Obituaries for Jan. 11, 2010

Ernest Fullmer

Ernest Mantz Fullmer, 90, of Helvetia, Ore., and a former Baker City resident, died Jan. 3, 2010.

 A Memorial Mass took place Jan. 7, preceded by the recitation of the Rosary at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Portland.

Ernie was born on Feb. 27, 1919, in Pontiac, Mich., one of seven children of Alfred and Verna Fullmer. He graduated from Roosevelt H.S. in Keego Harbor, Mich., in 1936 and headed to Chicago to work and attend college.  In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and became a Staff Sergeant.

He was married on Feb. 11, 1943, to Albina Mary Pavlinac; they were married for 36 years until her passing in 1979. They had eight children: Ernie Jr., Douglas (deceased), Donna (Crace), Ted, Tom, Mike, John, and Anne (Chin).

In 1980 Ernie married Marilyn (Chaves) Brown who had four children, Dustin, Melody, Randy and Scott. Together they were amazing parents and grandparents to 12 children, 55 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.

In 1946 he moved his family to Medford and started his longtime career in the timber and lumber industry. He had an eccentric Uncle Delos who was mining for gold in the Jacksonville area of Medford and talked dad into “coming out West for gold,” and he never looked back!

Ernie loved the outdoors and enjoyed snow skiing, hunting, fishing, golfing, the beach, roses, gardening, family picnics, trips across the country to Michigan, and just being with his family. He loved to watch a great game of football and especially loved watching his grandsons and granddaughters play their various sports.

Ernie owned and operated Fullmer Forest Products and Hell's Canyon Lumber Co., and was still selling loads of clear select Douglas-fir the last weeks of his life. He was loved and respected in the lumber industry throughout the States and Canada, and his sons Ted and Mike continue today in his footsteps.

 In 1950 he headed north to Portland and became the chief accountant for the famous Lambert Gardens where he studied gardening and the care of roses from Mr. Lambert himself.  His past 22 years have been spent on his seven acres in Helvetia tending to his roses and gardens and taking great pride in the plantings and trees he and Marilyn lovingly cared for. Ernie also had an incredible talent for restoring antique cars and won the Concourse d’Elegance in Forest Grove with a 1931 Chevy that he and his sons bought in Baker City for $50. He taught many grandsons how to work on cars, and restore engines from TR-3s to Chevy pick-ups.

“Ernie taught us all so much and he will be missed by many, many people whose lives he touched in numerous ways,” his family said.

He was a Boy Scout Master for many years in Baker City while his children attended St. Francis Academy. He was very active in the Knights of Columbus for the Baker Diocese for many years and continues his dedication and commitment to the Knights and the Catholic Church up to the day of his passing. He was honored at his Memorial Mass by the St. Pius X Knights of Columbus Honor Guard.

One of his favorite pastimes with his sons and son-in-laws was a good game of poker, a great cigar and a glass of his favorite Johnny Walker Blue Label Scotch on Saturday nights. Those gatherings will never be the same, but his chair will still be close by making sure everyone plays fair!

Memorial contributions in Ernie’s name can be made to the Catholic organization “MARYKNOLL”; The Franciscan Spiritual Center (www.FrancisSpCtr.com) or St. Pius X Church (www.stpius.org).

Martin McKim

Martin McKim Jr., 85, of Halfway, died Jan. 8, 2010.

A memorial service will be held in early summer.

Martin McKim Jr. was born on Feb. 10, 1924, in Beaver, Okla., to Martin McKim Sr. and Harriet McKim. He had four younger brothers and four older sisters.

During the Great Depression, the family traveled throughout the state in search of work, generally picking fruits, vegetables, and cotton. For the most part, they lived in the same vehicle they rode in. Despite only having a fifth-grade education, Martin was an avid reader, spending much of his free time with the literature of Zane Grey, John Jakes,  and Edgar Rice Burroughs, among other noted authors.

In 1943, Martin was drafted into the military. As a young Marine, he saw action in Saipan and Okinawa. After the war, he spent a year of active duty in the Japanese city of Nagasaki, which had been destroyed by one of the atomic bombs in August 1945.

In 1946, Martin returned to Oklahoma, where he worked at a variety of occupations, including home construction, farming, and logging.

In late 1955, Martin traveled to Halfway to visit his sister Lois and her husband, Walt Robinson. There he met Carol Steele, and the two were wed on July 25, 1956. For the next few years, they resided at Pine Creek, and later in a small house at Jimtown, where Steve Kaesemeyer presently has his shop. From 1965 to 1974, they lived in Baker City, then returned to Pine Valley, where  Martin retired in 1984.

Martin and Carol had five children, Andrea, Richard, Ivan, Doug, and Harriet.

As a laborer for nearly three decades, Martin worked for Morrison Knudsen and Peter Kewitt. Among the many contracts he was on included the building of Brownlee Dam, Oxbow Dam, and Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake River, Mason Dam, and road construction of I-84. One of his proudest experiences was helping to build the various sets on the film “Paint Your Wagon” (1969).

When not on the job, Martin enjoyed gardening, woodworking, or making stylized gunstocks and knife handles. He liked Western and fantasy novels, country and western, Irish music, and just about any movie with John Wayne, James Stewart, and Clint Eastwood. He restored many antique firearms and farm equipment. He took an interest in everything dealing with the American Civil War, and especially liked motion pictures and TV productions such as “The Blue and the Gray” (1982), “North and South” (1985), “Glory” (1989), and “Gettysburg” (1993).

Martin is preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Harriet McKim, and nearly all of his siblings, for the exception of Lois Robinson, who resides in Baker City. His oldest daughter, Andrea (McKim) Hesus, passed away on July 31, 2007. His wife of 52 years, Carol, died on April 8, 2009.

He is survived by four children: Richard of Kuna, Idaho, Ivan and Doug, both of Halfway, and Harriet of Pendleton; numerous grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Those who wish to make a memorial donation may do so in his name to help defray funeral expenses through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.            

Jean Smith

Jean Smith, 68, of Arlington, Texas, died Jan. 8, 2010, at her home.

Her funeral will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday at St. Peter & St. Paul Episcopal Church, 3900 Morris Lane, in Arlington. A graveside service follows at 11 a.m. at DFW National Cemetery. 

Jean was born Jan. 26, 1941, in Baker. She was a 1959 honor graduate of Baker High School. She taught music at St. Francis in Baker, was a private piano teacher, andstarted in the newspaper  at Democrat Herald in 1966. She was a longtime member and office of Long Island Newsday, as well as an AARC Ham Radio Club member of the year.

She also studied music at Anchorage Methodist University in Alaska. She was a bass player in the Anchorage Community Orchestra, where she also earned speeding tickets trying to make it to practice on time. She worked for various newspaper companies, produced a monthly pageant magazine and retired from the UTA School of Social Work.

Jean loved music, reading, writing, cookie days with her grandchildren, and listening to her husband’s plethora of stories.

Survivors include her husband and high school sweetheart of 53 years, David Smith; children, son Michael Smith and wife Mel of Crowley, Texas, daughter, Sherri Wade and husband, Chris, son Chris Smith and wife Simone and daughter Barbara Johnston and husband Eddie, all  of Arlington, Texas; 11 grandchildren, Blake Wade and wife Stephanie, Christopher Kimsey and wife Kristin, Morgan and husband Blake Kahla, Chase Wade Michael Smith, Mitchell Smith, Burgandi, and Quinn Johnston; three great-grandchildren, Brayden Kimsey, Kaylee Kimsey, and Keeley Wade; sister, Carla Alm and husband Don of Roseburg, and brother Jim Longwell and wife Peggie of Baker City, and many cousins and friends. 

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Jerry V & Wilberta (Neet) Longwell of Baker City.

Memorials can be made to St. Peter & St. Paul Episcopal Church.  

Charlie Hilderbrand

Charlie Raymond Hilderbrand, 74, a long time resident of Baker County, died at his home in Haines Jan. 7, 2010.

A traditional funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Haines First Baptist Church. A vault interment at the Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Charlie Hilderbrand was born in Wheeler, Texas, on Jan 11, 1935, to Ora Hilderbrand and Ethel Burrell Hilderbrand. In 1939 the family moved to Prineville looking for a better future.

Charlie married Shirley Salsbury of Prineville in the early 50s. They had three children and were divorced five years later. In 1957 he married Darlene Ruth Unrein, who had two children from a previous marriage. They had two children of their own; their marriage ended in 1962. In the same year Charlie married Wilma Manning of Boise, who brought two children of her own to the marriage. They were married 25 years until she passed away in 1987.

In 1963 he moved the family to Halfway while working on the  Hells Canyon and Brownlee dams. In 1977 Charlie hit the open road and began working with Columbia Helicopters as a logger while traveling all over the Northwest until in 1981 when he had to retire due to an injury. In 1982 Charlie moved to Haines where he purchased a house and made a home.

On Aug. 31, 1990, Charlie married Cheryl Dima and welcomed her and her three children into his life. Charlie never turned down work in 74 years. In all those years he learned many skills, including ranch hand, dairy farmer, trapper, hunting guide and general handyman.

Charlie’s injuries and retirement never slowed him down. He enjoyed his family, friends, watching football and boxing, working in his shop, yard sales, auctions, logging, hunting and morning drives with his lady (dog) by his side.

Charlie was preceded by his mother and father, sister, three wives, one daughter, and five grandchildren.

Charlie is survived by his wife Cheryl Hilderbrand of 20 years of Haines; eight sons, Charles Allen Hilderbrand of Ontario, Mickey Hilderbrand of Tacoma, Wash., John Unrein of Riggins, Idaho, Rick Brodie of Baker City, David Hilderbrand of Albany, Scott Hilderbrand of Medford, Danny Keister of Haines, and Jimmy Keister of Haines; five daughters, Marci Austin of Tacoma, Wash., Debbie Fritz of Boise, Debbie Cartmill of Prineville, Sheila Hoevet of Prineville and Tammy Combes of Haines; two brothers, Jim Hilderbrand of Halfway, and Leon Hilderbrand of Prineville; two sisters, Sadie Taylor of Madras and Colleen Campbell of Hermiston; 28 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Charlie will be missed by many, his family said.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Haines fire department or the Haines School through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home,  P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.

Bradford Stephen Fraser, 30, of Orange, Calif., died Dec. 30, 2009, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise following a brief but courageous battle with the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Brad’s life on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City.

Brad was born on Sept. 27, 1979, in Orange, Calif., to Margaret and Brian Fraser. he was the second of four boys: the oldest, Brian, 32, Scott, 27, and Kevin, 18.

“Some of our fondest memories with Brad were the numerous camping and hunting trips Brian and Margaret shared with the boys. They would load up the horses, supplies, dogs and kids and off they’d go!” the family said.

Brad graduated from Baker High School in 1997 and eventually returned to Orange, Calif., to reconnect with his family there. He enjoyed getting to know the numerous uncles, aunts, cousins and grandparents.

It wasn’t long before Brad began working at the family restaurants, starting as a busboy and working into a management position. This is where he met the love of his life, Faith. Faith and Brad were married on Oct. 7, 2006. Their son, Peyton, was born on April 20, 2009.

Brad had a wonderful sense of humor and had many friends. He was a black belt in karate, loved flying helicopters and being in the outdoors. Most of all, Brad loved being a husband and father and was looking forward to spending time with his family in Baker City for Christmas this year.

Brad is survived by his wife, Faith, and their eight-month-old son, Peyton, of Orange, Calif.,; his mother and stepfather, Margaret and Tony Sackos of Baker City; brothers, Brian, Scott and Kevin Fraser; stepsister, Hayley Sackos; grandparents, Alex and Marylou Sackos of Baker City, and Bernette Murphy of Orange, Calif.; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Kelly and Jason Howell, Melissa Sullivan; father and mother-in-law, John and Sue Sullivan, all of Orange, Calif.; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Brad was preceded in death by his father, Brian Fraser, grandparents, Roderick and Patricia Fraser, and grandfather, Edward Murphy.

An account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank.