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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2021)
2A — BAKER CITY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 O BITUARIES Pat Leonard Baker City, 1931-2021 B AKER C OUNTY C ALENDAR THURSDAY, JAN. 21 ■ Baker School Board: Work session, 4:30 p.m.; regular meeting, 6 p.m.; via Zoom computer app. For more information about how to join the meeting, call the District Offi ce at 541-524-2260 or visit the District website baker5j.org T URNING B ACK THE P AGES 50 YEARS AGO from the Democrat-Herald January 22, 1971 The Ellingson Lumber and Timber Co. plywood plant, which was closed Nov. 6 because of the depressed plywood market, will resume full operations Feb. 8, Burl Brown, plant manager, said this morning. 25 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald January 22, 1996 Employees from Baker City and from the Oregon De- partment of Environmental Quality are investigating what appears to be a diesel fuel spill in a storm sewer ditch east of Interstate 84. Crews don’t know where the fuel came from or how much has entered the ditch, said Randy Jones, the city’s public works director. 10 YEARS AGO from the Baker City Herald January 21, 2011 The state parks department has applied for a $1.85 mil- lion federal grant to build a visitor center at the Sumpter Dredge. The 3,144-square-foot center would replace the current, 240-square-foot welcome center. Given that the Sumpter Dredge State Heritage Area at- tracts about 40,000 visitors per year, the existing center is “woefully inadequate,” according to the grant application the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department submitted. ONE YEAR AGO from the Baker City Herald January 22, 2020 The Baker City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision to deny Verizon Wireless a conditional use permit to build a 70-foot cell tower in north Baker City. Councilor Doni Bruland initially made a motion to reverse the Planning Commission’s Dec. 4 decision, and Councilor Randy Schiewe seconded the motion. The mo- tion failed by a 5-2 vote. Councilor Mike Downing then made a motion to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision to deny the applica- tion, and it was seconded by Councilor Larry Morrison. That motion passed 5-2. “I don’t see that we have substantial reason to deny it,” Bruland said. “Aesthetically, we don’t like the looks of it, is not a substantial reason. It’s in our viewshed is not a substantial reason, 10 or 20 feet to the right or left. I do not feel we have reasons, substantial reasons, that would support our denial.” Schiewe said that although he sympathizes with residents who have urged city offi cials to reject Verizon’s application, he said the Council needs to be “realistic.” “I would be sitting on that side of the aisle ... we don’t want it,” Schiewe said. “But we gotta be realistic about what we’ve allowed and not allowed over the last year.” O REGON L OTTERY MEGABUCKS, Jan. 18 1 — 9 — 19 — 26 — 30 — 45 Next jackpot: $7.3 million POWERBALL, Jan. 16 14 — 20 — 39 — 65 — 67 PB 2 Next jackpot: $730 million MEGA MILLIONS, Jan. 19 10 — 19 — 26 — 28 — 50 Mega 16 Next jackpot: $970 million WIN FOR LIFE, Jan. 18 30 — 49 — 61 — 74 PICK 4, Jan. 19 • 1 p.m.: 1 — 1 — 6 — 5 • 4 p.m.: 5 — 7— 3 — 6 • 7 p.m.: 3 — 5 — 3 — 9 • 10 p.m.: 2 — 5 — 6 — 7 LUCKY LINES, Jan. 19 1-6-9-15-17-21-26-30 Next jackpot: $19,000 S ENIOR M ENUS ■ FRIDAY: Baked cod, clam chowder, capri vegetables, roll, coleslaw, cheesecake ■ MONDAY (Jan. 25): Chicken cordon bleu, rice pilaf, peas and carrots, roll, pasta salad, apple crisp ■ TUESDAY (Jan. 26): Beef Burgundy over fettuccine, corn, roll, coleslaw, pudding ■ WEDNESDAY (Jan. 27): Barbecued ribs, scalloped potatoes, corn, roll, macaroni salad, birthday cake ■ THURSDAY (Jan. 28): Meat lasagna, capri vegetables, garlic breadsticks, fruit cup, cinnamon rolls Public luncheon at the Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; $4.50 donation (60 and older), $6.75 for those under 60. Meals must be picked up; no dining on site. C ONTACT THE H ERALD 1668 Resort St. Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Telephone: 541-523-3673 Fax: 541-833-6414 Publisher Karrine Brogoitti kbrogoitti@lagrandeobserver. com Jayson Jacoby, editor jjacoby@bakercityherald.com Advertising email ads@bakercityherald.com Classifi ed email classified@bakercityherald.com Circulation email circ@bakercityherald.com ISSN-8756-6419 Serving Baker County since 1870 Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays except Christmas Day by the Baker Publishing Co., a part of EO Media Group, at 1668 Resort St. (P.O. Box 807), Baker City, OR 97814. Subscription rates per month are $10.75 for print only. Digital-only rates are $8.25. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Baker City Herald, P.O. Box 807, Baker City, OR 97814. Periodicals Postage Paid at Pendleton, Oregon 97801 Copyright © 2021 Patsy Ann (Hinkson) Leon- ard, 89, of Baker City, died on Jan. 11, 2021, at her home. There will be no funeral services. Patsy was born on Sept. 13, 1931, at Eugene. Her mother was Margaret Pearl (Elliott) Hinkson, and her father was Robert Hinkson. Pat had a younger sibling named Bud. Patsy grew up on her grandfather’s dairy farm in Eugene, and she helped with the milking chores. She attended a Pat small country Leonard school in grades 1-9 and then went to Eugene High and graduated in 1949. Patsy played softball in her teens on an elite Emerald’s Girls team. She played catcher for sev- eral years. Pat also rodeoed. She entered many reining competitions and won several all-around honors. Besides working on the family farm, Pat also worked as a receptionist at the Eu- gene Police Department. Her uncle was the chief of police at that time. Pat attended Oregon State Agricultural College in 1950 for one year. She joined a sorority and majored in nutri- tion. She met the love of her life, John Leonard, and quit school and married him in 1951. Together they had four children over the next six years: Brad, Kirk, Rory and Shan. Pat worked as John’s bookkeeper for his log truck- ing business. They sold their land and trucks in 1960 and moved from Cottage Grove to Baker. They purchased The 88 Center in town and ran that business for more than 30 years. They renamed the store Leonard’s 88 Center. The store changed locations on Main Street three times. The second time, they added a craft store in the bigger store’s basement with craft classes being taught. Then later, they moved again and became Leonard’s Idea Shop. It was a big success. Pat always said she did not sell anything necessary for life in The Idea Shop, but everything was only for your enjoyment. Once John and Pat got their store established, they purchased the Mini Ranch just 3 miles out of town. They thought it would be a great place to raise their kids. They also began to raise quarter horses as well. They started with a brood mare named House Party. Her fi rst colt was called Party House, and she ran Top AAA at Portland Meadows on her fi rst race. Later she became their sec- ond brood mare, and eventu- ally, Jordan Ruth Bars was their third mare. They raised many colts off these three mares and had about 20 colts that they sold to racehorse people or ran them on the race circuit themselves. John was their trainer. Their two biggest successes at the track were Party’s Jet and Party Street. Party’s Jet won 20 rac- es in one year and received a national award for that. They stood that horse as a stallion for many years and had to build extra barns to house all the mares at the Mini Ranch. Then Party Street (a mare) came along and broke all kinds of records at Portland Meadows and won the most money of all the horses they raised. John and Pat quit racing horses after about 20 years of fun. Pat was the mastermind in deciding what studs to breed their mares to and what to name them. She loved studying bloodlines of the horse world. Pat took time to volun- teer as a 4-H Horse leader of a club named Boots and Saddles. She and her co- leader, Ralph Callaway, took their students on three-day trail rides each year. Families of the club members were always invited. The other unique thing that Pat started within the club was a horse drill team. Pat designed the costumes for the riders and the horses. She choreo- graphed the patterns the kids were to follow and had them perform their program to the tune of “The Yellow Rose of Texas.” Pat also served as a 4-H Horse Judge in other counties when she had time. Pat and John were both civic-minded and belonged to the Chamber of Commerce and other committees that helped beautify Baker City. The Historic Baker City com- mittee widened the streets and paved new sidewalks. The old storefronts from the past were also brought back to Main Street. Pat worked on tourism for Baker County. She served as the president of Soroptimists in town and president of the Christian Women’s Club. She was a member of the Quarter Horse Association and The Racing Commission. Pat won Baker City Woman of the Year in 1985. She was most proud of that honor and award. Pat loved to play bridge and played with two differ- ent groups. Cards of any kind were fun for her to play. John and Pat loved to dance, so they joined “Me and You,” which held many Baker City dances. Pat loved needlework and knitting as well as many other crafts. She did several beautiful projects that usu- ally had horses, cowboys, or Indians on them. Pat loved to read poetry, and she even wrote some of her own. Pat liked to talk to people and tell stories. She often was late to appointments because she usually was talking some- one’s leg off somewhere. Pat belonged to the Cal- vary Baptist Church when her children were young. Later in life, she just went to Bible studies with a group of friends in town. Pat was happy that she brought many people to know Jesus and always shared her testimony with anyone who wanted to listen. Her brother Bud was a missionary for Campus Cru- sade and traveled the world. Both spread the Gospel in their own way. Pat resided on her Mini Ranch with John until his death in February 2020. Pat struggled with dementia during her last few years of life. She had a stroke 11 days before she died at her home. Pat is survived by her chil- dren, Brad Leonard of Scio, Kirk Leonard and his wife, Michelle (Campbell) Leonard of La Grande, Rory Leonard and his wife, Linda (Conard) Leonard of Haines, and Shan (Leonard) Wattenburger and her husband, Bruce Wattenburger of Redmond; her grandchildren: Zackary Leonard and his wife Jackie (Barreto) Leonard of McMin- nville, Rebekah (Leonard) Bowland and her husband, Dustin Bowland, of Baker City, Allyson (Wattenburger) Clark and her husband, Cor- ey Clark of Redmond, Kyle Wattenburger of Redmond, and JayCe Leonard of La Grande; her great-grandchil- dren, Teagan and Zoey Clark, Conagher and Raylee Leon- ard, and Cara Jo Bowland, who died Oct. 20, 2020. Pat was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her brother. Contributions in Pat’s memory can be made to the McEwen Bible Fellowship in care of Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814. To leave an online condo- lence for Patsy’s family, go to www.grayswestco.com Joanne Britton Baker City, 1945-2020 Joanne Britton, 75, died on Dec. 12, 2020, due to cardiac arrest at her home outside of Baker City. The youngest of three chil- dren, she was born on April 4, 1945, at The Dalles to Joe and Lucille Britton. Joanne gradu- ated from the The Dalles High School where she excelled in Joanne sports. She went Britton on to obtain her bachelor’s degree in physical education from Linfi eld University in McMinnville. She completed graduate school and earned her master’s degree in educa- tion. She was a teacher for seven years in Spray, Red- mond and The Dalles before she began her career with the U.S. Forest Service on the Mount Hood National Forest before transferring to the Winema. Joanne worked in several positions for the For- est Service before fi nding her true calling as a NEPA (Na- tional Environmental Policy Act) writer-editor and team leader. She held that position on the Deschutes National Forest before transferring to the Wallowa-Whitman in 1988. Joanne excelled as a writer-editor. She was able to take complicated informa- tion and put it into clear and concise descriptions. She was also adept at leading teams and providing clear direction. Joanne was a unique, thoughtful woman who enjoyed a number of pas- sionate pursuits. Much of her interests were driven by a kind heart for all animals. She was an active member of Best Friends of Baker and a founder, the fi rst president and fi rst lifetime member of New Hope for Eastern Oregon Animals. When she was younger, she was active in outdoor sports including tennis and softball. She participated in the Pole, Peddle, Paddle Race when she lived near Bend. She was always an avid birder, participating in bird counts and lead- ing groups at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge during its annual Harney County Migratory Bird Fes- tival. She was the Audubon coordinator for the local Christmas bird counts and did numerous raptor counts. Joanne loved the simple pleasures of puzzles, a good book, and stamp collecting. She had a benevolent heart for those less fortunate and was known for her generous giving, especially during the Christmas season. Joanne made this world a better place and many were fortunate to know her as a friend. She is survived by her brother, Jerry, who lives in Colorado. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her brother, Scott. In lieu of fl owers, dona- tions in Joanne’s memory can be made to New Hope of Eastern Oregon, the Oregon Humane Society or the char- ity of your choice. Robert Butler Baker City, 1929-2020 Robert Lee Butler, 91, of Baker City, died on Jan. 14, 2021, at his home with his family by his side. A celebration of his life took place on Jan. 17. Bob was born on Nov. 9, 1929, at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Winona (Stanbra) and Herbert Butler. He grew up with two brothers and one sister. He graduated from high school in 1947 and then enlisted in the Army. He served in Korea as a corporal and was honorably discharged in 1951. He returned to Sioux Falls where he married Lois Elaine Almont and started a family. The couple moved to Oregon in 1961. They had 5 children: Kathy, Dennis, Carol, Lori and Letta. His careers included working as a police offi cer in Beaverton and as a foreman at General Motors Parts Di- vision in Beaverton. In 1975 he purchased a Texaco gas and grocery store in Barview, Oregon, which he owned un- til he retired and moved to Ogema, Minnesota, in 1984. There he fi shed, drove long- haul truck, had a short stint as a bus driver, made maple syrup, did some ice fi shing, worked with his brother, Dwayne, with refrigeration, and was a caretaker at a retirement home in Frazee. On Jan. 13, 2001, he lost his wife, Lois, and moved back to Western Oregon, and on June 28, 2004, he mar- ried Millie Ilene Hickerson in Beaverton. They moved to Baker City in February of 2005. He became an avid gardener, planting many dif- ferent fl owers and plants in his yard, making a beautiful display for all to enjoy over the years. He enjoyed fi shing, camping, and long drives, all with his dog Jake by his side. His wife, Millie, passed away on Feb. 11, 2013. Bob continued his gardening and yard work, enjoying time with family and friends. Jake, his constant compan- ion, then passed away on Aug. 22, 2016. He puttered around and continued loving his yard until he gained a whole new family on Feb. 14, 2019, with Heart ’N Home Hospice. He didn’t think he wanted any more family or friends, but quickly changed his mind when they all won his heart over with their amazing care and love. Bob’s family is eternally grateful to Heart ’N Home Hospice for the peace of mind and love they extended to our whole family. See Obituaries/Page 3A Baker County Baker The Baker County County Veteran Services Veteran Service Veteran Service Office will be will be closed on closed June 1-5 December and open for 14th through business on the 18th Monday, June 8th Until further notice Veterans will not be seen in person. If you need assistance, call Rick’s work number 541-523-8223 and he will call you back to help you over the phone. This is a measure that is being implemented to minimize the spread of COVID-19. “You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR 225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com
