Warren C. “Mick” Houtz of Baker City died on Aug. 17, 2026 in Richland, Wash. at the age of 88.
He was born on April 14, 1938 in Okanagan, Wash. to Cecil and Geneva Bushnell Houtz.
Mick was one of five children born to Cecil and Geneva. He attended school in Inchelium, Wash. and graduated high school at Imbler High School in 1956. He met the love of his life, Louise Scott at Imbler High. They married in 1959, sharing 67 years of marriage.
Mick worked for many years for the retail chain Sprouse Reitz, beginning with his training in La Grande in the late 1950s. He managed several stores in Washington and Idaho before moving in 1970 to open the first Sprouse Reitz store in Hermiston. They later opened the new store when the location moved to the Hermiston Plaza and managed there until 1979. He spent a year working for Silver Wheel Freight Lines in Yakima. He then moved back to the Imbler/Summerville area and worked alongside of family, including his son Charlie, in the JJ&L Logging Company. He and Louise later moved on to Baker City and began a job with Marvin Woods until his retirement. He volunteered delivering meals in Baker City for Meals on Wheels for several years.
He and his wife enjoyed daily games of Pinochle with the loser having to do dishes. He enjoyed a good Pinochle game and was up for playing even at the logging sites. In his early years, he enjoyed coaching Little League baseball. He started while living in Quincy, Wash. in the early 1960s. As his son, Kevin began to play, he continued coaching in the 1970s in Hermiston.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Louise; sons, Kevin Houtz (Trish) and Charlie Prior; daughter, KellyJo Griffin (Greg); eight grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; sister, Joanne Hopkins (Dave); and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Geneva; brothers, Bruce Houtz and Don Houtz; sister, Judy Whitford; and grandson, Glenn Griffin.
A graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026 at 11 a.m. at the Summerville Cemetery.
Please share memories of Mick with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
