United States including the Oregon State Singles Championship in the Amateur Trapshooting Association, and the Singles Championship in the Pacific Trapshooting Association in the 1980s.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Edna Pearson of Baker City; children, Frank of Milwaukie, Terry of Baker City, and Ann McGranahan of Wilsonville; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Grace Rowett, Barbara Baker and Phyllis Fettig.
Contributions in Pete’s memory may be directed to the Baker County Chapter of the American Red Cross. This may be done through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Rodney Colton
Rodney Perry Colton, 80, of Portland, and a former Baker City resident, died June 15, 2003.
The Rosary will be said Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church at 375 N.E. Clackamas in Portland. A Funeral mass will follow.
Arrangements are under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.
Rodney was born April 9, 1923, at Baker City.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Force from February 1944 to November 1945, flying P-38 Lightning fighter planes. He owned Rancho Flowers until 1999, when he retired. He lived in the Portland area for 57 years.
Rodney is survived by his sons, Rodney Colton Jr., of Richmond, Va., Jim Colton of Portland, and Bill Colton of Beaverton; daughters, Linda Colton Harris, Cathy Wetzel of Canby, Peggy Sherwood of Silverton, Tessie Hartill of Oregon City, and Amy Colton of Euliss, Texas; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Tessie Kelleher, who died in 1997.
‘Jim’ Cartwright
James Orlin andquot;Jimandquot; Cartwright, 58, a former Baker City resident, died June 16, 2003, at his home in Grants Pass.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Grants Pass Country Club, 230 Espey Road. Hull andamp; Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.
Jim was born July 25, 1944, at Baker City to Norma and Orlin Cartwright. He graduated from Baker High School in 1962. He grew up working in the meat business with his mom and dad in Baker.
On Dec. 4, 1964, Jim married Sandra Lee Bailey. In 1966 he moved to Medford where he was partners with his dad in Central Point.
In 1975, Jim moved with his family to Grants Pass to operate Cartwright Valley Meat Company, which he owned and operated for 30 years.
Jim was a member of the Elks and Lions clubs.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, and just being in the outdoors. He loved spending time with his family and his dog, Jackie.
Survivors include his wife, Sandy Cartwright of Grants Pass; daughter, Jodi Harford of Grants Pass; two sons, Curt Cartwright of San Diego, Calif., and Jamie Cartwright of Grants Pass; his mother, Norma Cartwright of Medford; sister, Sharron McMurdie of Avondale, Ariz.; and five grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Oregon Affiliate, 1425 N.E. Irving No. 100, Portland, OR 97232-4201.
Gladys McPherson
Gladys Alatia McPherson, 82, of Richland, died June 8, 2003.
A private family interment took place June 11 at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway.
A celebration of her life is set for Saturday, July 12, at Pine Baptist Church.
Gladys Alatia Phillips was born on June 16, 1920, at Ruedi, Colo., to Samuel and Gladys Alatia Caldwell Phillips.
In 1941, Don and Gladys began their wonderful 62 years of marriage. They had originally met at a movie house where Gladys worked as an usher. Of this marriage they had four daughters, Donna, Lana, June and Susie, and a foster son, Dean.
Gladys was a wonderful mother. She loved to cook, and during the years that her husband ran several ranches, she would cook for the ranch hands. Gladys loved to listen to good music, especially musicals, one of her favorites being andquot;The Sound of Music.andquot; She loved her family, the Lord, her church family and she especially enjoyed the opportunity to sit and visit with friends.
She and Don spent the spring and summer months in Richland, but headed south to enjoy the winters in Yuma, Ariz. Gladys was once an active member of the Cowbells and was active with the Christian Women’s Association.
Survivors include her husband Don; daughters and their husbands, Donna and Al Geiser of Rozet, Wyo., Lana and Terry Scott of Kuna, Idaho, June and Larry McNamee of Sun City, Ariz., Marv and Susie Powell of Eagle, Idaho; foster son and his wife, Dean and Becky Goodner of Kuna, Idaho; a sister, Lucille Fischer; a brother, Mike Phillips; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Contributions in Gladys’ memory may be made to the Pine Baptist Church in care of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home P.O. Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834.
Floyd Mobley
Floyd William Mobley, 99, of Baker City, died June 12, 2003, in his home at Meadowbrook Place.
His graveside funeral will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, with Pastor Jon Privett of the First Church of the Nazarene in Baker City officiating. A potluck picnic at Geiser Pollman Park will follow the ceremonies.
Floyd was born April 21, 1904, in Booneville, Ark., and lived there until the age of 3 when his parents, Pearlie and Lemuel Henry Mobley, brought the family by train to Hood River. They homesteaded in Benge, Wash., and later near Huntington.
Floyd had a hard time getting an education because when his parents needed help on the homestead he had to stay home from school. He did manage to get a sixth-grade education, and he had a photographic memory and easily remembered almost anything he read. The Bible was one of his favorite books to read, and he could quote entire chapters.
Floyd went to Colusa, Calif., in 1929, where he met Dorothy Totman Wilson, whom he married April 15, 1931. They had six children together. They moved back to Huntington in 1934.
Floyd was a logger and fell trees all over Oregon, and some in Washington. The family lived in many places in both Eastern and Western Oregon, as well as in Central Washington in the towns of Buena, Toppenish, White Swan and Wapato.
After his wife, Dorothy Mobley, died in 1970, Floyd moved to Baker City, where he lived out the rest of his life except for two years in Yakima, Wash. There was nothing Floyd loved as much as being out in the hills and woods. He loved to hike, and he climbed Mount Hood with some of his children when he was 67. Floyd knew hundreds of poems and loved to quote them to people. He also loved to sing. He sang church songs or funny little songs: andquot;The Big Rock Candy Mountainandquot; was one of his favorites.
Floyd is survived by his brother, Edwin Mobley of Union Gap, Wash.; three sons and daughters-in-law, David and Esther Mobley, Ralph and Dixie Mobley, and Earl and Judy Mobley; three daughters, Ruth Brown, Alice and Jim Wikstrom, and Beth Rairdan; 21 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Floyd was preceded in death by his parents; his three sisters, Climey Rodellia Mobley, Margaret Josephine Mobley and Bessey Leor Mobley; two brothers, Jesse James Mobley and Joseph Phillip Mobley; and one grandson, Jason Jonathan Mobley.
Contributions in Floyd’s memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice in care of Gray’s West andamp; Company Pioneer Chapel, P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.