Alice, a lifelong Methodist, and long time resident of Baker City, passed away peacefully with her husband of 62 years and family nearby. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Coles Tribute Center, interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Following the services, a reception will be held at the United Methodist Church. Alice was warm and kind. She was generous, welcoming, clever, devoted to her family, lively, hard working, dependable, and a friend to many.
Alice was born to Sam and Oradelia (Chmidling) Morris at the family farm house in the Missouri Flat area. The Morris family came from Missouri to settle in Baker County over 125 years ago, originally intending to raise thoroughbred race horses. But, apparently cattle fed their large families better.
She had many fond memories of family reunions and huge cousin gatherings at the various family farm orchards; and she enjoyed organizing gatherings later. Alice and her dear cousin Nellie (Perkins) Edwards would ride a horse bareback with a hint of mischief. She rode a horse to school with her brother until a bus was available.
But, after she got frostbite waiting at the bus stop she wintered in town with cousins so she could walk to school. Her biggest adjustment to town living was the shock of drinking cold milk; she was used to it being still warm from the cow. Four of her brothers served in World War II in the Pacific region (including the Philippines, New Guinea, and Luzon), and in the European Theater including Africa (Cassablanca, Africa, Sicily, France, Germany, and Austria).
As a young teen she collected metal and items for the war effort with her friends. Alice attended Baker High School, and graduated in the class of 1948. Yearbook notes remark how peppy, spirited, vivacious, and beloved she was.
She delighted in helping plan, decorate, and organize the many class reunions. After graduation, she attended Willamette University, then returned to work at the Baker City Bank (and many iterations of banks since then), the library, and the movie theater. She met her future husband, Leonard “Bake” Bacon, at the movie theater.
They both enjoyed adventures in the mountains and at the snake river area. They were married in 1955 at the Baker United Methodist Church. After a decade of enjoying their neices and nephews, they adopted their son Charles Leonard from the Kalamath Falls area.
On the same trip, they also picked up a retired race boat named ‘Blue Velvet. ’ Thus began the adventure of parenting and water skiing hijinx. A few years later, they had a premie daughter, Mary Alice.
Soon their house became a regular hang-out place for her children’s friends. They enjoyed Alice’s snacks, clever banter, and her piano (originally used for Alice & Bake’s parties and sing alongs). Alice used her bookkeeping skills as the Secretary for the Burnt River Irrigation District; handling her husband’s electrical contracting business, Bacon Electric; and the finances for numerous organizations and boards where she volunteered.
She also managed the finances and medical care for two of her local brothers and her parents. Raised as a farm girl, Alice was always determined and strong. She fought and beat cancer three times, and dualed with an infection of MSSA from hip surgery.
She never hesitated to speak her mind if something didn’t seem right. Alice was always busy thoughtful, and involved. She volunteered for her Beta Sigma Phi sorority for 60+ years, helped at the VFWand was in the VFW Auxilliary, counted ballots and helped with voting booths, bowled in the Coffee Cup League, was a Lady Elk, organizing and helping with school events, gardened, read voraciously, researched for her investment club, enjoyed baking (especially known for her ‘creative use of zuchini’ recipes and potent rum cake), and showed her creativity with needlepoint and other crafts.
She enjoyed fishing, water skiing (Leonard encouraged her to climb up top when making waterskiing pyramids), boating along the Snake River, driving in the countryside, playing cards (bridge and pinochle), and enjoying her property on the Snake River. She was also interested in family and local history; making a trip to Kansas and Missouri to visit important family locations. She would check on her parents, in-laws, brothers, friends, and neighbors – often bringing items from her garden or baked goods.
She would readily welcome many into their home and cabin, and ‘put another potato on’ when additional guests arrived. Survivors include her husband, Bake, of 62+ years; sister-in-law Laura Morris; sister-in-law Gladys McKelvy; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Adele and Olen Ragsdale; daughter Mary “Sam” McTavish, son-in-law Alec McTavish; and two grandchildren, Lindsay and Hayden McTavish. She leaves behind dearly loved neices, adored nephews, and their families – Don Morris, Ann Morris, Deanna (Ragsdale) Lawlor, Mike Ragsdale, Kathy House, Gloria Beutler, Blake Bivins, Terry Howe; and many friends of her children whom have called her ‘mom’ – especially Shelly Shively.
Alice was preceded in death by her parents Sam Morris and Oradelia (Chmidling) Morris; six brothers and two sisters – Alfred, Julius (Jude), Bill, Vernon, Don, Martha, and twins Paul and Pauline; her son Charles Bacon; neice Susan Morris; and too many of her children’s lifelong friends who kept in touch – especially Lynne Gorte. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to local food banks of your choice (Alice never wanted anyone to go hungry), or the Baker City United Methodist Church Memorial Fund. There’s still time to send flowers to the Memorial Service at the Coles Tribute Center at 11:00 AM on July 7, 2018.
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