Melvin Barton

Melvin Barton, 92, of Boise, and a former longtime Baker City resident, died March 31, 2004.

His graveside funeral will take place Saturday at 3 p.m. MST at Morris Hill Cemetery under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel of Boise.

Mel was born Feb. 27, 1912, at Surprise, Okla., the third of 12 children. He spent his youth in Filer, Idaho, graduating from Filer High School in 1930. He attended Albion Normal College in 1930 and the University of Southern California in 1931, impressing coaches with his football skills at both schools. Mel proudly served our country in World War II for nearly five full years, making a captain’s rank and serving in the South Pacific and the European campaigns.

On Dec. 31, 1942, while on leave from active duty, Mel married Clea Parke of Carey, Idaho. Their relationship has endured 61-plus years, and more than a few people have been astounded by their rich and enduring love for each other. Mel and Clea worked with Mel’s father on his sheep ranch in Filer for three years after the war. In 1948 he moved his family to Baker City, where he and Clea lived for more than 50 years, becoming an integral part of that community and raising four boys in the process. He and Clea moved to Boise in 2001.

Mel was a prince of a man. He was loving and giving, and he always strived to andquot;do right by people.andquot; He was the hardest worker on any task. He was a teacher and an example of the principles in which he believed. He was fun and loving to all, and all loved him. His meekness was often astounding, his love for children remarkable. He loved God and His word, and his son Jesus Christ.

Mel is survived by his wonderful wife, Clea; four sons and their wives: Rich and Diane, Duane and Jan, all of Portland, and Gary and Kathy and Ron and Jane, all of Boise; 12 wonderful, adoring grandchildren; as well as two of 11 siblings.

As we the survivors turn our hearts and eyes heavenward to the light, we are comforted knowing we shall see this husband, this father, this grandfather, this wonderful man, once again. We are grateful to God for Mel’s legacy of love, for we have all profited, we are all better off, we who knew him.

Francis Nalley

Francis Ilene Nalley, 80, died March 26, 2004, at the home of her son in Baker City.

At her request, there will be no formal service. Family members will have their own time of remembrance and sharing of fond memories.

Francis was born on Nov. 28, 1923, to Otto August and Cora Bell Lee Fleck at Burley, Idaho. She was raised in a large family being the 13th in a family of of 13 children. She graduated from Burley High School.

After graduation, she met Robert Nolan Nalley. They were married on Nov. 17, 1947, at Emmett, Idaho. They had four children: Don, Bert, Chuck and Judy.

She enjoyed her role as a wife and mother. She took time to knit, crochet and read. One very fond memory is that of her making the famous Idaho Spuds, bite size, with the kids. She also enjoyed baking with her grandchildren. Dominick in particular, learned the art in making a pumpkin pie. Her most favorite times of the year were making the holiday meals. Francis was a quiet person and truly kept to herself.

For most of her life she lived in various towns in Idaho. She worked for a time at the Veterans Hospital in Boise as an auxiliary member.

In July of last year she moved in with her son, Chuck, and daughter-in-law, Lori. A favorite saying of hers that will be long remembered was andquot;Big I, little u.andquot;

Survivors include her children, Don and Sue Nalley of Harrison, Ark., Bert and Theda Nalley of Ohio, Charles and Lorelei of Baker City, and Judy Honstein of California; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a sister, Ruth Rainey of Caldwell, Idaho; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Francis was preceded in death by her ex-husband, but always a friend, who died in 1992; and three grandchildren, Donald, Ronald and Frank Jr.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.

‘Bobby’ Scarbrough

Robert E. andquot;Bobbyandquot; Scarbrough, 79, died March 25, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

His graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral will officiate. Vault interment will be after the service. Military rites will be accorded by Co. A 3/116th Cavalry Oregon Army National Guard. Everyone is invited to a luncheon at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral Parish Hall, First and Church streets, after the service.

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

Bobby was born on Feb. 5, 1925, at Union to Roy C. and Maude Harmon Scarbrough. After his mother’s early death, he was cared for by aunts and uncles living at La Grande, Union and Medical Springs. He attended schools at Baker, Pondosa and Union.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943, to serve the country he loved. He served in Hawaii, New Guinea, the Philippine Islands and Japan. His decorations included a Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, sharpshooters, combat infantry badge and a good conduct medal.

He married Reva Helman in 1948, and worked as a log truck driver and diesel mechanic for Collins Lumber Co. at Pondosa. In 1958 he moved to Baker City and in 1962 he became a partner in Sandamp;W Repair. He retired in 1986.

On July 10, 1970, he married Joan Brtt Miller. He was an active member of the Baker Elks Lodge, the Baker County Sheriff’s Posse, and Veterans of Foreign Wars where he served as post commander. He loved hunting, fishing, golf and the great outdoors, especially the Eagle Creek area.

Survivors include his wife, Joan Scarbrough of Baker City; children, Gaylon Scarbrough and his wife, Carol, of Baker City, Janie Morrissey and her husband, Mike, of Keating, Mary Kincaid and her husband, Jerry, of Baker City, Marty Rose and her husband, Bud, of Kennewick, Wash., and Rob and Natalie Miller of Baker City; cousin, Murvin Scarbrough, and his wife, Jennalee, of Baker City, and cousin, Betty Strah, of the Seattle area; grandchildren, Kelly, Katie, Andrea, Amanda, Ashleigh, Nick, Justin, Cassie, and Colin and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Francis de Sales Day Chapel or to the Disabled American Veterans Van Fund through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

Cecile Tucker

Cecile A. Tucker, 101, of Baker City, died March 28, 2004, at Ashley Manor in Ontario.

There will be a family graveside service at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Prairie Creek Cemetery near Joseph with vault interment afterward.

Mrs. Tucker was born on Oct. 6, 1902, at Athena to Samuel Stokes and Etta Elizabeth Read Bannister. She was raised at Weston and Enterprise, receiving much of her education at Enterprise. She married Grant Monroe Tucker at Enterprise on Oct. 18, 1920. They lived at Union.

After Mr. Tucker’s death she moved to Baker City to be with her family. Mrs. Tucker was a member of the Union Women’s Club and Eastern Star.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Nadine and Norman Baxter of Baker City; grandsons, Greg Baxter and Dean Baxter, both of Baker City, and Grant Baxter of Fruitland, Idaho; granddaughter, Maxine Christofferson, of Lehi, Utah; 24 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and a daughter.

Coles Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Verna Burril

Verna Lee Burril, 65, died March 29, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

A celebration of life will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the McEwen Bible Fellowship, which is located 23 miles south of Baker City on Highway 7.

Verna was born June 6, 1938 to Vernon and Ernestine Kirkwood at Prairie City.

In the early 1950s she married Harry andquot;Tedandquot; Barnhart and had three children, Terry, Ted and Mitch. They were divorced in the early 1970s. She later remarried.

Her son Ted now resides in Lolo, Mont., and Terry and Mitch live in Baker City.

Her favorite hobbies were reading, fishing, camping, hiking, mushrooming and crocheting. She was also very active in her church for as long as her health permitted.

In her younger years, Verna loved to water ski, play softball and for years held several track records for running at Prairie City High School.

Most of all she treasured the time with her four grandchildren: Desiree Johnson of the U.S. military in Hawaii; Trace Wood of Bend; Derek LaTray of Baker City and Jessica Barnhart of Cody, Wyo.

And the time spent with her two great-granddaughters, Justice and Hope, put a sparkle in her eye.

Verna was preceded in death by her father.

Survivors include her mother, Ernestine, of Spokane, Wash.; a brother, James Kirkwood of Spokane; a sister, Joyce Guerrero of Sacramento, Calif.; her three children; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; cousins; nephews; nieces and countless friends and other family members.

Lyle Chadwick

Lyle Chadwick of Baker City died March 26, 2004, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise.

At his request, there will be no memorial service.

He was the firstborn son of Clifford Chadwick Jr. and Gene Paige Chadwick. He married Beverly Douglas of Halfway and they made their home at Baker City.

Lyle started his career with the Baker County Road Department where he was employed for 32 years before retiring. He started out as an oiler on the rock crusher, then as a motor grader operator. He moved to the position of assistant road master and then to road master.

After his retirement from the Baker County Road Department, he started a second career in mining, which he had done on the weekends for much of the prior 20 years. He really enjoyed mining, the study of geology, talking about the history of mining with people and teaching others how to pan gold. Lyle was involved with the Eastern Oregon Mining Association for many years and had served on the board of directors.

When his boys were younger he enjoyed playing ball with them and some of the time that he spent coaching them. He was always so proud of them and their accomplishments as they grew.

During the winter when he wasn’t able to mine, he often could be found with friends fishing for steelhead. Some of his fondest memories were those formed during the many years he spent on the Snake River with his buddy, Curtis.

He though of Curtis as a andquot;little brother.andquot; They were very close even to his last days. If Lyle was not seen fishing the Snake River, one might see him trying his luck on the Wallowa. Lyle also enjoyed hunting elk and camping with his wife, their two boys and their families. This is what he was dreaming of in his last days: hunting, fishing and mining with those he loved.

Survivors include his wife, Beverly of Baker City; his two sons, Michael and Norman; Michael’s wife, Linda, of Riverton, Utah; their two sons, Terry Ewing of Manhattan, N.Y., and Matthew Ewing of Murray, Utah; Norman’s wife, Gretchen, and their daughter, Gracy Kay, andquot;the apple in Grandpa’s eyeandquot;, all of Powell Butte; his mother, Gene Chadwick, and brother, Larry, both of Baker City; his father-in-law, Marion andquot;Dudeandquot; Douglas of Halfway; and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and their families.

He was preceded in death by his father, Clifford C. Chadwick Jr.; his grandmother, Edith Snyder Chadwick; his grandfather, Clifford C. Chadwick Sr.; grandmother, Nellie Marshell Paige; his brother, Lesley Chadwick; and his grandfather, Oscar Paige.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Eastern Oregon Mining Association Education Fund or to the Bishop Foote Guest House, St. Luke’s Hospital, 121 W. Jefferson St., Boise, ID.

Barbara DeRoest

Barbara P. DeRoest, 85, of Prairie City, a former Baker City resident, died March 27, 2004, at her home on Pine Creek Road at Prairie City.

Her graveside memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Bishop Tom Brock of the Baker City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Mrs. Kim Eardley will officiate. There will be a reception afterward.

Barbara was born on Aug. 6, 1918, to John W. and Magdaline P. Hass Williams at Baker City at the old Baker hospital. She was raised at Sparta where she attended grade school; she then attended high school at Baker City.

After high school, Barbara moved to Portland to further her education. She attended one or two years of business college. While in Portland a good friend set her up on a blind date with Harry Bateman. Their relationship blossomed and the couple married shortly thereafter.

They moved to the San Diego area while Harry was in the U.S. Navy. Barbara gave birth to her first daughter, Diane, while living there. After five years, the marriage dissolved and a short time later Barbara moved to Baker City. There she met and married Hector DeRoest. They had two children: a daughter, Leanne, and a son, John.

Barbara worked as a secretary/receptionist for many years, working for the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in Baker City and for the Biswell doctor’s office, Dunlap andamp; Tyler Insurance and for Osters CPA at Burns. She retired at the age of 62.

Barbara and Hector traveled frequently to Yuma, Ariz., with a travel trailer where they spent their winters. After Hector died in 1986, Barbara bought a home at Yuma and spent much of her time there. She only recently moved to Prairie City to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Ronald E. Taynton.

She was a former member of the Rebekah Lodge and was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She also enjoyed crafts, but her favorite thing to do above all else was dancing.

Survivors include her two daughters and one son, Diane Taynton and her husband, Ronald E., of Prairie City, Barbara Leanne Winegar and her husband, Hank, of Baker City, and John B. DeRoest and his wife, Annette, of Sumner, Wash.; 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren, with one more expected to be born in April.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Hector DeRoest; her parents; one brother, Alton Williams; and one sister, Dorothy Tony.

Memorial contributions may be made to the John Day or Baker City LDS Church Relief Society through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.