‘Jake’ Jacoby

Albert andquot;Jakeandquot; Jacoby, 77, of Ontario, died Aug. 7, 2003, at his home.

His graveside funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. MDT at Rosedale Memorial Gardens in Payette, Idaho. Visitations will be Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. MDT at Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel, 2543 S.W. Fourth St. in Ontario.

Albert was born July 28, 1926, the youngest of 10 children born to Jacob and Katherine Jacoby. He was raised in Windsor, Colo., where his family worked in the produce fields. His mother always told stories of what a sweet, loving boy he was.

Albert served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. He was stationed on a naval ship and was at sea his entire term. He received an honorable discharge when his tour was up. As a young man Albert had a jukebox vending machine business. He paid his employees with nickels they removed from the machines. In the 1940s this was considered a fair wage.

Albert also worked at a cement plant in Laramie, Wyo., for 11 years. He then transferred to the Durkee plant in 1956, working there as a crusher operator.

He married Alda Clark Bradley on May 14, 1960, and they lived in Ontario until his death. Albert retired from Oregon Portland Cement in 1988, but still worked as an engineering specialist for several years. After retiring, Albert and Alda spent their winters in Yuma, Ariz. They both enjoyed the area and the people they met there.

One of Albert’s great pleasures was going to yard sales to find special treasures. Albert never met a stranger, and was always quick with a joke. He loved to harass and make people laugh. It seemed his mission in life was to make others happy. He was a dedicated and loving husband, father and grandfather. He was always there for his family and anyone who needed his help. Albert found great joy in his grandchildren; he had a special bond with each and every one of them. Albert will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Albert is survived by his wife of 43 years, Alda Jacoby; a son, Lester (Robyn) Jacoby; a daughter, Jeannie (Tim) Bates; grandchildren, David, Gary, Elizabeth, Melissa, Jacob and Kenzie Jacoby; great-grandchildren, Miranda, Jeffery, Zack and Chase Jacoby, and Dalton Bixby.

Albert was preceded in death by his parents, numerous siblings, and a son, David Jacoby.

Leanna DuBeau

Leanna A. Braswell DuBeau, 74, a former Baker City and Durkee resident, died Aug. 4, 2003, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland.

There will be a celebration of life memorial service at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Gray’s West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Lenny Spooner of the First Church of the Nazarene will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at the Durkee Grange.

Leanna was born on Jan. 13, 1929, at Baker City to John W. and Erma A. Parker Braswell. At the time of her birth her family lived in New Bridge. Leanna later moved to Durkee.

She enjoyed playing piano for the school plays when her children were attending grade school there. She was also active in the Durkee Grange Auxiliary. Leanna loved flower gardening and music, and she was a great cook. She worked as a waitress and for a period of time helped operate the restaurant in Durkee.

She is survived by a daughter, Nancy Bailey and her husband, Richard, of Bellingham, Wash.; a son, Brent Grogan of Durkee; a daughter, Marilyn Gerry and her companion, Kevin Wells, of Scappoose; a stepdaughter, Gayle Steele and her husband, Ned, of Baker City; a stepson, Melvin Conaway and his wife, Barbara, of Baker City; a stepdaughter, Carolyn Beck, and her husband, Alvin, of Chelan, Wash.; her brother, Ed Braswell and his wife, Jenna, of Colville, Wash.; various nieces and nephews; and 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Alan, Joe and John; and one son, E. Dean Grogan.

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

Mary Jane Ward

Mary Jane Ward, 85, of La Grande and formerly of Baker City, died Aug. 2, 2003, at a local care facility.

A private family service and interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Mrs. Ward was born on Feb. 26, 1918, to James Levi and Daisy B. Bishop Mullen at Westfall. She was a 1936 graduate of Ontario High School. She married Frank Eldon Ward at Payette, Idaho, on July 24, 1948. They later moved to Baker City where they owned and operated Scotty’s Tavern. Mr. Ward died on Oct. 16, 1972. She continued to operate the business until 1979 when she moved to La Grande with her son and his family.

Mrs. Ward loved to draw and to paint. She enjoyed animals, especially watching the squirrels and birds. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed taking care of her family and grandchildren.

Survivors include her son and his wife, Ben and Cindy Ward of La Grande; stepson and his wife, Herbert and Janet Ward of Othello, Wash.; grandchildren, Brach Ward of La Grande and Sheila Ward of Ogden, Utah; sister, Lee Meyers of California; sister-in-law, Naomi Westfall of Burns; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by a son, Frank Ward.

Memorial contributions may be made to the GRH Hospice, P.O. Box 3290, La Grande, OR 97850.

Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley. To view the unedited obituary, sign the guest book or to leave a condolence visit: www.danielschapel.com

Thomas Rupe

Thomas Harold Rupe, 83, of Baker City, died July 30, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Care Center.

His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Gray’s West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Robin Harris of Cornerstone Baptist Church will officiate.

Tom was born on Sept. 4, 1919, at Guthrie, Okla. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and outdoor activities such as collecting firewood. He worked for Weyerhaeuser, retiring in 1979. He was remarried in 1979 to Donna Watson.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Onnie, in 1976, and his wife, Donna, in 1998.

Survivors include his son, Michael Edward Rupe; granddaughter, Teresa Jackway of Klamath Falls; great-grandchildren, Justin Rupe, Jessica Jackway and Roger Jackway, all of Klamath Falls; sisters, Cecilia McAllister of Stayton and Sherry Adair of Hubbard; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Robert Watson Jr. of La Grande, Richard Watson of Weiser, Idaho, Larry Watson of La Grande, Sharon Baird of Eugene, Mary Jo Zemmer of Sherwood, Helen Lefever of Baker City and Mike Watson of Baker City; stepchildren, Kathy Whitmer of Idaho, Elnora Calder of Baker City, Judy Dixon of Ontario, Debbie Warren of Klamath Falls, Kevin Adair of Bend and Tammy Stanley of California.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.