Obituaries for Nov. 27, 2009

Bonnie Spence

Bonnie Mae Allen Spence, 67, died Nov. 22, 2009, at her home with family and friends at her side.

Visitations will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave.

Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Harvest Church, 3720 Birch St. Pastor Monte Lloyd and Pastor Garth Johnson will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception afterward at Harvest Church.

Bonnie was born on March 8, 1942, to Virgil and Lillian Allen at Miller, S.D. She moved with her family at the age of 9 months to the Willamette Valley. Bonnie had many fun and memorable experiences growing up with her eight brothers and sisters at Canby, where she attended school.

She married Thomas Payton in 1958 at Vancouver, Wash. They had two sons, Terry and Steven, and two daughters, Sandy and Bobi. Their marriage ended in divorce.

Bonnie met the love of her life, Dean Franklin Spence, whom she married on Sept. 4, 1987, at Baker City. For many years she worked endless hours at Dean’s side as office manager of Spence Industrial Supply and Rental. She retired in May 2007.

Bonnie loved to travel with Dean and loved the warm sun. One of their most memorable recent trips was to Israel, walking where Jesus had. Bonnie had a deep personal relationship with Jesus, her family members said.

“Her heart was filled with love for Jesus, her church and people,” they said. “She was a kind and generous person. If there was a need she reached out to help.”

Bonnie loved the Wednesday morning Agape Bible study group and was a member of Harvest Church.

Family and friends made this tribute to her:

“We are blessed to have been part of her life as wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friends. We will miss her love, laughter, support and guidance.”

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Nathan Allen; sister, Mildred Perkett; niece, Donna Perkett; and stepdaughter, Wanda Spence.

Survivors include her husband, Dean Spence; sons, Terry Payton of Bend and Steve Payton of Oregon City; daughters, Sandy Payton of Gage, Okla., and Bobi Barnett and her husband, Bill, of Baker City; brothers Howard Allen and his wife, Nancy, of Beaverton, Jerry Allen of Canby and Roger Allen and his wife, Phyllis, of Canby; sisters, Doris Dahlgren of California, Carol Roberts and her husband, Marv, of Ontario, Lila Gottman and her husband, Curtis, of Canby; stepdaughters, Diana Rowley and her husband, Lowell, and Janna Bishop and her husband, James; stepsons, Greg Sharp and his wife, Susie, Daron Spence and his wife, Teri, and Kevin Spence; 20 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Rachel Pregnancy Center through Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.

Samuel Edwards

Samuel Isaac Edwards Sr., 64, of Baker City, died Nov. 22, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

There will be a celebration of his life at 1 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion Club, No. 41, 2129 Second St. There will be a reception at the club afterward.

Sam was born on May 17, 1945, at Newmansville, Ill., to Charles A. and Mary C. Schefirkort Edwards.

After graduating from high school, Sam joined the U.S. Army. He served one tour of duty overseas in Germany, and ranked as a private first class.

He worked as a laborer most of his working life and was in the Laborers Union for 20 years. He became disabled 10 years ago and was no longer able to work.

He married Renee Brock at Weiser, Idaho, 37 years ago. Sam enjoyed reading westerns and playing shuffleboard for the Legion’s shuffle board team, “The Junkyard Dogs.”

He was a past commander of Post 41 of the American Legion in Baker City. Sam was well-liked and respected by all who knew him, his family said.

Survivors include “Roomie No. 1,” Renee Edwards, and “Roomie No. 2,” Carol Evans, both of Baker City; his sons, Samuel Edwards Jr., and his wife, Niki, of Weiser, Idaho, and Donald Edwards and his wife, Laura, of Old Town, Idaho; his step-sons, Howard Coyle, and his wife, Debra, of Old Town, Idaho, and James Beebe and his wife, Brenda, of Nampa, Idaho; his sister, Patricia Ching of Maui, Hawaii; 15 grandchildren, one great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Charles Edwards Sr.; and one brother, Charles Edwards Jr.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Van of Baker City through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.

Joel Cummings

Joel Landon Cummings, 24, of Baker City, died Nov. 22, 2009, at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Wash., from complications with cystic fibrosis.

Joel was listed at the top of a waiting list for a double-lung transplant at the time of his death. His family and friends were with him when he died.

There will be no service at this time. A celebration of his life will be scheduled later.

Joel was born in Baker City on April 25, 1985. He was diagnosed with a genetic disease — cystic fibrosis — at 3 days of age and began a journey of pain, discomfort, worry, and most of all joy in life itself, his family members said.

CF affected him in all aspects of his life, but he was able to maintain a positive outlook throughout his life. He enjoyed playing sports of all kinds, but tennis was his favorite.

Joel constantly set goals for himself and always worked hard until he achieved them. When Joel was a freshman in high school he job-shadowed his uncle at the fire station. From that time on, Joel made up his mind he would become a paramedic and that he did.

He earned an associate degree in emergency medical services as a paramedic. His first job was in Safford, Ariz., working for Southwest Ambulance Services. Joel was at the height of glory when he was in the back of the ambulance trying to save someone’s life, his family said.

He met Saundra Butcher in Baker City. They were married on July 27, 2008, at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. Saundra was truly the love of his life.

The couple enjoyed just spending time together and playing with their two huskies, Kie and Kong, and Joel’s most favorite “weenie dog,” Splinter.

Family was extremely important to Joel and he had a unique relationship with each family member.

His mother, Phyllis, said the Bible verse found in James 1:19 personified her son: “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath ...” Joel looked for the good qualities in each person he knew, she said.

“Joel was anxious for the possibility of lengthening his life by having a double-lung transplant. He also knew that whatever the Lord’s will was he was ready. He is now in heaven with his own brand-new set of lungs,” she said.

Survivors include his wife, Saundra; his mother, Phyllis; a brother, Jason of Seattle; a sister, Kayla, and her husband, Richard Chung, of Eugene; uncles and aunts, David and Karen Yeakley and Jim and Lindy Thomas of Baker City.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker City Fire Department or the Baker High School Athletic Department.