Baker City, Baker County, Oregon
Lela Mae Holloway, 97, a longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 3, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her memorial service will be Friday at 1 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 1919 Second St. in Baker City. Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen of the United Methodist Church will officiate. A reception will follow.
Lela was born April 4, 1905, at Hermitage, Mo., to John Riley and Nancy Hart Bartshe. When she was one month old her family moved to Oregon, living in the Oregon Slope area between Payette and Ontario. She received her teacher’s training in high school and after graduation from Ontario High School, she started teaching at the age of 17.
On May 14, 1927, she married Cecil Holloway, and they moved to New Bridge, where he was to teach school. They lived in the Eagle Valley area until 1934, when they moved to Baker City. She taught at both Churchill School and the old Tiedemann Grade School. In 1947 she went to work for the Greyhound Bus Agency, and she managed the agency until her retirement in 1985.
Lela was active in the United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday School for many years and working with the women’s circles.
Raising flowers was one of her passions. After working a full day at her job, gardening was her “relaxation.” Many were recipients of her bouquets, and numerous young brides had flowers from her garden in their weddings.
Lela’s greatest joys were her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There was always an open door at the Holloway house and many students from outlying areas found a warm welcome. Although she was not a musician, it was a fact of life that her children would take music lessons. She spent countless hours listening to practices and always knew when someone made a mistake. Grandma’s house was “home and haven” to her grandchildren.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, Jeanette Jampolsky, Sammye and Moe Linzel, and Dee Becker, all of Baker City, Curtis Holloway and Gabrielle Starr of Portland, and a son-in-law Ron Bowers, also of Baker City. Grandchildren include Lisa and Steve Weichbrodt, Joel, Holly, Carrie and Jenny of Beaverton; David Jampolsky, Ellen and Emily of Baker City; Mike and BettyeLou Mahoney, Molly and Taylor of Sacramento, Calif.; Pat and Deanne Mahoney, Sara and Mitch of Beaverton; Chris and Heidi Mahoney, Jennifer, Nicole, Michael and Kimberly Pace of Tacoma, Wash.; Joe and Sally Mahoney, Margaret, Rachel, and Thomas of Paducah, Ken.; Maureen and Aaron Anderson, Audrey, Joseph and Lela Grace of Franklin, Tennessee; Challey Becker and Troy Chubb and Riley of Bend; Chad and Dimitra Becker of Bellevue, Neb.; Channin Becker of Portland; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was predeceased by her husband, Cecil Holloway; her daughter, Nancy Bowers; and four sisters, Francis Warren, Jean McEnroe, Nettie Carico and Mary (Myrt) Stoner.
Memorials may be made to the Baker United Methodist Church. This may be done through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January, 10, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor