Richard "Dick" James Sheehy Sr.

Richard (Dick) Sheehy was born on May 3, 1922, in Baker, Oregon, to Hugh and Hellen (Holbrook) Sheehy. He passed away peacefully at Meadowbrook, Baker City, on October 10, 2022. His wife, Darlene (Bunch) Sheehy, passed away in November 2016 after 68 years of marriage.

Dick grew up at Durkee on a farm on Swayze Creek, where he helped with chores, milking the cows, and herding sheep. He attended school at Plano and later at Baker High, requiring a horse ride down the highway to catch the bus to school.

He enlisted in the US Navy in 1943. He spent time on a PT Boat on the East coast and traveled through the Panama Canal to a duty station in Hawaii. Shortly after reaching Hawaii, he was selected for officer's training school and was put on a ship to Seattle, where he attended the University of Washington. After the war, he returned to Baker, where he started work for the Bell Telephone company, climbing poles and installing lines from Pendleton to the Snake River. The majority of his career was spent working for Basche-Sage on the sales floor and ultimately becoming treasurer. After Basche-Sage, Dick worked for the Baker County assessor's office until retiring in 1985.

Dick, Darlene, and the family enjoyed over 50 years of summers at "The Cabin" on East Eagle Creek in the Wallowa Mts. Fishing, hiking, cutting wood, picking huckleberries, and relaxing were the family's favorite pastimes. Dick was famous for his sourdough starter for pancakes. His starter is continuing on with Granddaughter Kali.

He had a 100th birthday party at the Baker Elks in May. Over 200 friends and family were there and shared stories and talked about old times. Dick always enjoyed spending time with his large extended family of nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and nephews. Prior to the party, he took his first helicopter ride over the Baker County lands he knew so well.

Dick is survived by daughter Jacque (Sheehy) Brandt and husband Charles. Grandchildren Wade Brandt, Ruthie Brandt, Kali Brandt, and her husband, Javier Tabima. Also survived by son Dick Sheehy Jr and wife Terri; granddaughters Meagan Sheehy and Brooke (Sheehy) Matsuda and husband Michael; and great-grandson Koa Kazuo Matsuda.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Thomas Bunch Scholarship Fund (OSU) or a charity of one's choice; this may be done through the Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place St. Baker City, OR  97814.  

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