Obituaries for May 15, 2009

Cheryl Jane Fisher, 63, of Baker City, died May 12, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Care Center with her family at her side, after a short battle with cancer. 

Her memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor John Goodyear of the Baker Valley Church of Christ will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family afterward for food and fellowship at the First Lutheran Church, 1734 Third St.

Cheryl Jane Hahn was born on Jan. 9, 1946, at Delano, Calif., to Walter B. and Sarah Oh Hahn. She was a 1964 Inglewood High School graduate and went on to work as an office manager at a large insurance firm in Los Angeles. 

After years in a high-stress job, Cheryl moved to Baker City for her health and to be closer to her family. She instantly fell in love with Baker City and it became her true home. She was very active in the community and developed many meaningful friendships in all aspects of her life.

Her friends and family were everything to her. Cheryl touched many people during her life and they were all important to her, family members said. 

Cheryl’s love for art brought her to volunteer at Crossroads Art Center. She was an artist and will be remembered for painting cards to give to the visitors. In addition to painting, Cheryl had recently begun scrapbooking, a craft she enjoyed until her illness made it too difficult. 

Her love for animals, especially cats, got her involved with the Best Friends of Baker. She was an active volunteer and enjoyed helping with the feral cats. Cheryl also had pet cats of her own that she loved and adored very much. 

She was a member of PEO and the First Lutheran Church. Cheryl was new to the church, having just found Jesus in the last 10 years of her life, but she was a devout Christian.  

Survivors include her sons, Scott and Steve Gerich; mother, Sarah Hansen; sisters, Joey Okura and Patti Durgan; brother-in-law, Al Durgan; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved cats. 

She was preceded in death by her father, Walter Hahn. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Crossroads Art Center or the First Lutheran Church through Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.