Baker City, Oregon
G. Roger Turner, 68, of Baker City, died Nov. 19, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.
His memorial service was at 2 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church and the Rev. Rob Irwin of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral officiated. There was a reception afterward at the United Methodist Church.
Cremation was by Gray’s West Pioneer Crematory. There will be a private inurnment at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Roger was born on Oct. 14, 1934, at Wingville to George E. and Pearl “Babe” Emery Turner. He was a 1952 Baker High School graduate and a longtime Medical Springs cattle rancher.
He married Arleta J. Wirth on June 13, 1953. He and Arleta raised quality Hereford cattle in Baker and Union counties, grazing on deeded acres, forest service land (in the Wallowas) and Bureau of Land Management lands. His cattle consistently “topped the market” at the Baker Livestock Auction. Early on, his cattle were sold and shipped at the railhead out of Baker City, destined for Washington and Idaho.
Roger retired from ranching in 1972 and moved to Baker City. He then worked at the Baker Livestock Auction and Ford’s Welding. In 1976, he moved to Nyssa where he worked as a state brand inspector.
While living at Nyssa, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He had lived at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center since 1986.
He was a member of the Baker County and Oregon Cattlemen’s associations, Baker Elks Lodge, No. 338, a director of the Keating Soil and Water Conservation District and a charter member of the state Forestry Board. He was nominated by the chamber of commerce for “Farmer of the Year.”
He also was a longtime 4-H club leader at Keating and a volunteer at the Junior Livestock Show and Kiwanis Auction and a member of the Sumpter Valley Railroad. He was honored as “Patient of the Month” this year at the health care center. Roger loved to vacation with family and friends in the Minam.
Survivors include his children, Lanna Jo Dawson and her husband, Gary of Elgin, Kellie D. Harrold and her husband, Rock, of Albany and Bret W. Turner and his wife, Shelia of Ontario; seven grandchildren, Zeb Johnson of Portland, Tara and J.V. Dawson of Elgin, Zachary and Kassidy Harrold of Albany and Amelia and Hailee Turner of Ontario; his father and stepmother, George E. and Effie Turner, and his uncle, George McLeish, all of Baker City.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, St. Elizabeth Health Care Center, the Baker Senior Center or a charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West & Co.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, November 22, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
