Lawrence J. Smelcer, 97, a lifelong Pine Valley resident, died Jan. 1, 2005, at his winter home in Yuma, Ariz.
His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. Interment will be at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception afterward at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church.
Lawrence was born on Aug. 4, 1907, in the Panhandle of Baker County to Marion X. and Milda Schmidt Smelcer. He was raised in Pine Valley and attended Pine Town grade school and Halfway High School.
He married Dorothy Romine on June 1, 1931, at Vancouver, Wash. They were married for 72 years. They bought and sold many ranches in the area, settling in their home place in 1941 where he continued to make his home in the summer.
Lawrence always wanted a winter home in Yuma and spent the last 30 winters enjoying the warmer weather. He never met a stranger. He loved to socialize and to go out to dinner. He enjoyed visiting with his neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy; his brother, Leroy; sisters, Vyril Agen and Letha Hubbel; and a grandson, Ray.
Survivors include his sons and daughters-in-law, Ben and Dortha Smelcer of Halfway, and Dean and Margaret Smelcer of Emmett, Idaho; a daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Terry Anderson of Pendleton; grandchildren, Darrell, James and Sandra Smelcer, Brad and Brian Smelcer, Shari Hartwig, and Katlyn and Dane Anderson; great-grandchildren, Sara Smelcer, Trevor and Dallas Smelcer, Meghan and Jennifer Smelcer and Lenore Hartwig; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Granite Peaks Assisted Living through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home P.O. Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 7, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
