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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015
John P. Atkinson
July 1925 — Feb. 2015
: John P. Atkinson, 89,
passed Monday, Feb. 2 at
Grande Ronde Hospital in
Da Grande. A celebration
of life with military honors
will be held at a later date.
John was bom July 11,1925 in Webb City,
Mok to Daniel and Gertrude Atkinson. John
joined five children in an extended family that
ultimately numbered four siblings and 18 half
siblings. 12 of the 22 children survived to adult­
hood, growing up in extreme poverty, the fam­
ily grooved often, searching for work in
Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. John at­
tended school in Goodman, Mo. and May, Mo.
Ip 1942 he moved to Vale, Ore., and graduated
froip Vale High School (early) in 1944. At VHS,
i John was active in boxing, football, and drama.
“ John joined the Army Air Corps in Feb. 1944.
Upon Completion of basic and advanced train­
ing^ John joined the 8th Air Force, 487th
Squadron of the Army Air Corps (now the U.S.
Air Force), in Lavenham, England. The 487th
Bombardment Group was affectionately known
as “The Gentlemen From Hell." John was the
Ball Turret Gunner on a B-17 Flying. Fortress
crew piloted by 1/Lt. Paul T, Kohr.
On Dec. 24,1944 the Kohr Crew joined 2034
B-17S and B-24S, and 936 Fighters in the great­
est single force of airplanes ever dispatched in
U.S. military history on a bombing raid over
Germany. On March 17,1945, the Kohr Crew
was on their 30th bombing mission. Their tar­
get was an oil refinery near Ruland, Germany.
After dropping their bombs, the plane was hit
by flack, causing an engine fire. This was the
third time they had been hit, but the previous
two times they were able to return to friendly
airfields for emergency landings. With this hit
there was too much fire on board to attempt
continued flight. Lt. Kohr ordered the crew to
bail out All'crew members survived the jump
but were immediately captured.
As POWs they were continually moving,
sometimes by ground transportation, but
mostly in forced marches. The Third Infantry
Division of the U.S. Seventh Army eventually
liberated them. John lost over 40 pounds dur­
ing his time as a POW.
-1 John returned to the Ut-Sv for medical atten­
tion,¿recuperated, and was assigned to a re­
serve unit. He then began working for the
telephone company as a lineman and engineer.
He inet LaVelle Graven during this time and
they were married on Aug. 17,1946. John and
LaVelle had three children, Ted, Rhonda, and
Jblin Laine. They divorced in 1973.
John began his 38-year career with the Ore­
gon Department of Transportation in 1947, be­
tween active duty assignments. He, worked in
Bates, Hereford, Fossil, Baker City (twice), and
La Grande. He retired as a Maintenance Super­
visor in Baker City in Dec. 1985.
John was recalled to active duty during the
Korean War and served until Dec. 1952. His
commanding officer en­
couraged him to attend
Officer Candidate Train­
ing but John opted for
civilian life. He had nine
years of service at the time
of his discharge. John’s
service medals included a
Purple
Heart,
Three
Bronze Stars, Air Medal
with four Oak Clusters, WWII Victory Medal,
French Government Liberation Commenda­
tion, and European Campaign Medal.
Due to injuries suffered during his POW
time, John was later granted a service-related
disability. These injuries impacted him
throughout his life. In 2009, John was in­
ducted into the Oregon Military Hall of Fame.
Former Governor Vic Atiyeh presented John
with his Memorial Plaque recognizing his serv­
ice and sacrifices as a former POW.
John married Helen Cox on June 5,1975.
They divorced in 1981. John then married
Colleen Compton on July 2,1982. They spent
321/2 years together before Colleen’s death on
Jan. 8, 2015. The past two years John and
Colleen were cared for by Colleen’s daughter-
in-law, Anita Compton. John’s family is ex­
tremely grateful for Anita’s care and
compassion in making their final years to­
gether comfortable in their home.
John always looked forward to fall hunting
season to arrive. John joined his sons, grand­
sons and son-in-law for sharing good times and
retelling past great hunting events. John loved
to golf and was a long-time player at the Baker
City Quail Ridge Golf course.
He participated in many’local and regional
golf tournaments. He also loved to interact with
children, and especially enjoyed entertaining
and teasing his many grandchildren and great­
grandchildren.
John was preceded in death by his beloved
wife Colleen; parents Daniel and Gertrude
Atkinson; brothers Clinton and James Atkin­
son; sister Martha (Atkinson) Nutting; and 15
half siblings.
He is survived by his children, Ted (Patty)
Atkinson, Rhonda (Herb) Hickman, and John
Laine (Vicki) Atkinson; seven grandchildren
and half-sisters, Elvetta (Ray) Griffin, Carolyn
Atkinson, and Ethelene Atkinson. Also surviv­
ing are stepchildren Jo Compton (Dee Wilson),
Brian (Pam). Compton, Jeff (Anita) Compton,
Matt Compton, Tom (Kandy). .Compton, and
Chris (Tracy) Compton; and many step-grand­
children.
John was an enrolled member of the North­
ern Cherokee Nation, White River Band. One
of his great-grandfathers served with Confed­
erate General Stand Waite (Cherokee Regi­
ments) during the Civil War. John was also a
member of the VFW, Baker City Chapter.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests dona­
tions to the Air Force Aide Society, Alzheimer’s
research, or the Baker City VFW Chapter in
John’s honor. Online condolences can be made
to
the
family
at
www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.
twins, five years later. They bought a farm in
the Napa Valley, Calif,, and raised their chil­
dren in a wholesome country environment and
taught them to love the Lord with all their
1920 - Feb. 2015
hearts. After Charlie’s death, Bobbi sold the
farm and moved to Oregon to be near her boys
Our beautiful, ageless
and their families.
mother closed her eyes on
Bobbi’s faith was an important part of her life
Earth and opened them in
and she loved serving the Savior. In 1953, she
Heaven. On Feb. 13,2015,
began a Bible class in her home which grew
Barbara “Bobbi” Williams, 95, passed away
over the years into a large church, now serving
peacefully at Bee Hive Home in Baker City,
the Napa Valley. For years she led children’s
with hér family at her side. Her loving husband
Bible clubs, costumed myriads of Christmas
of 62 years, Charlie, preceded her in 2003. She
pageants, emceed women’s retreats and sang in
is suryived.by her five children: triplets, Terry
the church choir. Her many talents included
(L oti ) of West Linn, Larry (Sue) of Newberg
cooking, playing the autoharp, decorating elab­
and Marylee (Dick) of San Jose, Calif,, and her
orate cakes, creating beautiful machine em­
twins, Ron (Elodie) of Monmouth, and Don
broidery, dancing the country two-step, and
(Valerie) of Baker City. She also leaves behind
beating everyone in UNO and SCRABBLE! In
’her much-loved 10 grandchildren and 18 great-
her later years, she especially enjoyed playing
gxandchildren. She was truly the matriarch
her harmonica, often accompanied by her son,
and cornerstone of our family.
Don on the guitar, at Bee Hive, and jam ses­
< Barbara Williams (née Nunn) was bom in
sions sponsored by Marilyn's Music.
Kènt, Ore., the ninth of 11 children and, as a
Bobbi will be buried next to her only love,
teenager, moved to California where she met
Charlie, at a graveside ceremony in Napa’s Tu-
and married Vallejo High School's football and
locay Cemetery. We will miss her greatly, but
track star, Charlie Williams. Her long and
will see her again and love her always.
happy life included the birth of triplets in 1943
Online condolences may be shared at
(the first ever born in Vallejo!) and the birth of
www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhpme.com.
Barbara “Bobbi”
Williams
Thelma J. Gibbs
June 1931 - Feb. 2015
; Tlielma J. Gibbs 83, ä Haines resident and
former Baker City resident died Sunday, Feb.
22,2015 at her home in Haines. The family will
have a gathering at a later date.
Mrs. Gibbs was born June 26,1931 in Baker
City, a daughter of Thomas Andrew and Eliza­
beth White (Hastie) McMurdo. She received
her education in Baker City,
. She married Curtis Gibbs on Oct. 27,1969 in
Emmett, Idaho. With her husband they owned
and operated Gibbs Wood Products in Baker
City, specializing in making survey stakes and
other wood products. They worked together for
49 years before the business closed.
Mrs. Gibbs loved to garden, do yard work and
can. She was the last one of her family who was
living.
Mrs. Gibbs is survived by her son Mike Mor­
row, Haines; daughter, Elizabeth Neill, son and
daughter-in-law, James and Tonia Ryan;
daughter and son-in-law, Laura and David
Fuzi, all of Baker City; and several grandchil­
dren and great-grandchildren, along with nu­
merous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death-by her parents;
one sister; three brothers; her husband; and a
grandson.
Those wishing to make memorial contribu­
tions in her memory may direct them to Heart
'n Home Hospice. This may be done through
the Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place St., Baker
City, Ore. 97814.
Betty Jean Lovett
May 1932 - Feb. 2015
Betty Jean Lovett, 82, long­
time Halfway resident, died
and was reunited^With the love
of her life, Karl on Valentine's
Day, Feb. 14, 20i^at Settler's
Park in Baker City after a short
valiant fight with pancreatic
cancer. Although there will
not be a formal service, she
will be interred at a later date
with her husband Karl at Pine
Haven Cemetery in Halfway.
Betty was born on May 23,
1932 1K Mattoon, Ill. to Bert
and Reatha (Hyland) Ritchey.
Betty grew up in Arizona, at­
tended school, and graduated
from Flagstaff High School on
May 24, 1951. In school she
enjoyed and studied home
economics, science, and arts.
After school, she claimed to
have "traveled everywhere."
And she did, from Arizona to
Washington to Idaho, Texas,
Nevada, Kansas, and on and
on.
Betty met and married who
she referred to as "the true
love of her life," Karl Lovett, in
Mexico followed shortly after
by a wedding in 1971 in
Weiser, Idaho. Betty and Karl
had quite a love for each other.
Karl wrote her hundreds of
love letters and she kept each
and every one.
During her fife Betty worked
as a waitress/hostess and as a
cook. She also supervised an
animal shelter in Bend and
also one in Montana. Betty en­
joyed working with her hus­
band Karl and at one point,
they worked together in a hos­
pital lab.
Karl was diagnosed with dia­
betes; it was then that Betty
became "nurse Betty." She
meticulously monitored his in­
sulin by keeping , well-kept
journal^ of his levels, his in­
take, and times that each task
or aid was rendered.
Each year, Betty entered her
arts and crafts in the Labor
Day Fair Exhibition booth.
She loved each and every rib­
bon she received. She enjoyed
spending time with the pre­
school and all the "little kids."
The children as well as many
in the community lovinglyre-
ferred to her as "Grandma,
Betty."
Every year, Betty had a
Christmas list of gifts to share
with so many, each gift
wrapped, each gift given with
love. There was one particular
year that she was deemed the
"Christmas elf." Betty also en­
joyed going to Bingo at the
VFW Hall in Halfway and the
New
Bridge
Grange.
Betty's
hair was
kept
in
the long
braids
and at 82,
she barely
had a gray hair on her head. It
took just about seven years to
grow her hair down to her
hips. Then she would cut the
braids off, and start over.
Betty was a fixture of
Halfway. She would be seen
daily with her shopping basket
on her stroll to town. Betty al­
ways had such a cute smile
and genuinely cared about
those around her.
A favorite poem of Betty's
was entitled "Love and Friend­
ship"
You're the one I most ad­
mire, with great intentions
and loving desires.
Passion and trust and
knowing that you care,
brings a lifetime of happi­
ness for us to share...
Being so gentle, under­
standing, and kind, brings
comfort,faith, and a joy that
shines.
Tears and laughter are
feelings that are rare, but a
true heart shall never de­
spair.
Love is unique in its very
own way, taking risks, and
challenges — day by day.
But when a heart is made
of gold, there is so much to
share. Like joy, laughter,
and a friendship that's
there...
So I give you my heart as
a token of love, from one
friend to another, and the
heavens above.
So take my heart and cher­
ish it too, cause there is no us
without you!
- y ; •
Betty was preceded in death
by her parents; husband Karl;
brother Bert, Jr.; Charles;
James; sister Chariot; and her
most recent four-legged com­
panions "Rowdy & Flicka."
Betty is survived by her sis­
ters Helen and husband Jack
McCrain; Edith Cunningham
and Patrica and husband Bob
Keel; brother Robert and wife
Emma Ritchey; and numerous
nieces; nephews, and cousins.
Memorial contributions to­
ward a cemetery marker can
be made in memory of Betty to
Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral
Home and Cremation Serv­
ices, P.O. Box 543, Halfway,
Ore. 97834. Online condo­
lences may be shared at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneral-
home.com.
Funeral Notice
Norman DuBosch, 82, of Baker City, died on Sunday, Fel),.
22,2015 at Saint Alphonsus Hospital in Baker City with his
family at his side. ^.Celebration of Norm's Life and potluO
(bring your favorite dish) will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28,
2015 at 4 p.m. at the VFW Hall Post #3048 - 2005 Valley
Avenue (Across from the Eltrym Theater) in Baker Cit||
Arrangements are under the direction of Tami's Pine Valleyj
Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Online condolences
may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfaneralhome.coml|
J.TABOR
JEWELERS
1913 Main St. • Baker City • 541-524-1999