Obituaries for Jan. 8, 2010

Robert Thomas

Robert J. Thomas, 85, a longtime Baker County rancher, died Jan. 5, 2010, at his ranch home.

His graveside service will be at noon Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Baker City Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Doug Connelly, the husband of one of his granddaughters, will officiate both services.

Robert J. “Bob” Thomas was born on July 8, 1924, to Merton and Martha Thomas in a farmhouse in Crawford County, Iowa. He was one of six children.

Bob was involved in agriculture even as a young man. He graduated from Dow City High School in 1943 and joined the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Iwo Jima and Saipan until the end of World War II.

After returning home, he attended Iowa State University at Ames where he majored in animal husbandry. He married Gloria Ewoldt at Vail, Iowa, on Feb. 6, 1949.

The couple began farming in Iowa where their three daughters were born.

In 1954 Bob, Gloria and their children moved to New York where Bob pursued a career as an Angus herdsman in upstate New York and later on Long Island. During this time, they purchased Angus cattle and shipped them back to Iowa to a family farm. In 1958, they moved to Sauvie Island and had their cattle shipped over by train.

In 1962, Bob and Gloria had a son and in 1963, Bob’s lifelong dream to ranch in the West was fulfilled when they moved to the Baker Valley where they developed one of the most prestigious Angus herds in America.

Bob was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Angus Association for six years. His greatest advocate and helper was his wife of 50 years, Gloria. They were an inseparable team as they worked together on the ranch and raised their four children.

He attributed his success to the grace of God and he lived his faith. Bob was a longtime member of the Presbyterian Church and a follower of Jesus Christ.

He loved his Angus cattle, his ranch and the beautiful Baker Valley. He also had many dear friends. One of his favorite pastimes was putting out mineral and walking though his herd of registered Angus, his family said.

He enjoyed traveling with Gloria and also took his grandchildren on special trips. He traveled to France, Scotland, England, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, the Mediterranean, the Bahamas and Mexico.

Bob’s extended family was important to him. This was obvious in the special relationship Bob and Gloria had with niece, Laurie Thomas Daniels, the Smith girls, Merridee Wells and Jill Mackie and the many other young people whose lives they impacted.

Bob and Gloria hosted many family reunions on their ranch. Bob was a gracious host and made visitors feel welcome. He lived life to the fullest.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his older brother, Jack Thomas; and his wife, Gloria.

Survivors include his sister, Ruth Grace Lyons; his brothers, Jim, Dick and Bill Thomas; his children and their spouses, Kris and Andy Barr, Sue and Sid Spurgeon, Beth and Frederick Phillips and Rob and Lori Thomas; 12 grandchildren, Heather Connelly, Kati Elder, Drew Barr, Will Barr, Nick Spurgeon, Tim Spurgeon, Jodi Ernst, Lindsey Spurgeon, Ryan Phillips, Clay Phillips, Ty Thomas and Bryson Thomas; and six great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Angus Foundation through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.

Editor’s note: The survivors were omitted and memorial contributions were incorrect in Mr. Miller’s obituary published Wednesday. Here is the corrected version:

‘Mick’ Miller

Nathaniel Oren “Mick” Miller, 85, of Pendleton, a former Baker County resident, died Jan 4, 2010.

There will be a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Pendleton Eagles Lodge, 435 S.E. First St.

Mick was born on Aug. 14, 1924, at Cove to Laurel and Mary Miller. As a child he lived in Baker County where he attended school. He was a 1944 Baker High School graduate.

He married Nina Hale as a young man. In 1988 he met Neva Fordice and they were partners until her death in 2008.

During his youth, he worked on many ranches in Baker County as a hired hand as well as working for the Burnt River Lumber Mill. He also was the Haines assistant fire chief from 1970 to 1980. He was very proud of being an active part of the Haines Community.

He moved to the Pendleton area in 1985. Nathaniel (Mick) enjoyed the beautiful lakes and forest. Some of his hobbies were picking mushrooms, fishing and hunting.

“Nathaniel (Mick) was a family man and loved his family very much,” his family said.

In his later years he enjoyed watching and feeding the squirrels around his home in Pendleton.

Survivors include his children, Wanda Alanis of Pendleton, Tina Garfalo of Newport, Barbara Altizer of Pendleton, Virgil Miller of Texas and Darrel Davison of Oklahoma; siblings, Delbert Miller and Ann Hacket, both of Baker City; 23 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings,Ray Miller, Obel Miller and Bill Miller; and his son, Steve Miller.

Flowers may be sent to the Pendleton Eagles Lodge, 435 S.E. First St.; telephone, 541-278-2828.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association through Burns Mortuary of Pendleton, P.O. Box 489, Pendleton, OR 97801.

Send condolences to the family or sign the register at this Web site: www.burnsmortuary.com