Orrin Lay

Celebrating Life

Orrin Dennis Lay passed away surrounded by family in Baker City, Oregon. Born August 12, 1944, he was the youngest of the seven children Urdel and Mildred Lay raised in Pondosa. Orrin grew up running, working, and hunting the sagebrush hills and forested mountains of the country he was born to. Elementary school in Pondosa, a member of the Baker High Class of 1962 and Eastern Oregon State College Class of 1967, he would happily tell stories of pole vaulting in the days of steel poles but rarely mentioned lettering on both the high school and college teams. In 1965, he married Marilyn Mitchell, and they spent the summer together working as lookouts for the Forest Service. Years passed, and they welcomed four children together. Orrin worked as a meter reader, appraiser, realtor, and broker. Switching industries, he then worked for Hytorc, creating and owning his own highly successful company, Hytorc West. Orrin was recognized as an honest and trusted businessman, a passionate student of history, a true outdoorsman, and a spiritual member of the LDS faith. Orrin is survived by his family, including two siblings, Oriel and Ron; his children, Travis Lay, Dennis Lay, Thomas and Amy Lay Terry, Easton and Jennifer Lay, Robert and Sarah Beams; and his nine grandchildren, Kaleb Lay, Samuel Lay, Bayly Lay, Saskia Lay, Klancy Poor, Spencer Lay, Thornton Lay, Eva Beams, and Sophia Beams. Orrin’s gentle nature and sense of humor could mask his fierce drive and resilience, which helped and inspired others his whole life. His diligence and capacity for patience were unmatched, and there were no lengths to which he would not go for those he loved. We are left with a towering legacy of love, kindness, and laughter that will be remembered with fondness by those who knew him. He will be missed, but every birdhouse he built, mile of fence he mended, chill fall morning of hunting season, and the bloom of lupine each spring will remind us of his life and the love he leaves us. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, with Bishop Garrin Bott Conducting the service. A reception will be held following the memorial service at Coles Tribute Center at 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wallowa Whitman National Forest by donating a tree or to the Baker County Library to support the local history room through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel at 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.Obituary courtesy of Grays West & Co. Pioneer Chapel.

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