Freida Buxton

Freida Rae Buxton, 76, of Baker City, Oregon, died Thursday, April 19, 2018 at her home surrounded by her family. A private family gathering will be held in the fall.

Freida was born March 11, 1942 in Prairie City, Oregon to Homer LeRoy and Shirley (Risley) Cole. She was one of three children from this marriage. Her much loved bonus father, Carroll Locy, was a log truck driver. Due to his career, she attended schools in several communities as the family moved frequently to new logging towns.

Freida married Phillip Leroy Barrett, March 31, 1960. They had four children together, Debra, Anita, Roy and Machelle. The couple later divorced. Freida married Danny Ray Buxton, October 17, 1981 in Baker. His two sons, Ronald and Curtis Buxton added to their extended and blended family that they loved very much.

Freida was an enthusiastic member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles #3456 Auxiliary since 1979 and served in many positions at the local and state levels, including State Madam President in 2003-2004. Her project that year was to raise awareness about domestic violence. Freida traveled the state and raised over $45,000 in cash and in kind donations that year to support programs for victims and survivors of domestic violence. She sold her specially designed purple shirts with an angel embroidered on the shoulder. Angels and dragonflies were very special to her and she sold pins of each to help raise funds. She continued to gather and donate personal care items, household items and clothing for the local shelter until her passing.

Freida was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who enjoyed cooking, mushroom, huckleberry and wild blackberry picking, camping, hunting, steelhead fishing, reading, sewing and yarn crafts. She was generous with her hugs, stories and knowledge of many things with her family and friends who she enjoyed spending time with. Everyone could and did learn something from her. Freida loved country music and watching westerns old and new. She is well known for her delicious home cooked meals. One son-in-law is known for inviting himself to dinner and he still talks about her wild blackberry cobbler from a trip through northern Idaho. She said "living in Baker City was like living in God’s country."

Freida is survived by her fur babies Sheba and Missy, daughters Debra (Larry) Smith of La Grande, OR Anita (Andy) Schindler of Goshen, VA and Machelle (Rich) Fowler of Findlay, OH and sons Roy Barrett of South Weber, UT, Curtis (Shari) Buxton and Ronald (Pam) of Baker City; brother-in-law Robert (Sherri) Buxton, sisters-in-law Colleen Quinton, Rhonda (Joe) Stubbs of Baker City and her Aunt Beverly Cada of Deer Park, OR, 18 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Danny Ray Buxton, her parents Homer Cole and Shirley Sherich, bonus father Carroll Locy, sister, Karen Lucille Locy Ladman, brother Thomas LeRoy Locy and fur baby Tina.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in honor of Freida, the family suggests contributions be made to the Eagles Art Ehrmann Cancer Fund, through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P. O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. On line condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com