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News Obituaries Obituaries for June 19, 2009
Obituaries for June 19, 2009
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Carolyn Henry
A dinner in her honor will be held at the Eagles Lodge at a later date. Carolyn Elizabeth was born Oct. 26, 1930, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Marjorie Wooten Brannan and Reuben Brannan. Her early education was received in Texas schools. In 1943, her family moved to Talent, Oregon, where she graduated from high school in 1947 at age 16. She was immediately hired by the Jackson County School Superintendent in Medford as a stenographer. She spent the next 46 years in the business world. She worked for eight years as a medical transcriptionist. She was also employed as a stenographer for the credit department of California, Oregon Power Co., in Medford and for a savings & loan attorney in Medford. In 1949, Carolyn married Jim Henry. They lived in Southern Oregon until 1967, when they purchased a wholesale beer distributorship in Baker. Although later separated, they operated their business together for 26 years. They sold their business in 1993, sold their business property in 1996, and retired. Carolyn had a zest for life and had many interests. She loved cooking holiday meals for her family. She also enjoyed arts and crafts, and painted botanicals, which was self-taught at age 71. An avid gardener, she always had a beautiful garden, until she could no longer care for one. Travel, photography, landscaping and interior decorating were other interests. She loved music and in her younger years “would rather dance than eat.” She was a charter member of Eagles Auxiliary No. 345 and acted as secretary of the Baker Pool and Shuffleboard League for the years of 1972-1981. Her little schnauzer, Bear, was a great comfort and joy to her in her later years. She is survived by three children: Cindy Johnson of Medford, Michael Henry of Baker City, and Kevin Henry; grandchildren: Jacob Henry, Bridget Wood and her husband Richard, Brooke Marsden and her husband, Brian, Eli Johnson and his wife, Jessi, Michaela Henry and Emily Turner; great-grandchildren: Caitlin and Gwendolyn Wood, Henry, Kieron and Alexander Marsden, Dominic Arnold, Lillian Johnson, Veda Turner, and Lillee Henry; two sisters: Barbara Smead of Medford, and Glenda Mackay and her husband, Butch, of Sutherlin. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, and her beloved daughter, Teresa. Memorial contributions can be made to Pathway Hospice in care of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
His graveside services will be Saturday, June 27 at 2 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery. Tom was born Dec. 19, 1932, to Cora and Walter Givens in Bridgeport. Tom graduated from Baker High School in 1950. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army. He served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1954 as a sergeant. He was a longstanding member of the Baker Elks Lodge, and worked for Cascade Natural Gas Company for 25 years. He loved to hunt and fish the beautiful country in and around Baker County. He also loved mining. Tom had the mineral right to several claims he called the Amelia’s near Brogan. Tom is survived by his son, Gregory Howard Givens of La Grande; daughters, Karla Kay Wicks of Bellevue, Idaho, and Lisa Zoe Holland of Lincoln, Calif; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Tom was preceded in death by his sons, Tommy Dee Givens, Mitchell Earl Givens and Joseph John Givens. Memorial contributions can be made to the charity of ones choice in care of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
At her request, there will be no service. Jacqui was born on Sept. 15, 1935, in Baker City. After graduating in 1953 from Baker High School, she moved to Portland where she worked for more than 30 years. She married David Brown in 1955 and had twin daughters. They divorced and she later married Ernest “Jim” Hix on New Year’s Day 1986. After retiring, they moved to Baker City in 1997. She was a wonderful homemaker who enjoyed spenboth her flower and vegetable gardens. Her hobbies included crafts, cooking, baking, reading and spending time with family and friends. Jacqui is survived by her husband, Jim; her sister, Bonny Hall; daughters, VanNessa Anderson and her husband, Brian, Valerie Groce and her husband, Larry, Sharmon Martin and her husband, Steve, and Susan Richwine and her husband, Scott; a son, Ernest “Jim Jr.” Hix and his wife, Lynne; 11 grandchildren: Jennifer, Chris, Mike, Jonathan, Brandon, Tashina, Trevor, Caitlyn, Arthur, Ariel and Beth; great-grandchildren, Hunter and, expected in August, Colton; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Jacqui was preceded in death by her parents, Edward M. and Zelma Fern Johnson; brothers, Larry and Don; and a sister, Judy.
Her memorial and celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. June 22 at the Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Pastor Lennie Spooner will officiate. Sue was born the third of 10 children in Ariel, Wash., to Andrew J. and Bessie M. Wheatley Kramer. She was raised in the Ariel area, attended school there, and spent most of her time helping her mother with the brothers and sisters. During her marriage to Edwin K. Hackett, they adopted their son, Edwin K. Hackett Jr. That marriage ended in divorce in 1947. She then moved to Vancouver, Wash., and she and Eddy lived with two of her sisters until she accepted a job in November 1951 as nanny for Robert Earl Stiff and his two small sons in Baker. Earl and Sue were married Aug. 9, 1952, at Trees of Mystery, Calif. She then became “Mom” to Jim and Greg, along with Eddie, and also the “Other Mom” to Earl’s other five grown children. She loved having a large family to call her own and immediately became a babysitting grandmother, along with caring for the children of other friends and relatives. Sue was a wonderful homemaker and cook. She even cooked a meal/day for the Densleys’ crew during lambing season for a number of years, using her large laundry room for their dining room. After her sons were grown, she started making baby bibs and quilts for all the grandchildren, along with acquiring a few housekeeping jobs, still working for one until she was 96. Soon after her marriage to Earl, Sue became a Christian and an active member of The Church of the Nazarene. While the boys were small, she taught a Sunday School class, along with participating in other church activities. Sue was also a longtime member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary. After Earl’s death in 1985, Sue was able to pursue her love of travel. Her travels included trips with her sister Marge, and brother Elmer (Ginger) to New Zealand/ Australia, Branson, Mo., and she also drove her close friend, Ethel Reed, to Canada. It was disappointing when she decided she was not in good enough health to travel again. Survivors include her sons, Ed Hackett and his wife, Anna, Jim Stiff and his wife, Lisa, Greg Stiff and his wife, Kay; step-daughters, LaVaughn Gould, Drucilla Carpenter and her husband, Wayne, JoAnne Hardy and husband, George; step-sons, Duane Stiff and his wife, Carol, and Carl Stiff and his wife, Barbara; sister Marjorie Bryant of Vancouver, Wash.; 21 grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; 35 great-great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Stiff; grandson, Randall Carpenter; great-great-grandson, Owen Birchard; son-in-law Bob Gould; brothers, Lawrence, Elmer, John and Donald; sisters, Mary, Florence, Virginia and Laura; and nephew, David Bryant. Memorial contributions may be made to The Church of the Nazarene Missions in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Services were held June 11 at Chapel of The Flowers in Red Bluff, Calif., and interment was at Paskenta, Calif. Jaren was born Feb. 17, 1971. He grew up in North Powder, and graduated from Powder Valley High School in 1989. He’s lived in LA since he graduated, and worked as a musician and bartender. Survivors include his mother, Sandra Benoiton of Seychelles; his father, Stan Combes and his wife Tammy of North Powder; sisters, Jennifer Lasater and her husband Shannon of Raleigh, N.C., and C.J. Benoiton of Seychelles; brothers, Justin Shannon of Los Molinos, Calif., Sebastian and his fiance, April Roach of Richland, Wash., Sam Benoiton of Seychelles; nieces, Adeline Grace of Raleigh, N.C., Reghan Jane and Lia of Los Molinos, Calif.; nephew, Owen Shannon of Los Molinos; grandmother, Janet Turner of Red Bluff, Calif.; and many more aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Amos Hanks, Harold Combes and Marie Combes. He was loved by many, many friends, and he will be greatly missed, his family said. |
