Iva Loraine Harvey Myers was born Nov. 28, 191,7 to Lawrence James Harvey and Iva Viola Thomas Harvey in Portland, Ore. She died July 10, 2009, at her home in Sumpter, Ore. after a long bout with cancer, which began in 2003 at which time it was suppressed then returned a few months ago to claim her life. She was the oldest of four children, but outlived all of her siblings.
Loraine’s funeral will be held July 17, 2009, at the McEwen Bible Fellowship Church at 2 pm. Public graveside services for her burial will follow immediately at the Sumpter Cemetery.
Loraine spent most of her youth living on a cherry orchard and farm in The Dalles, Ore. area. She grew up with hard work being a standard expected and accepted with a smile. She attended The Dalles High School and participated in marching band and several other activities.
After Loraine finished high school the family acquired property in Granite, Ore. where she spotted a fellow and told her mother, “I’m going to marry him some day.” Shortly thereafter Norman Lee Myers was hooked and they were married on Sept. 28, 1936, in Vancouver, Wash. Norman and Loraine bore three boys; Leland Lee who is married to Nancy Jeane Lougheed, Gerald Leroy (Jerry) was married to Arleta Joy McKrola, and Lawrence Gale who is married to Linda Louise Bacon.
Loraine is survived by 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren, sister-in-laws Nita Harvey and Donna Crook, and several nieces and nephews. She loved to crochet knit and sew making sun bonnet quilts for all of her grandchildren. When she didn’t have anything else to do she worked jigsaw and cross word puzzles to pass the time.
Norm and Loraine moved about quite a bit in their first years of marriage, following available work during the depression. They eventually ended up in Mt. Vernon, Ore. where Loraine became very active in the community. She was a member and officer of the local Post of the American Legion Auxiliary that built a new hall with volunteer labor under her watch, the building is now the Mt. Vernon Community Center. She was a Girl Scout Leader even though she had no girls, was an active 4-H leader teaching her boys how to cook, was a supporter of the school sports–traveling with a car load of girls while the boys traveled on the team bus, and she was instrumental in spearheading the building of a Community Park that continues in use over forty years later.
In the 1950s while still living in Mt. Vernon, the family built a log cabin in Granite where Loraine was an active participant peeling logs, hauling rocks for the foundation and fireplace, and of course someone had to supervise. The cabin is a family retreat enjoyed by all.
After the family moved to Sumpter in 1963, she really got active. Loraine helped found Sumpter Valley Days and worked during the old-fashioned 4th of July celebration. She was a charter member of Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration, Inc. and served as the depot agent and store keeper. She served Friends of the Sumpter Valley Dredge as one of the interpretive store managers. The Sumpter Womens Club was a welcome wagon, grief committee and event planner to which Loraine gave faithful assistance as an officer and active member. She spent some time as a welcomer at Sumpter Municipal Museum during its early years.
She was preceded in death by her husband Norm in 1990 and her son Jerry in 1999.
Loraine was always an active participant in which ever church was available to her as she moved around. The denomination did not matter as the principles were nearly the same and the fellowship was always the greatest.
Loraine loved to work in her garden with all the lovely flowers and would sit for hours on her front porch looking at the yard. The following poem reflects her closeness with her God.
In a Garden
To gladden jaded spirits
Upon this lovely day
A little touch of Eden,
God must have sent my way.
The peacefulness and calm
I found within this place
Was like the soothing balm
Of God’s redemptive grace.
Arrangements are in the care of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, Ore. 97814. Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice in care of Gray’s West & Company.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, July 16, 2009
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor