Albert G. Oard

Albert G. Oard, 84, of Baker City died June 17 at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Center. A private family service will be held at a later date at Burns.

Mr. Oard was born Feb. 2, 1921, to James and Clara Kesterson Oard in Lawen. He attended schools at Crane and Drewsey and graduated from Crane High School in 1938. He attended Oregon State College and served in the Air Force during World War II. He graduated from Oregon State College in 1946 with a degree in forest and range management.

In Decemeber 1945 he married Erma Lee Cawlfield in Burns. They lived in various parts of Oregon where he worked for the U.S. Forest Service. During his 40-year career he served as ranger, branch chief in range, at the regional office in Portland, then as forest supervisor for the Malheur National Forest, and in 1974 moved to the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest where he was forest supervisor until his retirement in the early 1980's.

The couple moved to Colorado where he managed a ranch for five years before returning to Baker City, going to Yuma, Ariz., every winter for 12 years. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, wagon-train trips, making wagon wheels, collecting items for his What Is It? Museum in his basement, and Dutch-oven cooking. He was a great steward of the land.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the VFW, the Society of American Foresters, the Society of Range Management and the Second Air Division Association Eighth Air Force. He served as the commander of American Legion Post 41, and president of the Pacific Northwest Section Society Range Management.

Suvivors include his wife of Baker City; children, Mike Oard of Telluride, Colo.; Jim Oard of Baton Rouge, La., and Jane Case of Prineville; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and other relatives.

A brother, Richard Oard, and two sisters, Etta Temple and Eva Whiting, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to Pathway Hospice, 2192 Court St. Baker City 97814