Jose Flores

Jose C. Flores, 85, a resident of Baker City, died Aug. 26, 2003, at his home.

At his request, there will be no service. Arrangements were under the direction of Coles Funeral Home.

Jose was born Dec. 8, 1917, in Manzanillo, Mexico. He came to the United States as an infant and lived in San Francisco most of his life. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 through 1945. He engaged in battle at Papua, New Guinea and received many honors from the Army, including the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Service Medal with two Bronze Battle Stars.

He married Patricia Kristensen on Sept. 11, 1965. They moved to Baker City in 1984.

Jose loved life and he also loved his beloved wife and his family, especially a niece, Ceal Cottonaro. Jose was a fan of NFL football, especially the San Francisco 49ers. One of his other favorite activities was going fishing. He was a member of the Baker City Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3048.

Jose is survived by his wife, Patricia and two nieces.

Memorial contributions in Jose’s memory may be directed to Pathway Hospice, 1904 Resort St., Baker City, OR 97814.

Carol Kingston

Carol Rae Kingston, 61, of Troy, a former longtime Baker City resident, died Aug. 25, 2003, of natural causes at Ellensburg, Wash.

There will be a memorial fellowship potluck dinner for family and friends at 1 p.m. Friday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Club, 2005 Valley Ave.

Carol was born on May 1, 1942, at Baker City to Esther Mae and John Harold Westerlund. She was a 1960 Baker High School graduate and joined the U.S. Army that same year.

She had worked at Marvin Wood Products from July 1986 to January 2000. She and her husband, Kenneth Ross Kingston Sr., retired to Troy in July of this year.

Carol was a longtime member of the Eagles Lodge. She enjoyed bowling and had bowled in a league for a number of years. She loved the outdoors. She especially loved to fish and was an avid steelhead fisherman. She also enjoyed hunting.

She loved her family and will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Ross Kingston Sr.; her children, Debbie Rae Kingston of Baker City, Cindy Ann Trader of Aumsville, Sheri Linn Boesch of Umatilla and Daniel David Trader of Lacey, Wash.; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; her mother, Esther Mae Westerlund; a brother, Ernest Westerlund; and a sister, Esther Leone Simrell.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Harold Westerlund.

Kenneth Bunce

Kenneth LeRoy Bunce, 79, of Baker City, died Aug. 22, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

There will be a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. Thursday at Gray’s West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Robin Harris of the Cornerstone Baptist Church at North Powder will officiate. Friends are asked to join the family for an ice cream social at Settlers’ Park Assisted Living Facility, 2895 17th St., after the celebration.

Visitations will be from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at Gray’s West andamp; Co.

Ken was born to Vern C. Bunce of Canada and Margarett Bonwell on Dec. 14, 1923. He was a graduate of South Kitsap High School at Port Orchard, Wash. He married Alice Cunningham in December 1942. He soon left to serve his country during World War II. His memories and experiences in the Army during that time were left behind when he returned home to his wife and daughter.

Ken had a passion for horsepower. He logged with his team of horses named Babe and Platterfoot. He then worked at and retired from the Bremerton naval shipyards. He worked on nuclear ships and submarines.

When he retired from civil service he purchased and operated his own andquot;Pa ‘n’ Maandquot; corner business. They operated the small grocery store, service station, automotive repair shop, chain saw shop, and wrecking yard at Gig Harbor, Wash.

They sold the business in 1974 and came to Baker City. He could not be idle and soon was working at Cliff’s Saws and Cycles. He retired from Cliff’s about 1993. He continued his relationship there by bringing doughnuts to Sally and the guys every week for quite some time.

Quiet by nature, small in stature, Ken was noted for his strong hands and strong will to finish what he started, from crocheting toys, mittens, hats, and slippers for his grandchildren to his latest mechanical venture.

Ken enjoyed the outdoors: camping, hiking, hunting, boating, and fishing (even ice fishing in a local lake when the temperature dipped to minus 10 degrees). Ken worked his way up the chairs while in the Eagles Lodge at Port Orchard, Wash. He was an enthusiastic bowler.

Though his hands were made of iron, he was quick to laugh, and would cause a little mischief with a twinkle in his eye. He wouldn’t hesitate to start a food fight to bring some attention his way.

When Ken moved to Settlers’ Park, he acquired a new extended family, which loved and cared for him, just like their own andquot;Grandpa.andquot; His colorful language and the uncommon nicknames he doled out gave him a permanent spot in the andquot;Settlers’ Park Hall of Fame.andquot;

Ken Bunce will always be remembered for his quick wit, strong will and devotion to family. He was the father of five children: Alice Saul of Baker City, George Bunce of Indiana, and Vickie Culver, Lisa Bunce, and Leslie Bunce all of Washington. He had 11 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren.

His father, mother, brother, sister, and wife all preceded him in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Research Alliance of Oregon through Gray’s West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Velma Leek

Velma Dolly Leek, 92, a former North Powder resident, died Aug. 22, 2003, at Yellville, Ark.

Her graveside funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at North Powder Cemetery. Pastor Lenny Spooner of the First Church of the Nazarene will officiate. Visitations will be from noon to 8 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.

Velma was born Sept. 19, 1910, to Jim Vaughn and Ellen Pendergraft at Rock Bridge, Mo. She married Clarence Leek at Gainsville, Mo., on Feb. 4, 1932. The couple moved to Prineville where they remained until 1960.

While at Prineville, Velma worked as a grocery store clerk for Ochoco Grocery from 1948 to 1960 when they moved to North Powder. In 1965 they moved to Cascade Locks where Clarence worked in the lumber industry. They lived there until his retirement in 1970, and then moved back to North Powder.

Timothy Porter

Timothy Paul Porter, 30, of San Antonio, Texas, a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 7, 2003, at San Antonio.

There will be a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Pastor Lenny Spooner will officiate. There will be a potluck luncheon afterward for family and friends in the fellowship hall.

Tim was born on Nov. 18, 1972, at Colorado Springs, Colo. At an early age he went to live in Baker City, where his grandparents, Bill and Margaret Porter, raised him.

When Tim was 16, he moved to San Antonio, Texas. He got a job and worked at McDonald’s, Arby’s, and Albertsons while attending Roosevelt High School. In the midst of this activity, Tim was a part of the wrestling team at Roosevelt. He placed third in state at 180 pounds in his senior year.

Tim worked as a welder at Seattle, Wash., and at San Antonio, Texas. He married Kerry Reid in December of 1991. A son, Dylan, was born on May 20, 1992, at San Antonio. A daughter, Taylor, was born on May 26, 1994, at Edmonds, Wash.

When not working, Tim enjoyed coaching baseball, volunteering at the baseball field, hunting and fishing, and doing things with his family. Tim served on the Board of Directors of the Windcrest Little League for the past three years, working with Regina Walters, past president of the league, and Manny Rodriguez, current president of the Windcrest Little League.

Survivors include his wife, Kerry, and two children, Dylan and Taylor; his mother, Margaret Porter; brothers, Randi, Billy J., and Robbie; sisters, Nicki, Kandi, Kricket, Tamara, and Shariah; uncles and aunts, Jim and Terry Morlock and Rick and Jane Shanklin; grandmother, Blanche Porter and Betty Reid; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Vance and Beverly Reid.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Timothy Porter Trust Fund for Dylan and Taylor through Gray’s West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Florine Tiedemann

Florine P. Tiedemann, 79, a longtime Baker City resident, died Aug. 24, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

Recitation of the rosary will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the cathedral. Celebrant will be the Rev. Robert C. Irwin. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery after the Mass.

Visitations will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.

Florine was born Oct. 27, 1923, at Baker City to Joe and Irma De Groote, Belgium emigrants. They settled with other relatives at Empire, Mich. Upon the advice of others, they moved to Baker City, where they were told of more opportunities.

Her father worked at the White Pine and Stoddard Lumber companies and the family remained in Baker City for the rest of their lives.

She attended the St. Francis Academy for her entire 12 years of school. From 1942 to 1947, she owned and operated the South Baker Grocery Store, during World War II. The Oregon and Stoddard Lumber Co. and others were doing well and business was very good.

She was said to remark when you went to work andquot;you could never be depressedandquot; because there were so many wonderful customers and friends to inspire you. In other words, andquot;It was just great fun!andquot;

On Sept. 28, 1947, she married Al Tiedemann at St. Francis Cathedral. Al was attending the University of Oregon Dental School and she joined her husband in Portland. While there, she was employed in the office of the Young Oregonian Shop for Meier andamp; Frank.

She was a member of the Catholic Church, St. Elizabeth Auxiliary, Baker City Golf Club, Baker Elks Lodge and the Eastern Oregon Historical Society. She volunteered for various organizations over the years. She loved golf for many years and enjoyed the several bridge clubs and the members’ wonderful friendships.

For the past 30 years, she owned several rental homes and enjoyed the involvement. Before her husband’s retirement on Jan. 31, 1986, she assisted him at his dental office.

Highlights of her life were her five grandchildren, Al, Don, Jackie, Alexis and Avari, who were a constant delight in her life.

Most of all, she loved her late husband, Al; and her dear children, Bill and Marilee; her sisters Julia De Groote, Mary Claeys and her husband, Raymond, and their families; and her brother, Marcel De Groote, who died at the age of 52, and his wife, Clairene; her sister-in-law, Marjorie Reagan, who she truly loved as a sister; and Marlene Thompson, their little sweetheart who was their flower girl at age 3.

She had a happy life involving some of her pastimes with love for nature, music and many good friends and neighbors. Ultimately, Florine will be remembered as someone who was willing to help anyone, anytime with anything.

Survivors include her children, Bill of Alpharetta, Ga., and Marilee of Pasadena, Calif.; five grandchildren, Al, Don and Jackie Tiedemann of Portland and Alexis and Avari Tiedemann of Alpharetta; sisters, Julia De Groote of Baker City and Mary Claeys of Hillsboro; sisters-in-law, Clairene De Groote of Hillsboro and Marjorie Reagan of Halfway; nieces, Marlene Thompson of Hillsboro, Sharon Howard of McKinnley Villa, Calif., and Susan Rowen of Halfway; nephews, Dr. Robert Claeys of West Linn and Don and Dick Claeys, both of Rock Creek; cousins, Palma Abbott of Yreka, Calif., Stella De Bel of Silverton and Jerry Guthrie.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker City Golf Club Tree Fund, Baker Elks Lodge, Baker County Historical Society or a charity of one’s choice.

Margaret Marshall

Margaret Marshall, 93, affectionately called andquot;Grandma Margaret,andquot; died Aug. 17, 2003, at her daughter’s home in Richland.

A celebration of her life and family gathering will be scheduled later.

Margaret Nora Marshall was born on Sept. 11, 1909, to Edward and Nora Heath Allen at Bethel, Wis. She was raised most of her life at Park Falls, Wis.

Margaret moved to Oregon in 1970. She spent her first four years at Estacada and then moved to Richland. During her life she worked as a caregiver and did so even into her 80s, helping others to be able to stay in their own homes.

Her favorite flower was the iris. She enjoyed gardening, the mountains and oil painting. In 1993 when Margaret was 83, she moved in with her daughter Lucille Burk. It was Margaret’s wish to be able to be at home when she died. Her family surrounded her with love and her wish was honored.

Survivors include three children, Mary Emrich, Lucille Burk and Robert Palen; 15 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, and 25 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three grandchildren.

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