Louise Sly

Louise White Sly, 99 years old, died on November 29, 2017 in Baker City, Oregon.  A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, December 8, 2017 ~ 2 p.m. at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway, Oregon.  

Louise was born on December 17, 1917 in Velva, North Dakota to W.M.White and Martha Phoebe White.  The White family moved to Nada Utah in April of 1918. Louise and her four siblings lived in Nada and she graduated from Milford High School in Milford, Utah. 

Louise married Earl Sly in November 16, 1936 and they moved to Halfway in 1947 with their three children; Marie, Richard and Jay.  Louise was 41 in January of 1958 when she lost her husband Earl in an accident.  She continued to operate their ranch, milking cows, and driving school bus for Pine Eagle School District for 25 years. She was the secretary of the Foothill and Posey Ditch companies for 45 years.  She owned Fairview Polled Herefords LLC in Halfway for over 40 years.  In the last twenty years she turned over much of the day to day operation of the ranch to Jay Sly.

Louise loved painting and was a completely self-taught artist.  Her paintings graced her home, the homes of children and grandchildren.  She was an outstanding taxidermist with her work in the homes of clients from Oregon, Washington and Idaho.  Every one of her grandchildren and many of her great-grandchildren have her taxidermy which she did with her grandson Victor Savage.  Louise was an avid reader and involved in her community and was proudly named Grand Marshal of the Baker County Fair in 2001.  It was her cattle and the ranch that was the love of her life--the horses, dogs, and all creatures of the ranch she cared for.  Louise could often be seen in the valley moving cows or spraying weeds on her 4-wheeler which gave her so much independence in later life.  The embodiment of her character is that she owned, operated and grew her ranch for 63 years.  At the heart of her life were her family and the ranch.  Her ranch boasted the 2008 and 2009 East/West Shrine Steers—2008 Steer was shown by her great-granddaughter Nicole Markgraf Merchant and the 2009 Steer was shown by her great-grandson Blain Jay “BJ” Savage.

Louise was preceded in death by her husband Earl, her parents, a baby brother, two older brothers:  John Barrett White, William Eugene White and a sister Elizabeth Whitehurst. 

Louise is survived by a brother Joe White of Ontario, daughter Marie and her husband Robert Savage of Baker City; son’s Richard Sly and Jay and his wife Zella Sly, of Halfway.  Louise had four beloved grandchildren:  Kerry Savage and his wife Ginger, Victor Savage, Calesta Markgraf and her husband Bill Markgraf of Baker City and Cindy Sitz and her husband Don from Drewsey.  She took great pride in her great-children:  Matt Sitz in Drewsey, Mark Sitz in Boise, Id, Eugene Markgraf in Klamath Falls, Nicole Markgraf Merchant of Baker City, Blain “BJ” Savage in Bloomfield, CO and Lee Robert Savage of Baker City,  Randi Coon, Sam and Lena Akers.  She took delight in her great-great grandchildren.  She had numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends who will miss her deeply including Mr. and Mrs. Dickie Martinez and Mrs Mayen McCoy.  

She lived the last year and a half of her life at Ashley Manor Care Home and the family wishes to thank her care providers who took such good care of her.  For those who would like to make a donation in memory of Louise, the family suggests the Pine Valley Fair Exhibit Hall (Make checks to UCP-Exhibit Hall) through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.

 Service Information