Obituaries for Nov. 25, 2009

Claudia Gilkison

Claudia Gaye Toney Gilkison, 75, of Haines, died Nov. 22, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.

At her request, her body was cremated. A graveside memorial service will be scheduled in the spring of 2010.

Claudia was born on Dec. 10, 1933, at Haines to Claude and Hazel Williams Toney.  She attended school at Haines and North Powder and was a 1952 Baker High School graduate.

Claudia worked at the Haines Telephone Co. She married Robert T. Gilkison on April 10, 1955, at Baker City. The couple lived in San Francisco from 1955 to 1971 before returning to Haines.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include her husband, Robert Gilkison; brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry and Colleen Toney and Rodney and Marjorie Toney; several nieces and nephews; an aunt, Ella Williams; and several cousins.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR  97814.

Duane Ragsdale

He had been a resident of New York City for 58 years and spent summers at Mattapoisett, Maine, for the past 47 years.

A memorial service will be scheduled later.

Known as “Rags” he was born at Baker City and attended Baker schools. During World War II, he attended the University of Colorado at  Boulder in the Naval V12 program. Upon graduation, he served on the William B. Langfitt troop transport in the Pacific.

After the service, he attended Harvard Business School on an academic scholarship, graduating in 1951.

His first venture into advertising was in the advertising department of Paramount Pictures in 1951. He researched the impact — if any — the newly developed television might have on the movie industry.

He went on to compton Advertising, now Satchi & Satchi, where he helped launch Gleem toothpaste “for people who can’t brush after every meal.” His next position was at William Esty. Once at Ted Bates Worldwide, Rags was instrumental in bringing William Esty into the Ted Bates Worldwide Organization.  He was vice chairman of Ted Bates Worldwide Inc. when it was the second largest advertising agency in the world.

He was a past member of the New York Athletic Club, the Harvard Club of New York and he American Advertising Federation.

“He was appreciated for giving full credit to those who worked with him for their contributions to advertising campaigns,” family members said. “He also was known for a wonderful sense of humor. His co-workers refer to the period of time that they worked with him as their Camelot.

“Rags will be deeply missed by all who knew him,” they said.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Mimi; daughter, Martha; niece, Dana; and nephews, Richard and Norman.

 He was preceded in death by his brothers, Lee, Norman and Orville.

The family suggests memorial contributions to a charity of one’s choice.