Duane Cassidy

Duane A. Cassidy, 95, of Baker City, died Jan. 5, 2012, at St. Alphonsus Medical Center-Baker City.

His memorial service will be Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St., in Baker City, with the reception to follow at the church. The service will be led by pastor Katy Haliburton.

Duane was born on May 21, 1916, at Havre, Mont., to Florence and Jack

Cassidy.His childhood years were spent in Southern Idaho where his

folks were in farming and ranching. He moved to Bly, Ore., in 1938 and

was employed by the Ivory Pine Lumber Company until Dec. 8, 1941. He

enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps the day after Pearl Harbor was

bombed. During World War II he flew 24 missions in B-17 bombers before

being shot down over Germany. Wounded, he spent time in a German

prison camp, was a prisoner of war until being liberated in May of

1945. Duane received numerous military service decorations, including

the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Medal.

After the war he returned to Klamath Falls where he married Martha Jane

Givan on June 29, 1945. Married for 66 years, they had four sons:

Larry, Garry, Kelly and Buzz, who were at his side when he passed away.

Duane worked for nearly 40 years for Ellingson Lumber Company, first at

Klamath Falls, then moving to Baker in 1963. He retired at age 68. Very

active in community service, he enjoyed participating on the Klamath

Volunteer Fire Department, Baker City Chamber of Commerce, chairman of

the Baker 5J School Board, and Baker County Budget Committee.

His family-centered activities included Boy Scouts as Scoutmaster and

being both a Little League and Babe Ruth baseball coach. Duane’s

interests included hunting, fishing, camping, golfing and all things

outdoors. On their Salmon Creek ranch where they lived for 35 years, he

pursued his passions of carpentry, woodworking and gardening. He was a

champion for education all his life, reading newspapers, magazines,

books on the West and war history. Duane was also a lifetime member of

the Presbyterian Church, Masons, and the Shiners.

Duane is survived by his wife, Martha Jane; his sons: Larry, Garry,

Kelly and Buzz; his grandchildren: Kevin, Chris, Brian, Laci, Amber,

Kyle and Mickey; and seven great-grandchildren.

Coles Tribute Center is in charge of the arrangements, and memorial

contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Shiners’

Children’s Hospital through Coles, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

Tim Silven

Timothy Carl “Tim” Silven, 59, of San Antonio Palopo, Guatemala, and

Baker City, died Jan. 2, 2012, as a result of injuries suffered in a

motor vehicle accident.

Catholic funeral services were held at San Antonio Palopo, Guatemala,

with internment above Lake Atitlan, one of Tim’s favorite places.

He was born on Oct. 22, 1952, and was raised in Baker City by his

parents, David C. and Kathleen D. Silven. He attended St. Francis

Academy until its closure, and graduated from Baker High School. Tim

was a private investigator for several law offices in Eastern Oregon.

He loved the outdoors – kayaking off the coast of Baja, hiking in the

Utah national parks, exploring ruins in Guatemala and Mexico, or just

relaxing at the family cabin on Eagle Creek. He always documented his

adventures with amazing photos.

His passion for music was lifelong; from a small boy with his electric

guitar that, when played, the whole neighborhood would hear. He loved

sharing his music with others, and he encouraged many to honor the

music inside them. Tim’s love for life and adventure, his gusto and

generosity of spirit, were strong. He inspired many. Tim touched many

lives and he will be missed by his family and many devoted friends.

Home to Tim was always the Baker Valley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dave and Kay Silven.

Survivors include a son, Kantner Silven of Vancouver, Wash.; sisters,

Patti Hanley and her husband, Bill, of Baker City, and Mardi Diouf of

Portland; brother, Andy Silven, and his wife, Wendy, of Albany; best

friend, Debbie Friedman of Baker City; and many cousins, nieces and

nephews.