Milo Pope July 18, 1936 — Feb. 24, 2016

Published 4:53 am Tuesday, March 1, 2016

BAKER CITY — Milo Pope, 79, died Feb. 24th at his Baker City home. Per his request, no funeral services will be held, however, a private family memorial will be observed this month.

Pope was born July 18, 1936, the fourth of five children to Milo and Grace Pope in Hoquiam, Wash.

He was raised in Sutherlin and John Day. He graduated from Grant Union High School in 1955. It was in high school that he met his future bride Gayl Kilpatrick.

On Nov. 20, 1958, they married in John Day and together had three children, Marcia, Kevin, and Milo.

In 1961, he began his law career in Idaho. He practiced in Twin Falls, Idaho, Milton-Freewater and John Day. In 1988, he was elected circuit court judge of Grant and Baker counties and subsequently moved to Baker City.

He enjoyed his time on the bench. He brought his empathetic and no-nonsense sentiments, which have left a lasting impression on friends and colleagues alike.

After retiring, he continued to practice law, a profession that he enjoyed greatly, and acted as a mentor to many. He had great respect for the law, gave of his talents in many great ways and was dedicated to providing the best possible counsel to all those he served.

He was an avid reader and a lover of language, often correcting his children’s and grandchildren’s grammar, or asking how to spell novel words. He was always curious about the world. He loved people and his community, serving on city council, and writing many letters to the editor. He enjoyed woodworking, a skill he admired in his father, and often spent time with friends in his shop.

Survivors include his siblings, Beverly Nordquist, Bruce Pope and Nila Palmer; children, Marcia (Bill) Winter, Kevin Pope and Milo Dion Pope; and grandchildren Genevieve Ehart, Rebecca Adair, Melissa Winter, Thomas Ehart, Bill Winter and Mike Ehart.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gayl Kilpatrick Pope.

Memorial donations may be made to the Open Door breakfast program in Baker City or New Hope for Eastern Oregon Animals through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O Box 543, Halfway OR, 97834.

For online condolences, visit www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.