Lela Fordice

‘Bud’ Matthews

Thomas “Bud” Matthews, 71, of  Baker City, died March 20, 2010, at his home.

A celebration of Bud’s life and a potluck will take place Saturday, March 27 starting at 1 p.m. at the home of Jake and Carrie Jones, 2850 12th St. in Baker City.

Bud had many interests and hobbies that he developed in his 71 years of life. He loved the outdoors, his faithful dog EZ, and was ingenious when it came to crafting knives, flint knapping arrowheads and making Indian spears.

He grew up in Ft. Pierce, Fla., with his sisters, Charlotte and Sadie and brother, Henry. He and Henry spent most of their young lives fishing the Florida waters and hunting the Floridian wildlife. He always had an interest in cars and learned the body and fender craft as a young man, working in various body and fender shops.

Gail Nelson

Gail Ann Nelson, 68, of Baker City, died March 14, 2010, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center. Causes are uncertain but she had been in and out of the hospital for over a year.

No services are planned at this time.

Gail was born Sept. 13, 1941, in Portland to Elwood and Esther (Stekel) Ball. After she graduated from high school she made a career in food service and worked many places in and around Baker City. She adored her cats, her charities and her close friends, all of whom she doted on and gave to generously.

Gail married Jack Nelson in Sumpter on Sept. 21, 1990, in the small church across from the home they shared there for the next 17 years. Jack died on Oct. 27, 2007, from a long fight with cancer. Gail sold her home in Sumpter and moved to Baker City in 2008, where she remained until her death.