Virgel Ray Scrivner, 78, of Ontario, a former longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 10, 2008, at his home after a long illness.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Visitations will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Gray’s West & Co.
Virgel was born on Dec. 30, 1929, at Austin to Vollie and Maude Scrivner. He was the youngest of four children.
Virgel attended Baker schools and was a 1948 Baker High School graduate. He married Betty Wolfe in 1949 and together they had three children; later they divorced. His work history included longtime employment with Cosgriff Advertising and the circulation department at the Democrat-Herald (now the Baker City Herald).
Virgel had a passion for sports and the outdoors. He loved to camp and fish and loved the hunting trips with his brothers, son, and nephews each fall at Clarks Creek. One source of enjoyment for Virgel was the long motorcycle rides he used to take with his brother, Ernie, on their Honda Goldwings.
Until he was overcome by poor health, Virgel enjoyed playing golf, tennis, basketball, and softball. When not playing, he was involved in coaching and officiating. For many years, Virgel coached his son’s Little League, Babe Ruth, and American Legion baseball teams.
A longtime member of the Northeast Oregon Officials Association, he officiated football, basketball, and baseball. During those years he worked a state championship game in football and officiated the state basketball tournament at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
Survivors include his three children, Ina Syphers and her husband, Gary, of Ontario, Galen Scrivner and his wife, Caren, of Yuba City, Calif., and Kyra Jones of Eugene; grandchildren, Emily McClure and her husband, Brian, of Reno, Nev., and Carrie Syphers of Boise, Julie Hodson and her husband, Ty, and Amber Mayberry and her husband, Eric, all of Eugene, Corinna Scrivner, Cliff Scrivner, Caleb Scrivner, and Elizabeth Scrivner, all of Yuba City, Jeff Query of Lacey, Wash., and Ryan Query and his wife, Janell, of Eugene; 12 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ernie and Donna Scrivner and Everett and LaVelle Scrivner, all of Baker City; sister, Helen Knight of Portland; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his loving stepson, Jeff Miller and his wife, Rachael, of Troutdale and their children, Jacen and Greta Jane.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heart ‘n Home Hospice through Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 14, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
