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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 2017)
8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2017 Local — Obituaries — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Elva Lou Ellen Guyer Baker City, 1925-2017 They became engaged in December, just before he was sent to the South Pacific. When he returned, they were married on Elva’s 19th birthday, November 10, 1944 in Fresno, Cali- fornia. As a newly mar- ried couple, they moved to Sanford, Florida for a year to complete Don’s Marine service. After his discharge, they returned to Baker, Oregon where Don began his career with Eastern Oregon Savings and Loan and Elva shared her vocal talent with the community. While in Cali- fornia, at a Savings and Loan Convention, she was chosen to sing on the Art Linkletter Radio Show. Don was called back into the Marine Corps in 1952. They lived in Santa Ana, California and Pensacola, Florida. Upon returning to Baker in 1953, Elva worked at May’s Music Store and sang for com- munity events. She taught ballet and tap for over 10 years, sang with the United Methodist Church, and led a junior choir. In 1954, Elva won a KBKR contest which qualified her to open the Oregon State Fair at Ted Mack’s “Oregon Amateur Hour.” In 1959, Elva and Don moved to La Grande with the opening of the first branch of Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan. Mrs. Guyer began working in the tax department at Union County Court House where she continued for almost 20 years. She sang with the Eastern Oregon Symphony Singers and United Methodist Church Choir. Elva and Don returned to Baker in 1980 when Don became President of Pioneer Federal. She loved decorating for United Methodist Church events. Elva and her sister-in-law, Shirley Guyer, started the Methodist Church Bazaar in an attempt to provide the church with particular needs. Elva gave Leo Adler House tours and started Christian Comfort Creators that continues to meet in the United Methodist Church. Mrs. Guyer was a sup- portive spouse in Don’s many organizations, a member of Eastern Oregon Star, and the United Meth- odist Church. They had many fun filled adventures traveling with their travel trailer and going to Yuma, Arizona for the winters. Elva is survived by her daughter, Ellen Youngbluth and her husband David of Prineville, Oregon and Buckeye, Arizona, as well as their son Retired Marine Major Steven O’Connor and his wife, Retired Navy Commander Alda and their daughters, Madeline and Kaylin; her brother Guy McCoy and his wife Sue; her nieces and nephews Randy Guyer and wife Mary Jane, Janet Chandler and her husband George, Donald G. Guyer and his wife Rose, Vickie Kirkwood, Dr. Robert R. McCoy and his wife Amy, Kathy Krob and her husband Jeff, Sandra Mc Coy, and Robert G. McCoy as well as numerous great nieces and nephews. Mrs. Guyer was preceded in death by her parents, Austin Gribble and Lillian (Gribble) McCoy, her husband Donald Rudolph Guyer, her brother Ray Larkin McCoy, and her uncle Russell Ward who was like a brother. In lieu of flowers, memo- rial contributions in Elva L. Guyer’s memory may be made to the United Methodist Church Memo- rial Fund of Baker City or the Shrine Hospital for Children. This may be done through Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, Oregon 97814. Ray E. Andrews Unity, 1933-2017 August 24, 2017 I lost my husband, my lover, my best friend when the Lord took Ray him home. Andrews We met in 1950 when he was visiting his brother, who worked for the Forest Service in Unity. He told me many times about the first time he saw me. One of my best friends and I were riding our bikes down the street. He said he knew right then he had to meet me. He arranged with my friends brother to make it happen. They came to my house later. Ray, being ex- tremely bashful, never said more than three words. He made up for that later. This meeting, however, was the start of a long relationship as we were married a year and half later in my parent’s yard on September 7, 1952. Ray was barely 19 and I barely 17 (and they said it wouldn’t last) we were three weeks short of our 65th anniversary when he left us. Our marriage produced five beautiful children, twelve wonderful grand- children and 13 precious great grandchildren. His passing took such a large part of all of our hearts with him. Most of our years to- gether were spent in Unity. It was the place he loved so much. He said from the first time he came there he knew it was home and he never wanted to leave. Ray loved horses and always had one or more, from the time he bottle fed one when he was twelve. He especially liked breeding mares and watching their babies grow up. When knee replace- ments kept him from riding he still liked having them around to groom and look at. His dog, Skeeter, was also much loved. Anytime Ray went down the road in a truck, Skeeter was there taking his rightful place in the passenger seat. When Skeeter got sick and couldn’t recover the vet had to put him to sleep. This was very hard on Ray and he decided Skeeter was his last dog. Ray was a hardworking man. He believed you gave an honest day’s work and were honest in your dealings. He had several different jobs throughout his life but most of the years were spent logging. He fell trees for many years and also ran almost any kind of machinery. I think here was where his love of heavy equipment was born. He had his own small logging outfit for a while. But he really wanted to do something where he could have and operate all those “beauti- ful” machines. This is when the idea of Andrews Excavating started emerg- ing. He had so much talent and ability operating any machine. Once when he was putting the finishing touches on a pond, the man standing next to me said, “You know, he is just an artist with that Cat”. I had never thought of it that way, but as I turned to watch my husband again I knew what he said was true. I talked to Ray often about getting a hobby and not working so hard. He answered me with, “Work- ing is my hobby.” He also said that he didn’t know Labor Day was a holiday. He thought you just worked harder. He said too, that the best working times were work- ing with his sons. They helped him often, especial- ly sawing lumber on their portable sawmill. But the very best and most special and memorable times spent with his boys were when they went hunting. He re- peated those stories often. My husband wasn’t a real social person, espe- cially in a crowd, mostly because of a hearing loss, but let me tell you, he loved his morning cof- fee hour (or two) with the guys at the Burnt River Market. He would become very agitated if something kept him from getting there right at opening time. Visiting with friends and meeting new people who stopped by was a source of much enjoyment. Like most people Ray loved his family with all of his heart and was so proud of them all. His traits of hard work, honesty, compassion, love, caring, loyalty, and generosity were passed on to his fam- ily because they possess all of those same values. He gave to this earth five children: Keena Rhaye, Carrie Ree, Danna Lee, Bradley Ray and Corwin Glenn. Twelve grand- children: Jacob DeLong, Megan LaTortue, Kristin, Brianne, Erin, Ashlee, Lindsey, and Cameron Browning, Tanna Fjardo, Tara Micka, Torie, and Caleb Andrews: Thirteen great- grandchildren; Evyn And Kaeden Delong, Adalyn and Rhys LaTor- tue, Payten, Madden, and Kinley Browning, Kobe, Kristin, and Max Cantrell, Hayven Browning, Leo and Oliver Fjardo. Ray was born in Mul- len, Nebraska August 15, 1933, to parents Fred and Birdeen Andrews. The family moved to Willow Creek, OR when he was eight years old. He had eight siblings. He is survived by three brothers and one sister: Robert Car- rier and wife Eileen, Doug Andrews and wife Dianne, Dennis Andrews and Wife Ellen, and Audrey Fisher and husband John. My husband passed away at home surround by his loving family. A devoted husband, dad, grandpa, and great grandpa will be so deeply missed by all of us and by spouses: Brad’s wife Lorrie, Corey’s wife Shauna, Jake’s wife Jen- nifer, Megan’s husband Kwami, Tanna’s husband Gabe, Tara’s husband Andy and me, his wife. I will miss him every minute for the rest of my earthly life. He was my husband, my lover, my best friend. He was the one on whom I could always depend. He was my rock you see. If I was sad he empa- thized with me. If I was happy he laughed with me. If I was angry he sympathized with me. He was my rock you see. If I cried he held me close. If I was depressed he turned on all the lights for me. f I was just forlorn he went for a ride with me. If I was scared he held me tightly so I would feel safe again. On him I could always depend. He was my husband, my lover, my best friend. He was my rock you see. We will love him forever, his wife Barbara and all of his family. As per his request there will be no services. For those who would like to make a donation in memory of Ray the family suggests Young Life (a youth outreach program) through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Crema- tion Services PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834. Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispi- nevalleyfuneralhome.com. County to sell property within Deer rescued old Tasty Bake Building BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners held its second, regular session of the month, on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 9 a.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Courthouse, which included departmental updates, a Sumpter Dredge tailings mining discussion, and an approval of the sale of County-seized personal property within the former Tasty Bake building. Present from the Board were Chair Bill Harvey, Commissioners Mark Ben- nett and Bruce Nichols, and Executive Assistant Heidi Martin. Attendance also included Baker Coun- ty District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff, Baker County Juvenile Department Court Supervisor Staci Erickson, baker County Planning Director Holly Kerns, Baker Heritage Museum and Adler House Museum Director Carly Annable, Baker Heritage Museum Board member Steve Bogart, Baker County IT Director Bill Lee, John Creighton, and Art Sap- pington. Harvey called the session to order, and provided the Invocation, and led in recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was adopted, with no noted changes, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. Citizen Participation included Sappington, Co- ordinating Officer for the Jefferson Mining District (JMD), who spoke about a presentation provided to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) by the JMD, on September 7, 2017, regard- ing locatable mining law, using the Grant County- based Buffalo Mine as a specific example of an issue with USFS staff cut- ting a lock to a gate located on an access road there. Sappington said that the in- formation presented to the USFS included evidence that the mine is patented, and the road is a County road. The minutes from the Wednesday, August 30, 2017, and the Wednesday, September 6, 2017 regular sessions were approved, with noted corrections for the September 6, 2017 minutes, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. Erickson provided a departmental update, which included, among other details, an increase in referrals to her depart- ment, of 13-15 year old males, for property crimes and substance abuse (specifically, an increase in methamphetamine use in juveniles). Since January, the depart- ment has provided, through the juveniles, over 430 hours of community ser- vice, however, she said, the requirement that offenders send letters of apology to their victims has more of an impact on the juveniles, since it’s more personal. Erickson also spoke about providing an op- portunity for juveniles to have structure early on, to acquire soft skills, and to pursue learning opportuni- ties, such as through Baker Technical Institute (BTI). Shirtcliff provided a departmental update, which included, among other details, a new com- puter system installed last year, which has improved greatly the information and data Shirtcliff has avail- able, and can provide. Staff-wise, the depart- ment hired Nicki John- ston as the new Victims’ Assistance representative within the last couple of months, and Shirtcliff said she’s doing a good job; and Shirtcliff is excited that the Oregon State Police (OSP) hired Clay Stevens, who is based in Baker City, as an eastern Oregon drug case investigator. Annable provided a de- partmental update, which included, among other de- tails, an increase in Baker Heritage Museum gift shop sales of 9% over last year, as well as an increase in admission sales of 5% over the same period. She said there’s an increase in visi- tor numbers by 8% over last year, and the Total Solar Eclipse helped boost those numbers, though the museum was already on track to have a successful year. Annable said that 302 kids attended the 2nd Sum- mer Academy program, and volunteers helped make that program suc- cessful, as well. This year, she said, the central gallery exhibit at the museum will be changed to commemo- rate the 50th anniversary of the filming of the movie “Paint Your Wagon,” in Baker County. SEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PAGE 9 Photo courtesy of Quail Ridge Golf Course. ODFW employees work to free the deer. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 When Ratliff sat on the edge of the hole, the deer jumped vertically between his legs and he was able to catch her between his thighs. “It was a perfect accident,” said Ratliff. Phillip Perrine, District Wildlife Technician, grabbed the deer’s front legs and Ratliff held onto her back legs and lifted her out of the hole. Once they were sure the deer’s legs were not broken or hurt, they let her go and she ran off just fine. Ratliff advises people who find animals in similar situ- ations to call the appropriate people to come take care of the animal. It is important not to stress the animal, as they would try jumping and hurting themselves. “The best thing is to assess the situation, step back, and call,” explained Ratliff. He also advises people to put the covers of manholes back on so the animals won’t jump and hurt themselves falling. No one is sure why the manhole the deer fell into was open at the time, including Public Works Director Mi- chelle Owen. Owen said she would look into the matter, but no statement was available before print. Mike Brooks at the Quail Ridge Golf Course explained that weeds were growing around the manhole and they hid the opening from the workers, who were there sand- ing the greens.
