Judith Schroeder

Judith Schroeder, 81, of Baker City, died Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at home surrounded by her family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, December 3, 2022~ 10 a.m. at Saint Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City, OR. A graveside Committal will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery.  Friends are invited to join the family for a reception immediately following the Committal back at the church.

Born May 24, 1941 in Portland Oregon to pioneer descendants of the Oregon Trail, Clyde Deval & Ellen Jean Heater, Judy was the 2nd oldest of five children.  The family lived near Sherwood, Oregon before moving to Creswell in 1950.   She married high school sweetheart, Kenny Fox. They moved to a small acreage near Creswell where they enjoyed life and started their family.   Kenny passed away at age 28, leaving Judy with 4 children ages 8 years to 5 months.

 Friends set her up on a blind date where she fell in love and  married Gordon Schroeder, a marriage that lasted 50 ½ years. Their marriage blended her 4 kids with his 3 and Judy was one busy lady.   

In 1970, with 7 kids, 3 cows and no ranching experience, they bought a run-down ranch 8 miles west of Mt. Vernon, Oregon.  Judy’s days started early, cooking 3 homemade meals, sewing clothing, making quilts, gardening, canning, riding horses, herding cattle, building fence, driving farm equipment, irrigating and working part time at Dameon’s mercantile store, never missing church or children’s school activities. 

In 1979, after successfully restoring their Mt. Vernon ranch, they purchased a larger ranch in Unity, Oregon where she continued to help on the ranch, volunteered countless hours as a 4H leader, FFA, community, sports and church events, while working as a substitute cook for the Burnt River School district where 100% of the meals were homemade.

 Their years of hard work paid off; their ranching career was a success. They were founding members of Country Natural Beef, raised quality alfalfa and & cattle.  In 1989 after their children graduated, they downsized their operation and leased a smaller ranch in Richland Oregon. In 1992 they sold their cattle and moved to Nye Road outside of Baker City where Judy worked as a store clerk at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and later as head cook at Brooklyn elementary school.

Finally, in 1999 she retired.  She enjoyed traveling, fishing, pottery, painting, camping, Soroptimist, cooking church meals and grannies quilt club but most of all where she loved spending time with her 16 grandkids, hosting grandkid’s week which included tea parties and swimming with Allie the alligator. 

Family and friends will remember her generous heart & helping hand, love for family and faith in her Lord, Jesus Christ.

Judy is survived by her 7 children: Kelly Fox (wife Lorrie), Mike Schroeder (wife Julie), Robin Fox-Lavala (husband Robin), Nicki Schroeder-Norton (husband Scott), Monique Schroeder-Devin, Terri-Fox Berthelsen (husband Mark), Tony Fox (wife Ronda), 16 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, one brother, Don Heater and 2 sisters, Mary Wadds (both from Australia) and Bonnie Clugston (from Unity Or)

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in honor of Judy the family suggests the Alzheimer's Association through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, PO Box 543, Halfway, Oregon 97834. Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com