Shirley Spence, 80, a Rock Creek-area resident, died Jan. 10, 2005, at her home.
Her memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Haines Methodist Church. Shirley’s nephew, J.O. Maxwell, will officiate.
Mrs. Spence was born on June 26, 1924, at North Powder. Except for several years during her nurse’s training in Portland, and two years in La Grande, she spent the remainder of her life in North Powder and the Rock Creek area near Haines.
She was raised and attended elementary school and high school at North Powder, later graduating as a registered nurse from St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing. She worked at both La Grande and Baker City hospitals, most often assisting in operations.
In 1948, she met and married Fred Virgil Spence Jr. After a short time in La Grande, the family moved to a farm near Haines. After additional farm purchases, Mr. and Mrs. Spence moved together with their children to the Rock Creek area where they continued farming throughout their lives.
For a time they ran a dairy, along with raising cattle, horses and other general farm crops. Mrs. Spence enjoyed a variety of handcrafts and was known as an excellent cook. She especially loved the Lord and her family.
Survivors include her sister, Fern Galligan of North Powder; her brother, Kenneth H. Myers of McMinnville; her children, Kemet D. Spence of Genesee, Idaho, Mary Jo Spence of Clarksville, Tenn., and Susan Sells of Forest Grove; eight grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 14, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
