Luella “Lue” Larsen, 83, of Baker City passed away March 9, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Care Center with her daughter Gayle and compassionate staff members at her side. Numerous phone calls were received from other family members expressing their love for her. A private family celebration of life will be held at a later date.
She was born Luella June Brainard on July 31, 1924, in Englewood, Calif., to Albert and Bessie Dunson Brainard. She was the youngest of three children growing op in Long Beach, Calif. She married Kent Larsen, Jan. 23, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas, while he was in the Army Air Corps. They had four children, Sandra, Gayle, Jeff and Coreen.
Kent and Lue lived in numerous places before moving to Alturas, California in 1951, where he managed the Modoc County Title Company for many years. Lue was well known for her excellent organizational and entertaining skills, assisting her husband with the social aspects of his business. Although for a short time she enjoyed managing the museum in Alturas, her priority was her family. They always came first in her life.
After Kent’s retirement, they moved to Cottonwood, Calif. He passed away Sept. 3, 1989. For a while she lived primarily alone, but eventually, due to health problems, she sold their home and moved in with her daughter Coreen just outside of Cottonwood. Sometime later they relocated to Red Bluff, Calif. The end of April 2003, she moved to Settler’s Park in Baker City, Oregon to be near her daughter, Gayle.
Surviving family are her daughter Gayle and husband Rick Hack of Baker City, Ore., son Jeff and wife Stacey Larsen of Alturas, Calif., and daughter Coreen Griffin of Corning, Calif. Grandchildren include Shannon Miley and son Noah of Orland, Calif, Gregg Miley of Chico, Calif., Tiffani Miley and sons Ian and Josh of Kelso, Wash., Jami and Adam Thibodeau and daughters Jordan and Tristan and son Logan of Redding, Calif., Shani Kerr of Red Bluff, Calif., and C.J. and Alexandra Griffin of Corning, Calif. Lue’s sister Betty Woodworth resides in Coarsegold, Calif. and her sister in law Alexia Hardt lives in Klamath Falls, Ore. There are numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Sandra Miley and her brother Al Brainard.
Throughout the years she enjoyed camping, traveling, entertaining friends and family, gardening, many animals, music and singing, card games, bingo and chocolate. Socializing and meeting new people, especially children, was a special joy for her. Lue was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend who touched the lives of everyone she met with her humor and caring ways. He was well loved by all and will be truly missed.
Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel is handling arrangements, 1500 Dewey Avenue, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, March 20, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor