Michelle Shankle

Michelle Shankle, 34, of Baker City, died Jan. 7, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Grays West andamp; Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pat Brunner of Jehovahs Witnesses will officiate. Disposition was by cremation at Grays West andamp; Co. Pioneer Crematory.

Michelle Shankle was born Aug. 7, 1967, in Baker City to Gary Wayne Shankle and Charlotte Ann Bryant. Michelle spent her youth in Baker City. She left briefly as a young adult, living as far away as South Carolina.

She returned to Baker City several years ago to raise her children. She enjoyed the mountains surrounding Baker and went on many hunting trips with family and friends.

Michelle also was an avid pool player. She was very proud of her ability and would challenge anyone to a game and usually would win. She loved football. She kept track of the games and was always rooting for her favorite team, the Oakland Raiders.

Michelle was a plant lover. Her house was full of a variety of plants that were either given to her or that she had rescued from people who did not have her green thumb. She also enjoyed music. There was always music playing in her home. Michelles proudest accomplishment was her three beautiful children; her last thoughts were of them and their welfare.

Michelle was loved by many and her memory and legacy will be kept alive by those who loved her and by her children.

She was preceded in death by her father, Gary Wayne Shankle; her grandfather, Frank Chad Shankle; and two cousins, Rodney Lynn Shankle and Katrina Kay Blair.

Survivors include her three children of Baker City, Andrea, Dakota and Ethan; her mother, Charlotte Thomason; two grandmothers, Anne Johnson of Baker City and Martha Whitt and her husband, Jim, of Benton, City, Wash.; a brother, Wesley Shankle of Frankfort, Ky.; two sisters, Desi Bloom and Tonya Stiefvater and her husband, Paul, of Baker City; a nephew, Jordan Shankle of Frankfort, Ky.; a niece, Sasha Bloom of Baker City; two stepbrothers, Peter Papadopoulos of California and George Papadopoulos of Baker City; three uncles, Jerry Shankle, and his wife, Ila, of Fruitland, Idaho, Phillip Shankle and his wife, Marilyn of Lacey, Wash., and Norman Shankle and his wife, Mary, of Weiser, Idaho; five aunts, Brenda Rohner and Theresa Shankle of Prosser, Wash., Doris Faye Shankle of Hermiston, Kathy Baker of West Richland, Wash., and Wilma Shankle of Baker City; and numerous cousins.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society through Grays West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Diana Hulick

Diana M. Hulick, 37, of Baker City died Dec. 19, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

Her memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Disposition was by cremation at Grays West andamp; Co. Pioneer Crematory.

Diana was born on Dec. 4, 1964, in Baker City to Judy Ingram and Dell Francis. She lived in Baker City all her life. She was a 1983 Baker High School graduate. She was a member of the notorious girls volleyball team that went to the state volleyball playoffs.

She had several jobs over the years. Among her favorites were the ones in which she helped people in need, including her work as a 911 dispatcher and her last job at Settlers Park.

She married her soul mate, love and friend, Willard, at Catherine Creek Park on Aug. 12, 1989. It was a day of sunshine and warmth full of celebration and love.

Diana shared the love of cars, road trips through the mountains, to the beach or anywhere the road would take her and Willard. Their beloved dog, Kelly, was always by their side.

A birthday, anniversary, graduation or birth of a child for her family or friends were never forgotten by Diana. Life was always a celebration of love, friendship, fun and laughter. Diana had a zest for life that was felt by all of those around her. She was loved and admired by many and will be missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her scruffy little dog, Birt. He was always by her side during her early ventures of life.

Survivors include her husband, Willard; her mother, Judy Ingram; her father, Dell Francis; her sister, Lorrie Hill, and her husband, Larry; nieces, Theresa and Rachel; and nephew, Reggi; her sister, Kelly Dougherty, and her husband, Chris; and her nieces, Emily and Becca.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mountain States Tumor Institute, Thunder Mountain Motor Sports Association, Baker County Search and Rescue, or a charity of ones choice through Grays West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Mildred Griffin

Mildred Catherine Griffin, 80, of Monmouth, a former Haines resident, died Jan. 5, 2002, at Monmouth.

There will be a private family service later. Visitations will be Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Dallas Mortuary Chapel. Interment will be at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.

Mildred was born May 25, 1921, at San Diego to Shorty and Bessie Adams Crowner. She attended school until the ninth grade. She married Mack Griffin, who preceded her in death.

Mildred moved to Haines to be with her daughter, then later moved to Monmouth to be closer to her grandchildren until her death.

She enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading and embroidery. She also enjoyed drives in the country, and watching wildlife.

Mildred is survived by her daughter, Lorraine K. Litteral of Haines; grandchildren, Pamela Hight, and Gail and Thomas Hight, all of Monmouth; and nine other grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Maude Coombes

Maude Pearl Coombes, 97, of Haines, died Dec. 8, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

Disposition was by cremation at Grays West andamp; Co. Pioneer Crematory. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Baker City Christian Church, 2998 Eighth St. Pastor Roger Scovil of the church will officiate.

Mrs. Coombes was born on April 1, 1904, at Pine Hill, Ky., to John Clark and Liza Edwards Johnson. She was the last of 12 children.

She moved from Kentucky to St. Maries, Idaho, and then to the Republic, Wash., area where she met Oscar Cullen Coombes. They were married on May 12, 1922.

They lived in various places in Washington until the fall of 1928 when they came to Sparta. They lived in various places in Eastern Oregon until 1940 when they established their home on Salmon Creek near Baker City.

They left the area during the war years and went to Stanfield to help in the war effort. They kept their home on Salmon Creek as their permanent residence. She and Oscar were married just short of 66 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Clark and Liza Edwards Johnson; her husband, Oscar; brothers, Alonzo, Freeman and Gay Johnson; sisters, Ida, Georgia, Laura and Dora; daughter, Erma Gray; a granddaughter, Jean Haluber; and a great-grandson, Virgil Knight.

Survivors include Donald Coombes of Haines, Benjamin and Doris Coombes of Stanfield, Jasper and Lois Coombes of Richland, George and Perry Coombes of Silegmon, Mo., Edward and Elise Coombes of Winchester, Idaho, and Jabudah and Alan Grossmiller of Baker City; 30 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren and 30 great-great grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Gertrude Spencer of Troy, Idaho, Dorothy Stuart of Omak, Wash., and Vertha Berry of Woodland, Wash.; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of ones choice through Grays West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Charlotte Challis

Charlotte Ann Challis, 64, of Stanfield, and a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 4, 2002, at her home.

Her graveside funeral will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Pleasant View Cemetery in Stanfield.

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.

Charlotte was born March 1, 1937, at La Grande to Floyd Vernon and Dorothy Mae Pyburn Peasley.

She had lived in Stanfield since 1975. Formerly she had lived at Baker City, Pendleton and Pilot Rock.

On June 19, 1956, she married Clarence Challis at Reno, Nev. She was a former member of the Stanfield Moose Lodge.

Charlotte was a very private person who enjoyed ceramics and crafts. She was the matriarch of the family who loved taking care of her family.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Clarence Challis of Stanfield; a son, Scott Challis of Stanfield; a daughter, Stacey Challis of Stanfield; a sister, Cassie Sipp of Hermiston; five grandchildren, Dauson and Cutter Dorran, Kodi and Chelsea Challis, and Challie Sipp; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Dorothy Peasley; her daughter, Kandi Challis, who died in 1983; and a brother, Darrell Peasley.

Contributions in Charlottes memory may be made to the Vange John Memorial Hospice, 645 W. Orchard Ave., Suite 6, Hermiston, OR 97838.

Sandy Douglas

Donald Sandy Douglas, 78, a former Baker County resident, died Jan. 2, 2002.

Services will be withheld until further notice, pending notification of next of kin.

Donald is interred at the Little Chapel of the Chimes Funeral Home in Portland.

Don had not been in touch with any known surviving family members for quite some time, but he left behind many friends and associates in the Hawthorne District of Portland, where he will be missed.

He was preceded in death by one older sister, Carmen Douglas Menges, who died in the Denver area in July of 1997, at the age of 76.

Don was born in California on Aug. 2, 1924, but spent most of his life in Oregon. His grandparents were Rose and Arthur Oliver, who homesteaded the Oliver Ranch at Keating.

Don had spent most of his later years in the Portland area, where he retired. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and served in World War II.

He is survived by two daughters.

The family would appreciate any leads as to the names and whereabouts of his children. You may email Phil Menges, Jr., at pmenges@mindspring.com, or call 303/730-8837 with any information.