Vera “Valoria” Harrington McCullough, 90, of Haines, died on March 11, 2008, at her daughter’s home in Boise with her daughters at her side.
There will be a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. Monday at the Haines United Methodist Church. Visitations will begin at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the North Powder Cemetery. The Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Valoria was born May 22, 1917, at Altoona, Kan., to Ervin and Allie Harrington. She was the oldest of five daughters. She spent her early years in Kansas before moving to Oregon. She attended school at Bell School in Altoona, Kan., Pleasant Valley and Baker City.
Many of the friends she made during her childhood years have remained lifelong friends. Valoria was an avid letter writer and kept in touch with family and friends. She organized her family’s reunion for the past 12 years.
She was a member of the Haines Grange, the Haines Stampede & Rodeo Association and the 1917’ers Club. She was also a Cub Scout leader in the mid 1960s.
Survivors include her children, Michael Carroll and his wife, Ruby, of Columbia City, John McCullough and his wife, Marrianne, of Arlington, Wash., Marjorie and her husband, Richard Smith, Reno, Nev., Cleoria and her husband, Gary Glenn, of Boise, Diane Carroll, Reta Atkinson of Weiser, Idaho, and Linda McCullough of Weiser, Idaho; two sisters, Helen Bogart of John Day, and Eula Thompson, of Prairie City; 27 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren, and 18 great-great-grandchildren; nephews, Ted and Fonda Thompson, and Danny and Bruna Bogart; nieces, Susan and Jim Kirkwood, Roberta and Kent Hutchens and Sherry and Rodney Loennig; and numerous cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ervin and Allie Harrington; her husband, Franklyn; two sisters, Elaine Wilcher and Irene Van Houten; one grandchild, Mary Helen Kivett; three great-grandchildren, Cherokee Gibson, Joshua Kessel and Murphy Nichols; and one nephew Sherman Cairns.
“Mom always said, ‘If you can’t give me flowers when I’m alive, please don’t give them to me when I’m gone.’ ” her family said.
Instead, she requested memorial contributions to the Haines United Methodist Church.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, March 19, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor