System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Paul Mathews
Paul F. Mathews, 78, of Baker City, died Nov. 27, 2001, at his home.
His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Monte Loyd of Baker Valley Christian Assembly will officiate. There will be a graveside service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Pilot Rock Cemetery. There will be a private family visitation.
Mr. Mathews was born on April 2, 1923, at Pilot Rock to William and Florence Howe Mathews. He was raised and educated in Pilot Rock. Mr. Mathews enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the European Theater during World War II where he received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart with clusters.
He married Ada Paugh at Walla Walla, Wash., on Dec. 29, 1972. He loved to mine and started mining in 1978 on Clarks Creek. He remained active in mining until 1999.
In 2000, he was awarded the Oregon Small Miners Award. He also enjoyed operating heavy equipment.
He and his wife moved to Baker City in 1983 where he owned and operated the Stockmen’s Restaurant & Lounge in Baker City and Paul’s Tavern at Huntington. In this profession, his love of visiting and telling stories made him very popular with customers.
He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Eagles Lodge at Pendleton.
Survivors include his wife, Ada Mathews of Baker City; children, Brenda Paul of Baker City, Paul Mathews of Portland, Tim and Ron Mathews of Huntington; nine grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters; and one son.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of one’s choice through the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.
‘Mary’ Crader
Miscal “Mary” “Mickey” Crader, 80, a former La Grande resident, died Nov. 24, 2001, at Salt Lake City.
Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. Committal and interment will be at the Summerville Cemetery. Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. The family will be present to receive friends.
“Mickey” was born on Feb. 27, 1921, at Summerville to Daniel and Mary Murchison. She was loved by all her family and friends and will be dearly missed.
Survivors include three children, Sharon Cross of Montero, Calif., Terry Crader of Salt Lake City and Sandra Saunders of Yorktown, Texas; a sister, Mildred Byron of Baker City; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald “Buck” Crader.
Bernice Cheren
Bernice F. Zimmerman Cheren, 87, of Portland, died Nov. 22, 2001, in Portland.
There will be a celebration of her life at 11 a.m. Saturday at her home.
Mrs. Cheren was born on Nov. 13, 1914, at Portland. She graduated from Clinton Kelly High School of Commerce in Cleveland in May 1933 as a bookkeeper and stenographer. She worked as a stenographer for a private accounting firm.
She loved her family, her garden, taking walks and playing cards at the Rose Center for Seniors on Tuesdays.
She married Paul Cheren in 1948. He died in 1989.
Survivors include her daughter-in-law, Jean Johnson of Island City; a grandson, Geoffrey Cheren and his wife, Kimberly, of Hillsboro; a granddaughter, Talia Cheren; and her good friend, Dee Fielder.
She also was preceded in death by her son, David Cheren, in 1983; and her sisters, Elvira Gorstrom and Helen Lamar.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rose Center for Seniors, 1785 N.E. Sandy, Portland, OR 97323.
Dora Smith
Dora D. Smith, 73, of Ione, Calif., died Sept. 13, 2001, at Lodi, Calif.
Her graveside funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sept. 23 at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Mrs. Smith was born on Dec. 19, 1927, at Driggs, Idaho. She had lived at Ione for the past 10 years. She had been employed as a room service chef at Harrah’s Casino at Lake Tahoe.
Survivors include her daughters, Shellan B. Mora of Ione, Calif., and Cheryl M. Huppler of Water Town, S.D.; a son, Mark L. Searles of Boise; many brothers and sisters; and 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
The Park View Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Sally Bingaman
Sally Bingaman, 61, of Manteca, Calif., died Sept. 19, 2001, in a Manteca hospital.
There will be a private service.
She was born on July 1, 1940, in San Francisco.
Survivors include her husband, Ollie Bingaman of Manteca, Calif.; children, Chandra Pellizzer, William Bingaman and Jonathan Bingaman, all of Manteca, Calif.; and two grandchildren.
Raymond Pullen
Raymond Francis Pullen, 86, a longtime Baker City resident, and former longtime mayor/police chief and fire chief in Haines, died Sept. 10, 2001, at his home.
His graveside funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Haines Cemetery. Pastor Sally Wiens of the United Methodist Church of North Powder will officiate. Visitations will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. today at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave.
Mr. Pullen was born Feb. 27, 1915, at Wakefield, Neb., to Marion Francis Pullen and Emma Lena Fuoss Pullen. His family lived on a small farm near Wakefield and he attended school in that community.
When Mr. Pullen was about 17, he and some friends left Wakefield on two lengthy westward treks, visiting many areas along the way, including the Los Angeles Basin. On the second trip, he worked for a time in Payette, Idaho, where he met and courted Norva E. Inman. They were married on Oct. 13, 1935. Mrs. Pullen died on Aug. 9, 2001.
Mr. Pullen’s early employment was quite varied, but he soon realized his talent as a restaurant cook and manager. He and his wife opened their first cafe in North Powder, and after about 14 months, they opened Ray’s Cafe at Haines. The two of them operated that cafe for 30 years.
While living at Haines, Mr. Pullen was mayor/chief of police for eight years and fire chief for 20 years. During his entire term as fire chief, he donated his salary to a city trust fund for the purchase of fire equipment.
The Pullens sold Ray’s Cafe and moved to Baker City in 1966, where they lived for 35 years. During that period, Mr. Pullen worked many years for the Basche-Sage Co., managing the sporting goods department and, later, the new store located in the old Safeway building. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed collecting old equipment related to those sports.
Survivors include three nieces, Barbara Bond of Shingletown, Calif., Bonnie Schuenker of South Sioux City, Neb., and Dolores Miller of Rapid City, S.D.; six nephews, Kerry Lay of Ashland, Roger Inman of Tallahassee, Fla., John Inman of Salinas, Calif., Jewell “Corky” Bottger of Tekemah, Neb., Virgil Pullen of Sioux City, Iowa, and Kenny Pullen of Rapid City, Neb.
He also was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, Ore., 97814.
Virginia Piper
Virginia Lee Piper, 80, a long-time Baker City resident, died Nov. 18, 2001, at her home.
Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. The Rev. Susan Barnes will officiate.
Virginia Piper was born at Bellingham, Wash., on Sept. 14, 1921, to Harold and Irene Rode Villager. She was born in her grandmother’s house, as was her mother. She was an only child.
She was raised and educated in Los Angeles, graduating from high school in 1939. In 1940, she attended Sawyer School of Business, after which she worked for Western Airlines in seating reservation during World War II.
During the war, Virginia met Frank Piper through his sister. He was en route to naval training. On his return from Pacific duty, they were married on June 6, 1945, at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles. They were happily married for 56 years.
The Pipers were living in St. Anthony, Idaho, when their daughters, Penny Lee and Patricia Ann, were born. Subsequently they were transferred to Kealekakua, Kona, Hawaii, by the Soil Conservation Service.
They moved to Baker City in 1958. Virginia worked as a secretary for Baker School District for 15 years.
In Hawaii and Baker, Virginia served as a 4-H leader. She was a deacon and Junior Choir mother for First Presbyterian Church of Baker City. She also performed volunteer secretarial work for the Presbyterian Church.
Virginia was a member for almost 50 years of Order of Eastern Star in Idaho and was active with her daughters in Rainbow Girls in Baker City. After her retirement, she served Meals on Wheels for about 13 years.
In recent years, Virginia enjoyed quilting, bridge and was an avid book reader. She also enjoyed traveling to Denmark, Great Britain, and touring several regions of the United States. In the course of her travels, she researched her family roots and became acquainted with her German ancestors and distant cousins in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Virginia is loved and will be missed by her family.
Survivors include her husband, Frank; children, Penny and her husband, Roger Hunt, and their three children, Paul, Heidi and Aaron, of South Pasadena, Calif., and Patti, her husband, Joe Luckeroth, and their two children, Mark and Greg, of Beaverton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charitable works of the Shriners Hospital for Children or a charity of one’s choice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Berniece Cockram
Berniece E. Cockram, 88, of Baker City died Nov. 19, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Care Center after a short illness.
Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church, 1734 Third St. Pastor David Hahn of the Desert Cross Lutheran Church at Tempe, Ariz., will officiate. Vault interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery
Berniece was born at Wilson Creek, Wash., on Feb. 23, 1913, to J.Q. and Docia Lynch Freeman. She moved to Baker City as a small child to the homestead ranch on Sutton Creek south of Baker City.
She attended schools in the country and in Baker City and was a 1931 Baker High School graduate. She married Ernest Cockram on Sept. 8, 1934. They made their home in Baker City until 1957, when they moved to La Grande to operate their wholesale grocery business.
She was a homemaker until her children were grown and then worked as a receptionist for Dr. Bryce Young for several years before retiring. In 1999, she moved back to Baker City to be close to family. She was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Baker City and Zion Lutheran Church in La Grande.
Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Freeman and Shirley of Vancouver, Wash., Fred of Baker City and John and Tonya of Scottsdale, Ariz.; eight grandchildren, Michelle and Collin Kaseberg, Cherie and Craig Ward and Daryl Cockram, all of Baker City, Jeanne and Scott Mohr of Vernonia, Ann and Rick Giles of Vancouver, Wash., Linda and Jeff Sandberg of Newberg, Kacey and David Hahn of Tempe, Ariz., and Keri Cockram of Scottsdale, Ariz; 13 great-grandchildren and seven stepgreat-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Bea Jordan of Washington; and three nephews, two nieces and many friends in La Grande and Baker City.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother, a daughter-in-law, two great- grandchildren and a nephew.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Lutheran Church of Baker City, Zion Lutheran Church of La Grande or Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. This may be done through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Carla White
Carla Ann Pierce White, 54, of Hillsboro, a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 1, 2001, at Aloha.
Disposition was by cremation. There was a memorial gathering of family and friends.
Mrs. White was born on March 14, 1947, at Baker City to Ward and Dorothy Pierce. She graduated from the Emanuel School of Nursing in Portland in 1969.
She worked as a registered nurse in the emergency room at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland for a time and also for Dr. Forrest Bump at Forest Grove.
She was a longtime Hillsboro resident and a member of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church. She was a volunteer for the American Red Cross and the Washington County Health Department.
Survivors include a son, Casey White of Fort Worth, Texas; a daughter, Kara Woodward of Newberg; two grandsons, Jessy and Brittin; a brother, Tracy Pierce of Coquille; and a sister, Paula Lynn of Burns.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1650 N.W. Naito Parkway, Suite 190, Portland, OR 97209.
‘Ole’ Van Ocker
Elmer “Ole” Van Ocker, 87, of Baker City, died Nov. 19, 2001, at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise.
His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate.
Elmer was born Nov. 30, 1913, at Walla Walla, Wash., to Edna and Ernest Van Ocker. He attended school and graduated from Weston High School at the age of 16.
He was a life-long mechanic and worked mostly on farm and diesel equipment. He had his own repair shop at Haines from 1955 through 1969. From there he went to work at International Harvester Co. in Moro until 1971. He moved to Baker City and was the city shop foreman until his retirement.
In 1933, Elmer married Virginia Wilson at Walla Walla. They both enjoyed fishing and camping all of their lives.
Elmer was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mildred Skeen.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia of Baker City; sons, Garry Van Ocker and his wife Joan, of Athena, Steve Van Ocker and his wife, Barbra, of Boise; a daughter, Joan Rice of Athena; grandchildren, Mark Van Ocker, and his wife, Allison, of Milton-Freewater, Megan Peterson and her husband, Bryan, of Gig Harbor, Wash., Scott Van Ocker and his wife, Tracy, and Amber Van Ocker, all of Boise, and Jim Rice of Florida; great-grandchildren, Camdon and Kailey Van Ocker of Milton-Freewater, Page and Demie Van Ocker of Boise and Jacob and Clayton Rice of Florida.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker City Elks Lodge through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Gladys Lee
Gladys E. Lee, 96, a longtime Baker City resident, died Nov. 18, 2001, at St Elizabeth Health Care Center.
Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Roger Scovil of Baker City Christian Church will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the funeral home.
Mrs. Lee was born Oct. 29, 1905, at Exeter, Mo., to Charles and Rosa Ridenour. Gladys Ridenour and James Larkin Lee were married in the spring of 1924. She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Mrs. Lee loved the outdoors, especially gardening. She was very talented musically, and provided many hours of entertainment to her family by playing the organ. Her family was very important to her as she was to them. She was an excellent cook, and enjoyed having friends and relatives in for meals. Her family voted her as the best cook in the world!
She was loved by all her family and friends, including her caregivers at St. Elizabeth Care Center.
Survivors include her son, Bill Lee of Baker City; sisters Marge Smith and her husband, “Smitty, ” Doris Alderson and her husband, “Buck, ” of Baker City; a brother, “Buck” Ridenour and his wife, Naomi, of Fayetteville, Ark.; sister-in-law, Dean Ridenour of Hayden Lake, Idaho; grandchildren, Glenda Cole and husband, Don, of Hermiston, Pat Elms and husband, Ed, of Baker City, Greg Hallgarth and wife, Coby, of La Grande, Lorna Smith, of Walla Walla, Wash., Susan Schroeder and her husband, Forrest, and Bill Lee Jr. and wife, Shandra, of Baker City; great-grandchildren, Chris Elskamp of Clarkston, Wash., Michele Elskamp of Portland, Russ Elms and Ryan Elms of Baker City, Sara Smith of Walla Walla, Tyson Hallgarth of Roseburg, Jacob Hallgarth of Colorado, Kylee Hallgrath of La Grande, and Otis Schroeder and Emily Schroeder of Baker City; great-great grandchildren, Erin Elms and Madison Elms of Baker City, Jacob Elskamp of Clarkston, and Levi Selves; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Lee; mother and father, Charles and Rosa Ridenour; sisters, Grace Bradshaw, Gertrude Griffin and Goldie Walburn; a brother, Leonard Ridenour; a daughter, Loretta Hallgarth; a son-in law, Glen Hallgarth; and a daughter-in-law, JoAnn Lee.
Memorial contributions may be made to charity of one’s choice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Oregon 97814.
