A2 — BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021
OBITUARIES
in Haines, as well.
Watson-Yanez, Justin Wat-
work colleagues that she
She loved to sew, quilting held dear. She held on to
son, Michelle Watson, Tracy
in particular! She also liked written notes through the
Fass, Todd Beatty, Chris
Viola Gertrude Perkins,
to crochet, bake, pick huck-
years from these friends that Beatty, Holly Hardesty,
95, a longtime resident of
leberries, and took the kids she treasured and beamed
Little Rhonda Yanez, Erica
Muddy Creek
camping often. Her choco- with pride when she would Watson, Vorzheva Yanez,
and Haines,
late chip and peanut butter talk of her memories. Laura Damien Yanez, Devin Yanez,
died Sept. 7,
cookies were the best!
was an honest woman who Alexis Watson, Kasey Wat-
2021, at Set-
Viola was a dedicated
always had an enormous
tler’s Park in
son, Enola Watson, Tessa
rancher’s wife, mother,
amount of learned advice.
Baker City.
Banister, Gabriel Banister,
grandmother, a good neigh-
Laura was wonderful at
A grave-
and Eli Banister.
bor, and friend to many.
remembering fond memo-
side service
Laura was preceded in
Viola Perkins And by golly, she could get
ries, that came across as
will take
death by her mother and fa-
cows — anybody’s cows — stories, because they were
place Friday,
ther, Frank and Alpha Wat-
to gather and come running exciting. Her favorite story
Sept. 24 at 10:30 a.m. at
son; her brothers, William
to the gate when it was time to tell was when she was
the Haines Cemetery with
“Skip” Watson, Jerry Watson
Cliff Cole presiding. Family to move them, with a hearty on her ex-husband’s ship in and Rodger Watson; her
“suuuuboss.”
the ocean, and pirates came sister, Judy Bingham; her
and friends are invited to
Viola is survived by her
and took over control of their niece, Kimberly Bingham;
the Haines Baptist Church
for a luncheon following the children, including William ship and they had to take
and her nephews, Joshua
(Cherie) of Roseburg, Lynn
off in the boat they had been Hardesty and William “Will”
service.
towing with the ship.
Viola was born on July 6, (Gina) of Baker City, and
Watson.
Debbie (Mel) of Winnemuc-
She was a wonderful
1926, at Baker to Herbert
In her later days, her
ca, Nevada. Her oldest son, gardener of plants inside
and Esther Green. Viola
biggest desire was to dance
Ron, died in 2008 and his
and out. Her granddaughter, again, and she worried that
spent her early years in
Cove, and after her parents wife, Shelly in 2019. Viola is Ashleigh, would call her the she would never get the
also survived by her grand- “plant doctor,” as she could
divorced, she moved with
chance to do so. We know
children, including Andy
bring any plant back to life. she is dancing in heaven
her Daddy (as she always
(Wendy), Erich (Sarah),
Laura had a love for music
lovingly referred to him) to
to God’s beautiful choir,
Brittany, Kelli (Chris), Evan, such as opera, country, ’80s
Muddy Creek.
without pain and a great, big
Arden (Michelle), Hayden
genre and, of course, her
Viola graduated from
smile on her face, her family
(Hope), and Matt. She has
“Hope Floats” soundtrack.
Muddy Creek School and
said.
Laura was a hippie
went to work for Nena Per- 10 great-grandchildren.
She loved her family and
Those wishing to donate at heart, and she will be
kins to help cook for the hay-
friends, and we loved her
in honor of Viola may do
remembered wearing her
ing crews. Room and board
back — as she would say,
so to the Eastern Oregon
capris and ankle bracelets.
were part of her pay, and it
“love you long time.”
Museum in Haines, Haines She had a love for everyone,
was there she met and fell
A note from the family of
regardless of their back-
in love with a handsome, tall Baptist Church, the Rock
Laura Mae Watson:
drink of water, Dwight Per- Creek-Muddy Creek Mutual ground, color of their skin, or
On September 11, 2021,
religion. She had a deep con- we lost our loving mother.
kins. They were married on Improvement Club, or a
charity of one’s choosing.
nection with her dog, Dutchy Our hearts are heavy, and
June 17, 1944. Viola dearly
Donations should be sent in B, and all other pets that she we now have to say goodbye.
loved Nena and they had a
wonderful mother-daughter care of: Coles Tribute Center, was around. Her memory
In her time on Earth, she
1950 Place St., Baker City,
will be treasured for all the was full of life and has seen
relationship.
OR 97814.
days of our lives (which was and done many things, from
In a short biography,
also her favorite soap opera)! her travels to Louisiana,
Viola wrote that they had
Laura Watson
Laura is survived by
no idea where they were
Germany, and everywhere
her children, John Beatty
going to live after they mar- Baker City, 1948-2021
in between, before settling
and Colleen Klassen; her
ried (such a trivial thing to
in Oregon. To all our family
Laura Mae Watson, 72,
consider when young and
and friends, we want to say
of Baker City, died Sept. 11, granddaughter, Ashleigh
King-Price, and grandson-in- thank you for loving her
in love), but Dwight’s folks
2021, at Saint Alphonsus
law, Taylor Price; her great- and receiving the love she
moved from the homeplace Medical
grandchildren, McKynzie,
on Muddy Creek to Haines Center in
gave; never will we meet
Olivia and Lincoln; her
while they were on their
another like her. Until we
Boise after
sisters, Cindy Shuckle and
honeymoon.
meet again!
a long battle
Vicky Watson-Worsham; her
“So, when we came back with health
To leave an online condo-
nieces and nephews in-
from Portland, we moved
lence Laura’s family, go to
issues.
clude Rick Watson, Rhonda www.grayswestco.com.
into their ranch house — we
Laura
lived there for four years,”
was born
Laura
Viola said. It was during
on Sept.
Jay & Kristin Wilson, Owners
Watson
that time they had their fi rst 12, 1948, at
2036 Main Street, Baker City
541-523-6284 • ccb#219615
son, Ron, and later, Bill.
Klamath
They moved from there
Falls to William Francis
to the ranch on the corner of “Frank” Watson and Alpha
the Anthony Lakes Highway Watson. Laura grew up in a
and Mansfi eld Lane, and af- large, loving family. She had
ter a few years built a bigger six siblings and had a strong
home. It was there that son bond with each of them. As a
Lynn and daughter Debbie young child, her family, chil-
were born. They sawed lum- dren included, would travel
ber from family property on to work in cotton orchards.
Bulger Flat, with the house
As she grew older, she
being built in 1958.
became well versed with
Viola wrote, “We hit hard- her customer service skills.
Memorial Service for
pan and had to blast a lot
She was proud of her hotel
of the basement. The boys
manager title at the Hotel
helped with the digging.
Bentley and the Red Lion
It didn’t work very well so
Hotel in Louisiana. Later,
our basement wasn’t very
she became the manager for
September 18 at 10:30 am • Haines Baptist Church
deep! We lived there until
local Baker City restaurants
Interment to follow at the Haines Cemetery
the spring of 1979 — then
such as the Haines Steak
Zoom Link below:
we moved to the big city of
House, The Sunridge, and
Meeting
ID:
846
3290 5984 • Passcode: funeral
Haines.”
during the opening of the
or phone #: 669 900 6833
This was the same home Geiser Grand Hotel.
Meeting ID: 846 3290 5984 • Passcode: 5621543
Nena and Loring Perkins
She had many, many
Due to an overabundance of caution, use mask indoors.
lived in for so many years on friends whom she met
the corner of Third and Amy. throughout her life, mostly
Viola and Dwight lived there
“You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR
for nearly two decades and
she continued to do so after
Dwight’s passing in July of
1997, until she went to live
with her daughter, Debbie,
225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com
and son-in-law, Mel, on their
ranch in Nevada. After she
needed more assistance, she
1345 Madison
moved back to Baker City
into Settler’s Park.
Street, Baker City,
Viola loved the little
OR 97814
community of Haines and
volunteered countless hours
to the Eastern Oregon Mu-
seum and Friends of Haines
Fourth of July Celebration;
Saturday, Sept 18th
she was an active member of
and
Sunday, Sept 19th
the Haines Baptist Church
and Mutual Improvement
from 12pm-3pm.
Club, of which she served as
A charming ranch-style home on a 7500 sqft lot. 2
president more than once.
bed 1 bath. 1 car garage attached. A large fenced
She helped with 4-H ac-
backyard and mature tree provide a secluded and
tivities and taught Sunday
shady spot to entertain.
School when the kids were
young, and was active in
the Baker County Cow-
belles (now called the Baker
County Cattlewomen), also
Ashley O’Neal
serving as president.
Broker Sunfire
Viola was a quiet force
Real Estate
along with Dwight during
aosunfire@gmail.com
the early formation of An-
thony Lakes, and she cooked
in the lodge with her dear
friend, Betty Vanderwall.
2333 Main St. | Baker City, OR 97814
She worked as a postal clerk
Mobile (541) 403-2794 | Office (541) 523-7727 | Fax (541) 523-6682
Viola Perkins
Muddy Creek, Haines, 1926-2021
TURNING BACK THE PAGES
50 YEARS AGO
from the Democrat-Herald
September 16, 1971
When mayor H.B. (Bard) Johnson looked around at
last night’s city council meeting, he saw Dr. Charles
Simpson. The remainder of the chairs reserved for
councilmen were empty. He then said, “Apparently we
lack a quorum.”
25 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
September 16, 1996
Larry Griffi th, Baker City mayor and executive direc-
tor of the Baker County Chamber of Commerce, recently
returned from a whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C.
Griffi th appeared before a Senate subcommittee on
Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine. The group
met to consider alternative funding programs to con-
tinuing passenger service on the Amtrak Pioneer train
through Eastern Oregon.
10 YEARS AGO
from the Baker City Herald
September 16, 2011
A male wolf from Oregon’s largest pack, the Imnaha
pack in Wallowa County, migrated south into Baker
County earlier this week.
The 2 1/2-year-old wolf was on Little Lookout Mountain,
about nine miles southwest of Richland and 27 miles east
of Baker City, Thursday morning, said Nick Myatt of the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).
This wolf should be easier to keep track of than wolves
that came to Baker County in past years because this
animal is wearing a collar equipped with a GPS transmit-
ter, Myatt said.
Twice each day the transmitter records its location.
ODFW offi cials can get the information through the
Internet.
ONE YEAR AGO
from the Baker City Herald
September 17, 2020
Ted White strolls the sidewalk on the north side of Au-
burn Avenue on a morning that more resembles London
cloaked in its famous autumn fog than Baker City on the
fi nal week of summer.
But the gray cloud that draped itself over Baker City
Wednesday morning carried not the salty tang of the sea
but rather the acrid scent of scorched wood.
For the fi fth straight day, smoke from the massive and
destructive fi res on the other side of Oregon and from
Northern California, propelled by upper level winds, sul-
lied the sky in Baker County and most of the rest of the
state.
The smoke dirtied the air to potentially dangerous
levels, blocked views of the nearby Elkhorn and Wallowa
Mountains, and defl ected some of the sun’s power on
what would otherwise have been an unseasonably hot
and possibly record-setting day.
But the smoke didn’t discourage White, of Baker City,
from taking his daily walk.
He planned to put in about 3 miles on Wednesday.
White said the smoke is a “nuisance.”
But only once during the current spate of smoky days
has the air been so foul as to drive White indoors.
For much of last week Baker County was largely spared
the onslaught of smoke from record-setting wildfi res
in the western and southern parts of Oregon that have
burned more than 1 million acres.
OREGON LOTTERY
MEGABUCKS, Sept. 13
MEGA MILLIONS, Sept. 14
WIN FOR LIFE, Sept. 13
15 — 56 — 62 — 63
PICK 4, Sept. 14
• 1 p.m.: 7 — 8 — 9 — 8
• 4 p.m.: 6 — 4 — 0 — 3
• 7 p.m.: 1 — 9 — 5 — 2
• 10 p.m.: 6 — 7 — 3 — 2
LUCKY LINES, Sept. 14
4 — 13 — 19 — 63 — 64
1-5-12-15-19-21-28-32
2 — 3 — 31 — 37 — 41 — 45
Next jackpot: $3.1 million
POWERBALL, Sept. 13
37 — 40 — 50 — 61 — 63 PB 21
Next jackpot: $432 million
Mega
16
Next jackpot: $405 million
Next jackpot: $21,000
SENIOR MENUS
FRIDAY: Roasted turkey, stuffi ng with gravy, broccoli rolls,
pasta salad, lemon squares
MONDAY: Chicken strips, mashed potatoes with gravy,
corn, rolls, cottage cheese with Jell-O salad, sherbet
TUESDAY: Herb-baked chicken, mashed potatoes with
gravy, peas and carrots, rolls, macaroni salad, cinnamon
rolls
WEDNESDAY: Turkey sandwich, turkey noodle soup,
green salad, tapioca
THURSDAY: Chili cheese dog, potato wedges, mixed
vegetables, Jell-O with fruit, ice cream
Public luncheon at the Senior Center, 2810 Cedar St., from
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; $5 donation (60 and older), $7.50
for those under 60.
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Telephone: 541-523-3673
Fax: 541-833-6414
Publisher
Karrine Brogoitti
kbrogoitti@lagrandeobserver.
com
Jayson Jacoby, editor
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
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Classifi ed email
classified@bakercityherald.com
Circulation email
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ISSN-8756-6419
Serving Baker County since 1870
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Evelyne Fisher
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