Willora George

Baker City, 1942-2018

Willora Marcele “Willie” George, 76, of Baker City, died Aug. 13, 2018, of cancer.

Willie’s family and friends will be hosting a Celebration of Life at the pavilion at Pioneer Park in La Grande at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, and also encourage friends and family to share their favorite memories in writing or by photo on her tribute wall at the Gray’s West & Company website (grayswestco.com).

Willie was born on May 16, 1942, at La Grande to Marvin and Gertrude Titus. She was a member of the United Methodist Church at Union.

Willie married Rodney Paul George at Union on Aug. 25, 1963. They later divorced. Willie and Rod had two children: Bradley P. George and Rebecca H. “Becky” George.

Willie was active in sports in high school and then turned to coaching. She was an integral part of getting girls Little League softball started in La Grande in 1980. She and her children coached for many years.

When Willie wasn’t on the field she was in the classroom as an educational assistant in special education. She started working in the La Grande School District at Island City Elementary School in 1980 before ending her career more than 20 years later at Baker High School.

Willie enjoyed gardening, feeding her backyard birds, being outside and spending time with her family and friends. Some of her favorite memories were formed during her trips to the Willamette Valley to visit family and to be with her grandchildren. Her most favorite destination was Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City.

She was also a faithful supporter of University of Oregon football, basketball and softball as well as Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball.

Willie will be remembered for her get ’er done attitude and for the fact that she never met a stranger. Willie made a lot of friends just by striking up a conversation with the person standing next to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents and numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Survivors include her son, Bradley P. George (Irina); daughter, Rebecca H. “Becky” George (Nickie); sister, Cinda Petersen; brothers, Norman Titus (Carol), Ron Titus (Dorothy), and Richard Titus; grandchildren, Nicholas George, Olivia George and Ryan George; numerous cousins, nephews, nieces; and longtime companion, Susan Hinzpeter.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Willie’s honor to the Billie Ruth Bootsma Clinic Fund or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Alternatively, a Sam Marcum Field Improvement Project, to improve the dugouts and backstop at the Pioneer Park girls softball field, is available to accept memorial contributions. Contributions to the Improvement Project can be mailed to P.O. Box 1133, La Grande, OR 97850.

Linda Phillips

Arthur,Nebraska, 1951-2018

Linda Louise Phillips, 67, of Arthur, Nebraska, died Aug. 9, 2018, at the Ogallala Community Hospital in Nebraska.

Her funeral was at 2 p.m. today at the Arthur Baptist Church. Pastor Blake Wilkes officiated. Burial took place at Arthur Cemetery.

Linda was born on May 24, 1951, at Walla Walla, Washington, to Raymond Virgil and Emily Louise Braden Trapp.

She grew up and attended school at Walla Walla and graduated from high school there in 1969. She then attended Washington State and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design in 1973. She moved to Portland where she worked for various businesses in accounting.

In 1990, she was in Arthur to visit family and friends when she met Mick Phillips. They were married on Nov. 30, 1991 at the Lake Grove Presbyterian Church in Lake Oswego.

On Dec. 28, 1991, they had a second ceremony at the Arthur Baptist Church in Arthur, Nebraska. They made their home on the ranch northeast of Arthur.

Linda and Mick were secretary-manager of the Nebraska Hereford Association from 1992 to 1997.

Linda enjoyed sewing and quilting. She was part of a small group called the Busy Bees, who made smaller charity quilts. The ladies would often make 80 quilts a year for charity.

Linda loved kids and led the church nursery for several years.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Louise; in-laws, Jess and Goodrun Phillips; and nephews, Rick Summers and Kevin Summers.

Linda is survived by her husband, Mick; sister, Debby, and husband, Lynn Roehm of Baker City; sisters-in-law,Whanda Collins of Broadwater, Nebraska, and Caroldene Summers of Mullen, Nebraska; brother-in-law, Rennie, and his wife, Marge Phillips, of Scott City, Missouri; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to the Samaritans Purse-Christmas Shoe Boxes.

Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.drauckerfh.com. The services will be live streamed for those unable to attend.

‘Mike’ McCabe

Baker City, 1951-2018

Michael John “Mike” McCabe, 67, of Baker City, died June 12, 2018, at his home.

There will be a celebration of his life in the fall at the Eagles Lodge. The date and time will be announced.

Mike was born on March 9, 1951, at Ontario to John and Irene Beeson McCabe. He served in the Vietnam War. He was deployed on Sept. 24, 1969, and returned home on April 30, 1971.

He had been a handyman in the Portland area for several years and at Baker City for several years. He worked in masonry and worked in carpentry and “just could do it all,” family members said.

He loved to fish and hunt and was a homebody.

Survivors include his life partner of 25 years, Judy Thompson of Baker City; sisters, Cheryl Spalinger of Dayton, Washington, and Annette Gibson of Pinehurst, North Carolina; two nieces; an uncle, Bud Beeson of Baker City, and other uncles; and several cousins.