Ethel Hazel Patterson, 97, of John Day, died Oct. 9, 2005, at Blue Mountain Nursing Home in Prairie City.
Her graveside memorial service will be Saturday at the Fox Cemetery in Fox.
Ethel was born on Aug. 11, 1908, at Fox to George and Amanda Medlin Reed. She grew up in the Fox Valley and attended school at Cottonwood, John Day and Hood River.
In 1924, Ethel married John Smith at Hood River. She and John remained married for about 25 years before they divorced. She operated a dress shop and restaurant at Condon for a while. A few years later Ethel married Carl Patterson.
They lived at Mount Vernon, Baker City, and John Day. They also lived in Arizona where they ran a gas station and in Missouri where they had a chicken farm.
Ethel also worked as a beautician in Arkansas and ran an elevator in California for a hospital. Carl was a mail carrier at John Day and ran the stage from Condon to John Day. He died in 1995.
Ethel never had children, but had lots of nieces and nephews whom she helped raise. She was close to her family and friends and they all loved her dearly.
She loved attending family reunions at Fox and Raddue every year. Ethel had many hobbies, including crocheting, embroidery work and crafts. She really enjoyed outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting. One year she bagged a seven-point buck and she always caught a lot of fish on her fishing trips.
Survivors include 11 nieces, Arvilla Harris of Fox Valley, Nyla Thomas, Ann Bailey, Nada Smutz, Karen Lormand, Aletha Patterson, Dorothy Shaffer, Carol Cline, Kayrene Qualles, Colleen Mead, and Donna Farrar; and four nephews, Daryl Moore, Dale Moore, Sherm Kahler and Bob Reed.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters and one brother.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fox Cemetery through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.
Used with permission from :Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, October 14, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor