FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
A nn “Bebe” Ellis R acey
It’s impossible to sum up an entire life
in a story, book or even a movie—and
especially not in something as short as an
obituary. Th at task becomes even more dif-
fi cult when it comes to describing some-
one like Ann “Bebe” Ellis Racey, who was
truly one of a kind.
Bebe was born Annie Glenn Pace on
September 18, 1921, in Asheville, North
Carolina, to parents Birdie “Big Mama”
Newsom Pace and Burke H. Pace. She
spent her childhood along with her
seven siblings during the Great Depres-
sion—part of Th e Greatest Generation.
She received her nickname from her baby
sister, Emily, who couldn’t yet pronounce
her name. She was raised in a colorful
family. Not much is known of her father’s
side except for his ties to the sketchy 1920s
bootlegging scene. Her mother came from
a completely opposite background with
old Southern ties. Big Mama was part of
the Bibb and Harding families, growing up
in Governor Bibb’s mansion in Alabama,
closely related to President Warren G.
Harding, and one of very few women at
that time to attend a university.
Th e family moved to Chapel Hill, North
Carolina when Bebe was a small child.
Her memories included playing for hours
outside on the mountain, and such pov-
erty that school lunches sometimes only
meant a cracker with some ketchup and a
slice of onion. Th e family’s milk was wa-
tered down to make “Blue John” as it lasted
longer. As a result, wasting nothing was
central to her life.
When Bebe was 19, one of her favorite
stories was how she put on her leather
motorcycle belt and helmet, which she had
tooled herself, braided her hair, and rode
her Indian motorcycle from North Caro-
lina to California and back alone, some-
times spending the night beside the road
in a sleeping bag.
Later, she moved to St. Augustine and Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida, but the family eventu-
ally continued on to either Texas or South-
ern California. It was in California where
Bebe met Robert “Bob” Ellis Jr. at work for
Douglas Aircraft . Th ey enjoyed company
dances together, and eloped in Las Vegas
aft er one in October of 1946. On her 30th
birthday, September 18, Bebe gave birth
to their only child, a daughter, Suzanne
“Suzan” Annice Ellis in Inglewood, Cali-
fornia. Bebe changed careers, later becom-
ing a real estate agent and managing Bob’s
run for Congress. Bebe and Bob were both
very active in Los Angeles County Young
Republicans at the same time as Ron-
ald Reagan. She was an elected Precinct
Committee Person in Los Angeles County.
When Bob passed away
suddenly at the age of 41
due to an aortic aneurism,
Bebe and Suzan remained
near family in California
for a time, before moving to
southern Oregon.
Bebe remained interested
in politics and preserving
Constitutional rights—a
conservative thinker all her
adult life. In her later years,
she was horrifi ed at the loss
of American freedoms she
had seen over the decades.
On a trip in 1970, Bebe
met Andrew Racey on
a hunting trip to Baker
County, and they hit it off ,
corresponding aft erward
about mutual hobbies and
political beliefs. In 1972,
Bebe married Andy, moved
to Bridgeport, and began
the process of putting the
cattle ranch into fi nancial order, selling her
real estate in Medford to do so. At their
height, the Racey Ranch ran about 800
head of cattle, which they eventually re-
duced to around 200 before retiring. Th ey
were the fi rst to introduce Charolais to the
area. Bebe and Andy built their own house
by hand on the upper part of the ranch
(the old McCorkle place), and planted an
orchard behind it. Suzan’s family also lived
and worked on the ranch, and Bebe taught
her two granddaughters, Kerry and Kasey,
how to change their own fl at tires, load
and shoot the .22 rifl e, and catch fi sh.
Bebe and Andy were two of the original
founders of Eastern Oregon Mining As-
sociation.
Over the years, Bebe’s generosity touched
multiple households in at least three states.
Her nephew Don said she had a “char-
ity heart.” She was known to help fam-
ily members without question in times
of need, and was responsible for helping
Black Lyon Publishing in Baker City,
Oregon and Old Town Baking in Rancho
Cucamonga, California initially get off the
ground.
In 2014, Bebe became the eldest member
of the Editorial Board for Th e Baker Coun-
ty Press, one of four generations of family
involved in the newspaper.
Bebe is survived by her daughter and
son-in-law, Suzan and Keith Jones; grand-
daughter Kerry McQuisten; granddaugh-
ter Kasey Phelan and husband Nick;
great-grandchildren (in order of age)
Kailyn McQuisten, Savahanna Phelan,
Jakob Phelan and Vivien McQuisten;
many nieces and nephews, particularly
Don Bishop and Michael Robert Pace both
of with whom she remained particularly
close; and numerous other great nieces
and nephews.
She is preceded in death by husbands
Robert Ellis Jr. and Andrew Racey; mother
Birdie “Big Mama” Newsom Pace; father
Burke Pace; siblings and their spouses
Peyton (Helen), Billy, Caruthers (Nettie),
Myrtle (Red), Burke (Joan), Emily (Whit-
ey) and Allen (Vickie).
On Sunday, April 2, Bebe survived a
heart attack the magnitude from which
medical staff said they had never seen a
person walk away. For a while, she was
convinced she might even skip the E.R.
and just “get over it by herself.” She was
surrounded by family during her hospital
stay, laughing and talking, until a second
heart attack on Friday, April 7, proved too
much, even for her “charity heart.” She
was, as she put it, “the last of the Mohi-
cans.” She passed quickly at 7:56 p.m. sur-
rounded by love to the very end.
A graveside service will be held Saturday,
April 22 at 3 p.m. PDT, at the Malheur
Cemetery where she will be laid to rest
beside Andy. Friends and family are invit-
ed to an informal gathering at the Devils
Canyon Ranch upon leaving the cemetery.
To light a candle for Bebe or leave a con-
dolence for the family, please visit www.
colestributecenter.com. In lieu of fl ow-
ers, donations can be made locally to the
Malheur Cemetery, which relies on those
donations for all its care and maintenance,
in care of Cole’s Tribute Center.
September 18, 1921 - April 7, 2017. Beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Wyden
town
hall
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
Wyden tossed into his
response the fact that
he voted for President
Trump’s new Secretary of
the Interior, Ryan Zinke,
because he understands
that Zinke is against the
transfer of public lands
back to state or county
levels, and will buck other
Republicans who are in
favor of that transfer.
A student, Jessica,
opened up about her fam-
ily’s struggles living on
disability and expressed
insurance issues created by
Obamacare.
Wyden acknowledged
that Oregon’s management
of health insurance “was
not one of Oregon’s shin-
ning moments.” He said
he’s focused on cracking
down on “prescription
drug ripoffs.”
In response to a ques-
tion from the moderator
himself about addiction,
Wyden said he believes the
feds should regulate the
number of pills a doctor
can prescribe at once.
Richard Haynes asked
the senator his thoughts
on military involvement in
Syria and/or North Korea.
Wyden said he disagreed
with Trump’s desire to
increase military spend-
ing but reducing money to
diplomatic efforts. He said
he did support Trump’s
decision to strike after the
use of chemical weapons,
drawing a groan from the
more liberally inclined in
the audience.
Jackie Sanders asked
about Wyden’s stance on
the Forest Service closing
roads under RS2477, and
harvesting more timber
from federal lands.
Wyden said, “We have
got to fi x the system of
fi ghting fi re.” He believes
fi re fi ghting isn’t adequate-
ly funded.
Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest Supervisor
Tom Montoya was in the
audience, and said, “We try
to manage for multiple use,
but there are times when
roads need attention.” He
said public input is always
sought in decisions and
RS2477 is a complicated
law.
This response drew
groans of disbelief from
the more conservatively
inclined in the crowd.
Another lady suggested
that America get rid of the
electoral college, “open
democratic primaries,” and
eliminate superdelegates.
Wyden said it’s time to
“really rethink” the elec-
toral college as outlined
in the Constitution and go
for a strict popular vote
due to communication and
transportation now being
so connected nationally
unlike when the founding
fathers put in the electoral
college to “protect smaller
areas,” he said.
Wyden, who was a super-
delegate himself, said they
“weren’t so super” and
would see them elimi-
nated. He would also like
to implement a national
vote-by-mail system like
Oregon has.
Cynthia Roberts said
she would like to get the
“impeachment ball rolling”
on Trump, who has been
in offi ce three months.
Wyden sidestepped the
question and called for
Trump to release his tax
returns, calling that action
the “lowest ethical bar.”
More questions were
asked about increasing
timber harvests and ben-
efi ts for military, including
National Guard.
Former chemistry
teacher, Laura Miller, said
global warming will bring
“catastrophic consquenc-
es” and Wyden agreed,
then suggested exploring
geothermal energy use,
energy storage, and tidal/
wave energy.
Finally, Madison Turner
asked Wyden about the
divide between rural and
urban Oregon, and the
senator assured her he rep-
resents all Oregonians.
Wyden then led a round
of applause before leaving
BHS. He stopped at Safe-
way, drawing attention,
before leaving Baker City
to continue on to additional
scheduled town halls.