Mary Jane “Janie” Rhoda, 83, of Baker City, died Jan. 19, 2006, at Las Vegas, Nev., of cancer.
A special Sunday service celebrating her life will be scheduled later at the Haines United Methodist Church.
Mary Jane was born on Feb. 10, 1922, at Salem to Guy and Hazel Hobson. The family moved to Baker City in 1928. That same year they moved to Whitney, where her mother ran the Whitney Post Office, often assisted by Mary Jane and her brother, Loren.
She was a 1939 Baker High School graduate and attended Willamette University, returning to Eastern Oregon to live at Halfway.
There, she married Carl Rhoda in 1941. The Rhodas moved to Madras, where Carl was superintendent of schools and principal of Madras Union High School from 1945 to 1963. Mary Jane worked for many years at the Madras Market and was a member of the First Christian Church. Oakridge was her home from 1963 to 1991.
Carl died on June 30, 1980. Mary Jane returned to live in Baker City in 1991.
Mary Jane was honored at the 1991 Miners Jubilee in Baker City as a past 1941 Jubilee Rodeo Queen.
She was a member of the Haines United Methodist Church and the Mutual Improvement Club.
Her family expressed appreciation to those who sent cards and letters during her illness.
Survivors include a son, Carl Rhoda of Las Vegas, Nev.; three daughters, Bobbie Jaquette of Medford, Rhonda Posey of Mount Shasta, Calif., and Carla Anderson of Alva, Fla.; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, February 17, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor