Baker City, Oregon
Phillip J. “Phill” Boyer, 85, of Baker City, died Feb. 27, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
His funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. His graveside service will be Friday at 2 p.m. at the Canyon City Cemetery in Canyon City. The Rev. Susan Smith-Allen of St. Peters Episcopal Church in La Grande will officiate.
Mr. Boyer was born Nov. 5, 1915, at Heppner to Guy and Clara May Boyer. He received his education in the Heppner area. He married Theda Rhea in Vancouver, Wash., on April 20, 1941.
Mr. Boyer enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force while attending college. He was stationed in California where he trained cadets for a time and then spent the remainder of the war ferrying aircraft around the country. He was also stationed in Alaska.
After Mr. Boyer’s discharge the couple lived in Salem, where he continued flying and worked as a flight instructor. The Boyers moved to John Day after his father took ill. He worked in a furniture store for a time and then managed the John Day Airport, where he continued flying and instructing. He purchased an airplane and began his charter business.
During this time, Sig Ellingson would charter Mr. Boyer to fly him around to the various places that he needed to be. When the Ellingsons purchased the mill in Baker City, Sig asked Mr. Boyer to move to Baker City and be the Ellingson Lumber Co.’s corporate pilot.
The Boyers moved to Baker City in 1967. He continued to fly for the company until the mid 1980s, when he retired after 44 years of flying.
Mr. Boyer enjoyed being home during his retirement but traveled to Portland, California and Arizona. He had a love for flying, which was his hobby, and also played golf for a while.
Mr. Boyer is survived by his wife, Theda Boyer of Baker City; his brother, Don Boyer of John Day; his sister, Jane Blondell of Tigard; nephews and nieces, Martha Boyer Murphy, Doug, Don and Paul Moody, Marla Moody Anderson, Mike, Greg and Mark Jeffries; and several cousins.
Mr. Boyer was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oregon Lung Association through the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Ore., 97814.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, March 2, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
