Oral Buford North, 84, died on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at St. Lukes Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. Oral will be interred with his wife, Gladys Toth, in Okanogan, Wash.
Oral was born on Aug. 12, 1923, in Warsaw, Mo., to James and Mary Elizabeth (Edison) North. He was one of nine children born into this family.
Oral was raised and educated in Warsaw. As soon as Oral turned 18, he enlisted in the United States Army. He served from 1943 to January of 1946.
He met and married Ida May Wallace in Warsaw, Mo. They had two sons, Don and Wayne. During their married lives, they spent time in Missouri and eventually made their way West to the Portland areas. Oral was a jack-of-all-trades. He worked in a mill, was a backhoe operator, worked in the shipyards. He and Ida divorced while in the Portland area.
A few years later, Oral met the love of his life Gladys, in Omak, Wash. After a short courtship, they were married. They celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary just prior to her death in 2004.
Oral enjoyed throughout his life being outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, mushrooming and hunting. He and his wife Gladys shared the sport of bowling and Oral received many trophies. Oral could not be still in his retirement, so he added to his talents, working in the orchards.
In 2004, following the death of his wife Gladys, he moved in with his son Don and daughter-in-law Judy North to Richland, Ore. Again, his love of the outdoors continued to be enjoyed.
Oral is survived by four sisters; Frieda “Tink” Robinson of Tonasket, Kan., Wilda Lefford of Tonasket, Kan., Patricia “Patty” Firuccia of Tonasket, Kan., Leona “Aunt Pete” Long of Carlton, Ore.; one brother “Jr” James North of Kansas, his son Don and wife Judy North of Richland, Ore., step-daughters Delores and husband George Couture of Omak, Wash., and Linda and husband Ray Miller of Arizona, six grandchildren Anita, John, Crystal, Robert, Michael and Angel, many great grandchildren, three great-great granddaughters, numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Gladys, son Wayne, one sister and one brother.
Those who would like to make a memorial contribution in memory of Oral may do so to Pathway Hospice for the Richland/Halfway area through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, March 13, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
