Obituaries for Jan. 15, 2010

Elsie Hansen

Elsie May Hansen, 85, of Baker City, died Jan. 2, 2010, at Holy Rosary Medical Center in Ontario.

The family will have a private inurnment at Bay City Odd Fellows Cemetery in Bay City where Elsie will be buried with her husband, Steve.

Elsie was born on Sept. 12, 1925, at Toledo to Marion O. and Neva O. Shull Glaze. During World War II, she joined the Coast Guard SPARs (Semper Paratus Always Ready) along with her two sisters. After World War II, Elsie attended business college.

From there she became the office manager and bookkeeper for Tillamook County General Hospital. While working at the hospital, she met her husband-to-be, Steve.

She married Stephen P. Hansen on Sept. 18, 1950, at Portland. They made their home in Bay City, OR. Their first child, Christine Ann, was born in Tillamook in 1951. They lived in Portland for a while, and then moved to Pendleton where they had a son, Gregory Stephen.

In 1954, they lost a son, Thomas Charles, who died in infancy. The couple later moved to Baker City then returned to Bay City, where Steve died in 1999. After Steve’s death, Elsie moved back to Baker City to be near her daughter, Christine Wright.

Elsie was a life member of the Eastern Star and Rebekah Lodge at Baker City and Bay City. Much of her life was devoted to these organizations.

She loved to garden and took great pride in her yard. She also loved to fish and she traveled whenever she could. She loved to go to the national SPAR reunion to see her World War II friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Steve; her parents; sisters, Marilyn and Lila; a brother, Marion E. Glaze; a son, Thomas Charles Hansen; and a son-in-law, Eric Wright.

Survivors include her daughter, Christine Wright; her son, Gregory S. Hansen, and his wife, Mary; grandchildren, Sarah A. Hansen and her fiance, Michael Dimick, Bryan G. Hansen and his wife, Jessica, Jessica O. Wright and Stephen J. Wright; and great-grandchildren, Ava and Eden Hansen.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.

Valeria Still

Visitations will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Her graveside funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Valeria was born on Aug. 24, 1917, at Weiser, Idaho, to John and Eulah Tate Still. She attended the one-room school at Mineral, Idaho, through the eighth grade and then moved to Weiser High School where she graduated.

She next graduated from Boise College and worked for the State of Idaho for three years before moving to San Francisco to work while living with her sister, Clara. She then worked for a construction company, which traveled to several states.

In 1943 she married Fred Still of Kingsport, Tenn. They had five children, all of whom were born in Idaho.

The family moved from Payette, Idaho, to Baker City in 1953. Valeria was active in PTA, Scouts, and became a member of Soroptimist International.

In 1967 she began working as the representative for Standard Insurance Co. for this area. She remained in the position for 17 years as well as becoming secretary for the Northwest Life Underwriters Association.

After her husband’s death in 1983, she moved to Portland to live with her daughter, Larry Anne. She returned to Baker City in 1998.

Survivors include her children, Fred Still and his wife, Connie, of Seattle, Wash., Dave Still and his wife, Carla, of Baker City, Larry Anne Carlson and her husband, Frank, of Baker City, Lucinda Still of Portland and Melinda Hill of Provo, Utah; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Juanita Cross

Her memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Sunridge Inn.

Juanita completed the eighth grade. She had lived at Imbler, Baker City, Hermiston, The Dalles, Bullhead City, Ariz., Sutherlin, Salem and Cottage Grove. She was a housewife, an antique dealer and she worked in a cannery.

Survivors include her sons, Herb Ames and his wife, Sheila, of Cottage Grove, and Dan Cross of Battleground, Wash.

Phoebe Burby

Phoebe Calder Burby, 104, died January 9, 2010, at Meadowbrook Place.

Her funeral was at noon today at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bishop Ernest Collard officiated. Friends were invited to join the family for a reception at the LDS church after the graveside service.

Phoebe was born on Aug. 6, 1905, at Baker to Delia Azubah Eardley and Mark William Calder. She was the eighth of 12 children and had seven sisters and four brothers. At the age of 8 she was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Powder River near the railroad trestle in south Baker. She remained an active member of the church throughout her life and was a member of the Baker 1st Ward when she died.

She married Ernest Albert Burby on Nov. 20, 1924, and together they raised a family of three children: Ernest Albert Jr., Virginia May and Robert Glenn.

Although life afforded her opportunities to live in various areas of the West, she was always drawn back to Baker City and returned to stay permanently in the mid ’60s.

Phoebe always loved nature and the outdoors. She was an avid fly fisherman, hunter, and hiker. Together with her husband and children they purchased property near Granite and built a family cabin. The cabin served as a retreat and a gathering place for children and grandchildren for more than 30 years.

Survivors include her son, Bob Burby, and his wife, Joan, of Laverkin, Utah; eight grandchildren, more than 20 great-grandchildren, and many, many great-great-grandchildren.

Throughout her life she was a wonderful example and guide to all those she encountered. She will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Memorial contributions may be made to Primary Children’s Hospital through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814.