Baker City, Oregon
Viola M. Calder, 90, a longtime Baker City resident, died March 17, 2002, at Troutdale from complication of breast cancer.
A celebration of Viola’s life will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625 Hugest Lane. Ernie Collard of the 1st Ward will conduct the services. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Visitations will be from today until 7 p.m. at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.
Viola was born April 5, 1911, in Sumpter to Andrew and Libby Lucas. She was the third daughter in a family of three girls. She was raised in Sumpter Valley and spent summers at the family ranch and winters in Sumpter. Her family moved to Baker City when she was a teenager, and she graduated from Baker High School. As a child she helped out on the ranch and enjoyed cooking. Desserts were her specialty. As years went by her reputation grew and no visitor left her home without their sweet tooth being satisfied.
She married Clarence L. Calder, her high school sweetheart, on Sept. 6, 1933, and their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They had two children: a son, Clarence A. Calder, and a daughter, Sharon S. Doan. The family moved to Elgin in 1946, where her children went to school. Viola was very active in the PTA, helping in Girl Scouts and 4-H, and she loved attending her childrens sporting events. In Elgin she developed a lifelong love of playing bridge.
In 1959 the family moved to Burns, where they lived until Clarence retired. Viola worked at the Ranch Supply and the Ladies dress shop. She was very adept at alterations and enjoyed crocheting. As years passed, all the grandchildren received gifts of afghans.
After retiring, Clarence and Viola returned to Baker City. They had a cabin in Granite where they spent many happy times with their family and friends. For years, they took their trailer to Apache Junction, Ariz., for the winter.
Viola was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, husband and son.
She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Doan of Corbett; daughter-in-law, Judy Calder of Salt Lake City; seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Contributions in Viola’s memory may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 650-309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309 or to the Clarence A. Calder memorial scholarship endowment in mechanical engineering in care of Oregon State University Foundation. 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, March 29, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor