Thomas Hunt

Pendleton, 1935-2016

Thomas Wesley Hunt, 81, of Pendleton, died peacefully on Dec. 31, 2016, at St. Anthony’s hospital in Pendleton with his family at his side.

There will be a service for Tom on April 29 in John Day, with the time and place to be announced.

He was born on Aug. 20, 1935, at Burns to Joe Hunt and Lucille Baker-Hunt. At 18 after Tom graduated from Grant-Union High School in John Day in 1954, he joined the Air Force and was stationed at Kent, Washington.

Tom was very active in his life with work. He worked until he retired from the Oregon Fish & Game department. After he retired, he worked for Driskill Memorial Chapel in John Day beside his best friend, Wallace “Wally” Williams. Even after Tom retired he walked streams to record data and wherever else a friend needed some assistance. He loved to work outdoors, even haying in his spare time and fixing fences.

Tom had many hobbies. He repaired watches, he was in the John Day Bird Club, he built bat houses and he was always ready for any type of hunting trip and loved to fish. His last big hunting trip was by plane in Canada where he shot a moose. Tom was a member of the Elks Club, American Legion, American Rifleman Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Audubon Society.

Tom spent a lot of time traveling between John Day and Pendleton where his daughter, Tanya, and her daughter Lacy live. He tirelessly attended every concert any of his grandkids were involved in and FFA functions.

Tom had open heart surgery with a replacement aortic valve in the summer of 2014 and bounced back pretty quickly. Nothing kept him from being with his girls.

Tom’s No. 1 priority in life was that of his family. He raised his daughter, Tanya, with his beloved wife, Ireta Round, until her death on Feb. 25, 1999, at their home.

Prior to that he had lost his parents and Ireta’s parents, leaving this great patriarch.

Tanya’s daughter, Lacy Ann Brooks, was her “Papa’s” faithful buddy her whole life. He was her hero. Tom also had two grandsons: Jackson Lavadour and Jacob Smith; and his adopted daughter, Tami Rochelle; a sister, Jean; a nephew; and one great- nephew, Shawn.

Tom had an amazing relationship with Shawn, who he hunted and fished with and practically raised him, “the boy he never had”…..along with two nieces and nephews and eight great-great nieces and nephews.

Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel is in charge of arrangements. To light a candle for Tom or to leave a condolence for his family, go to www.grayswestco.com. Cards of condolence can be sent to Tanya and Lacy at 211 S.W. Eighth St., Pendleton, OR 97801.

Nellie Edwards

Baker City, 1929-2017

Nellie Edwards, 87, a longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 2, 2017, at Meadowbrook Place.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date when family can travel safely.

Nellie was born on Jan. 4, 1929, in Baker Valley to Adrain and Myrtle Perkins. They lived on a ranch near Baldock Slough, close to the old stage stop. She went to a small country school near there. Nellie graduated from Baker High School in 1946.

Nellie and Paul Edwards were married April 6, 1947, in Baker. They were married for 55 years until Paul passed away in October of 2002. They enjoyed playing cards, camping, and water-skiing and swimming in the Snake River with many of their friends and family. She enjoyed watching her grandkids and great-grandkids participating in sports.

Nellie was a member of Calvary Baptist Church for many years and active in the Christian Women’s Club, which she helped start. She was proud that her great grandfather, EP Perkins (who was the wagon master) along with his four brothers, brought the first wagon train to Baker Valley from Missouri. On average the Perkins Wagon train would travel 13 to 15 miles per day for 118 days and successfully brought a total of four wagon trains to Baker Valley.

On the last trip they brought their parents and all settled in Baker Valley. A picture of the five brothers is along the Leo Adler Pathway.

Nellie is survived by her daughter, Pauline, and her husband, Danny Evans of Baker City; her son, Ken, and his wife, Ruth Edwards of Lakeview; her brother, Don Perkins of Sumpter; grandkids, Wade and his wife, Vicki Evans, of Pendleton, Curt Evans of Hermiston, Justin Edwards of Vancouver, Washington, Sarah and her husband, Shawn Layng of Aberdeen, Washington; four great-grandkids, Kaitelyn Evans of Pilot Rock, Charlie Evans of Hermiston, and Hayden and Hayzel Layng of Aberdeen.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Edwards; and her parents, Adrain and Myrtle Perkins.

For those who would like to make a donation in memory of Nellie, the family suggests the non-profit Creating Memories for Disabled Children through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway OR 97834. Online condolences can be made at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com