>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Dr. Stephen William Carper, 49, died Nov. 27 of a massive stroke while at work in his cancer research lab at UNLV.

Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Greek Orthodox Church, 2618 W. Bannock St. in Boise with Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes officiating. A Trisagion service will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel at 5400 Fairview Ave.

Steve was born on March 25, 1958, to Major Sgt. and Mrs. William J. Carper in Boise. He grew up in La Grande and graduated from La Grande High School in 1976. He graduated from Eastern Oregon State College with a bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry and received his Ph.D in biochemistry at Utah State University in Logan in 1986.

Dr. Carper completed a postdoctoral program at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He later researched breast cancer in Madison, Wis., before taking a position in the biochemistry department at UNLV in 1991 while continuing his cancer research.

Steve enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing with his grandson. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan.

Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Florence and Dale Lint of Sacramento, Calif.; brother, Michael and his wife, Bridget, of Sugar Grove, Ill.; ex-wife, Barbara Carper; daughter, Sarah and her husband, Clayton Dale of Beaverton; a grandson and a granddaughter; daughters, Joe Ann and Elizabeth Carper, both of Beaverton; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the UNLV foundation at UNLV Dept. of Chemistry, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, Nev., 89154-4003, with the memo, "Steve Carper Memorial Fund," attention, Dennis Lindle.

Dec. 4, 2007

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Lillie Leona Waldrop, 95, of La Grande, died on Nov. 29, in Vicksburg, Miss. A viewing will run from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory. The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the La Grande Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Gekeler Lane.

Lillie was born on March 21, 1912, to Theodore and Leona Miller, in Teton Basin, Idaho. The family lived there for a couple of years and then moved to a ranch in Telocaset. Later, they moved to Union, where Lillie attended her last years of school.

She married Walter Waldrop on April 29, 1931, in La Grande. A few years later, they moved to Burns where they remained until 1945. They moved back to La Grande where they bought a farm and raised cattle.

Lillie enjoyed and loved being around her family and friends. She enjoyed cooking large meals and doing farm work such as milking cows, mowing, raking and baling hay. She loved riding horses, huckleberry picking and spending time with her grandkids. Lillie had a passion for traveling, which she did extensively in her later years.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and held many church positions that she loved.

Survivors include her sons, Don Waldrop of La Grande and Gary Waldrop of Ft. Myers, Fla.; daughters, Shirley Twidwell of Elverta, Calif., Jean Frewing of La Grande and Sharon Huie of Vicksburg, Mich.; brother, Elmer Miller of La Grande; sisters, Eva Kephart of Pollock Pines, Calif., and Myrna Clayton of Reno; 26 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; son, Norman; grandchildren, Jennifer Twidwell and Karen Haynes; brothers, Earl Miller, Dick Miller, Willie Miller and Roy Miller; and sisters, Mae Simonis, Amy Stewart and Edith Rogers.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Society.

Dec. 4, 2007

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Dorothy Dean Wilson, 84, of La Grande, died Nov. 16 at the Grande Ronde Retirement Residence in La Grande. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church in La Grande, with lunch to follow.

Dorothy was born on April 1, 1923, to C. D. Foster and Nellie Edith Clark in Okmulgee, Okla. She married Louis B. Wilson on April 5, 1942, in Eugene. In 1961 they moved to Pendleton, where they lived until Lou's death in 1995. Following his death, Dorothy moved to La Grande to be near her son and his family.

Dorothy enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, traveling to the beach, reading and crossword puzzles. Those who knew her say her four great-grandchildren brought endless joy into her life. She worked as the manager of the Green Stamp store in Pendleton for about three years, and worked for the Pendleton Round-up office from 1969 to 1972.

Dorothy is survived by two children, Kim Baker and her husband, Kurt, of Clackamas and Jeffrey Wilson and his wife, Anita, of La Grande; two granddaughters and their husbands; sister, Frances Wolf and her husband, Larry, of Kelso, Wash., numerous nieces and nephews; and four great-grandchildren.

Dec. 4, 2007

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Alson B. Coles, 73, of La Grande, died Nov. 25 of natural causes at Grande Ronde Hospital. At this time there are no plans for a public service. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.

Alson was born on Jan. 15, 1934, to Clayton and Loda Coles in Haines. He worked as a ranch supervisor and truck driver. He enjoyed racing, bull riding and especially fishing.

Survivors include his sister and her husband, Theora and Tim Copeland of Dorris, Calif.; children, Kathryn Clinkenbeard, Jimmie Coles, Joy Coles and Gail Scott, all of La Grande; several nieces and nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren; and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ellen Coles of Fort Jones, Calif.; and sister, Cleora Krouse of Dorris.

Dec. 5, 2007

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Mya Nicole Marie Baxter, 8, of North Powder, died of natural causes Dec. 3 at her home. A celebration of life will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the Faith Center, 10300 South D St. in Island City. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is handling arrangements.

Mya was born April 29, 1999, in Portland. Starting out weak in life, she soon became a strong and beautiful little girl. She had many favorite sayings, which made most people smile. She attended Central Elementary School. Giving was one of her best features, as hugs were always plentiful. She loved music, dance and going to church. She enjoyed camping trips, her cat and spending time with her friend, Sha.

She is survived by a big family including her mom and her "Daddy," Ryan and Tina Baxter of North Powder; stepbrother, Jesse of North Powder; grandparents, Russ and Brenda Hiller of Milton-Freewater, Bill and Janet Pierce of Baker City, Ron and Linda Newton of

La Grande, Gary and Bonnie Baxter of Baker City, Eddie Knukles of Redmond, and her very close "Gram," Dana Gunter of La Grande. She is also survived by her great-grandmothers, Pat Hiller of McMinnville and Elsie Butler of Baker City.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sterling Savings Bank, where a memorial funds has been set up in Mya's name.

Dec. 7, 2007

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Joe Ann Carnes, 88, of Baker City and formerly of North Powder and Union, died Dec. 2 at her home after a long illness. Joe Ann requested that there not be a memorial service.

Joe Ann was born Oct. 6, 1919, to Frank Burrell and LaVern Kurz in Portland. The family moved to San Francisco and later to the North Powder area. Joe Ann graduated from Union High School.

Joe Ann Burrell married Clarke Herman Carnes on Sept. 30, 1946, at Weiser, Idaho. Their home in Baker City always had a beautiful, manicured garden and lawn.

Joe Ann and Clarke were members of the Episcopal Church and the Esther Chapter of the Eastern Star. The couple had a great love for beautiful horses and both enjoyed riding. Joe Ann was employed as a waitress at the Baker Café and the Geiser Café. She loved to walk and could be seen all around town — sometimes carrying parcels and sometimes just walking. When asked if she wanted a ride, she would say no because she wanted the exercise.

It seemed that Joe Ann did not socialize very much, especially after she was widowed and living alone in Baker City. But there was a group of some cousins and friends that she loved to meet with, for the "Birthday Group" lunches. If it was Joe Ann's choice, she always wanted to go to Huang's. She loved Chinese food and enjoyed sharing in those times of meeting for lunch.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarke Carnes, in 1991.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Elizabeth Health Services Foundation or to Oregon Community Foundation, through Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City 97814.

Dec. 7, 2007

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Northeast Oregon native Clifton "Duck" Leroy Slack, 94, of Perry, died Dec. 5 at Upper Perry. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. A dinner get-together for family and friends will be held at Calvary Chapel, 1433 Jefferson, following the burial service at Summerville Cemetery.

Clifton was born to James and Ruia (Tiffany) Slack on Jan. 1, 1913, on a farm north of Summerville and lived there with his family for 10 years before moving to Summerville for two years. He attended Dry Creek School.

The family moved to Elgin and he finished eighth grade there. That fall, he and his uncle took a pack train of mules over the Blue Mountains to be in the Pendleton Round-up and participate in bronc riding. He never returned to school.

He worked on various ranches throughout Eastern Oregon and also worked for the old Pondosa Pine Lumber company. In 1948 he met Irene (Gentry) Talbott and her three children, Lenore, Franklin and Donna in Elgin. They married in 1949. They moved to the Tyler ranch west of the La Grande Truck Stop and lost two sets of twins. In 1950 they moved to Lower Perry.

He worked for Bechtel Brothers Construction for four years and then worked for Boise Cascade for 23 years, retiring at 65.

In about 1955 they moved on to the farm beside the Grande Ronde River at Perry where they raised two more children, Vicki and Teri. There, he was a tree farmer. He raised cows, his beloved horses and dogs and every other animal that showed up. He loved to hunt and fish and be outdoors. Even in his 80s he could climb over most mountains ahead of much younger people.

His wife died in 1990 and those who knew him say that being alone was very hard on him but with encouragement from his daughters and a friend he joined the Mavericks and began the sport of team penning, which he did quite well until he was 87.

He loved horses. He broke his first horse at the age of 10 and continued until the age of 82. He started this for his daughter and helped her finish.

At 83 his daughter and family moved in to help him be able to continue to live at home. Becoming too ill in December 2006 to be left alone, he moved into the Brenda and Dave Hickey guest home up the road. He was able to come home with his family a couple of times a week or take a drive out to see his beloved horse, Nugget. He loved to hunt and at the age of 93 he had two deer tags that he filled while using his walker to get around.

With the help of his daughter and two good friends, he went on two more hunts and he was able to fill both his tags, taking only one shot for each. He planned a third hunt for cow elk, but his health declined and he was unable to go. He dreamed of more hunting in the weeks that followed.

"Duck" was a member of the American Legion and was one of the Old Hands at the Haines Rodeo. He participated in team penning in La Grande, Elgin and Union.

He leaves behind his daughter Vicki McLean, her husband Neil and their family, of La Grande; daughter Teri Walker and her husband, Jeff and their daughter, of La Grande; stepdaughter, Lenore Hill and her family of Grangeville, Idaho; stepson, Franklin Mathias and his wife Donna of Seattle; cousin, Fleta Barnhill and her family of Moses Lake, Wash.; his beloved animals; many good friends; and Dave and Brenda Hickey, his caregivers. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene; sons, Gary and Larry and premature twins; stepdaughter, Donna; grandchildren, Leon and Lucy Irene; his siblings, Clifford, Maudie, Sylvan and Lester; and cousins, Oma and Willard.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Society or the GRH Hospice.

Dec. 7, 2007