Wheeler Co. ORGenWeb

EASTERN OREGON PIONEER PASSES AWAY
Mrs. Sarah A. Brown, one of the earliest settlers in Eastern Oregon, died Thursday, February 15th, 1923 at the home of her son-in-law-, Judge G.O.Butler, near Richmond, Wheeler County, Oregon. She was born in Giles County, Tennessee, on January 4, 1834 and crossed the plains with her husband, Johnathan P. Brown, and two children in 1854. They were located at and near The Dalles, Oregon, from 1854 to 1868. In 1868 they located on Girds creek in which is now Wheeler County. They had several narrow escapes from the Indians, who were bad at that time. She joined the Methodist church soon after coming to Oregon and was active in church work the remainder of her life. She was the mother of thirteen children, eight of whom are dead. The five children who survive her are: Mrs. C.C. Vanliue, Fresno, Cal.; Mrs. Clarence Johnson, Eureka, Nevada; Mrs. James Keyes, Mitchell, Ore.; Mrs. J.B.Butler, Centralia, Wash.; Mrs. G.O.Butler, Richmond, Ore.

CARD OF THANKS
We wish to thank our many friends for their kind sympathy and assistance, during our bereavement in the death of our beloved mother.
The Family

SAD DEATH OF OLGA KEYES, 1911

Sad indeed was the tidings brought to Fossil by the telephone last Friday evening, August 18th [1911], that Olga Keyes was dead. she was operated on in St. Vincent's Hospital, Portland, the previous ..... was little hope of her recovery from the start, and she gradually sank until the end came. The immediate cause of death was strangulation of the bowels. Ten days before she died she was in almost perfect health, and her untimely demise in the flower of her young womanhood has cast a great gloom over the entire county.
Olga Keyes was the daughter of James and Ellen Keyes of Mitchell, and was born on the family ranch in this county 25 years ago. Her father died a few years ago, and her mother, five sisters and four brothers survive her. She was a beautiful young lady, and a capable house worker, with a very large number of friends -- in fact, all who knew her esteemed and loved her for her sunny disposition and many graces of character. For the six weeks prior to her illness she was assisting Cora B. Morgan with the management of the Fossil Hotel, and the bond of friendship between the two was very strong, they being really more like sisters than mere friends. With the guests, she was a universal favorite, and all of them feel that they have lost a good and true friend by her passing away. The remains were brought to Fossil last Saturday night by the sorrowing mother, who had accompanied her daughter from here to the hospital on the Tuesday before, and early Sunday morning the funeral cortege started to Mitchell, which was reached late last night. On Monday she was laid to rest beside her father in the old cemetery of Mitchell, in presence of a large concourse of sorrowing relatives and friends. Prior to the interment an affecting funeral sermon was preached in the town church by Rev. James Mansfield, and the services at the grave were conducted by the order of the Rebekahs, of which Order the deceased was an honored member.

CARD OF THANKS
We wish to return our heartfelt thanks to the many generous friends who stood by us, with such unwearying kindness, during the time our beloved daughter and sister, Olga Keyes, was called upon to suffer before entering upon the "rest prepared for the children of God," and crossed to the "beautiful home over there." Seldom have any in need of sympathy and the most devoted friendship received so full a measure of the best fruits of the human heart. From first to last it was one unceasing routine of kindness and attention, and the gloom of death was softened by the warm radiance of the love bestowed upon our dear one, who has gone before. All that human power could do to alleviate her suffering and ......

[Note: The remainder of the Card of Thanks was destroyed in my copy. If anyone has the complete text , please feel free to add the remaining text. Joan Hill]

Surnames: Davis, Pitts, Phelps, Appleman

Orlena Mary Davis, 77, died at her Tygh Valley Ranch home on Monday, February 10, 2003.

She was born on July 23, 1925, in Portland. She was the youngest of five children born to Walter Gray and Emma (Pitts) Phelps and grew up in the Willamette Valley.

She married her high school sweetheart, Irl Davis, Jr. on September 3, 1942, in Kelso, Washington. Together they ranched and farmed on Tygh Ridge (Oregon).

In 1969, they founded Pine Hollow Development and created the community of Pine Hollow in Wamic (Oregon).

She is survived by her husband of 60 years; her two brother, Walt "Bud" Phelps, Milwaukie (Oregon); James "Jim" Philps, Lincoln City (Oregon); her daughter Sharon Ann Appleman and her husband Wayne, Portland; her son, Irl Michael Davis, Gig Harbor, Washington; her four grandchildren, John Woodford Appleman, Mary Borgne Appleman, Dea Nicole Davis all of Portland and Molly Ann Davis, Seattle (Washington).

She was a loving mother, homemaker and rancher's wife extraordinaire. She could professionally tailor a suit and with equal ease drive a truck load of wheat.

She was a charter member of the Wasco County Cowbells, a long term member of the Wasco County Home Extension, a leader of numerous Wasco County 4-H clubs and was an active member of the Tygh Valley School Board during the 1960s.

She was founder of the WapinRock Newspaper and the Pine Hollow Library. She also financed and founded the first Pine Hollow First Aid Service which later became known as The Pine Hollow First Responders. She received numerous accolades from the community including Wasco County Livestock Family of the Year (1979).

She was, also, an avid golfer, world traveler and loved wildlife and nature.

A family memorial service was held at the Tygh Valley Ranch. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to the Pine Hollow First Responders.

The Dalles Chronicle February 24, 2003.
Written permission to reprint given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, Oregon
Copied and submitted by Earline Wasser

Rceived the following from Andrew & Jan Meyers

Ted Myers

Charles Theodore 'Ted' Myers of Portland died at the Verterans Hospital there Friday, Feb. 22, of emphysema.

He was born May 11, 1925 at Twickenham, the son of Ed and Lola Myers.  He attended grade school at Service Creek,
three years of high school in Fossil and graduated from Crook County High School in Prineville.

He worked at the Vancouver shipyards as a young man and served in the Navy during World War II.  He married Joy Chappell i 1945 at Long Beach, Calif.

He worked as a petroleum marketing agent for Richfield Oil Co. for a number of years and later was a real estate manager for Humble Oil Co., which was part of Exxon.  He then sold commercial real estate until he became too ill to work.

Survivors, besides his wife, are a daughter, Susan Myers Cekasky of Glendale, Calif.; and two grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Bruce Myers, in 1960, and a brother, Edgar Myers of Fossil.

Disposition was by cremation.

[ Note:  unknown newspaper, but this was found in the collection of obituaries at the Fossil Museum.  According to the Oregon Death Index he died 15 Feb 1991 ~ Andrew Myers]

Edgar M Myers Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) at the Fossil Baptist church for Edgar M[ason] Myers.  Mr. Myers died Monday at the Gilliam County Clinic age 69. He was born May 5, 1914 at Richmond, son of Edward and Lola Shown Myers and was a life time resident of Wheeler County.

He was married to Helen Crawford June 28, 1938 at Yakima, Washington.

He is survived by his wife of Fossi; three sons, John, Bob and Jim Myers, all of LaGrande; a brother Ted Myers, portland and six grandchildren.

The Rev. Gerald Ward officiated at the service and the concluding service and interment at Fossil Masonic Cemetery.

Those wishing may make contributions to the Fossil Ambulance Fund. Sweeney Mortuary, Condon, was in charge of arrangements.

[Note:  handwritten date at the top "July 4/83"  unknown newspaper, but this was found in the collection of obituaries at the Fossil Museum.  According to the Social Security Death Index he died 4 Jul 1983 ~ Andrew Myers]

Helen A. Myers

Funeral service for Helen Aletha Myers will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, August 12, at the Fossil Baptist Church.  Concluding service and interment will follow at the Fossil Masoic Cemetery.

Mrs. Myers, 90, of Fossil, died Friday, August 4, 2006 at the Mercedes Foster Care Facility in LaGrande.

She was born January 8, 1916 at Franklin, North Carolina to William and Belle Younce Crawford.  As a child she moved with her parents to Service Creek, Oregon.  She attended school in Wheeler County where she graduated from high school in 1934.  On June 28, 1938, she married Edgar Mason Myers at Yakima, Wash.  They lived at Klamath Falls, then Kinua where Edgar worked in the logging industry and Helen was a homemaker.  They later moved to Fossil to ranch and raise their three sons. She was honored as Grand Marshal of the Wheeler County Fair Parade in 1990. She loved gardening, embroidery work, the outdoors and especially enjoyed steelhead fishing.

Survivors include her three sons and their spouses, John and Willie Myers, Jim and Deannie Myers, all of LaGrande, and Bob and Linda Myers of Cove; a brother, Bill Crawford of Portland; grandchildren great-grandchildren and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband, two brothers and a sister.

Memorial contributions may be made to Fossil Ambulance Fund, P.O Box 467, Bossil, Oregon 97830. Sweeney Mortuary of Condon is in charge of arrangements.

[Note:  unknown newspaper, but this was found in the collection of obituaries at the Fossil Museum. ~ Andrew Myers]

Edward E. Myers

Funeral services were held in the Methdist church, Fossil, Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, for Edward E. Myers, 66, who passed away in Fossil August 22.  Rev. Ethel L. Williams, pastor of the church, officiated.  Burial was in the Masonic cemetery.

Edward Elmer Myers was born at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, July 8, 1880, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Mason Myers, who came out to Oregon in 1888 and settled on Thirtymile creek eight miles east of Fossil where they lived many years and where their family, including Edward, grew up. 

In July 13, 1913, at Richmond, Oregon, Edward E. Myers married Miss Lola Shown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Shown, of Twickenham, also pioneers of that section. Edward E. Myers is survived by his wife Lola; two sons, Edgar M. Myers of Fossil and Charles Theodore Myers of Portland; and two brothers, Arthur of Fossil and John of Condon. 

There are three young grandsons, John, Bob and Jim Myers, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Edger [sic] M. Myers.

[Note:  unknown newspaper, These clippings were in the possession of my father amongst his family albums.  There are two different obituaries.  The second obituary differs in that it says Lola is the daughter of Charles Shown. 

According to the Oregon Death Index Edward died 22 Aug 1946 ~ Andrew Myers]

Elvera Myers

The funeral and interment for Elvera Winifred Myers of The Dalles were held Tuesday, July 19. 

The funeral was held at the Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home with Rev. Karl Vercouteren officiating, and vault interment followed at the Condon Masonic Cemetery. Miss Myers, 71, a resident of The Dalles, died at her home Friday, July 15, 1994. She was born October 11, 1922 at Trail Fork near Condon, the oldest of two children of John Wesley and Emma Lunora (Harrison) Myers.  She grew up in the Condon area and graduated from Condon High School in 1940. She attended business school at LaGrande and, during World War II, worked all over the state of Oregon for the Selective Service Board.  She moved to The Dalles in 1947 and worked as a secretary for Sunset Motors, then Walther-Williams, Stadelman-Bonn Hardware and Hampton Furniture, before becoming manager of Lance Apparel.  After Lance Apparel closed, she worked for Meadow Outdoor Advertising until her retirement.

Miss Myers was a member of the United Church of Christ Congregational, the Soroptimist Club, serving in many officer positions; the Camera club and was a photography hobbyist. She is survived by her mother Nora Myers of The Dalles; brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Margaret Myers of Condon, Patty Shumway of Bridgeport and Judy Potter of Fossil; great=niece, Sabrina Wagenaar; great-nephew, Shawn Greenfield; and great-great-nephew, Justin Wagenaar, all of Condon.

Memorials may be made to a charity of choice, in care of Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home, 1100 Kelly Ave., The Dalles, OR 97058.

[Note:  unknown newspaper, but this was found in the collection of obituaries at the Fossil Museum. ~ Andrew Myers]

John W. Myers Rites at Condon

Monday Funeral services for John Wesley Myers, 59, who passed away at The Dalles August 22nd of a heart ailment, were held at the Congregational church at Condon Monday afternoon, August 25th, at 2 o'clock. 

Funeral arrangements were in charge of the Burns mortuary and interment was in the Condon cemetery. Mr. Myers was born at Thirtymile June 23, 1888, the third son of Mr. and Mrs. Mason Myers. 

He married Nora Harrison in 1916 and they lived on their first ranch on Trailfork for several years before moving to Rockcreek and later to the Brown ranch near Condon. 

In failing health, Mr. Myers spent last year in Arizona. He is survived by his wife and two children, Kenneth and Elvira, all of Condon, and one brother, Arthur Myers, of Fossil.  Edgar and Ted Myers are nephews.

[Note:  unknown newspaper; clipping found amongst my father's albums and pictures. ~ Andrew Myers]

John W. Myers Dies In The Dalles

Funeral services for John Wesley Myers, 59, who died in The Dalles hospital from a heart ailment, were held in the Community churhc, with the Reverend W. Thomas Applebee officiating. 

Burns mortuary was in charge of the arrangements.

John Wesley Myers was born June 23, 1888, near Fossil, Oregon, on the ranch of Thirtymile Creek now owned by Kenneth Craig. John was the youngest of four children born to Sarah Ellen and Mason Myers. His mother and father, sister, Mima May, and brother Edward E. preceded him in death, Edward Myers having died just one year to the day prior to the death of John Myers. His parents, two brother and sister moved to Oregon from Iowa in 1886.

About 1911 he homesteaded at Muleshoe in Wheeler county, and in 1914 he and Pete Born went to Alberta, Canada, to obtain a homestead, but were unable to secure one. As a consequence, the two men returned to Oregon.

In the spring of 1916, he was united in marriage to Emma Lenora Harrison of Lonerock. This was the first church wedding to have been held in Lonerock. To this union two children were born, one daughter, Elvera and one son, Kenneth. In January 1934, John Myers and his family moved to the ranch northeast of Condon formerly owned by the late Pat Murtha. He lived there until poor health forced him to leave the ranch, at which time he went to Arizona for the Winter. Returning to Condon in the Spring, Mr. Myers remained here until he was taken to the hospital in The Dalles, a week prior to his death.

He is survived by his widow, Nora Myers, his daughter Elvera Myers, his son Kenneth Myers and two grand-daughters, all of Condon, one brother, Arthur, of Fossil, other relatives and a host of friends.

[Note:  unknown newspaper, handwritten date 1958; this was found in the collection of obituaries at the Fossil Museum   ~ Andrew Myers]

Arthur Myers Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, November 25 in the Fossil Baptist Church of Arthur Otho Myers, 72, who died November 22 at his ranch home near Fossil. He was born in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, March 13, 1886 to Mason and Ella Myers.  In 1888 he and his family moved to a ranch near Fossil.  In 1913 he and Bessie E Jenkins were married at his parents home. 

Mr. Myers was engaged in farming during his lifetime. Survivors include his wife Bessie and a son Dale L. of fossil, and several nieces and nephews. Final rites were conducted by the Rev. Derrick and Elder Gordon Harris.  Music was furnished by the Baptist choir.  They sang 'In The Garden', 'Whispering Hope', and 'Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet'.  Interment will be in the Masonic Cemetery with Albee's Mortuary in charge.  Pallbearers were Walter Hyatt, Bill Stephens, Bert Hoover, Ned Nickelsen, Clay Phillips and William Steiwer.  Honorary pallbearers were Lester Rinehart, Glenn Hadley, O. D. Baker, Tom Hoover, Raleigh Misener and George Smith.

 [Note:  unknown newspaper, handwritten date 1958; this was found in the collection of obituaries at the Fossil Museum   ~ Andrew Myers] _______________________________________________

Bessie E Myers Funeral service was held Friday afternoon at the Fossil Baptist Church for Bessie E. Myers who died Sept 6 at her home in Fossil at age 97. She was born March 15, 1886 at Piney Flats, Tennessee. 

One of ten children, she was the daughter of John and Rachel Walsh Hicks. She was married to Arthur O. Myers in Fossil Nov. 12, 1913.  He homesteaded in the Black Butte area and eventually their holdings grew to 1,500 acres.  They lived there until his death in 1958 when she moved to Fossil.  Mrs. Myers was known for the flowers and vegetables she provided for the Fossil and Kinzua Communities. She attended the Baptist Church.

She is survived by a son, Dale L. Myers, Portland; one brother, Andrew J. Hicks, Portland; two grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Concluding service and interment was held at the Fossil Masonic Cemetery.  Those wishing may contribute in her memory to the Fossil Ambulance Fund. Sweeney Mortuary, Condon, was in charge of arrangements.

[Note:  unknown newspaper, handwritten date 1988; this was found in the collection of obituaries at the Fossil Museum   ~ Andrew Myers] ____________________________________________

 Funeral Conducted Here for May Hardie Final rites were conducted from the Community Congregational church here Monday for Mrs. May Hardie, 59, who died at Hermiston on Saturday after a lingering illness.  Interment was in the Condon cemetery.

May Myers was born June 7, 1883, at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and came to Oregon at the age of 4 years and has resided in the state since, much of the time in the Trail Fork and Condon vicinities. She was married to Josh Y. Hardie September 22, 1901.  To this union five children were born.  Mr. Hardie died July 27, 1942 and two of the children preceded their parents in death.

Survivors are three daughters, Ellen Smith of Vancouver, Washington, Hazel Carroll of The Dalles and Jean Hardie of Hermiston; four grand children, Bob Smith of Sitka, Alaska, Erla Smith of Vancouver and Fay and Billy Carroll of The Dalles; three brothers, Ed Myers and Art Myes [sic] of Fossil and John Myers. Mrs. T. L. Baird played the organ during the services and a quartet, composed of Mrs. C. K. Barker, Mrs. Harold Belton, Mrs. Frank Anderson and Mrs. C. T. Wooden, sang.  The pallbearers were James Stewart, Elmer Tippley, Alex Currie, G. J. Boyer, Scott Neel and Lester Harrison. Among those here from out of town for the services were Mrs. Smith of Vancouver, Miss Hardie of Hermiston, Fay Carroll of The Dalles, Mr. and Mrs. Art Myers, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Munger, Mrs. Logan Stewart and daughter Violet, Mrs. Myrtle Munger, Mrs. Fred Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. William Stephens, Mr. and Mrs. George Jones and Mrs. Claude Clarke, all of Fossil; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Myers of Service Creek and Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Myers of Kinzua.

[Note:  unknown newspaper, but this was found in the collection of obituaries at the Fossil Museum. ~ Andrew Myers]

Death Comes to Mason Myers in His 90th Year Native of West Virginia Passes Away At Home of His Son John at Condon Funeral services were held at the Fossil Methodist church on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock for Mason Myers, 90, who died at Condon Saturday, April 26, Rev. Earl B. Cotton officiating.  Burial was in the Masonic cemetery beside the grave of his late wife, Sarah Ellen. Bearers were George Stevenson, I. A. Johnson, Sydney Wattenburg, M. H. Johnson, Lud Smith and E. H. Harman. Mason Myers was born in Green Briar county, West Virginia, April 9, 1851. He was united in marriage to Sarah Ellen Barton at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, on October 9, 1879. In 1886 Mr. and Mrs. Myers journeyed to Oregon, spending a year at Alkali, now Arlington. Then they moved back to Iowa where they lived another year, but returned to Oregon and took up a homestead on Thirty-mile creek, now owned by Charles Craig. Here they reared their four children - Edward E. Myers, now of Service Creek; Arthur Myers, of Fossil; John W. Myers, of Condon; and Mrs. May Hardie, of Hermiston. In the fall of 1916 they sold their ranch and moved to Fossil, where they lived until 1931, when they moved to Hermiston. Mrs. Myers passed away at their home in Hermiston on October 10, 1939, one day after their 60th wedding anniversary. Since that time Mr. Myers had been living with his daughter in Hermiston, until a month ago when he returned to visit his three sons. He was ill three weeks prior to his death, at 10:45 p.m. April 26, at the home of his son John. He leaves the four children named above, seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren and a host of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Mason Myers were both baptized on the same day and received on probation as members of the Fossil Methodist church on August 17, 1890. Mr. Myers became a full member of the church under the pastorate of Rev. A. S. Mulligan in 1892.

[Note:  unknown newspaper. This clipping was in the possession of my father amongst his family albums.  He died 26 Apr 1942 ~ Andrew Myers]
___________________________________________

Funeral Services Held Here Wednesday For Early Day Settler Funeral services for Mrs. Mason Myers, who died at Hermiston October 10, were held in the Methodist church, Fossil, at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.  Rev. L. G. Weaver, pastor, officiating.  Burial was in the Masonic cemetery here.  She had been a  resident of Oregon since 1886, most of the time on the Myers homestead near Fossil.  The day previous to her death had been her 60th wedding anniversary which was celebrated with her husband and her four children present. Her maiden name was Sarah Ellen Barton and she was born at Mt. Pleasant, Henry county, Iowa, on October 27, 1862.  On October 27, 1879, she was married to Mason Myers at Mt. Pleasant and in 1886 they journeyed to Oregon, spending a year at Alkali, now Arlington.  Then they moved back to their Iowa home where they spent another year, but returned to Oregon and took up the homestead on Thirtymile creek, now owned by Charles Craige, where they lived and reared their four children.  in the fall of 1916 they sold out their ranch and moved to Fossil where they lived until 1931 when they moved to Hermiston.  She was a member of the Methodist church since 1890. She is survived by her husband and four children --Edward E. Myers, Service Creek; Arthur Myers, Fossil, John Myers, Condon, and Mrs. May Hardie, Hermiston.  She leaves eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

[Note:  unknown newspaper, handwritten date 1939; this was found in the collection of obituaries at the Fossil Museum   ~ Andrew Myers]