LOCAL & STATE
BAKER CITY HERALD • THuRsDAY, AugusT 4, 2022 A3
Boating accident at McKay Reservoir Aerial attack helps to limit blaze
claims life of Milton-Freewater man north of Anthony Lakes area
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — A Milton-Freewater man
died Friday, July 29, from a boating accident at
McKay Reservoir near Pendleton.
According to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s
Office, a 911 caller at 6:13 p.m. July 29 reported
the accident, and sheriff’s office marine depu-
ties responded to the scene.
An investigation revealed eight occupants in
a boat had been tubing on the reservoir. One in
the group, Benjamin Ryan Camden, 41, of Mil-
ton-Freewater, was in the water. He attempted
to get back into the boat when the transom lad-
der broke.
“Camden was unable to pull himself into the
Republicans
Continued from A1
PCPs also appointed a
temporary executive com-
mittee to serve during the
suspension, and to schedule
a meeting to consider recall-
ing from office the entire ex-
ecutive committee.
But Jones and Day say that
because just two executive
committee members, includ-
ing Jones, attended the July
28 meeting, there was not a
quorum, which requires a
minimum of three members
of the executive committee.
Article 4, Section B of the
Baker County Republican
Central Committee bylaws
states: “No business shall be
conducted at any meeting of
the Central Committee until
a quorum is present. Three
(3) members of the Exec-
utive Committee must be
present to be a quorum.”
As a result, Day said, the
PCPs could only have a dis-
cussion but could not con-
duct official business, such
as voting to temporarily
suspend the executive com-
mittee.
Day, who led the first part
of the July 28 meeting at the
behest of the executive com-
mittee, said the same thing
during the meeting, telling
PCPs that the lack of a quo-
rum of the executive com-
mittee negated any votes or
other official decisions.
But PCP Dan Johnson
suggested during the July
28 meeting that because the
meeting was called by the
central committee, not the
executive committee, the
PCPs attending could decide,
by a two-thirds vote, to sus-
pend the bylaw requiring a
quorum.
Section 16 of the Baker
County GOP bylaws states:
“These bylaws may be
amended, altered, or re-
peated by a two-thirds ma-
jority of the certified pre-
cinct committeepersons
present and voting at a duly
called meeting of the Cen-
tral Committee provided
that notice of the proposed
amendments, alterations or
repeal shall be given with the
official notice of the meet-
ing. The Secretary must in-
clude a copy of the proposed
amendment with the meet-
ing notice.”
Johnson prepared a pro-
posed agenda for the July
28 meeting that included
amending the bylaws to
override the requirement for
a quorum of the executive
committee.
He also wrote in a memo
that Jones also prepared an
agenda for the meeting.
“Before the meeting con-
venes, it must be determined
by the Central Committee
which agenda they wish to
support,” Johnson wrote.
Day, however, contends
that the bylaw requiring a
quorum of the executive
committee takes precedent
over the bylaw that Johnson
cited at the meeting, allow-
ing a vote to amend the by-
laws.
“The quorum requirement
stretches throughout the en-
tire bylaws, meaning, to have
a meeting that has official
business to be conducted,
you must have a quorum,”
Day said.
During the July 28 meet-
ing, more than two-thirds of
PCPs present voted to drop
the quorum requirement,
per Article 16. Jones and
a handful of others voted
against that motion. Jones
then left the meeting along
with Day.
boat, and it was decided he would hold onto
the starboard handrail while the boat operator
headed toward a boat ramp,” the sheriff’s office
reported.
While slowing motoring toward the boat
ramp, Camden lost his grip and slid under the
boat. He suffered serious injuries to his lower
left leg from propeller cuts.
Nearby boaters assisted Camden to shore
and then into a private vehicle that met with
medics near the reservoir entrance.
The ambulance rushed Camden to St. An-
thony Hospital, Pendleton, where he suc-
cumbed to his injuries.
Following their departure,
PCPs voted to temporarily
suspend the executive com-
mittee, appoint a temporary
committee, and call for the
investigation of Jones.
But Day said on Monday
that even though the votes
took place, they don’t count.
“They had the capacity,
because we had a meeting, to
decide to go ahead and have
a vote, so they had a vote,”
Day said. “But they had no
authority to do it so it has no
effect.”
“That meeting essentially
accomplished nothing of
lasting value, essentially,” he
said.
Johnson disagrees.
He contends that the July
28 decisions are valid and
that the temporary executive
committee, with himself as
chair, is in office.
The executive board of
which Jones is a member was
up for reelection in Novem-
ber. PCPs, who are elected
by voters in their geographic
districts, choose executive
committee members.
Day said his goal is to help
the GOP get through the No-
vember election.
Republicans hope to re-
gain control of the U.S.
House of Representatives
and, in Oregon, to elect the
state’s first Republican gover-
nor in 40 years.
“Whatever they (the Baker
County PCPs) decide in No-
vember is what they decide
in November, but don’t blow
up the party prematurely,”
Day said on Monday. “Why
do this now? Let’s just get to-
gether, we’ll see you in No-
vember, let’s move forward
The Observer
Crews contained a small
lighting-sparked wildfire in
the Elkhorn Mountains north
of Anthony Lakes a little after
6 o’clock on Tuesday evening,
Aug. 2 The Anthony Creek
fire, which was reported at
6:17 p.m. on Sunday, July 31,
burned about 0.7 of an acre. It
didn’t threaten any structures.
The fire is near Anthony Creek
about 2 miles north of An-
with our plans. But evidently
there was a group of people
that just didn’t agree with
that.”
Jones encouraged Republi-
cans to come together.
Cynthia “Cindy” Lee (Messer) Hoskins
April 15, 1954 - July 16, 2022
Cynthia Lee (Messer) Hoskins,
68, was called home on July 16,
2022.
Cindy was born April 15, 1954,
in Albany, OR, where she grew up.
That is where she met and married
John Lamb. They had a daughter:
Elizabeth “Liz.”
In the summer of 1982 Cindy
moved to Baker, OR, to be clos-
er to her sisters. In 1983 she accepted a job at Baker
House. She had no idea that she would continue to work
there for 28-plus years. Or that she would meet her fu-
ture husband, John Hoskins, there. They were married
in July 1992.
In 1996, Cindy became “Nanny.” That’s the year her
grandson, Max, was born. Nanny liked to camp with
her little honey and pick wildflowers. She also enjoyed
reading, listening to oldies but goodies, shopping on
QVC and the liquidation channel, visiting with family
and many other things.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John
Hoskins; parents, Anderson and Cecile Messer; broth-
er, Oather Messer; and sisters, Betty Proffit and Mable
Britton.
She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Lamb,
and grandson, Max Sult, of Baker City; sister, Bonnie
Arthur of Baker City; brother, Denny Messer of La-
comb, OR; roommate/companion, Oral Holt of Baker
City; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the GoFund
Me Fundraiser organized by Piper Pierce.
Rebecca ‘Becky’ M. Dougherty Adamson
November 11, 1939 - July 22, 2022
Rebecca M. Dougherty Adamson jumped
off our mortal coil to wait at the Rainbow
Bridge for her love and her family to soar
off to the cosmos with her.
Her vitality was essential;
her bright love brought light
into the soul of more than
one reprobate, including the
one who is writing this poor
attempt to memorialize her
noble soul.
Miss Becky was born in
East Liverpool, Ohio. Her
family moved to Detroit,
where her father, Mr. Carl
McDevitt, served his coun-
try well building tanks for
the Detroit Tank Arsenal di-
vision of Chrysler. Her mother, the former
Grace Heckathorne, worked for department
stores and made a wonderful home for Re-
becca and her two sisters.
Becky was a great high school honors
student; she secured a full scholarship to
Eastern Michigan University as a special
education teacher. She met her first hus-
band, William Dougherty, after he returned
from Army service in Korea. They mar-
ried and took their futures west to Denver,
Colorado. William worked for the state of
Colorado until his death in 1980. He was
honored for his efforts to reform the state
of Colorado personnel system.
Rebecca was left to fend for herself
and her two children. Her toughness and
profound pragmatism would not let her
weaken; she went back to school to learn
computer operation and business practice.
She successfully entered the work world as
the librarian for Petroleum Information of
Denver.
Becky met her second husband, Ed Ad-
amson, during this time. Ed was working
as an operations manager and purchasing
agent for a medical clinic. He was contact-
ed by a friend to assist a woman who was
having a tough time finding and buying
a car. Ed advised her about her car. Two
weeks later, to quote the lyricist, “I was
buying her a washing machine.”
Ed and Becky simply became too busy
to worry about a formal marriage. Ed
went to the Flathead Valley in Montana
with her son Robert to build a home in the
woods, summer of 1982. Robert had done
the drafting and design work on the house
while still in high school. The home turned
out well. Becky, Ed, Dennis, Robert and a
zoo of animals moved to the wild woods
in a truly wonderful experience. Ed decid-
ed he had better marry the girl before she
became distracted. Ed and Becky married
in Durango, Colorado, in September 1986.
Job issues forced a return to Colorado af-
ter Ed was injured working as a “Hot Shot”
during the summer of 1984. Ed immedi-
ately found work as a facilities manager,
bank liquidation specialist and IT manag-
er for the FDIC through 1992. Becky and
Ed again attempted to have a home in the
Montana wilds, but conditions necessitat-
ed their return to Denver in 1994, where
Ed went to work for FEMA,
working in logistics, facil-
ities management, security
and public assistance on nat-
ural disasters in the U.S. and
its territories. Ed left FEMA
in 2001 to work in Boze-
man, Montana, as a builder;
the designs were all done by
Robert and his brother, Den-
nis. Our company had good
success building custom, en-
ergy-efficient homes.
Becky had numerous
health issues from 2003 on-
ward. Ed made the decision that it was un-
tenable to continue in the custom construc-
tion business in Bozeman, as the stress of
administering the company and doing the
necessary trade craft compromised work
product and sanity. Ed and Becky moved
to Baker City, away from the demands of
a high-pressure business, and built a life in
this wonderful small town with our son and
his family.
Ed secured a great job with the Baker
County Public Library District. Solving
construction, facilities management and
technical issues with the library was and is
great work. Ed and Becky had a great four
years getting to know Baker City, and fi-
nally relaxing to enjoy Dennis and his fine
family.
Starting in April 2021, a heart attack
and two major brain bleeds drained the life
from my wonderful little wife. Her stout
spirit would not allow any self-pity. She
took to physical therapy as soon as she was
able; she would slowly do all of the rou-
tines while whistling songs only she could
hear. It was a great witness to the human
spirit, an example to us all to never give
up, always look for another way and love
the people around you while you can. She
simply resolved to do everything she could
to stay with her family and husband.
Becky left us peacefully in the morning
hours of July 22, 2022. She left with her
boys surrounding her in sorrowful fellow-
ship, including this lost fellow who will
never forget. Her legacy for our family is
two great hardworking men and two won-
derful grandsons, and a lifetime of provid-
ing her love and support to all who knew
her.
My special thanks to so many in our
wonderful nexus here in Baker City. I am
sure I would miss a few names, but know
that all have my profound appreciation at
this sorrowful time.
Contributions can be made in Becky’s
name to the National Parks Service through
Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cre-
mation Services, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR
97834. Online condolences can be shared at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.
thony Lakes.
Planes dropped fire retar-
dant and helicopters dropped
water for much of Monday,
Aug. 1, preventing the fire
from spreading in timber and
logging slash, said Hunter
Petrucci, who works at the
Blue Mountain Interagency
Dispatch Center in La Grande.
Access to the fire was poor,
and Petrucci said workers had
to reopen some old roads to
make it easier for firefighters to
reach the site. Also on Tuesday,
a small fire in the Jubilee Lake
area, 18 miles north of Elgin,
was quickly extinguished by a
fire crew sent by Blue Moun-
tain Interagency Dispatch
Center. The fire, one-tenth of
an acre and human caused,
was reported at 5:20 p.m. and
was contained by 5:59 p.m.
Nobody was injured and no
structures were threatened.
Rex Kirkwood
June 12, 1957 - July 27, 2022
Rex Kirkwood, 65, of
Baker City, passed away with
his family by his side July
27, 2022. A celebration of life
and potluck will be held at
the VFW in Baker City, OR,
Saturday, August 6 from 1 p.m.
to 4 p.m. Please join us as we
share stories and laughter.
Rex was born on June 12,
1957, in Baker City, Oregon,
where he was raised and
educated.
Rex married Linda Pringle in 1974. Together they
had two children, Travis and Melissa. They later
divorced. In 2002, Rex married Karen Anderson and
gained stepchildren Justin Cole, Adam Mastin and
Taylor Anderson.
During his life Rex held many jobs including working
for the Baker School District, the Geiser Grand Hotel
and St. Alphonsus Hospital. He also spent time working
for Bob Kirkwood and Sons working in the woods
and as a wildland firefighter. A treasured memory his
children recall was the combined smell of sweat, chain
saw gas and sawdust when their dad arrived home after
a hard day’s work in the outdoors.
Rex enjoyed hunting, fishing and sharing a cold beer
with family and friends. He will be remembered as a
fun-loving, adventurous, kind-hearted, strong man.
Rex was preceded in death by his parents, Robert
and Wanda Kirkwood.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Karen
Kirkwood; children, Travis (Darcie) Kirkwood,
Melissa (Rob) Nipper, Justin Cole, Adam Mastin,
Taylor Anderson (Mike Kaup); brothers, Robert (Sue)
Kirkwood Jr., Vena (Pat) Callow, Roger Kirkwood;
grandchildren, Rex Rood, Triniti Kirkwood, Jake Hall,
Josalyn Boesch, Ashley, Vivian and Keegan Nipper,
Grayson, Mckane and Trace Cole, Gabrielle, Walker
and Harley Mastin and Aubrey Henshaw, and a great-
granddaughter, Demitra Henshaw.
For those who would like to make a memorial
donation in honor of Rex the family suggests either
the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation or Hunt of a
Lifetime through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and
Cremation Services, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, Oregon,
97834. Online condolences can be shared at www.
tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.
Naomi Jane Becktold
April 30, 2020 - July 15, 2022
Naomi Jane Becktold was born
amid much celebration and after
much prayer on April 30, 2020 in
Boise, Idaho, and taken home to
Baker City shortly thereafter.
She was aptly named “Naomi,”
which means “pleasantness”; being
such a delightful baby and toddler,
she was nicknamed “sunshine girl.”
Generally happy, quick to play and
listen, quick to forgive, giving and kind, outgoing and
serious, thoughtful and observant, intuitive and smart -
she quickly stole the hearts of all who knew her. She
bloomed and grew in Baker for the first year of her life,
and loved being outside, playing in water, collecting
rocks, following the cats around, eating everything in
sight, and playing peek-a-boo endlessly.
Her energy, appetite, and walking waned however,
and on July 19, 2021 she was diagnosed with acute un-
differentiated leukemia, an extremely rare, little-known
disease. She immediately began treatment in Boise, Ida-
ho, but was quickly flown to Seattle, Washington, after
a hole was discovered in her heart.
Naomi spent the next nine months in Seattle, where
she underwent three very intensive rounds of chemo,
followed by radiation and a bone marrow transplant.
She briefly went into remission for the first time after
transplant, but relapsed soon after and began more che-
mo, which failed to slow the cancer growth. As a last re-
sort she was flown to Houston, Texas, for three months
to participate in an experimental drug trial, which de-
layed but did not reverse the cancer’s progression.
On July 4, 2022, she was flown back to Boise, Idaho,
and died there 11 days later in her mother’s arms.
Though she spent half her life in treatment and un-
derwent unspeakable pain and suffering, Naomi’s spir-
it was irrepressible. She spent her many months in the
hospital wandering the halls of the cancer ward, be-
friending nurses, doctors, janitors, and fellow cancer
patients alike.
She brought a smile to the face of all who were priv-
ileged to know her. Whenever possible, she was active,
playful, independent, and happy. Detailed and obser-
vant, she watched the nurses closely and soon helped
tell them how to do their jobs.
Her favorite things in the world were simple, honest
things: food, rocks, water, cats, walks, coloring, danc-
ing, music, books, Oswald her favorite stuffed kitty, her
favorite blanket, and Jesse, her younger brother.
Slowly and successively, cancer stole each of these
things from her, but on July 15, 2022 she went to be
with Jesus and her older sister, Nadia. All she lost was
fully restored and the pain she endured was forever
wiped away.
While her family misses her immensely, we cele-
brate the privilege of knowing her, each “bonus” day
we spent with her since her diagnosis, and the complete
end of her suffering. We look forward to the day we will
be reunited.
A public service will be held for Naomi at Baker City
Christian Church, on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 at 2 p.m.