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About The Record-courier. (Haines, Baker County, Oregon) 1932-2016 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 2015)
i Record-Courier THURSDAY, MAY 21,2015 Lois “Peggy” Margaret Pickier Brown Black April 1936 - April 2015 A Memorial/Graveside Service will be held for Lois Black on Saturday, May 23,2015 at 1 p.m. at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway, Ore. Lois Black was bom April 1,1936 to Edgar Leroy Pickier and Lois Margaret McDowall at her grand-uncle Greer’s and grand-aunt Mae Robbins’s home in Carson/Halfway, Ore. She was the granddaughter of Claude Leroy Piclder and Elsie Elizabeth Robbins who were long time residents of Carson/Halfway. She spent her first years in Cornucopia, Ore. where her father worked at the Cornucopia Gold Mine. In July 1941, Lois’s brother, Richard Lynn Pickier, was bom in Cornucopia. Ih Dec. 1941 when the Cornucopia Mine closed, the family moved to Cottage Grove, Ore. where her father worked in the logging indus try. They moved to Linton, Ore. where Lois's mother was trained and worked as a welder in the Portland Ship Yards on the Victory Ships until the end of World War II. Lois's father started a Service Station for Richfield Oil and Gas Company. Lois attended school in Portland, Ore., first at St. Patrick Catholic Grade School (1st - 5th grades), then Chapman Grade School (5th - 8th grades), and Girls Poly (9th - 12th grades), graduating in the spring of 1954. By that time Lois had gained two sisters, Babe in'1945 and Patricia in 1947. Lois adored her brother and two sisters and was always protec tive of them. On April 6,1954, Lois married Gordon Allen Brown in Vancouver, Wash. At the time, Gor don was Sea Scout in Portland and decided to join the Coast Guard. In 1954, he went to Coast Guard Boot Camp for six weeks. While he was away, Lois pre pared for their first child to be bom. A son, Johnny Leroy, was bom on Feb. 20,1955 in Portland. Another son, Kim Allen, was bom March 19,1956. On May 10,1957, a daughter, Christal Lynn, was bom in Astoria where the family lived. While Gordon was in the Coast Colleen Töömbs Aug. 1930 - May 2015 Colleen Toombs passed away on May 11, 2015 at home with family mem bers by her side. She will I always be remembered for her Caring spirit, giving nature, and unending devotion to family and friends. Bom to Molly Dickison and Harvey G. Mc Cord, Colleen was raised in Baker City. She was actively involved in her church and schools, often playing the piano for concerts and in a local band. Over the years Colleen worked in a depart ment store and a grocery store, as a theater usher and ah office worker, and in an employ ment office. Her husband Leo started the fam ily business, Toombs Janitorial Supply in Ontario, Ore. 30 years ago, but Colleen is mostly remembered for the 20 years she worked at the Malheur Federal Credit Union. Colleen spent many years involved in commu nity service as a member of Civitans and the EOCIL board of directors. She also served on the supervisory committee for the Malheur Federal Credit Union since her retirement, helped during the Help Them to Hope holiday drives, volunteered for Special Olympics, and contributed many clothes and other items to Project Dove. Fayne Fredrick Hitch Sept. 1932 - May 2015 Fayne Fredrick Ritch of Baker City passed away on May 14, 2015 at Saint Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, Idaho following complications of a stroke. Fayne was born in Richland, Ore. to Lloyd and Crystal Ritch on Sept. 28,1932. He mar ried Jessie Mae Ackerman on Aug. 5,1959. Xysis Silk Duane Lahey II Feb. 2015 - May 2015 Xysis Silk Duane Lahey II, two months old, died at his residence on May 11, 2015. Xysis was bom Feb. 12,2015 to Lonnie Opstrup Per- sicke and Xysis Silk Duane Lahey. Xysis had a short life but will be missed by many. He is survived by his parents, Lonnie and Xysis; his grandmothers Gloria Edwards and Guard, the family moved to different areas of the West Coast spending time in Astoria, Port land, La Push, Wash., and Treasure Island, Calif. In 1968, Lois with her three children moved to Baker City to live close to her family while Gordon went to Vietnam for 11 months. When Gordon returned from Vietnam, he commuted from California and Oregon to see his family. In 1970, Lois moved to Fort Bragg, Calif, while Gordon was stationed at Fort Bragg Coast Guard Station. She lived at the Point Carrillo Light Station while Gordon was stationed at San Francisco, Calif. In July 1974, Lois and Gordon divorced after 20 years of marriage. Both John and Kim joined the Coast Guard shortly after they graduated from High School. Lois and Christal returned to Baker City for a short time and then to Caldwell, Idaho where Lois began working at Simplot. On Jan. 7,1979, Lois and Kenneth G. Black married in Reno, Nev. after meeting through their friends at the Eagles Lodge. They resided in Caldwell until Kenneth's death May 2014. Lois worked at various jobs in the Caldwell area during this time including the University of Idaho and Canyon County Dis patch. In 1990, Lois began working at Hewett Packard in Boise, Idaho. Her last position was a leader on the HP Printer Pin line while also serving as a Safety Volunteer. She retired in the spring of 2007. Lois is survived by her two sons and their wives, Kim and Brenda Brown, Kent, Wash., and John and Roxanne Brown, Wasilla, Alaska; her daughter, Christal and her husband, Thomas Dorsey, Springfield, Ore.; eight grand children and 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters and their spouses, Babe J. and .Cecil R. Fain, Susanville, Calif., and Patricia A. and Larry L. Byron, Nampa, Idaho; as well as and numerous nieces, and nephew. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth G. Black; her parents; and her brother Richard L. Pickier. Friends are invited to join the family for a din- ner/reception to be held immediately following the service at the Pine Valley LDS Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Serv ices. Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com. Married to Leo Everetf'Too'mbs for 54 years, Colleen was a devoted wife and loving mother to four children. During their marriage they lived in Idaho, Washington and Oregon, set tling in Ontario, Ore. where they built a life for their children and grandchildren. Colleen is survived by her four children and their families: daughter Cindy Lucht, and sons Chuck, Scott, and Phil Toombs; 13 grandchil dren; six great-grandchildren; a soon-to-be great-great-grandchild; and several nieces, nephews, and their families. She is preceded in death by her husband Leo; his parents and siblings; her parents; and her two sisters. Having spent the last years taking care of elder family members, we all feel blessed to have been able to spend these remaining years with Colleen. Colleen's family would like to acknowledge the support and excellent care she received from the nurses and staff at Saint Alphonsus in Ontario, Ore., as well as at Heart n' Home Hos pice of Fruitland, Idaho. You are all amazing, compassionate people who helped us through a very difficult time. In honor of Colleen's request, there will be no formal services, but rather a Celebration of Life gathering later this summer. Those who wish to may make donations in Colleen's name to Project Dove at P.O. Box 980, Ontario, Ore. 97914 and Heart n Home Hospice at 1100 N.W. 12th St., Ontario, Ore. 97914. He retired from ranching in Central Oregon, fortunate to have had a career that doubled as his favorite hobby. Fayne and Jessie relocated back to Baker City after retiring where Fayne enjoyed gardening, fishing with friends, going to yard sales, and bargain hunting. Fayne is survived by his wife Jessie of 55 years; daughter Suzie Twiss and her husband Fred; son Steve Ritch and his wife Brigitte; along with several grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; step father Frank Mackey; and son David Ritch. In honor of his wishes, there will be no funeral services. Ashlee Lahey; his great-grandmother Marianne Madsen; his grandma bear Brenda Mitchell; his sisters Anita Williams and Angelina Persicke; and two uncles, Carl Spraw III and Destin Lahey. Xysis is preceded in death by a brother, Kyler Grant Williams and his great-grandfather, Silk Duane Lahey. Arrangements are being handled through Gray's West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Avè., Baker City, Óre. 97814. 3 Death & Service Notices Cathy Louise Christensen, 54, of Baker City passed away on May 18,2015 at her residence. Arrangements are being handled through Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, Ore. 97814. John Paul Atkinson, 89, of Baker City died Feb. 2, 2015 in La Grande. A memorial graveside service, with military honors, will be held 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 30 at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Baker City. Pastor Jesse Whitford of the Baker City Christian Church will be officiating. A re ception will follow at Community Connections of Baker County. Gray's West & Company Pioneer Chapel is assist- ; ing the family with arrangements,___________ ____ _ Louis Townsend 1933-2015 . Louis Townsend, 82, of Baker City, Oregon went home to be with The Lord on May 18,2015. Bom in Conception Junction, Mo., to Louis Emanuel Townsend and Ellen Sally Taggart, Louis and his big sister Margaret lived a childhood reality of Dust Bowl migrants. Thè Townsend family headed West without even knowing how many miles they would have to traverse to reach Seat tle, Wash., where they might find work From a lifesaving trachea operation at age two, to being struck by lightning as a youngboy, to surviving a hor rific crane accident and even being shot, it seemed Louis was destined to end his time here like the famous patriarch Job “old and filli of days.” Louis was a self-described “Jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none,” but the fact remains that there is not a secondary road in Oregon that can be trav eled without crossing a bridge that Louis built. Besides working for Peter Keiwit and Morrison and Knutson, Louis also owned several businesses including T&M Construction, DuraBlock, Townsend & Sons Concrete, LT Trucking, and in retirement ^even became Louis the “Tomato Man” Townsend. Besides his abilities as a builder and business man, Louis was also well known for his philanthropy. He enjoyed being a bell-ringer for Salvation Army in response to a deep-seated gratitude he felt for tHe ’organization which helped his family in a time of desperation during their westward migration one Christmas Eve in Baker City, where fiiey had simply “ran completely out of money.” Louis’ love for giving didn’t only shine at Christmas, but he was known as a generous man throughout the year, and besides helping individuals in need, he often volunteered in endeavors such as building the Nazarene Church, driving bus for youth group trips, and various other building projects for family and friends. Louis was a father of five boys: Raymond, Doug, Dean, Paul and Ken neth. He was also a proud grandpa to Paul, Jeff, Jamie, Ross and Claire who remember him as Big Lou, the constant gardener. His great-grand children, Samantha, Dylan Kendall and Kahlan remember their forgetful grandpa who would often declare himself as their “Uncle Louis.” ‘ His last battle with the menace Alzheimer’s did not beat him in the end. He fought the good fight and finished the race strong, and he will be remembered as a strong man of ability and a man of strong faith, as he pointed often to his salvation in Jesus Christ and his great assurance of his home in heaven. When making plans, he often punctuated his schemings with a favorite saying, “Lord willin’ and the crik don’t rise” and was often heard in his last years expressing his deep desire to “Go home and be with The Lord.” He will be loved and missed by all of his family and friends who are all so happy for him at his long-awaited homecoming. Visitation will be Thursday, May 21 from 4-7 p.m. at Gray's West and Company^. Services are scheduledfor Friday,; M ay 11. at.2. p.,m- with a reception to follow and will be held at the Nazarene Church. Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre Thanks Lynne Burroughs, Seeks Replacement Artistic Director Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre is reaching out to tell you of a big change we have in store for this year. Our founder, Lynne Burroughs, will be leaving us at the end of the year and we need your help to continue to bring quality live theatre to Baker County. We will be holding a “town meeting” to ascertain whether there are people in Baker City who wish to carry on with EORT. If you are passionate about live theatre in this community, you are urged to be a part of the decision-making process. Such a decision must take place before Sept. 1 — the time when grants for the next year must be written. If a group has not mustered itself to carry on the live theatre, we will begin to dismantle and distribute assets and will dose at the end of this .year. This meeting will take place at the Iron Gate Theatre on June 2 at 7 p.m. Thank you, Kelly Brickman, EORT President I Lynn Burroughs has produced ®a^cer City iive theatre for 13 years. Submitted photos. youfiwike J.TABOR JEWELERS 1913 Main St. • Baker City • 541-524-1999
