John Dwyer Maxwell

John Dwyer Maxwell, a plaintiff in the successful United Steelworkers1988 unfair labor practices lawsuit against Oregon Steel, died May 11, 2004 of complications from AIDS. A resident of Baker City at the time of his death, he was 56.

There will be a wake and gathering at 10:00 am on June 5, 2004 at the Longshoreman’s Meeting Hall, 2435 NW Front St. in Portland.

A native Oregonian, Maxwell was born in Grants Pass, February 13, 1948. He was the youngest son of Robert Douglas Maxwell, a logger and long time Oregon lumberman, and Catherine Winifred Dwyer Maxwell.

Following his graduation from Plankinton, SD High School, Maxwell became a journeyman millwright under the apprentice program at Oregon Steel in Portland. He worked for Oregon Steel from 1969 until 1983 when two bargaining units, locals 6380 and 3010 of the United Steelworkers Union, struck.

In 1984 Maxwell and other strikers offered to end the strike and return to work. By 1985, after a decertification vote by the contract and temporary replacement workers, Maxwell was one of those dropped from the rehiring list. On behalf of Maxwell and other shut out workers, the Union filed an unfair labor practices suit with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Oregon Steel. The NLRB found in favor of the plaintiffs and ordered reinstatement and back pay. Oregon Steel appealed. The final ruling in 1995 upheld the NLRB findings. At that time, Maxwell was one of five remaining plaintiffs.

While the legal battle continued he worked at Precision Cast Parts in Portland and in the construction of Denver International Airport.

Maxwell was skilled in his trade and spent leisure time repairing equipment and devising original solutions for ordinary problems. He was an outdoorsman, enjoyed fishing and was most content when near his beloved mountains. His grin, and dry humor endeared him to friends and family, while his unique perspectives often challenged people’s views. Maxwell was admired for his independence and near the end of his life attained a peace his earlier years lacked.

Survivors include biological children, Katherine Marie Bailey, Portland and Todd Anthony Bailey, Gilbert, AZ; step-daughter, Julie Thompson, Milwaukie; sisters, Alexsandra Stewart, Portland, Teresa Kelly and her spouse, Charles, Detroit, MI, Anne Keefe, Omaha, NE; brother, Douglas, Denver, CO; five grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. His parents and biological son, Shane Patrick Adams, preceded him in death.

Arrangements were by Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory.

Memorials are requested to the Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living, Ontario, Oregon or the Cascade Aids Project, Portland.

Naomi Hooker

Naomi Hooker, 91, of Pendleton, a former Baker City resident, died May 17, 2004, at a foster care home.

Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Baker City Christian Church, 2998 Eighth St. Ritualistic rites will be conducted by Esther Chapter 11, Order of Eastern Star. Pastor Roger Scovil will officiate. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.

Mrs. Hooker was born on Nov. 14, 1912, at Junction City to John Henry and Katie Hayes Moffett. She attended school at Lane County, graduating from Crow High School.

She married Raymond C. Hooker on Aug. 19, 1933 at Goshen. They moved to Baker City in 1955. In the latter 1950s, she worked at Jack’s Third andamp; B Market. She worked for Baker Veterinary Hospital with Dr. Billy Kuhl through the 1960s.

Her husband died on Feb. 5, 1978. In 1993, she moved to Pendleton to be near her daughter.

Mrs. Hooker was a member of the Baker City Christian Church and Esther Chapter 11 of the Order of Eastern Star. She and her husband shared a love of children and cared for many other people’s children as well as their own.

She worked in the church nursery and taught Sunday School and was a 4-H and Girl Scout leader. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and friend.

Survivors include her children Ramona Ann Stock and her husband, Floyd, of Baker City, Naomi Karie Hickerson of Pendleton and Sarah Carolyn Rehberg and her husband, Bern, of Swarthmore, Pa.; sisters-in-law, Velda Moffett Stewart, Faye Moffett and Vera Moffett; grandchildren, Julia Lee Hickerson Lyons of Elgin, Jenny Lyn Hickerson Brown of Shoreline, Wash., Jodi Rae Hickerson of Pendleton, Jay-R Ken Hickerson of Woodinville, Wash., Raymond Alexander Rehberg of Swarthmore, Pa.; stepgrandchildren, Bern Rehberg Jr. and Jason Rehberg; great-grandchildren, Jason Jones, of La Pine, Nicholas Jones of Elgin, and Corey, Simon and Tucker Brown of Shoreline, Wash.; great-great-granddaughter, Kiley Jones of La Pine; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Hooker; her parents, John and Katie Moffett; her six brothers and sisters, Eunice Taylor, Elithe Crawford, Beatrice Lednicky, Wallace, Cedric and Montgomery Moffett; and her stepgrandson, Richard Rehberg.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Cancer Society through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

Charles Zacharias

Charles Albert Zacharias, 70, of Baker City, died May 13, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

A memorial service to honor Charlie’s life will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Gray’s West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Charlie’s friends and support staff will conduct the service.

Charlie was born on May 15, 1933, in Umatilla County to Eugene V. and Martha Schindler Zacharias. He spent some of his earlier years in Salem.

Charlie moved to Baker City in 1986 and lived in one of the Step Forward Activities group homes. He participated in the vocational program until the time of his death.

Charlie made many friends in Baker City and enjoyed life here. Some of the things Charlie enjoyed included going for long walks around Baker City, attending the movies at the Eltrym, eating in a variety of restaurants and going to the lake or the river for a leisurely afternoon with friends. Charlie enjoyed music and he could be heard humming his favorite song, andquot;You Are My Sunshine.andquot;

Charlie had great determination, and faced any obstacle in his life with dignity and courage.

He is survived by his many friends and andquot;familyandquot; at Step Forward Activities and in Baker City. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Memorial contributions may be made to Step Forward Activities through Gray’s West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Leola Bork

Leola Elizabeth Bork, 84, a resident of The Dalles since 1966, died at an Albany care facility on May 12, 2004.

Her graveside service was Saturday at The Dalles Odd Fellows Cemetery on Cherry Heights Road. Pastor Ken Post officiated. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home was in care of arrangements.

She was born on Aug. 4, 1919, at Enterprise, to Richard and Edith andquot;Wilsonandquot; Surber, the fourth of 12 children. She was raised at Enterprise and graduated from high school there.

Leola married Ivan Richard Bork on June 23, 1940, at Enterprise, by A.B. Conway, the same justice of the peace who had married their parents, Ira and Lora Bork and Richard and Edith Surber, in June 1916.

She was a member of Solid Rock Community Church of God. She enjoyed her family, homemaking, the outdoors, gardening and her roses, craft work, quilting and embroidery.

Survivors include her children and their spouses, Rosalie and David Harnden of Prineville, Ivan Harry and Saundra Bork of Baker City, Wayne and Sharon Bork of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Darlena and Robert Salisbury of Albany; grandchildren, Brian, Lisa, Carl, Crystal, Timothy, Andy, Dave Jr., Vaughn and Danita; 14 stepgrandchildren; great-grandchildren, Kristopher, Alina, Staranna, Nicholas, Tiffany, Steven, Stacey, Shailyon and Trista; two great-stepgrandchildren; two sisters, Esther Evans, of Clarkston, Wash., and Rosemary LeSollen of The Dalles; three brothers, Ellwood Surber of Baker City, Vernon Surber of Enterprise and Earl Surber of Forest Grove.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan, in July 2001; one sister; five brothers; an infant son; and an infant grandson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Solid Rock Community Church of God, 2308 East 12th St., The Dalles, OR 97058.