Dona Gene Storie Sheehy, 88, amazing mother and role model for her 12 children, died in her sleep on Sept. 19, 2016 at her home near Union.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Union. The service is open to the public. There will be a luncheon afterward in the church hall.

Dona was born on July 16, 1928, at Grandview, Idaho, to Thomas Leonard Storie and Lettie Harriet Sisley. She and her family soon returned to the Storie family ranch near Dixie Creek.

She was a 1947 Huntington High School graduate. She married Robert Clinton Sheehy of Durkee, on June 29, 1947, at Baker.

During their early married years they lived at Weiser, Baker and on Dixie Creek in the Rye Valley area. In September 1956 they moved to a ranch out of Union where they raised their family, worked the ranch and became a viable part of the community.

They had been married for 58 years when Bob died in 2005.

Dona, born early and allergic to milk, survived on carrot juice but grew to be a strong woman who was a very efficient and hardworking homemaker most of her life. After all her children were in school she worked as a cook and baker for the cafeteria in the Union Public Schools.

She soon earned a reputation as an excellent cook and a valuable employee. She passed her love of baking on to many, including her children, in-laws, and grandchildren and taught many to bake her famous rolls, which she often provided for community events.

A woman who valued the simple things in life: a bird singing in the sagebrush, a pretty flower in the garden or a mischievous child skipping down the walk, she was able to feed and clothe a family of 12 on the income from a small farm and the wages of her husband, a millwright.

The grocer once admired her saying, “She could buy more groceries with less money than anyone I know.”

She washed eight loads of laundry nearly every day and hung the wash on the line to dry year round. She raised a garden, baked all of the bread used by her family, canned and froze food for the winter, made pancakes for breakfast every morning and meanwhile managed to keep her children out of trouble.

She often helped with the sheep during lambing season or when her husband, Bob, was away shearing or working extra hours at the mill. Dona encouraged her children to keep trying, do their best, finish what was started and to stand up for what is right.

She was proceeded in death by her husband, Robert Clinton Sheehy; brother, Sydney Dwayne “Bud” Storie; granddaughter, Jena Ann Haga; and great-grandaughter, Jena Rose Simonson.

Survivors include her children and their spouses: Robert and Patty Sheehy Thoiry, France; Katy and Whitey Bloom, Halfway; Dan and Meleah Sheehy, La Grande; John and Sandy Sheehy, Union; Rosie and Kim Edd, Coos Bay; Dwight and Terry Page, Custer, Wisconsin; Dona and Mark Servid, Baker City; Bitsy and Brent Gyllenberg, Baker City; Jim and Sally Sheehy, Union; Tim and Gloria Sheehy, Union; Kevin and Susie Sheehy, Union; Steve and Susan Sheehy, Union; and special family friends, Abel and Sherri Mendoza, Haines.

She was always so proud of her grandchildren, Brian Sheehy, John Sheehy, Sam Sheehy, Quinn Bloom, Orion Bloom, Cody Bloom and Cassie Bloom/Porth, Molly Sheehy/Urich, Casey Sheehy, Brennan Sheehy, Larne Sheehy, Troy Edd, Trevor Edd, Tara Haga/Simonson, Sarah Page/Brandt, Daniel Page, Amy Servid, Sarah Servid and Alexa Servid/Jones, Justin Gyllenberg, Dani Gyllenberg, Laura Gyllenberg/Marcum, Thomas Sheehy, Margaret Sheehy, Kathryn Sheehy, Savannah Sheehy, Elizabeth Sheehy, Colin Sheehy, Riley Sheehy, Emma Sheehy, Matthew Sheehy and Patrick Sheehy; and 18 great-grandchildren, Mateo, Aliya, Amelia, Annie, Adalin, Milo, Teagan, Sonja, Ethan, Mallory, Sheldon, Mason, Max, Lacey, Taylor, Talon, Delaney and Wesley; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bobcat Foundation, Union School District, P.O. Box K, Union, OR 97883.

Lyle Bruce Cloudt

Baker City, 1952-2016

Lyle Bruce Cloudt, 64, of Baker City, died on Oct. 17, 2016, at Baker City.

Per his request, there will not be a service.

Lyle Bruce was born on Aug, 21, 1952, at Baker City, Oregon to Avery and Weltha (Padgett) Cloudt. Bruce attended Churchill Elementary, Baker Junior High and Baker High School.

Bruce was a quiet, polite person who kept to himself. During his life he did some flooring work, was on a survey crew, but most importantly, worked for the Record-Courier for 36 years. Bruce enjoyed reading, all genres, and enjoyed a good discussion. He will be fondly remembered for his “love of bananas and Juicy Fruit gum.” Bruce was giving of his time, and sister Gayla said he “was always there when needed.”

Bruce is survived by his brother, Steve, and his wife, Karen Cloudt, and his sister, Gayla Wiley, all of Baker City; and by several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Those who wish to make a donation in memory of Bruce may do so to the charity of their choice through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences may be made at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com

Nona McCormick

Baker City, 1926-2016

Nona Nunamaker McCormick, 90, of Baker City, died peacefully on Oct. 18, 2016.

Per her request, there will not be a service.

Nona was born on Jan. 20, 1926, to Don and Edna (Piercy) Nunamaker at Hood River, where she lived most all of her life. For 85 years she lived within a two-mile radius from where she was born. Five years ago she moved to Baker City, where she enjoyed time with her daughter and extended family including the caring staff and residents at the Bee Hive Home.

It was in 1948 when Nona married Isaac Murphy. Together they had two girls. After Isaac died in 1987, Nona remarried in 1992 to James McCormick.

Nona spent most of her life on the ranch tending to an apple and pear orchard. For a time before she married, she did bookkeeping for the Mayflower Company in Boardman.

Nona cherished the springtime and all the colors that came with it. She enjoyed working in her yard and with her flowers. She also loved diamonds and chose not to wait for a special occasion to wear them, but instead, wore them as if each day were a special occasion. Nona loved birds and faithfully fed them every day. It was fitting that on the very hour which Nona passed, a large owl stood watch outside her residence as she made her final journey home.

Nona is survived by her daughters: Ella DeVore (Andy) of Baker City, and Peggy Murphy of Vancouver Washington; her grandchildren: Buri (Adam) Slippy of Union, Lynn (Lauren) Ginader of San Antonio, Texas, and Bert (Shelley) DeVore of Baker City, Joan Hagon of Ontario; and nine great-grandchildren.

Nona was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Edna Nunamaker; her husbands, Ike Murphy and Ray McCormick; her brother, Robert Nunamaker; her sister, Daphne Hukari; and her stepmother, Aileen Nunamaker.

For those who would like to make a donation in memory of Nona, the family suggests Diabetic, Cancer or Heart Associations through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences may be made at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com

Thomas Christman

Richland, 1926-2016

Thomas Patrick Christman, 89, died peacefully in his favorite recliner early Friday morning, Oct. 21, 2016, at his home in Richland.

A graveside service with military honors will take place Saturday, Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway.

Tom was born on July 23, 1927, at Maplewood, Missouri. He served in the US Navy during World War II aboard the carrier escort vessel USS Admiralty Isle in the Pacific and was honorably discharged the 6th day of August 1946.

Tom married Virginia Lou Miller of St. Louis on July 23, 1949, at Baker City. They returned to St. Louis where he worked for the Frisco Railroad, a job he loved. He then became a journeyman printer and worked with various newspapers in St. Louis, Albany, Corvallis, Salem as well as Poulsbo, Washington. With daughter Terry Christman, he was instrumental in starting the weekly Hells Canyon Journal in 1983.

Tom’s passion was baseball and coaching girls’ fast-pitch softball. He also coached Pine-Eagle High school boys baseball. His proudest accomplishment was capturing the St. Louis Catholic Girls Youth League City Championship trophy in 1967.

Tom was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved cutting firewood with family and friends. In his retirement years, in Florence, Arizona, he got hooked on golf; was proud of a hole-in-one.

Tom was a member of Halfway VFW and an American Legion member for 49 years. He was thrilled to be able to participate on the World War II Honor Flight in September 2015.

Tom is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virginia “Ginny”; his four children, Thomas Jr. and daughter-in-law Laura Behr of Port Angeles, Washington, daughter Terry Christman of Halfway, daughter Kate and son-in-law Robert Sprauer of La Grande, and son Mark Christman of Halfway; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; his brother, Robert Christman of Sun City, Arizona; and several nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his daughter, Julia “Sam” Christman; his granddaughter, Jessie Rose Hutton; his father and mother, Charles and Minnette Christman, and his brother, Donald Christman, all of St. Louis.

For those who would like to make a donation in memory of Tom, the family suggests a charity of your choice, through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences may be made at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com