Taken from the Baker Democrat Herald, Baker Oregon, 29 May 1989

BAKER COUPLE DIE FROM ASPHYXIATION
Harvey and Clarice Whitnah 2575 Oak St. died late Friday morning from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. According to Dr. John Higgins, county medical examiner, the Whitnahs were found at 11 a.m. by their son, Warren of Baker, on the garage floor behind the family automobile. The garage door was closed and the car engine not running. Harvey was 85, and Clarice 74. The accident is under investigation, but Higgins surmised that Harvey started the car's engine with the garage door closed, Clarice was in the house. He got out of the car to open the garage door, was apparently overcome and fell behind the car near the door.

Higgins believes Clarice, after a time, entered the garage from the house to check on her husband. She switched off the car's engine, but was overcome by monoxide inhalation by the time she reached her husband, and collapsed beside him. The deaths ocurred at approximately 10 a.m.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, highly poisonous gas produced by the incomplete combustion of carbonaceous material. See obituaries on page 2.

HARVEY WHITNAH
CLARICE WHITNAH
Harvey Marshall Whitnah, 85, and Clarice Ann Whitnah, 74, husband and wife, died Friday, May 26, 1989, at their home. Funeral services for Harvey and Clarice will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Monroe Mortuary Chapel. Pastor Judy Marshall of Baker's First Prebyterian Church will officiate. Interment will follow in Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland with Rev. Leora Sharp officiating.

Harvey was born in Choctaw, Okla., March 29, 1904, to Marshall and Edna Whitnah, and Clarice was born in Washtucna Wash., June 6, 1914, to Clarence and Stella Harwood. They were married in Malad, Idaho on Sept. 29, 1934. They farmed together most all their married life, and the last farm was in Richland. They moved to Baker a few years ago.

They both enjoyed their grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved the out-of-doors where they could hunt and fish. They were members of the Eagle Valley Grange.

... [information on living persons omitted] ...

Visitations for the Whitnahs is scheduled at the Monroe Mortuary untill 9 p.m. today. For those who wish, donationsin their memory may be made to the Eagle Valley Ambulance Fund through the Monroe Mortuary at 1950 Place St. Baker.