Life Long Resident Of County Succumbs
Mae Robinson West well known long time pioneer resident of La Grande, passed away at the St. Joseph Hospital October 29, 1961 at the age of 82.
Mrs. West was the daughter of George Washington Robinson and Susan Bay who came to Oregon in a covered wagon in the 1800’s. Mrs. West was born in La Grande on February 3, 1879.
Mrs. West and her sister operated a seamstress business in La Grande in the late 1800’s continuing this business until 1902. Mrs. West then went to work as the first telephone operator in La Grande. She later became bookkeeper for N. K. West and Co. in La Grande working there nineteen years.
On January 10, 1923, Mae Mabel Robinson married N. K. West in La Grande and she then retired from the business world to become a house wife.
Mrs. West’s husband was the founder of the N. K. West and Co. which he later sold to what is now Falk’s Department Store. They were also owners of the N. K. West dairy and had considerable real estate around the La Grande, area.
Mae Robinson West is survived by a step grandson, Ken Siegrist, of La Grande, four nephews, Leslie Robinson, Athena, Oregon, Gene Robinson, Wallace Robinson, and Eldon Robinson, all of Tempe, Arizona and one niece, Mrs. Betty McCambridge of Vale, Oregon.
Services for Mae West were held at the Dempsey’s Funeral Chapel Wednesday, November 1st at 2;00 P.M. Reverend Louis M. Samson officiated. Vault Interment was at the Hillcrest Cemetery.
La Grande Eastern Oregon Review,
Thursday, 2 November 1961, Page 1.
Contributed by: Robert C. Bull