Edrie Antonia Wells, 85, died Jan. 1, 2007, at the Chehalem Care Center in Newberg.
There will be a celebration of Edrie’s life and memorial service at 11 a.m. Monday at Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception afterward. Interment will be in Pine Haven Cemetery at Halfway.
Edrie was born on Sept. 11, 1921, at Halfway to Maude and Louis Schmidt. She attended grade school at Halfway and during high school transferred to California. She was a Lodi High School graduate. After graduation, she married Charles Chaney and moved to Portland. They had a daughter, Monte Cree, in 1942.
Edrie and her second husband, Clyde T. Wells, had a son, Patrick Brian Wells, in 1949.
Edrie was a riveter in the Portland shipyards during World War II and sang jingles on the radio. In her 30s she decided to return to college and graduated with a teaching degree from Eastern Washington University at Ellensburg, Wash.
She worked her way through college by dealing 21 at Harrah’s Casino in Reno, Nev., during the summer months. After graduation she taught high school English at Aloha High School for more than 30 years. She retired in 1986.
Edrie returned to her hometown of Halfway and reunited with her high school sweetheart, George Poulis. They enjoyed several years together prior to his death.
Edrie loved to travel and considered her trip to Russia as the highlight. She was an accomplished musician, playing the piano, cello, accordion and drums. Edrie also enjoyed reading and knitting.
Survivors include her sister, Louise Morgan; daughter, Monte Cree and Joe Koller; granddaughter, Kari and Ken Salzberg; grandson, Eric Koller; two great-granddaughters; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Wilma Cox; a brother, Alton Schmidt; and her son, Patrick, who was killed in an automobile accident in 1972.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Halfway/Oxbow Ambulance Service or the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Foundation through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 5, 2007
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor