Halfway, Baker County, Oregon
Norma Jeanne Daniels, 84, a longtime Halfway resident, died Aug. 17, 2005, in Caldwell, Idaho.
A graveside celebration of Jeanne’s life took place today at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway.
Jeanne was born Jan. 31, 1921, and raised in Halfway, where she married “Danny” Daniels and had three children. After Danny’s death in 1953 she had to go to work and raise her children. She operated the Stockmans and Hells Canyon Cafes in Halfway for many years. After her mother’s death, she moved to Las Vegas in 1972 where she worked as a hostess in large casino restaurants.
Her family said, “She fed the Pine Valley people with a wonderful smile and compassion for everyone — even if they couldn’t pay. She worked very hard all her life and never complained. All she ever wanted from life was for her kids to be happy. We will miss our ‘Super Mom.’ ”
She is survived by her two sons, Garry and his wife, Linda, of Caldwell, and Greg and wife, Jan, of Kenai, Alaska; one sister of nine siblings, Margie Sagers of Halfway; her ex-husband and lifelong partner, Ben Wathen of Las Vegas; and seven grandchildren, Kaci Gorder, Bryce Maki, Brandi Wendel, Jason and Jarrod Daniels, Lonnie McDonough and Craig Daniels.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her first husband, Forrest Cree Daniels; her daughter, Ronda Maki of Las Vegas; brothers: Henry, Gilbert, Wilbur and Jess; sisters: Alma, Inez and Mona; and by her mother and father, Anna Viola and Charles Wesley Lee.
Contributions in Jeanne’s memory may be made to the Pine Valley Cemetery Memorial Fund through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home P.O. Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, August 26, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor