Charlyne E. Rutter, 89, of Baker City, died Oct. 19, 2007, at Ashley Manor, in Baker City.
Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the First Christian Church in John Day. Pastor Duane Cheadle will officiate.
She was born on Oct. 20, 1917, at Mount Vernon to J.E and Jessie “Stormer” McKern. She attended school at Mount Vernon, graduating from high school on May 1, 1935.
Charlyne married Dale Yokom in 1935. The couple had one daughter, Marilyn Colleen. Dale died in 1938 in a tragic accident.
On April 4, 1941, Charlyne married Percy James “Jim” Rutter. Six weeks later Jim was called back into active service in the U.S Navy. During the war Charlyne and Marilyn accompanied Jim from Vallejo, Calif., to Staten Island, N.Y., via several other naval bases until he was shipped out to the Pacific Theatre. Charlyne then drove herself and Marilyn back to Oregon.
After the war, Jim and Charlyne made their home at John Day. In 1953 they owned John Day Cleaners and Laundry. With Dana and Frances Saunders they opened Rutters Stationery Store in John Day and operated it until Jim’s health required them to sell the store to Idaho Typewriter Exchange.
During these years Charlyne was a worthy matron of Eastern Star, mother adviser of Rainbow Girls and active in church. Jim died in 1962.
Charlyne attended business college in Portland. After graduating she went to work for Audrey Badley and then became the secretary at Grant Union High School in John Day for many years. In 1978 she moved to Newport and bought on ocean-view home at Pacific Beach Mobile Park.
Charlyne was a deaconess in her church. She was volunteer of the year for Lincoln County for work at Mark Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport Aquarium and Newport Chamber of Commerce.
On May 3, 1998, she married Eldon Whitesitt of Newport. They made several trips to South Dakota, Hawaii, Montana, Crater Lake and to Minnesota for her great-great-grandson’s first birthday.
Charlyne enjoyed walking, beach combing, traveling abroad, church, volunteer work and shopping. She enjoyed her grandchildren and her dogs, GiGi and Zack.
Survivors include her husband, Eldon Whitesitt of Newport; a daughter, Marilyn, and her husband, Pastor Duane Cheadle, of Prairie City; a brother, Merrill McKern of Eugene; a sister, Wilma McKern Bauer of Mount Vernon; one sister-in-law, Marilyn McKern of John Day; two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jay and Jessie McKern of Mount Vernon; two husbands, Dale Yokom and Jim Rutter; and her brother, Melrin “Shorty” McKern of Mount Vernon.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice of Baker City, through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, October 30, 2007
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
