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News Obituaries Obituaries for the week ending February 9, 2008
Obituaries for the week ending February 9, 2008
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Gilbert, Baxter, Corbin, Loftus, Kalac, Payne, Warnock, Myers, Stewart
Rufus Sykes “Sy” Gilbert, 89, of Enterprise, died Jan. 27 at Mt. Meadows Care Center in Walla Walla. A service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Katherine Catholic Church in Enterprise with VFW military services at the gravesite.
Sarah Edith (Wight) Baxter, 101, of Union, died Feb. 2 at her home that she loved and lived in for 65 years. Funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Union LDS Chapel. Burial will follow at the Union Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Edith was born Oct. 19, 1906, to Jesse Lowen and Helen Mabel (Hansen) Wight in Brigham City, Utah. When Edith was 12, her mother died in the great flu epidemic of 1919. Edith lived briefly in northern Idaho where she had moved as a child in a covered wagon. As a teenager, she moved to Union to live with her grandparents. She graduated from Union High School in the Class of 1925. She became a school teacher and first taught at North Powder School for two years. She then taught one year at a one-room school in Ladd Canyon. Her fondest memories were of her teaching days. She stopped working as a teacher soon after marrying William Bowthorpe Baxter in the LDS Temple in Salt Lake City on Aug. 11, 1927. The family lived in Union except for a short time in Hillsboro and Portland where Bill first worked in a department store. Then when World War II began, he worked in the shipyards. When Bill went to Utah for the military, Edith moved her family back to Union. She secured a loan and bought the house they lived in for the rest of their lives. They celebrated their 62th wedding anniversary three months before Bill died in October 1989. Edith was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and continually served in various auxiliaries. She also served in the PTA and many other community organizations and was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. For years, Edith sold fresh milk and homemade bread. She loved to garden. She sewed, crocheted, wrote stories and poems and memorized many poems and stories. Her children and grandchildren will remember her as a great storyteller. Next to her family, her greatest love was poetry, good literature and learning. Those who knew Edith say she was quietly kind to all. If ever someone showed up in her neighborhood in need, be it a cat, dog or human, they were invited in and cared for. She also took in many foster children. Grandma’s door was always open to the grandchildren and all of their friends as well. Survivors include her children, Kendall Baxter, Diane and Jack Bowen and Don and Joyce Baxter of Union, Jerry and Janice Baxter of Medical Springs, Chrisanne and Richard Hindman of Baker City and Jacque and Charles Carris of Rigby, Idaho; 44 grandchildren; 100 great-grandchildren; and 22 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sisters; husband, Bill; son, Bryce; grandson, Duane; and three great-grandchildren.
Nancy Ann Corbin, 67, of Cove, died Feb. 4 at her home of natural causes. Family and friends are invited to share in a celebration of Nancy’s life at the Loveland Funeral Chapel at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Samuel Patrick Loftus, 84, formerly of Imnaha, died Feb. 3 in Pendleton. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Cloverleaf Hall in Enterprise, with the burial to follow at the Enterprise cemetery. Sam was born Aug. 11, 1923, the third of five children to Jim and Lucy Loftus on Elk Mountain. He spent most of his childhood at Imnaha. After high school graduation in 1942, Sam enlisted in the Army and served three years in Europe during World War II. During his military time he also met Laura Mae Jones of Gordon, Texas, and in 1947, they married. In 1950, Sam was called back to active military duty and spent one year serving in the Korean Conflict. Sam’s love was ranching, and he spent most of his adult life working on many ranches in the Imnaha Canyon. He and Laura ran Red’s Horse Ranch for several years, and then again returned to Imnaha. Sam competed in rodeos and was a cowboy poet. He was a mentor to many young cowboys in Wallowa County. He is survived by his children and their spouses, Sam and Sharon Loftus of Pendleton, Kitty and Mike McAdam; two granddaughters; one grandson; and one great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years in 2000. Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson Research Center OHSU Foundation in Portland.
Karen Sue Kalac, 63, of La Grande, died in an automobile accident Feb. 2. Memorial services will begin at 3 p.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande.
J. “Aaron” Payne, 90, of Union, died Feb. 5 at a local care center. A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St. in La Grande. Burial will follow at the Union Cemetery. Aaron was born April 8, 1917, to James Samuel and Lillian Pearl (Hall) Payne in Spokane. He graduated from La Grande High School with the Class of 1936. He was an accomplished dairy farmer, specializing in Brown Swiss cows. Over the years he earned many awards for his devotion to his profession and for his help in teaching young people through FFA programs. He also raised pigs at one time and later miniature horses. He enjoyed woodworking — making grandfather clocks, china cabinets, cedar chests and gun cabinets. He was always ready to help kids in need and supported the Union City Little League, the Union FFA, the Salvation Army and other worthy causes. He loved animals and the outdoors. Although he never married or had kids of his own, he was the beloved uncle to his many nieces and nephews, great- and great-great nieces and nephews and will be missed. Survivors include his sister and brother-in-law, Emma and Frank Hoyt of Union; sister, Peggy Garrison of Salem; brother, Jimmy Lee and Pat Payne of Woodburn; nieces and nephews, many of Union; and other relatives. He was preceded in death by sister, Wanneta Wilson, and brother, Porter Alex “Tim” Payne. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Union FFA Chapter or the Union City Little League in care of Daniels-Knopp.
Wanda Jean Warnock, 69, of Milton-Freewater and formerly of La Grande, died Feb. 3 at her daughter’s home in Portland. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church, 518 S. Main St., in Milton-Freewater. Wanda was born Aug. 5, 1938, to Ken and June Durham in Pasco. She was raised in Milton-Freewater and graduated from McLoughlin High School in 1956. She graduated in 1961 from Northwest Christian College in Eugene with a bachelor of science degree in Christian education. She also completed coursework toward a master’s program from Goddard College in counseling psychology. She married Bruce Warnock on June 18, 1961. The family lived in the Willamette Valley for several years and then settled in La Grande. The couple later divorced. Wanda was primarily a homemaker until her children were in elementary school, when she became a counselor at Head Start, then Grande Ronde Child Center. She was employed at Greenwood Elementary School as a counselor for 13 years until she retired in 2000. From her late teens, Wanda had a unique ability and sensitivity for working with children and people with special needs — an interest that continued all through her life, even into her retirement years. She exhibited a warm, cheerful and accepting personality that drew people to her. As a result she developed many meaningful friendships and never knew a stranger. Those who knew her say her empathetic listening was a unique gift that she gave generously, enriching the lives of family and friends. Wanda enjoyed painting with watercolors, gardening and reading, and loved spending time on the Oregon coast. A highlight of her life was a long anticipated trip to England and Scotland with her sister in 1998, celebrating her 60th birthday in London. In recent years she enjoyed time with several classmates of her Mac-Hi Class of 1956. Her greatest love was spending time with her children and grandchildren and supporting their interests in numerous ways. Wanda is survived by her daughters, Linda Blomberg of Yakima and Nancy Ann Warnock of Portland; son, Douglas Warnock of Portland; three grandsons, Joshua, Taylor and Nicholas Blomberg; mother, June Durham of Milton-Freewater; sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Clint Reeder of Pendleton; brother and sister-in-law, Ken and Barbara Durham of Portland; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father and a nephew. Memorial contributions may be made to Cancer Research or Children First for Oregon in care of Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home, 902 S. Main, Milton-Freewater 97862.
Edward David Myers, 55 of Union died at his home Tuesday of natural causes.
Laynee Kae-Lyn Stewart, 1 month 3 days, of La Grande died at Oregon Heath Sciences University in Portland Monday. She was born Jan. 1, 2008, to Rachel Carlson-Stewart and Bradley Stewart Jr. A funeral service will be held on Friday at the Victory Christian Center in La Grande at 10 a.m. Loveland Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.
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