Donald Rudolph Guyer

Donald Rudolph Guyer, 84, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande died October 5, 2005 at his home. The funeral will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Baker City United Methodist Church, 1919 Second Street. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded by the Marine Corps.

Mr. Guyer was born August 5, 1921 to George Henry and Delia Lydia Buxton Guyer in New Bridge. He graduated from Baker High School in 1940 and attended Oregon State College. He serbed in the Navy and Marie Corps during World War II and again during the Korean War. On November 10, 1944 he married Elva Lou Gribble in Fresno, California. They lived in Sanford, Florida for a year before returning to Baker City where he worked for the Eastern Oregon Federal Savings and Loan Association, which became Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan Association. He opened the first branch in La Grande in 1959. He became a member of the board and president of the Association when the family moved back to Baker City in 1980. He retired after 55 years.

He was a member of the Shrine Club, the Masons, the Knights Templar, the La Grande Elks, the Lions Club, the La Grande Chamber of Commerce board, the American Legion, the United Methodist Church and the VFW. In 1977 he was chosen Boss of the Year by the La Grande Legal Secretaries. He enjoyed the beauty of the Baker Valley, hunting, fishing and traveling south for the winter.

Survivors inlcude his wife of Baker City; children and their spouses, Ellen and David Youngbluth of Prineville and Marine Major Steven M. O'Connor and wife Navy Lt. Commander Alda; one grandchild; a brother-in-law, Guy McCoy and his wife, Sue, and other relatives. A brother and sister-in-law, Randell and Shirley Guyer and a sister and brother-in-law, Shurley and Doug Benton, all died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Shrine Hospital for Crippled Children or to the United Methodist Church in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, Oregon 97814.