Dr. Carl Stiff Obituary (1931 - 2024)

Carl E. Stiff was born in a one-room cabin to Earl and Clarice Stiff on Christmas Day 1931 in Meridian, Idaho. He was the fourth of five children: LaVaughn (Gould), Duane, Drucilla (Carpenter), Carl, and Joanne (Hardy). Carl gained two more brothers, Greg and Jim, from his father’s second marriage. The Stiff family moved to Baker City, Oregon, in 1933 to start a trucking business and later the Inland Café. *Fun Fact: Carl told stories of him and his siblings racing his father’s truck on foot up Cabbage Hill prior to an interstate highway existing.* Carl was a hard worker from an early age. As a young child, he milked cows at a nearby dairy before and after school for 5 cents a cow. As a teenager, he was “farmed out” for farm and ranch labor during the summers, living away from home. *Fun Fact: Sister Drucilla said Carl always had money, and the family could always count on him when they needed it.* Carl had dreams of becoming a doctor as young as age 3. He left Baker High School after his junior year to attend NW Nazarene College. There he finished his high school diploma and completed his bachelor’s degree before applying to medical school. Carl married Shirley Arther in 1952 and had two boys, Kim and Lane. He served in the Navy to cover the costs of his college education. After completing an internship at Los Angeles County Hospital and residency at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, he opened his own private OBGYN practice in Milwaukie, OR in 1962. *Fun Fact: During his Navy service, he highlined (ziplined) between Navy ships at sea to perform an appendectomy on a crewman of the other ship.* After the end of his first marriage, he was set up on a date by friends with Barbara Berrong Stark. They soon married in July 1973. Carl and Barbara had two children: a daughter, Coby, and a son, Cory. The Stiff’s loved gardening and were fortunate to have a very large garden while living in Milwaukie. They grew berries and corn, selling what they did not can or freeze. Once or twice they turned the majority of the plot into a pumpkin patch, selling pumpkins at Halloween time. *Fun Fact: Carl would fill their aluminum fishing boat full of corn. He would then take the kids and park it on the side of McLaughlin Blvd during evening traffic, where they would sell corn to folks driving by. The boat would always be empty within an hour or so.* In 1987, Carl and Barbara moved with their kids to Baker City, Oregon. There, he opened his second OBGYN practice. He soon expanded his practice to include John Day as well. Carl was very dedicated to his rural community. He was a member of Trail Tenders and helped with the process of opening the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. He was a Baker 5J school board member in the early 1990’s. He was a board member, volunteer, and camp physician for Young Life. He served as Baker County Health Officer and had a leadership role in the creation of the student health clinic at Baker High School. In 1998, Carl was recognized as Oregon’s Outstanding Rural Physician of the Year. Carl also served his community as County Commissioner from 2003 to 2013. *Fun Fact: The biggest indicator of how to judge Carl’s mood or opinion on something was to monitor the height and angle of his eyebrows. His face may not have given away his thoughts, but his eyebrows did* After nearly 50 years of delivering babies and providing women’s healthcare, he retired his medical practice in 2010. He did not find joy in retirement as he lived to work for and serve his community. He loved being a doctor. *Fun Fact: Anyone who worked with Carl could easily locate him by his off-tune/nonsensical whistling. He was always whistling.* Carl passed away on November 5th, 2024, with family at his side at Settler’s Park Memory Care after a long journey with dementia. There will be no funeral services. Donations in his name can be made to the Northeast Oregon Compassion Center at 1250 Hughes Lane, Baker City, OR 97814, or sent to Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place St. Baker City, OR 97814.