Obituaries for Dec. 9, 2009

Kirk Dennis

Kirk Wade Dennis, 52, of Baker City, died Dec. 5, 2009.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Calvary Baptist Church, at the corner of Broadway and Third streets. There will be a reception afterward at the church followed by a graveside service at 2 p.m. Thursday at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway.

Kirk was born on April 30, 1957, at Baker City and was raised on a dairy at Halfway.  He was a 1975 graduate of Pine-Eagle High School at Halfway. He was a talented all-around athlete, and played on the Shrine Team his senior year.

He went on to play football at Mount Hood Community College and finished his college career at Oregon State University at Corvallis. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics in 1979.

He married Ann Irene Henry on June 12, 1982, at Catherine Creek State Park. They made their home in Richland and later moved to Baker City where, for more than 20 years, Kirk owned and operated a successful business as a financial investment adviser.

He was a member of the Elkhorn Athletic Club where he enjoyed playing racquetball. He also was a member of the Lions Club,  the Baker City Elks Lodge and  served on the YMCA Board.

Kirk volunteered as a youth coach and was a longtime member of the Calvary Baptist Church. He was an enthusiastic student of the Bible.

As an avid outdoorsman, he loved to hunt and fish with his son and friends. He enjoyed jet boating on the Snake River.

He was a history buff and enjoyed traveling. He and his wife took many vacations together.  Among other hobbies he took pleasure in restoring vintage Chevrolet pickups. Kirk was also a gifted carpenter. 

“Kirk was a devoted husband, father and grandfather,” his family said. “He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.”

Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Ann Dennis; his son, Michael Dennis; daughters, Josie Bork of Baker City, Holly Hailey and son-in-law, Chad Hailey of Clackamas; and Wendy Dennis of Portland; three granddaughters, Jade and Jocelyn Bork, ages 3 and 2, and Makayla Hailey, age 1; his mother, Barbara Dennis, grandmother, Belle Johnson, brother, Blake Dennis and his wife, Kellie, sister, Nancy Denig, and her husband, Joe, and their families, all of Halfway; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Max and Mary Jean Henry of Baker City; uncles, Gene and Everett Dennis of Richland; Dave Dennis of Fossil; aunt, Betty Hindman of Baker City; and uncle, Leland Johnson of New Port Beach, Calif.

He was preceded in death by an infant brother, Tony; his father, Vernon Dennis; his grandfather, Lorval Johnson; and grandparents Allen and Opal Dennis.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker City YMCA or the Pine-Eagle United Youth Fund through Gray’s West and Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.