Obituaries for Jan. 29, 2010

Forrest Walker

Forrest David Walker, 69, died Jan. 22, 2010, at his home on Stices Gulch near Baker City.

At his request, cremation was held.

Mr. Walker was born on July 24, 1940, at Tulsa, Okla., to Forrest and Marcella Clayton Walker. He graduated from high school at Burlingame, Calif., in 1959. He served two terms in the U.S. Army. Mr. Walker married Vera Crawford at Reno, Nev., on Jan. 18, 1970.

They celebrated their 40th anniversary Monday, Jan. 18.

He served in law enforcement for 30 years and worked for parole and probation for six years. He also coordinated camps for forest service for five years.

Mr. Walker enjoyed working on his property alongside his wife and enjoyed weekends with his family. He raised and supported his family for more than 40 years.

Mr. Walker enjoyed reaching out to anyone who needed a helping hand and he never met a stranger, he family members said.

“He was admired by all and touched the lives of everyone he spoke with and met,” they said.

Survivors include his wife, Vera Walker; daughter, Cynthia Walker; daughters and sons-in-law, Melinda and Scott Hutton and Stephanie and Don Pratt, all of Baker City; grandchildren, Anastasia, Rachell, Bethany, Richard, Wyatt, David and Justin, and great-grandchild, Ayden Jonah, all of Baker City.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to assist with funeral expenses. This maybe done through the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

Walter McGuirk

Walter Clay McGuirk, 83 of Baker City, formerly of Ontario, died at his home in Baker City on Jan. 25, 2010, surrounded by family and friends. 

His funeral will be at 9 a.m. PST Monday at the Nazarene Church in Ontario. There will be a graveside service afterward at the Riverside Cemetery. Pastors Kim Wilson and Ray Hedlund of Calvary Chapel in Baker City will officiate.

Walter was born on June 14, 1926, on Flag Day. He was the fourth oldest of seven children born to Ernst McGuirk and Mable Worthey McGuirk of Neck, Mo.                                                             

He completed his schooling while in the military working alongside of his dad, on the USS Baitfish (submarine). After completing this work he enlisted into the U.S. Army and served during the latter part of the European campaigns.                                                    

After his military service he returned to Oklahoma and then moved to California before moving to Oregon, where he met and married the love of his life, Etta Jo Hendon.                                                                                                                                                

His life in Oregon was challenging. He worked at several jobs, including service as a Department of Motor Vehicles employee, a radio host and working for an insurance company. He met all of those roles with the same professionalism.

He later moved to Ontario where he opened Uncle Sam’s Flag Shop and was in partnership with his wife selling flags and other patriotic items from coast to coast. He represented the true meaning of patriotism, selling flags and even when called upon playing the role of Uncle Sam in parades and other community events, his family said.

Survivors include his wife, Etta Jo, and their only child, Tammi Jo, and her husband, Steve Coley, of Baker City; two sisters, Virginia Reid of Missouri and Velma Middleton of Oregon; one grandson, Jeremy Coley, and his wife, Michelle, and three great-grandchildren, Teygan, Kayla and MyKenzie, of Baker City; and very notable friends during his last days, Ida and Mike Frampton of Baker City and Brenda Kroker of Payette, Idaho.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Harley McGuirk and Tommy McGuirk; and sisters, Mildred Priece and Dorothy Kyler.                                                                          

Lienkaemper Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Brett Burton

Brett David Burton, 31, of Ontario, died Jan. 27, 2010, in an automobile accident near Ontario.

His graveside service will be 1 p.m. PST Saturday at Rosedale Memorial Gardens, 10350 N. Iowa Ave., in Payette, Idaho. There will be a reception at 2 p.m. PST at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 661 S.W. 12th St., in Ontario. Services and arrangements are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette.

Brett was born in Ontario on May 13, 1978.

Survivors include his son, Nathan; a daughter, Nikki; his parents, Tom and Vicki Cunningham of Baker City, and Steve and Arvina Burton of Ontario; brothers, Cristopher (Jennifer Grover), Daniel (Jayneann), Dustin and Darren; grandparents, Harold and Doris Soper, Evelyn Burton, Gene and Arlene Messinger and Constance Cunningham; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, John Burton.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ontario Help Them To Hope or the Baker City Lions Club through the Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, ID 83661.