Obituaries for the week of September 26 to September 30, 2005

JoAnn Hays-Radinovich

JoAnn Marie Hays-Radinovich, 70, of Baker City and John Day, died Sept. 28, 2005.

Recitation of the Rosary will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets in Baker City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at noon at St. Francis de Sales. Vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be Sunday from 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Cathedral.

JoAnn was born Aug. 19, 1935, at Enterprise to Mary Isabelle and Vernon Edward Hays. JoAnn was the oldest of five children. She had four brothers: Michael, John, Dan and David Hays. JoAnn graduated from high school in Enterprise in 1953. After high school she attended one year of college at the University of Oregon, and in 1957 she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in education from Eastern Oregon University in La Grande.

JoAnn then took a teaching job in Canyon City. She married Andrew Louis Radinovich on June 28, 1958, at Enterprise. JoAnn quit teaching in 1960, when her first child was born. Until 2002 JoAnn continued to substitute teach for Grant Administrative School District No. 3. JoAnn and Andrew had five children: Jeanette Marie, Jane Ann, Andrew Michael, Jonna Jo, and Joseph Vernon. JoAnn loved to travel and recently celebrated her 70th birthday in Las Vegas. She was active in the Catholic Church and planned on moving to Baker City this fall. JoAnn loved her family and friends. She recently rekindled several high school friendships while enjoying her summer home at Wallowa Lake.

JoAnn lost her mother and best friend, Mary Isabelle Hays, in January 2003. She was also preceded in death by her father, Vernon Edward Hays, in June 1973 and an infant sister.

Survivors include Andrew Louis Radinovich; their five children and spouses: Jeanette and Tim Hueckman, Jane and Kim Mahaffey, Andrew Radinovich, Cindy Smith, Jonna and Justin Bishop and Joseph and Tonna Radinovich. JoAnn is also survived by her grandchildren: Johnathan, Vernon and Bryce Brose; Payton and Leonard Radinovich and Samantha and Jedediah Smith; Jolynn, Jaylynn and Tia Bishop; and Billy Radinovich; her four brothers Michael, John, Dan and David Hays; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions in JoAnn's memory may be made to help defray medical expenses for either the Barajas Fund or for the Coach Ray Uriarte Fund, through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814. Donations will be used for medical expenses.

La Velle Calder

Marion La Velle Calder, 82, of Baker City, died Sept. 28, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home after a long illness.

Her funeral will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Gray's West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave.

She was the wife of Clinton James Calder.

"We loved her dearly and she will be greatly missed," her family said.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clinton; and two sons, Baby John and Curtis Clinton Calder.

Survivors include four children, Deanna Tronson of Florida, Douglas D. Calder of Baker City, Janice Ring of Gresham and Craig Calder of Baker City; seven grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Evelyn Miller

Evelyn Carol Miller, 70, a former resident of Baker City, died Sept. 25, 2005, at her home in Prineville.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Gray's West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Sister Kay Marie Duncan of Pathway Hospice will officiate.

Friends are invited to join the family following the services for a reception at the VFW hall, 2005 Valley Ave.

Visitations will be held at Gray's West & Co. on Monday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Evelyn was born on Feb. 7, 1935, in Baker City to Harry and Georgia Culver Howland. She married Delbert Miller Feb. 17, 1953 in Weiser, Idaho.

She was a homemaker. She enjoyed cooking, hunting, fishing, crafts, dancing, her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Delbert Jack Miller of Prineville; four children, Michael Robert Miller and his wife Jeanette of Beaverton, Diann Stephoney Jennings and her husband Russell of Redmond, Therasa Carol Jones and her husband Pat of Prineville and Delbert Anthony Miller and his wife Christina of Willsonville; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandson; three brother-in-laws; one sister-in-law and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father.

Memorial contributions can be made to the American Diabetes Research Foundation, in care of Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Alma Bacon

Alma Theresa Bacon, 92, a longtime Baker City resident, died Sept. 19, 2005, at a foster care home in Baker City.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Jack Bynum of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Visitations will be until 7 o'clock tonight at the funeral home.

Alma was born on Oct. 28, 1912, at Folsom, Calif., to Victor Leonard and Mamie Ellen Dickinson Turner. She was raised and educated at Folsom.

She married John Bacon on Aug. 24, 1929, at Placerville, Calif. They moved to Oregon, living at Sumpter and Hermiston before settling in Baker City. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the United Methodist Church in 1979. John died on Jan. 13, 1985.

Alma was an active member of the United Methodist Church, and while in Sumpter taught Sunday school. She was a homemaker for her family, and later clerked at the Eastside Grocery.

She also baby-sat her grandchildren. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, playing cards and she loved to go to the Snake River with family, friends and grandchildren. She had the sweetest smile.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Leonard and Alice Bacon and daughter and son-in-law, Adele and Olen Ragsdale, all of Baker City, and daughter, Gladys McKelvy of Payette, Idaho; sister-in-law, Helyn Turner of Sacramento, Calif.; grandchildren, Mary McTavish, Michael Olen Ragsdale, Deanna Adele Ragsdale Lawlor, Teresa Howe, Kathleen House, Gloria Beutler and Blake Bivins; great-grandchildren, Hayden McTavish, Lindsay McTavish, Samantha Marie Ragsdale, Eric Michael Ragsdale, Erin Mellisa Lawlor, Scott Patrick Lawlor, Jami Adele Lawlor, Kindra Grace Lawlor, Tricia Taylor, Trina Bilich, Angelina Maltese, Gary Moore, Douglas Moore, Justy Moore, Andy Beutler, Jessica Campbell, Calley Shartzer, John Baker, Oryn House and Sammy George; great-great grandchildren, Gaige Bilich, Lexi Bilich, Jessica Farrah, Joshua Ison, Justin Saling, Grace Moore, Jasmine Martin, Chandler Martin, Kaleb Shartzer, Kory Shartzer, Hannah Beutler, Cameron Beutler, and Garrett Beutler; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; four siblings; and a grandson, Charles Leonard Bacon.

Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

Elmer Moulton

Elmer La Grande Moulton, 92, of Baker City, died Sept. 24, 2005, at his home.

At his request, there will be no funeral.

Elmer was born on Oct. 22, 1912, at La Grande, the first child of Harry and Cora Moulton. Elmer grew up at Walla, Walla, Wash. He received his early education at Walla Walla and then went on to Business School at Boise.

Elmer married Georgia Mildred Rose in 1939 and they had two daughters: Rosemarie and Darla Jean. They later divorced.

Elmer worked for Pacific Fruit and Produce and Baker-La Grande Grocery as a traveling salesman and delivery man for many years.

In 1950, he married Phyllis Winters of La Grande. They had one son, Philip. Elmer operated a Union Gas Station on 10th Street for several years and then moved to the Richfield Station on the corner of Main and Campbell streets (the current location of Papa Murphy's).

After his retirement in about 1980, he worked at Basche-Sage and the Baker County Library. He then traveled around visiting family and friends for about 10 years. He had been in failing health these last six years.

Elmer was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Phyllis, who died in 2004; two brothers; and two sisters.

Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Ron and Rosemarie Bissonnett of Baker City; daughter, Jean Peterson of Kennewick, Wash.; son, Philip Moulton of Baker City; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.

‘Dale' Vernholm

Willard Dale Vernholm, 73, of Baker City, died Sept. 25, 2005, at Idlewood Manor.

At his request there will be no services. Cremation by Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory.

Dale was born on Feb. 11, 1932, in York, Neb., to Carl Willard and Lois Louetta Middleton Vernholm. When Dale was about 4 years old the family moved to Corvallis. He attended school at Lewisburg and Corvallis High School. In 1947, at 15, Dale's family moved to New Plymouth, Idaho. When Dale was only 16, but needing to be 18, he lied about his age and went to work for the Payette National Forest manning a lookout tower.

Shortly after staring his new job for the Forest Service, a friend of Dale and a friend of Josephine Detmer set the two up on a blind date. On July 2, 1951, only eight months later, the couple married. They lived in Payette, and Dale worked for the Payette County Road Department as a heavy equipment operator. While in Payette, Dale and Jo's oldest two sons, Steven and Gary, were born.

The family moved to Baker in 1956, and Dale went to work for the Baker County Road Department. He also worked for the Steward & Morrissey Ranch and Simonson's Construction operating the rock crusher. Their youngest son, Michael, was born in Baker City.

Dale went back to work for the Forest Service with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. He put in for a transfer and the family moved to Enterprise in 1974. In 1976, He was appointed to the Umatilla National Forest and relocated to Pendleton. Dale took a position as crew leader with the Umatilla National Forest in 1977 and moved to Elgin, where they lived for 15 years. In 1991, Dale retired and moved to Richland. After five years, Dale's health began to fail and he and Jo moved back to Baker City.

Dale enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, leather crafts and gardening and yard work. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jo, of Baker City; sons, Steven and his wife, Kathy, of Emmett, Idaho, Gary and his wife, Peggy, of Baker City and Michael of Pendleton; granddaughters, Jody Clark of Michigan and Stacey Ward of Baker City; grandsons, Sam Ragsdale of Enterprise, Roger and Dale Vernholm of Lions; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Linda Robbins of Baker City and brother, Ron Vernholm of Dillon, Mont.

His infant daughter, Jody, preceded him in death along with his parents Carl and Lois Vernholm.

Memorial contributions can be made to Pathway Hospice, the First Lutheran Church or Community Connection (the Senior Center) in care of Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Joseph Bernard

Joseph Henry "Joe" Bernard, 87, a longtime resident of Baker City, died Sept. 5, 2005 at St. Elizabeth Care Center.

An open house and celebration of life will be held at the Baker Elks Lodge on Friday, Oct. 14, at 1 p.m.

Joe Bernard was born May 27, 1918, in Richland to August (Gus) Adolph Bernard and Mary Edna Buckley. He lived on his father's homestead on Deer Gulch on Lookout Mountain near Richland until he was 5 years old. He attended school until the sixth grade in Tooele, Utah, before moving to Baker in 1932.

Joe joined the Civilian Conservation Corps program in Baker in 1935, working on the Anthony Lake and Rock Creek roads. He married Marjorie (Marge) Child on Jan. 15, 1938.

Joe and Marge moved throughout the western United States as they followed construction and mining work during the war years. They had lived in Baker since 1945. He worked as an auto mechanic in Baker until his retirement in 1980. Joe and Marge also built five houses in Baker.

Joe and Marge loved the outdoors and camped, hunted and fished in the mountains and streams of Eastern Oregon. Joe built his own snowcat from automobile parts in 1962. He bought his first snowmobile in 1966 and Joe and Marge became avid snowmobile riders. They built a cabin in Greenhorn and spent nearly half of their time living there during their retirement years. Joe claimed to have ridden a snowmobile over 60,000 miles and rode into Greenhorn last winter at age 86.

Joe was a charter member of the Baker Snowmobile Club, a lifetime member of the Sumpter Valley Snowmobile Club and a life member of the Baker Elks Lodge.

Joe is survived by his daughter Nadine Collett of Tigard, and her husband, Frank; son Les and his wife, Kathie, of Las Vegas, Nev.; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren

He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Marge, parents Gus and Mary, brother Jack, half brothers Veith and Neil, half sister Dorothy and two grandchildren.

Contributions can be made to the Baker Elks through Gray's West & Co.,P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Allene Hunt

Allene J. Culbertson Hunt, 81, a former Baker City resident, died Sept. 11, 2005, at Walla Walla,Wash.

Burial was Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Her memorial service was Sept. 24 at the First Christian Church in Pendleton. Pastor Marc Mullins officiated.

Allene was born March 15, 1924, at Baker City to Percy and Lelia Culbertson.

She was a 1942 Baker High School graduate. As a pianist, she participated in several dance orchestras during her years in Baker City.

During World War II, Allene joined the Cadet Nurses Corps. She took her training in Tacoma,Wash.

She married Darold Hunt on Jan. 12, 1946. They had three sons, Dennis, Duane and Rod. The Hunts moved to Pendleton in 1969.

Mrs. Hunt retired as a bookkeeper for Umatilla County.

She was a member of the First Christian Church and was active in church affairs.

She was a member of Elks Lodge and a volunteer for the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame.

Survivors include sons, Dennis Hunt, and his wife, Colleen, of Pendleton, and Rodney and his wife, Susie, of San Diego; a brother, Ron Culbertson of Myrtle Creek; sister, Frances Simmons of Astoria; and six grandchildren; Kelly, Lindsey, Casey, Megan, Cory and Tyler Hunt.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pendleton Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 609, Pendleton, OR 97801, or the American Cancer Society through Burns Mortuary, 336 S.W. Dorion St., Pendleton, OR. 97801.