Rodney Mehl

Rodney Mehl, 74, of Baker City, died on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at his home. A celebration of Rod's life will be held on February 15th at 3:00 PM at the Nazarene Church, located at 1250 Hughes Ln, in Baker City, Oregon. Following the services (4:00 pm) there will be a funeral reception at the Fraternal Order of Eagles located at 2935 H St in Baker City, Oregon.

Rodney Clinton Mehl was born on April 24, 1950, in Upland, California, to Pauline and Rodney Craig Mehl. Pauline was much too small, and Rod was too big—"he was what they called back in the day a forceps baby, pulled out with a pair of tongs. Luckily, I didn't go bald early; the cranial marks were deep," he would joke. Rod grew up between Ontario and Chino in "Orange Grove Country" before moving to the Salinas Valley, where he lived at Soledad State Prison. His father worked for the Department of Corrections, and the family resided on the prison grounds.

Rod attended grammar school in Soledad, completed half of his freshman year at Gonzales High School, and graduated from Sonora High School in 1968. Rod loved his time at Sonora High School, cherishing the friendships he made there. He was athletic and participated in various sports, including pole vaulting, five-man volleyball, baseball (centerfield), and football.  A self-taught pole vaulter, he used a 12-foot bamboo pole (originally for carrying carpet rolls), dug a hole in the grass for planting it, built uprights and a crossbar, and dragged out an old mattress for landing. He could clear an eight-foot bar in his backyard—the hard way. Rod ranked third in the state in pole vaulting before a broken ankle ended his season.

In his senior year of football, Rod played as a cornerback and earned All-League honors in a nine-team conference despite playing only five games due to a knee injury. Rod wore jersey #40, which his grandson, Chad Spitz, later wore during high school.

After high school, Rod attended Cal Poly, graduating in 1973 with a degree in Animal Science. He farmed for his family for three years before transitioning to a 16-year career as a journeyman and master carpenter. At 42, Rod retired from California and moved to Baker City in 1992. But, as he put it, "I got bored" and began working for Marvin Lumber in 1994 as a certified millwright. Rod retired from Marvin Wood Products in July of 2016.

In July 1998, Rod met Darcy while they were both working at Marvin Wood Products. They quickly fell in love and married one year to the date of their first kiss, on August 28, 1999, at Sunridge in Baker City. The ceremony was attended by family, friends, and Darcy's three children.

In 2007, Rod and Darcy built their dream home, featuring large picture windows with stunning views of the Elkhorn Mountains. Rod loved watching the changing weather, rolling thunderstorms, and the wildlife that frequented their yard. There was never a shortage of binoculars in the house or his truck—Rod was always glassing the hillsides and fields for wildlife. He had a special fondness for the neighborhood foxes that found comfort in their backyard.

Rod was a quiet man—kindhearted, honest, hardworking, reliable, a great friend, a devoted husband, and a loving father and papa. He enjoyed music, working cattle, trips to Las Vegas with Darcy and friends, fishing at Balm Creek Reservoir, listening to "good ol' boys" stories over a few brews, woodworking, attending local banquets (RMEF, DU, NWTF), and writing poetry. His favorite poem was The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe.

Rod was preceded in death by his father, Rodney; his mother, Pauline; his stepmother, Rebecca Mehl; and the love of his life, Darcy.

He is survived by his "inherited “children: daughter Kristina Spitz and son-in-law Mike Spitz; daughter Alicia Hills and son-in-law Douglass Hills; and son Jeremy Hawkins. He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Chad Spitz, Alena Hills, and Kyra Hills.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Baker City through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, PO Box 543,  Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.