‘A.J.’ Noble

Alpha John andquot;A.J.andquot; Noble, 20, of Baker City, died May 23, 2008, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate his life at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Sports Complex Varsity Baseball Field. There will be a reception afterward for friends and family at the First Church of the Nazarene Fellowship Hall, 1250 Hughes Lane.

A.J. was born on July 15, 1987, at Baker City to Todd Robert and Carri Lee Walker Noble. He was the youngest of five kids. A.J. spent his life spreading warmth and support to everyone he knew, his family said. His smile was a gift he willingly shared with all.

A.J. graduated from Baker High School and in 2007 moved to Eugene to be closer to his girlfriend, Danielle. He loved Baker City and was looking forward to coming back. A.J. worked as a beekeeper for K andamp; C Honey.

He was a gifted athlete, well-recognized in the community for his prowess as a shortstop/utility player for the Baker High School baseball team. His love for the game continued into the summers where he played Legion ball and co-ed fundraiser games.

A.J. successfully pushed his athletic talents in everything he tried. Often challenging his father, Todd, A.J.’s abilities enabled him to out-fish, out-ride and out-laugh his dad. His companionship afield will be sorely missed.

A.J. loved being in the outdoors and could often be found camping, hunting, fishing, snowboarding, at the Snake River or on any ball field.

Survivors include his parents, Todd and Carri Noble of Baker City; siblings, Tia Gibbs of Pendleton, John andquot;Boandquot; Gibbs of Pendleton, Jason Gibbs and his wife, Penny, of Pilot Rock and Justin Gibbs of Pendleton; the love of his life, Danielle Thatcher; grandmother, Marie Noble of Baker City; aunts, Sheryl Payton and her husband, Vince, of Baker City and Teresa Walker of Baker City; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A.J. was preceded in death by his grandparents andquot;Alandquot; and Ester Walker.

Memorial contributions may be made to the A.J. Noble Memorial Fund through Gray’s West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.

Myrtis Thomas

Myrtis Thomas, 80, a former Baker City resident, died May 20, 2007, at Puyallup, Wash.

There was a private family service.

She was born on Aug. 2, 1928, at Jones County, Ga. She was the former wife of Eddie Thomas Sr. and the mother of 11 children who live throughout the United States.

She had 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was quick to smile and loved many things, including working with children to help them with their reading. In her lifetime she traveled to Europe, Asia and throughout the United States. She was a woman of strength, courage, perseverance, love and faith, her family said.

Estella Hill

Estella Minnie Hill, 91, died after a short illness May 27, 2008, at Settlers Park Assisted Living Community with her family at her side.

A celebration of Estella’s life will be held in Salem June 13.

Estella was born Aug. 4, 1916, in Vernal, Utah to George W. Shipp and Bessie I. (Bradshaw) Shipp. During her life, she was a homemaker and outside of the home worked as a bookkeeper, providing income for the family after the 1944 death of her husband, Cecil, whom she married in 1937. She moved to Baker City in 2005.

Estella’s special gift in this life was caring for others. This was shown in many ways, but especially in the love she demonstrated to her family as she helped raise her siblings, her children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two daughters, a sister and a brother.

Estella is survived by her daughter, Sherrie Shephard and her husband, Wally, of Baker City; her son, John Flowerday and his wife, Sue, of Salem, Oregon, eight grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, as well as her sister and her three brothers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to MayDay, Inc. as a memorial to Estella’s earthly life and the impact she had on those who loved her, through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.