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
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