10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Local
Mable Lee Conley
Baker City, 1926-2017
Mable Lee Conley, 91,
of Baker City, died June
5, 2017, at Meadowbrook
Place.
A graveside service will
be Saturday, July 8, at 10
a.m. at Mount Hope Cem-
etery. A light lunch will be
served after the memorial
service, at the Methodist
Church, 1919 Second St.
Mable Lee was born on
May 4, 1926, at Butte Falls
to Henry Calhoun and
Mable Donaldson Cal-
houn. Mable Lee was the
youngest of four children.
She was an infant when
her mother died in a tragic
death. Mable Lee and her
three siblings were taken
to Prairie City to be cared
for by their aunt.
When she was old
enough for school, Mable
Lee walked two miles to a
one-room country school
in Prairie City. When
she got a little bit older,
she rode the bus to town
to attend the big school.
When Mable Lee was
ready to enter high school
she moved to Portland to
live with her father. While
attending high school in
Portland she was able to
work after school filling
orders at Montgomery
Wards. After gradua-
tion from high school she
worked at the Swan Island
shipyards. It was not long
after that she landed a job
at the U.S. National Bank.
Mable Lee was an avid
roller skater and spent
many leisure hours at the
roller rink. On the night of
Oct. 30, 1945, she hap-
pened to be at the Imperial
Roller Rink in Portland
the same night that Navy
ships were in port and the
troops were on the loose.
Roy Conley was looking
for something to do that
night so he decided to try
some roller skating at the
Imperial Roller Rink. He
put his sea legs into a pair
of skates and ended up on
his backside. Pretty Miss
Mable Lee made a couple
of clever comments and
this became a pick up date.
The next nine days were
spent with dates and court-
ships and on Nov. 9, 1945,
Roy and Mable Lee were
married. After Roy got out
of the Navy they came to
Baker to visit Mable Lee’s
sister, Margaret. The plan
was to visit for a month
and then move on to Ohio
to live. After spending a
few days fishing around
Baker they decided to stay
and go hunting in the fall
and then move to Ohio.
Well, as you can probably
guess, they never made
their way to Ohio.
Three children were
born to this couple: Judy
Kay, Kenneth and Patrick.
Mable Lee took her role
as a homemaker very seri-
ously. She was a very good
mother. She enjoyed knit-
ting, gardening, canning
fruits and vegetables and
stamp collecting.
She volunteered at the
Sumpter
Council
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 9
Camping Spaces
After discussing the
other events going on in
Sumpter during the eclipse
weekend, effectively tying
up any available space,
as well as lack of staff to
clean up after campers,
the Council decided not to
pursue offering camping
Methodist Church and
the Interpretive Center,
she served senior dinners
(which she always referred
to as “I have to go feed the
old people”), worked at
the Courthouse counting
election ballots, and she
even fed the Cycle Oregon
bicyclists when they were
in town.
Years ago, when Baker
experienced brutal snow-
storms and the freeway
would close, Roy and
Mable Lee would invite
families that were stranded
for the night into their
home for a meal and a cup
of hot chocolate or coffee.
Mable Lee is survived by
her husband, Roy; her son,
Patrick, and daughter-in-
law, Karen; her grandchil-
dren: Sean, Shane, Mary,
Julie, Jessica and Kenneth;
15 great-grandchildren;
three great-great-grand-
children; and numerous
nieces and nephews.
Mable Lee was preceded
in death by her parents,
Henry and Mable (Donald-
son) Calhoun; her sisters,
Margaret (Calhoun) Allen
and Henrietta (Calhoun)
Stancliff; her brother,
Oliver Calhoun; her son,
Kenneth; and her daugh-
ter, Judy Kay.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Ron-
ald McDonald House.
FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017
— Obituaries —
Ezra & Erelah; Hideki &
Yuuki; Aria Rose, Harper
& Hudson); nephews Du-
gan and Dennis and Niece
Ched.
He was preceded in
death by his Father and
Mother, brothers Wan-
den & Vaden, half sister
Charlotte; daughter-in-law
Tommie Rose; 2 nephews
and great grandson, Elijah.
Friends are invited
to join the family for a
reception immediately
following at the Shorthorn
Restaurant on Main Street
in Richland.
For those who would like
to make a memorial dona-
tion in memory of Wilbur,
the family suggests either
the John Day Chapter
of Knights of Columbus
or the John Day Food
Bank through Tami’s Pine
Valley Funeral Home &
Cremation Services PO
Box 543 Halfway, Oregon
97834. On line condolenc-
es may be shared at www.
tamispinevalleyfuneral-
home.com.
Wilbur
Tracey
Ashby, 92,
died June
6, 2017, at
his home
in John
Wilbur
Day, sur-
Ashby
rounded by
his family.
A Graveside Service with
Military Honors was held
on June 13, 2017at the
Eagle Valley Cemetery in
Richland, Oregon.
Wilbur was born on
June 11, 1924 to George
W. Ashby and Mary Fern
Conner at the family home
in New Bridge, Oregon.
He was the oldest of three
boys.
He attended both the
New Bridge and Halfway
schools; completing the
8th grade. At the age of
16, he was employed in
the Cornucopia mines,
but was not allowed to be
underground because of
his age. He was making
$3 a day.
Wilbur joined the US
Navy in Aug of 1941 at the
age of 17; He was honor-
ably discharged in 1945
and then he re-enlisted
in July of 1949. During
his time in the Navy, he
served in both World War
II and the Korean War. He
spent time serving in the
Philippines, China, Korea,
at Palmyra and Midway
Islands, Pearl Harbor, and
Oahu. His ship, the USS
Valley Forge, had just
returned to the main land
from duty at Pearl Harbor
when the harbor was hit
by the Japanese. The USS
Valley Forge was immedi-
ately returned to the battle
site where he helped in
raising the sunken ships,
strip them of their loose
gear and clean up the hor-
rific site.
He received the
American Area Medal;
American Defense Medal;
Asiatic-Pacific Area
Medal; World War II Vic-
tory Medal; China Service
Medal; Korean Service
Medal; United Nations
Service Medal and the
Navy Occupation Medal.
In 1950, he received a Let-
ter of Commendation for
his outstanding services
during battle against the
hostile North Korean
forces.
He was fully discharged
from the US Navy in 1957
at the rank of Aviation
Ordnanceman 3rd class.
On August 8, 1953 at
Judge Lloyd Rae’s home
in Baker City, he mar-
ried Carole Lee Moore.
Together, they raised four
children.
Wilbur was employed
with Morrison-Knudsen.
His drill crew worked on
the building of the Brown-
lee, Oxbow and Hells
Canyon Dams and also for
Peter Kiewit as an off the
road tire man.
In 1969 he became
employed with Wallowa
Whitman National Forest
(Baker Oregon) and then
transferred in 1975 to the
Malheur National Forest
(John Day). He retired
from the Malheur National
Forest in 1984 –as Road
Supervisor (GS12-4)
Wilbur became a mem-
ber of St. Francis Catholic
Church in Baker City in
1961, transferring to St
Elizabeth Catholic Church
when he relocated to John
Day. He was an active
member of the Knights
of Columbus and thor-
oughly enjoyed baking the
sheepherder’s bread for the
annual fish fries.
He was a member of
the John Day Elks Club –
enjoyed dancing, fishing,
golfing, walking with his
faithful dog JJ; helping at
the local food bank and
sipping coffee with old
friends each afternoon.
He loved his grandchildren
and was blessed to hold his
great grandchildren.
Wilbur is survived
by his wife of 64 years,
Carole Lee of John Day;
four children; Blaiden (the
late Tommie Rose) from
McDermitt, NV; Trace
(Duane) Andrew; Adele
(Cody) Wilson, both of
Canyon City, OR; and W.
Kevin of Aumsville, OR;
14 grandchildren (Rebec-
ca, Kristen, Mary, Brant,
Joseph, Adena – Riann,
Lucas, Alexandra and
Andrea – Cala, Michael,
Mitch and Malachi); 28
great grandchildren (Isa-
bel, Jacob; Chase J, Cailee
& Tanler; Silas; Ian, Asher
& Avery; Chase; Tehya,
Jared, Jace, Trenton, Trey,
Axel; Elliott, Aiden &
Jacob; Rowdy & Addison;
Jack
Young, 58,
died at his
home in
Haines on
June 10,
2017.
There will
Jack
Young
not be a
service, but
his cremain’s will be scat-
tered at a favorite place of
Jack’s.
Jackie “Jack” Doil was
born on April 29, 1959 in
Augsburg, Germany to
James “Jim” and Geraldine
(Willhite) Young. Due to
Jack’s Dad, Jim, being in
the service, he attended
schools “everywhere,” but
graduated from Pine Eagle
High School in Halfway,
Oregon in 1977. Jack
enlisted in the Army fol-
lowing high school.
Jack was married to
Waynese “Tiny,” and
they had a son J.D. and a
daughter Brandee. He lat-
er married Linda Wayne.
A fond memory of the two
of them, was their pet pig,
which they fondly referred
to him/her as “bacon.”
They later divorced. In
2001 he married Sharon
Sorensen.
Jack was quite literally,
a jack of all trades, he
could do most anything.
He enjoyed hunting,
fishing, mushrooming,
gardening and being with
family. Jack loved the
mountains, he especially
enjoyed going to Big Bear
to “cleanse his soul.” He
loved football, cheering on
his favorite team, the New
Orleans Saints. Jack was
an adventurist and an indi-
vidualist. It didn’t matter
if he had just met you or if
you were family, he would
always end a conversation
when leaving with “love
ya!”
He was preceded in
death by his mother, son
J.D. and nephew Jesse.
Fred
Lohner Jr.,
87, of Baker
City died
June 17,
2017, just
nine months
Fred
after losing
Lohner
his beloved
wife of 62
years. Fred spent his final
days surrounded by what
he would describe as his
greatest accomplishment in
life, his three children.
A private graveside ser-
vice will be held later this
summer in Central Oregon,
where he will be laid to
rest with his wife.
Fred was born in Veneta,
Oregon on April 6, 1930,
to Fritz and Aline Lohner.
Fred was the oldest of
two brothers who grew up
in the Willamette Valley,
graduated from Springfield
High School and then
served in the United States
Army.
Fred spent his work-
ing career in the timber
industry, primarily running
heavy equipment. Fred’s
specialty was operating
Bulldozers and was highly
regarded as a Grade-Cat
Operator, building logging
roads primarily on the
west-slope of the Cas-
cades. Even into his later
years Fred was always
looking for a new dozer to
tinker with.
Fred’s hobbies included
hunting and fishing, along
with restoring Classic
Chevy’s and Bulldozers.
Fred married Lorraine
Swanson on July 17, 1954
in Springfield, Oregon.
They had three children,
Jay, Rene and Wyn who
were all born in Bend,
Oregon while the family
lived 30 miles south in La
Pine.
The family moved from
Central Oregon to the
Pleasant Hill area of the
Willamette Valley before
moving back to La Pine in
1977.
spaces to visitors.
City Burn Pile
Armbruster stated he
received two more com-
munications from Diane
Miller detailing more trash
dumped—the problem
is not improving. After
discussion about burn pile
use and abuse, methods
of restricting access, and
processes in other coun-
ties, Fire Chief Clarke
suggested picking dates
in the spring and fall to
burn and giving notice to
residents to bring their
yard debris. The Fire
Department would set and
manage the fire. Mayor
Clarke requested getting
information on the new
process and burn pile eti-
quette together for the next
Around the Water Tower
communication.
Fire Chief Clarke sug-
gested putting in a deadline
and letting everyone know
if the problems don’t go
away, the City will shut
down this service.
Armbruster asked if a
sign could be placed with
reference to an ordinance.
McKinney said that could
happen and that it’s a Class
C felony to dump garbage
where it shouldn’t be.
Accountant’s Letter
McKinney stated the
City accountant sent the
engagement letter that
has to be approved and
signed every year. Council
approved the engagement
letter from Guyer and As-
sociates.
Transient lodging tax
McKinney explained that
transient lodging tax cur-
rently goes to Baker Coun-
ty. Baker City is planning
to withdraw from that and
Commissioner Bill Harvey
sent out a letter asking
what other cities are going
to do as the agreement is
coming up for renewal.
McKinney and Woolf were
planning to attend a meet-
ing the following morning
to find out more.
McKinney said the
County spends the funds
on tourism promotion.
Sumpter’s portion is
$8,100 per year. The City
can opt to keep those dol-
lars for tourism promotion
or facilities, like restrooms.
Woolf stated for a couple
of years Sumpter had two
events advertised on the
outer cover of Oregon Fes-
tival and Events magazine
Wilbur Tracey Ashby
Baker City, 1924-2017
Jack is survived by his
wife Sharon, daughters
Megan and her husband
Jacob Ruda, Brandee and
her husband Rex Pierce
and Amanda Springer;
sons Luke and Lance
McMillen, Mike Dover
and Chris Graves; father
Jim Young and his wife
Delita Hohimer; 11 grand-
children; brothers James
Young Jr. and Richard
Young; sisters Nancy and
her husband Jack Pfaff;
numerous nieces and
cousins.
For those who would like
to make a memorial dona-
tion in memory of Jack,
the family suggests the
Baker or Haines Ambu-
lance or Baker or Haines
Fire Department through
Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral
Home & Cremation Ser-
vices PO Box 543 Half-
way, Oregon 97834. On
line condolences may be
shared at www.tamispine-
valleyfuneralhome.com
Fred Lohner
Baker City, 1930-2017
Jack Young
Baker City, 1959-2017
Fred had a passion for
Alaska and the family took
several trips to the North
Country through the years.
In 2000 Fred and Lorraine
moved to Baker County,
where they spent their
remaining years.
Fred is survived by his
oldest son Jay Lohner
(wife Connie) of Baker
City, daughter Rene Rus-
sell (Stan) of La Pine, and
son Wyn Lohner of Baker
City (Robin).
Fred is also survived by
seven Grandchildren and
15 great grandchildren.
Fred was preceded in
death by his parents, Fritz
and Aline, his brother
Edward and his wife Lor-
raine.
Memorial contributions
can be made to the Nation-
al Rifle Association or any
organization supporting the
Timber Industry’s Sustain-
able Harvest Rights.
To light a candle for
Fred, or to leave a condo-
lence for the family, please
visit www.grayswestco.
com.
Michael Irvin Townsley
Baker City, 1953-2017
Michael
Irvin
Towns-
ley, 64, of
Weiser,
Idaho
passed away
Michael
on May 26,
Townsley
2017 at the
Snake River
near Huntington. Arrange-
ments have been entrusted
to Gray’s West & Co.
Pioneer Chapel in Baker
City, Oregon.
On May 3, 1953 in
Silver City, New Mexico,
Michael Irvin Townsley
was born to proud parents
Robert Irvin Townsley and
Rubye Nell Townsley. Mi-
chael graduated from high
school at Oakdale Union
in Oakdale, California in
1971.
For eleven years he
worked for Enstar as a pip-
efitter, retiring in 2015.
Fishing, hunting,
woodworking, gunsmith-
ing, welding, repairing
vehicles and being a jack
of all trades were things he
enjoyed and excelled at.
Michael was a lifetime
member of The Church of
Christ as well as the Na-
tional Rifle Association.
Michael’s family will
always remember him for
being an amazing father,
grandfather, and mentor to
them.
He leaves behind his son
Michael Robert Townsley
of Salem, Oregon; his
daughter Laura Nicole
Townsley of Santa Rosa,
California and four grand-
children.
Michael is preceded in
death by his parents Robert
and Rubye Townsley and
his sisters Sherry Brad-
shaw and Darla Towell.
To light a candle for Mi-
chael or to leave a condo-
lence for the family, please
visit: www.grayswestco.
com.
and the outer back cover
of the NE Oregon Visi-
tor’s Guide, among other
places. Timothy Bishop
took pictures of events and
grants were available from
TLT (Transient Lodge Tax)
funds. She said budgeting
is getting tighter and they
are not sponsoring those
specific events, focusing
on the county instead of
highlighting individual
communities.
McKinney stated they
would report back to
Council with more infor-
mation later, including the
deadline for deciding.