Obituaries for July 22, 2009

Burl Gilland

Burl Vance Gilland, 91, of Baker City, died July 17, 2009.

There will be a private inurnment of his ashes and the ashes of his wife, Benita, at Redmond Memorial Garden.

He was born on June 25, 1918, at a small farmhouse outside of Grant City, Mo. He was the oldest child of Clifford and Mary Margaret Miller Gilland. His mother died during childbirth when he was 4.

Burl married Benita Potter on April 19, 1941, at Oregon, Mo. They were married for 67 years. In 1943, the couple moved to Sisters. Burl began working in the timber industry where he worked until he retired at the age of 62.

Burl and Benita moved to Redmond in 1972 where they lived until moving to Baker City in 2003 to be closer to their beloved daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Delbert Moulton.

Burl was a member of the Baker City Christian Church. He loved to play the guitar, sing, tinker around with projects and grow a wonderful garden. Benita and Burl traveled around the country and especially enjoyed visiting Hawaii twice. They also loved having their relatives visit them. They always had the welcome mat out for everyone.

While living in Sisters Burl was involved in community affairs. He was a member of the Sisters City Council and Volunteer Fire Department. He also served as the fire and police commissioner for several years.

The family expressed appreciation to Meadowbrook Place and Heart ’n Home Hospice for the loving care they provided.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; infant daughter, Norma Leigh; and four sisters.

Survivors include daughters, Linda Moulton and her husband, Delbert, of Baker City and Anita Colleen Ure and her husband, Steve, of Hooper, Utah, and Sue Mainwaring of Tacoma, Wash.; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heart ’n Home Hospice through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.

Kay Menolascina

Kay Sharon Menolascina, 68, of Baker City, died July 16, 2009, at an adult foster care home after an extended illness.

At her request, her body was cremated. Private inurnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Mrs. Menolascina was born on Nov. 17, 1940, at Oregon City to Raymond I. and Emma “Jean” Phillips. Kay graduated from Franklin High School where she sang in the choir. She also attended Business College.

For more than 10 years she and her husband, Dino, operated D & K Detector Sales, a successful metal detecting and prospecting business they started together in 1968 in Portland. In 1978 they sold the business and moved to the close-knit community of Sumpter, settling into the historic Sumpter Dredge superintendent’s home for a number of years before moving to their home in Baker City.

Kay worked for US Bank, Powder River Correctional Facility as a secretary in the drug and alcohol unit and for Safeway in customer service. Kay was affectionately known by others for her sense of humor and quick wit.

She is survived by Dino R. Menolascina, her husband of more than 50 years; their children, Rick Menolascina, Pamela Mussi, Taunja Cote and Rod Menolascina; grandsons, Benjamin, Nickolas and Matthew; granddaughter, Kelsey; brother, Terry; sister, Trudie; daughters-in-law, Sally and Christine; stepsister, Sharon; and stepbrother, Russell.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Regional Cancer Center through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Baker City, OR 97814.

Gail Guyer

Gail Elaine Hoopes Guyer, 64, of Ontario, a former Huntington resident, died July 17, 2009.

A graveside memorial honoring her life will be held at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City on Saturday, July 25 at 10 a.m.

Gail was born on Oct. 27, 1944, at Weiser, Idaho. She was the third child and only girl of Roland Leroy and Marie Rebecca (Paulson) Hoopes. They were known to all as Rollie and Sally. Gail’s dad called her mom Sally because he liked the name and thought it better suited her.

Their first child was Alan Leroy, born in July of 1938 and then, Dallas James, born in May of 1942.

Gail was born in Weiser, Idaho, because it was the nearest town with a hospital from Huntington before the freeway was built. She grew up in the government housing project in Huntington where her dad started as a switchman for the UPRR in 1942. She had a lot of fond memories of her childhood and of the family camping and fishing trips. One of her favorite places to camp and fish was the South Fork of the Burnt River and the Malheur Reservoir.

Gail had many friends from her days growing up in Huntington, through her college years and throughout her teaching career. She stayed in contact with many of them throughout her life.

Gail was deeply devoted to her parents and brothers and when her brother Alan returned from the Army, they became very close until the time of his death in 1965. His death had a great emotional impact on her and it was about that time she became close to a friend of her brother Alan’s, Ron Guyer.

Ron and Gail developed a great friendship and when he was drafted and sent to Vietnam with the 27th Infantry, she wrote him letters every week. Upon his return, she was teaching school in Rufus, but came to La Grande to complete her master’s degree, where Ron had enrolled on the GI Bill. After Ron had completed three years, he decided to go to Mexico to live with an Indian family, but in the summer of 1970, he called her from Mexico and asked her if she would meet him in Reno to get married. They were married on Aug. 4, 1970.

They returned to La Grande to finish up Ron’s last year and then they moved to Brogan for Ron’s first teaching position. Their first child, Daniel, was born in August of 1972 in Ontario and that same year Gail’s dad passed away. His passing was also a great emotional impact on her as she was very close to her dad.

Gail’s second child, Vincent, was born in December of 1973 in Ontario. The next year her mom passed away, which was also very devastating to her.

Gail’s third child, Sally, was born in Corvallis in January of 1976 during the time Ron was completing his master’s degree. Gail was very pleased to have a girl.

After Ron completed his master’s degree he took a job with the Ontario School District as the director of special education, and two years later, in May of 1978, Gail gave birth to a boy named Luke. She always said he was the prize at the bottom of the Cracker Jack box.

After staying home to raise the children, Gail went to work for the Ontario School District, teaching at the elementary and middle levels. Gail made many very close friends during her teaching career.

Gail loved to dance and at the time of her death she was dancing with Ron when about half way through the song she became ill, her heart gave out and she passed away.

Gail and Ron were both retired at the time of her passing. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Contributions in Gail’s memory may be made to the Ontario Food Bank in care of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.

George Laughlin

George Birch Laughlin, 85, of Glendive, Mont., died July 20, 2009, at the Glendive Medical Center.

His funeral will Friday, July 24, at Zion Lutheran Church in Glendive with Pastor Avis Anderson officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive.

George was born on Dec. 18, 1923, in Carrington, N.D., the son of Thomas Birch and Ethel Christina (Grotewold) Laughlin. George was raised and educated in the Carrington area. He enjoyed the times spent with his Grandfather Grotewold traveling to Minnesota in the summers. George spent one year in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Northern Minnesota in a forestry camp.

In 1941, George joined the North Dakota National Guard. In February he was inducted into active service and spent the next four years in the 164th Infantry, three of them in the Pacific Theater during World War II. George married Marilyn Aldrich on June 10, 1946, in Livingston, Mont. He worked REA construction from 1946 until 1957.

During that time George and Marilyn lived in many towns in Wyoming, Colorado and Montana, including Billings, Ekalaka, Livingston and Phillipsburg. They moved to Glendive in 1957 where George worked for the Bureau of Reclamation. He retired from Western Area Power in 1986.

George enjoyed knowing and visiting with people; he especially enjoyed the time he spent helping others. He enjoyed his motor home and traveling and camping. He was a member of the Good Sam Club, Family Motor Coach Association, Zion Lutheran Church, The American Legion Club, The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1125 and served on the Military Honor Guard in Glendive.

George is survived by his wife, Marilyn, of Glendive; one son, Leo Laughlin of Glendive; two daughters, Carla Ann Long of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Roberta Laughlin Fink and her husband, Don, of Baker City; three grandchildren, Dawn and Jennifer Long and Jeremy Laughlin; one great-grandchild, Georgia Marie McGraff; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Dorothy Engberg; a brother, Thomas Jr.; and one son, Dennis, who died in 1965.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com

Billy Ray Smith

Billy Ray Smith, 55, of Huntington died July 20, 2009, with his loved ones at his home.

His graveside funeral will be Wednesday, July 29 at 11 a.m. at the Huntington Cemetery followed by a potluck memorial at 2 p.m. at the VFW Hall.

Visitations will be Monday, July 27 and Tuesday, July 28, from noon to 8 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.

Billy Ray was born Nov. 3, 1953, at Norco, Calif. He was known for being a loving man, father, husband, brother, son and grandfather, family members said.

Survivors include his wife, Corrie; daughters: Harmonie, Ausha, Amanda, Morgan and Gabrielle; son, William; mother, Norma; siblings: Tom, Linda, Martha, Brenda, Tami and Heather; and seven beautiful grandchildren.

Contributions can be made in Billy’s memory in care of Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.

Frederick Phillips II

Frederick A. Phillips II, 88, a lifelong Baker City resident, died July 17, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

His memorial service will be Thursday, July 23 at 2 p.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Pastor Dave Deputy of Calvary Baptist Church will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception at the Baker County Community Event Center, 2600 East St., after the service.

Cremation was done by Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory. Private entombment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery mausoleum.

Frederick A. Phillips II was born on Jan. 30, 1921, at Baker City to Wayne Everett Phillips Sr. and Ara Vatel Chisum Phillips. He grew up on the cattle ranch his grandfather acquired in 1905, where he remained most of his life. Fred attended Baker High School, New Mexico Military Institute and the University of Oregon.

Fred proudly served our country in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, flying a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane running search-and-rescue missions in the Pacific. He was discharged as a captain in 1945.

While stationed in San Antonio, Texas, he met Willeva Halsell. They were married in 1946 and had three children: Frederick III, Polly, and Adam. When he returned to the home ranch, he entered into a partnership with his father, Wayne Sr. and his brother, Wayne Jr., running the Phillips Ranch.

Fred and Willeva were married for 49 years, until her death in 1995. He was later married to Lavern A. Hindman for nine years before she passed away in 2005.

Fred was very active in civic and community affairs as well as county, state and national beef industry programs. He was past president of the Baker County Farm Bureau and served on the board of directors on the Baker Chamber of Commerce. Fred was also president of Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, director of the American National Cattlemen’s Association and served on their Executive Committee, chairman of the Oregon Livestock Advisory Committee, commissioner for the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, and board member for SOLVE. He also served on the Oregon Agriculture Research Foundation, Oregon State Livestock Disease Advisory Board and the Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee.

Fred is survived by his children: Adam and his wife, Deena, of Baker City; Fred and his wife, Beth, of Baker City; Polly Johnson and her husband, Marty, of Hood River; seven grandchildren: Ryan Phillips and wife, Trista, Clay Phillips, Travis Carratt, Toby Carratt, Woody Johnson, Savanna Phillips and Riley Phillips; and his brother and sister-in-law, Wayne Jr. and Janice Phillips of Baker City.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society in care of Gray’s West & Company, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.