Obituaries for the week of June 26 to June 30

Ann Ward

Ann Morrow Ward, 88, of Baker City, died June 28, 2006, at St. Elizabeth Care Center.

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 2130 Second St. The Rev. Dick Thew will preside at Holy Eucharist.

Ann was born on July 18, 1917, at Pinckneyville, Ill. She was baptized in the Methodist Church there. Her father was a civil engineer so consequently they moved a lot.

Ann attended eight different schools in eight years. Finally, they settled at Lincoln, Ill., where she played in the school orchestra.

Ann attended McMurray College at Jacksonville, Ill., where she was a music major. At a very young age, Ann dreamed of playing the violin in the Chicago Symphony. However, women were not allowed and besides that her father didn't want her to play the violin because it took up too much room when they were moving. He wanted her to play the clarinet because it would break down and fit into a smaller case.

She and Gaylord Ward were married in March of 1941. Gaylord went into the service after the attack on Pearl Harbor. When he got out of the service, they moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he attended medical school. Ann said that she had many jobs at that time.

Ann and Gaylord lived at San Francisco where he did his residency. After he completed his residency they moved to Baker City where he opened his practice. Their daughter, Stacy, was born on Sept. 8, 1962, and survives Ann. Ann was extremely proud of Stacy and her accomplishments.

Ann loved animals and had many dogs over the years. She and Gaylord were avid birders and did bird counts. She also was an avid reader.

Ann was a very faithful member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. She played the organ and piano there and was active in a study group for 20-plus years. She is remembered for her beautiful soprano voice and her knowledge of the Bible.

Often, during Bible study groups with the Rev. Rustin Kimsey, he would refer to Bible verses and say, "Is that right, Ann?" She knew the answers, and she read her Bible regularly.

Ann had members of her church family with her 24 hours a day for the last three days before she died.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother. Her mother, Maybell, lived with Ann and Gaylord prior to her death.

Helen Ross

Helen Ross, 80, of Bonanza, a former Baker City resident, died June 27, 2006, at her home of complications from Parkinson's disease.

Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Davenport Chapel in Klamath Falls. Burial will be at the Silver Lake Cemetery.

Helen was born on Feb. 23, 1926, at Lodi, Calif., to William and Phebe Hobday of Galt, Calif. She graduated from Galt High School in 1944, taught school for six years, and married Gerald Ross of Elk Grove, Calif., in 1948.

While raising her family, she also drove school bus. In 1967, the family moved to Baker City. After 17 years they moved to Silver Lake before retiring in Bonanza.

Helen, a devout Christian, was a member of the Klamath Falls Missionary Baptist Church. Her faith in God was manifested through her loving heart; she was known for her humble spirit and giving nature. A lifelong artist, Helen painted the baptismal for the church several years ago.

Besides painting, Helen also enjoyed playing the piano and was an accomplished vocalist as well. She took great pride in her family and loved the ranch life, especially horseback riding.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Don; and her daughter, DeAnna.

Survivors include her husband, Gerald; a brother, Harold Hobday of Galt, Calif.; sons, Charles Ross of Baker City, Daryl Ross of Burns, and Ernie Ross of Goldendale, Wash.; daughters, Karen Ross Bossert of Bonanza and Jane Ross Fallon of Milford, N.H.; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jeremy Bates

Jeremy Wade Bates, 19, of Baker City died June 26, 2006.

There will be a Celebration of Life service in his honor at 11 a.m. Friday at the American Legion, Post 41, 2129 Second St. Pastor Robin Harris of the Cornerstone Baptist Church at North Powder will officiate.

Jeremy was born on Feb. 26, 1987, at Medford to Ronald and Patricia Boone Bates. He moved to Baker City with his family at age 5 in 1992. He attended Baker schools, graduating this spring as an honor student. He had received a scholarship in business and accounting.

He enjoyed spending time with his family in the outdoors camping and fishing. Just last week he caught his largest trout ever. He also liked to play video games.

Family and friends will remember Jeremy as having the biggest heart of any kid. He was always there to help anyone and never turned his back on a person in need.

He was his mother's biggest helper. Jeremy did kind gestures for his mom like cooking her dinner and bringing her roses. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Survivors include his mother, Patricia Bates of Baker City; his father, Ron Bates of Baker City; brothers, Justin Bates of Baker City, Steven Bates and his wife, Bobbi, of Leola, Ark., and Jarod Bates of Baker City; a half sister, Amanda Bates of King City, Mo.; one niece; two nephews; his grandmothers, Rosemary Anderson of Central Point and Catherine Patrick of La Grande; aunts, Karon Garrison and her husband, Clinton, of Central Point, Linda Cromey and her husband, Bill, of Wanatah, Ind.; Sherry Prince and her husband, Roy, of South Bend, Ind., and Betty Kloosterman and her husband, John, of Haines; his uncle, Don H. Boone of Medford; and several uncles and aunts on his father's side of the family.

Gray's West & Co. is in charge of arrangements.

Virgil Stace

Virgil Elwood Stace, 81, of Prineville, a former Baker City resident, died June 19, 2006, at Bend.

His funeral was Thursday at Prineville Funeral Home. Interment was at Juniper Haven Cemetery. The Rev. Craig Smart officiated.

Virgil was born on June 1, 1925, at Wallowa to Delbert and Cora Shoemaker Stace. When Virgil was in the third grade, the family moved to Baker City, where he attended schools. He was a 1944 Baker High School graduate.

After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Merchant Marines and was stationed at the Portland shipyards. He served in the South Pacific, Australia, Japan and in the Suez Canal.

After World War II, he returned to Baker City where he worked in a bakery in the early mornings and ran movies at the movie theater at night. He married Autumn Griffith on June 10, 1950, at Baker City.

The couple moved to Bend in 1951. Virgil worked for Meadowland Creamery and eventually went to work delivering groceries all over Central Oregon for more than 30 years. He retired from the Franz Bread Co. as a distributor in 1980. He moved to Prineville in 1962.

Virgil loved to fish for trout and salmon. He enjoyed dancing, camping, canning fruits and vegetables, hunting for pheasant and deer and bowling on leagues at Prineville.

He was a member of the Prineville Lions Club and held many positions, including president. He had been a member of the Redmond Buckaroo Breakfast since 1956. Virgil also was a member of the Prineville Elks Lodge and the Eagles Club.

Survivors include his wife, Autumn Stace of Prineville; his children, Summer Cardin of Redmond, Kimberly and Doug Johnson of Reno, Nev., Lance and Kathryn Stace of Redmond and Sand and Michelle Stace of Terrebone; a sister, Eilene Morfitt of Prineville; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; and one grandson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lions Eye Bank.

The Prineville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.