Baker City, Oregon
Robert E. “Bob” Powers, 82, a longtime Baker City resident, died July 3, 2002, at his home.
Vigil services for Mr. Powers will be Sunday at 7 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 11 a.m. at the cathedral. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin will celebrate the Mass. Vault interment will be Monday afternoon at Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande.
Robert was born Sept. 25, 1919, the youngest of six siblings born to Gertrude and Laurence Powers, a second-generation American farming family. His mother’s family (Joice) had originally immigrated from County Wicklow, Ireland, settling in Wisconsin, and his father’s family had immigrated from Waterford, County Cork, Ireland, and settled in South Dakota.
As a young man, Robert worked with the Nordstrom brothers in their first store in Seattle, in the shoe department, an experience which would define his professional future and what would become his life’s work. He often spoke fondly of those early years.
Robert was know as “Bob.” He was a quiet man and a gentleman, with a wonderful sense of humor and laughter, and was known for his generosity and unfailing belief in the basic goodness of everyone and everything around him.
He married Sarah “Sally” Patten on Sept. 27, 1943, in La Grande. Together they would build a life which spanned nearly 59 years of marriage — in Seattle, Walla Walla, Wash., and in Baker City.
As the owners of Powers’ Family Shoes, Bob and Sally realized a personal and professional dream, and their store was a Baker City fixture for about 25 years. Bob loved selling shoes, which he had done for at least 50 years, and he always said if he could have had the opportunity, he would have loved to have done it for another 50 years.
Bob took great pride in his customers and in meeting any challenges or special needs that they required. He loved his customers and took great pleasure in each day at his store; he truly loved his professional environment.
Bob’s style of old-fashioned service — where the customer was a first priority entitled to courtesy, a quality product, excellent service and total satisfaction — was remembered by several generations of families and individuals in his lifetime who would express their appreciation both to him and his family throughout the years.
Upon retirement, Bob and Sally enjoyed traveling throughout Canada, the Pacific Northwest, and the California coast visiting friends and family.
Robert is survived by his wife, Sally; his daughter, Colleen and three grandchildren: Sarah, Shafiq, and Ajira, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; his last remaining sibling, Erna Lassegard of Eugene; and several nieces, nephews and extended family members throughout Oregon and South Dakota.
Memory may be made to Pathway Hospice or St. Francis de Sales Cathedral through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 5, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
