Minam, Oregon
George Gill, 76, of Baker City passed away at his home on June 6, 2007. Memorial Services will be held at the Eagles, 2935 H St. in Baker City on Saturday, June 16, at 1 p.m. An additional memorial will be held on the Minam at a later date.
Mr. Gill was born in Oregon City to Manuel and Mary Gill. He attended several schools in Oregon as a child, moving with his family as his father worked in the construction business.
When he was 12 years old, his father bought a ranch on the Minam in Wallowa County. He graduated from the eighth grade at Minam, then went to work for Myron Fleser logging until he joined the U.S. Navy in July 1950. He was a Boatswain’s Mate aboard the USS Kearsarge and served in the Korean War.
Mr. Gill worked for Shell Oil Company in Anchorage, Alaska, after returning from the service. In 1959, he returned to Wallowa County where he worked in the logging business for many years driving cat and felling trees. He did private trapping as a hobby and, in 1976, went to work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife in Animal Damage Control. He was paid for what he loved to do.
He worked in Jackson and Baker Counties and retired in 1991.
Mr. Gill enjoyed the outdoors and was an excellent marksman. He lived for hunting seasons – deer, elk, turkey, and goose – and sitting around the campfire. He also enjoyed fishing, the bigger the better.
Barbeques and fish fries with friends and family were some of his favorite times. With his wry grin and dry sense of humor, he will be missed by many.
Mr. Gill was a lifetime member of the VFW and also belonged to the American Legion, Eagles, Elks and Oregon Hunters.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years Dana; daughters, Donna Fuchs and husband Daryl and Lisa Gill; stepchildren, Jon Rigsbee and wife Diana and Cindy LeVeque and husband Paul; sister Donna Clevenger; brother-in-law Steve Ward and his wife Diane; six grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel and Mary Gill, and sister, Mary Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to American Cancer Society, Pathway Hospice or Oregon Hunters through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.
Wallowa County Chieftain, June 14, 2007
Contributed by Dixie Ricker
