Richland, Oregon
Vada Clarine Garrett, a former Richland resident, died Dec. 29, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Care Center.
Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Christian Church at Richland. Interment will be at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland.
Vada was born on Jan. 12, 1915, at Summerville to Alva B. and Mary Nettie Woodell Carder. The family moved to Halfway when Vada was a child and later to Richland. She was a graduate of Eagle Valley High School at Richland.
She was employed as a ticket clerk in the Richland Theater, and drove an ore truck and worked in the boarding house at the Cornucopia Gold Mine. She also was a telephone operator for Eagle Telephone and a bookkeeper for Eagle Valley Creamery Association.
Vada was a member of the Richland Seventh-day Adventist Church and carried the position of treasurer for 30 years. She participated in all church activities and was always available to teach Sabbath School and Vacation Bible School.
Vada married Joe Harrison on Sept. 11, 1936. They had two daughters: Annette and Arleen Jane Harrison. She married Earl “Pete” Garrett on Oct. 4, 1945. They had three children, Arleen and the twins, Earlynn and Rosalynn.
Pete and Vada operated the family farm at New Bridge until Pete’s death in 1991. They were well known for the beautiful fruits from the orchard and vegetables from a garden large enough to feed the whole valley.
Vada was a wonderful cook and made all family celebrations memorable. Her passions in life were her family, her church and her love for God. She lived her life as the true example of Christianity. One of her favorite pastimes was taking the kids out to pick wild flowers when they bloomed in the spring. She knew the name of each flower. She was loved for her generosity, loving spirit and an every-ready radiant smile.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Pete; an infant daughter, Arleen Jane; her parents; a sister, Clara Carder; and brothers, Melvin and Glenn Carder.
Survivors include her daughter’s Annette Tomat of Medford, Arleen Thomason, and her husband, Bud, of Baker City, and Rosalynn Gorham of La Grande; a son, Earlynn Garrett and his wife, Rhonda, of Ione; 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; a brother, Orval B. Carder and his wife, Beth, of Bend; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eagle Valley Ambulance Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 4, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor