Life Story for Maybelle Harriet West
Maybelle Harriet West passed away on June 19, 2019 at Hood River Care Center and was 103 years of age at the time of her passing. Maybelle had resided previously at Hawks Ridge Assisted Living. Maybelle was born on March 14, 1916 in La Center, Washington to parents Lewis Andrew and Mary Belle (Hanson) Moore. The family moved to White Salmon when Maybelle was 2 because of her mother’s asthma. She had one older sister, Hazel Lucille Moore-Fordyce born on December 22, 1908 who lived in White Salmon her whole life and she and Maybelle were very close.
Maybelle attended White Salmon Elementary and Columbia High School and graduated in 1935. She had many close friends including Doris Martin Kringelhede, Janet Cochran, Dorothy Atherton and Bette Balsiger, Lorna (Cox) and Louise Fredericks. Maybelle made the comment one time saying," Can you believe that my friends and I walked down the 652 steps from White Salmon to the Hood River Bridge? Walked across it for 10 cents, went to Penneys and Paris Fair to shop then walk back across the bridge and back up the steps to home!
Maybelle took ballet lessons all through high school and still had the beaded bag where she kept her ballet slippers. She loved dancing in high school plays too.
Her family bought their house from Teunis Weyers in 1920 and remodeled it in 1924. The first telephone service for White Salmon was located in that house! Maybelle's father, Lewis Moore worked on the Condit Dam for several years.Her mother's brother, Frederick Hanson lived with them and owned the shoe shop he purchased from Mr. Breedlove. He was a respected businessman in town. Her mom's parents also lived with them until their deaths and are buried in La Center.
Maybelle's folks also rented out a room to the Johnson brothers, Frank and Clarence.Maybelle, at age 16 lost her mother while she was visiting her sister Nellie Fuller in Portland. She had a heart attack. She had asthma and was on new medication and mom always thought her attack was from that medicine. Four years later to the day Maybelle's dad died because of a broken heart so mom always said. They are both buried in La Center.
Maybelle married Ivan "Ike" Hylton West on June 7 1935 in Yakima, Washington. They married there because her mom was no longer living and she didn't want a huge wedding without her.
During the war, Ike tried working at the shipyards in Vancouver, Wa. he became ill from working there and couldn't get into the service because of a bad hip, so he and Maybelle traveled to Eastern Washington to work on the roads for the war effort. They lived in a tent for a while until it caught on fire when they moved to a cabin located on Rim Rock Lake. They had to row the boat across to be able to drive to Yakima for groceries once a month. Mom spoke of a soiree their friends gave them when they were first married. Mom was a little disappointed because all of the gifts weren't wrapped and everyone knew what they were getting!!! No surprises! A joke of that era!
They also purchased a small trailer to use as they traveled to more job sites. As they started a family, mom stayed with a friend in Portland when she was due to deliver Greg. Then as work went on, they stayed with Ike's parents, Cecil and Nettie West who ran the Hood View Hotel in White Salmon when Barbara was about to be delivered and while finishing their house on Estes. They also rented a little apartment while finishing the house too. They moved in just before Barbara was born. This is where she and Ike raised the children and after he died in 1988, she lived there until she moved in with Barbara and Marty (her husband) in the Vancouver area at the age of 92. Marty and Barb moved back up to White Salmon and remodeled the old house and moved in. Maybelle moved into Hawks Ridge at that time.
Maybelle worked at Heaman's Grocery Store and Variety Store in the 1950s then started working for Hunsaker's Chevrolet Garage as a bookkeeper and was there for 25 years. She was a member of the Rebekah's Lodge, Eastern Star, and ladies of the Elks. Not only did Maybelle have a full- time job she canned the vegetables she raised and canned the fruit she purchased at Arnet's. She did her own gardening and landscaping. Also, she loved crocheting many afghans that her children and grandchildren are now enjoying. Needless to say, she was never idle! It is worth noting that she never liked napping! A waste of time she thought.
Another hobby was sewing. She sewed many dresses and shirts for the family. Not only did she sew for the family, but she also sewed costumes for her and Ike for they belonged to the Dance Club. Maybelle really enjoyed reading from the daily Oregonian, the weekly Enterprise and many books a month while she could read. Then once Macular Degeneration took over her sight, she listened to books on CD and listened to hundreds!!!! Baseball and Football were her pastimes too, especially the Seahawks!!!!
Her recent comment to a nurse that asked the question of what is your secret to a long life? She stated that ballroom dancing and gardening is the secret!!!!
Maybelle, after Ike died in 1988, started to attend United Methodist Church in White Salmon regularly. She also planted flowers in the entry planter boxes by the front steps of the church. Her part of giving to the church and to God.
Those of us left behind are her children. Gregory Lewis West, Karen Lee Graham-West deceased, Loretta Jean Boran, deceased Grandchildren Brian Lee West and Kristen Wright-West and Great Grandsons Casey Lee and Carson Keith. Shawn Lewis West and Great Grandchildren Taylor, Jason, Jordan, McKaylyn, and Madison. Great Grandson Brandon Stuart and Grandson Donald Gale and Granddaughter Trina Mae. Barbara Jean West-James and Marty James, son-in-law. Granddaughter Rachel Beth Danner and Great Granddaughter Annaliese Maybelle, Tristan Andrew, and Quinn James. Grandson Michael Andrew James and longtime friend Violet Tchalakov. Maybelle's Nieces are Sandra Lee Fordyce deceased. Alzora Lee Camp. Nephews are Damon Cecil Camp and Judy Lessig. Joe Robert Camp and Jacqueline Carter; Friends: Gladys Castle, a good friend from Hawks Ridge, Laurine and Pete from church and Shirley Kerber, a great neighbor, Billie Maxwell, a longtime acquaintance. Mark Cox, son of longtime family friends Dobie and Lorna Cox. Lena and Frank Daubenspeck both deceased and Susie McKee Daubenspeck Reese a very close friend of Maybelle, Ike, and especially Barbara! Many unnamed friends during Maybelle's life that aren't mentioned here, but not forgotten.
Maybelle was well known as one of the nicest, sweetest people in the world and we will proudly remember her that way.
She is predeceased by Ivan West 1988 husband; Hazel Fordyce 2005 sister; Sandy Lee Fordyce Jackson 2016 niece; Karen Lee West 2005 ex-daughter-in-law; Loretta Jean Boram 2017 daughter-in-law.
A service will be held 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at Hawks Ridge (1795 8th Street, Hood River, Oregon, 97031). Memorial contributions can be made out to Hospice of the Gorge C/O Anderson’s Tribute Center (1401 Belmont Ave, Hood River, Oregon, 97031).
Thank you to the nurses and doctors of Providence Hospital, The Columbian Gorge Medical Center, Hawks Ridge, Forest, Mark, Pam, Paula, Michelle, Deana, Rachel, Vicki, Ben and all of the attendants that have become close friends there. Also, thank you to the Hood River Care Center and the devoted nurses and attendants there that looked after mom until the end of life. Maybelle said, "Dance in the garden for long life."
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
Maybelle attended White Salmon Elementary and Columbia High School and graduated in 1935. She had many close friends including Doris Martin Kringelhede, Janet Cochran, Dorothy Atherton and Bette Balsiger, Lorna (Cox) and Louise Fredericks. Maybelle made the comment one time saying," Can you believe that my friends and I walked down the 652 steps from White Salmon to the Hood River Bridge? Walked across it for 10 cents, went to Penneys and Paris Fair to shop then walk back across the bridge and back up the steps to home!
Maybelle took ballet lessons all through high school and still had the beaded bag where she kept her ballet slippers. She loved dancing in high school plays too.
Her family bought their house from Teunis Weyers in 1920 and remodeled it in 1924. The first telephone service for White Salmon was located in that house! Maybelle's father, Lewis Moore worked on the Condit Dam for several years.Her mother's brother, Frederick Hanson lived with them and owned the shoe shop he purchased from Mr. Breedlove. He was a respected businessman in town. Her mom's parents also lived with them until their deaths and are buried in La Center.
Maybelle's folks also rented out a room to the Johnson brothers, Frank and Clarence.Maybelle, at age 16 lost her mother while she was visiting her sister Nellie Fuller in Portland. She had a heart attack. She had asthma and was on new medication and mom always thought her attack was from that medicine. Four years later to the day Maybelle's dad died because of a broken heart so mom always said. They are both buried in La Center.
Maybelle married Ivan "Ike" Hylton West on June 7 1935 in Yakima, Washington. They married there because her mom was no longer living and she didn't want a huge wedding without her.
During the war, Ike tried working at the shipyards in Vancouver, Wa. he became ill from working there and couldn't get into the service because of a bad hip, so he and Maybelle traveled to Eastern Washington to work on the roads for the war effort. They lived in a tent for a while until it caught on fire when they moved to a cabin located on Rim Rock Lake. They had to row the boat across to be able to drive to Yakima for groceries once a month. Mom spoke of a soiree their friends gave them when they were first married. Mom was a little disappointed because all of the gifts weren't wrapped and everyone knew what they were getting!!! No surprises! A joke of that era!
They also purchased a small trailer to use as they traveled to more job sites. As they started a family, mom stayed with a friend in Portland when she was due to deliver Greg. Then as work went on, they stayed with Ike's parents, Cecil and Nettie West who ran the Hood View Hotel in White Salmon when Barbara was about to be delivered and while finishing their house on Estes. They also rented a little apartment while finishing the house too. They moved in just before Barbara was born. This is where she and Ike raised the children and after he died in 1988, she lived there until she moved in with Barbara and Marty (her husband) in the Vancouver area at the age of 92. Marty and Barb moved back up to White Salmon and remodeled the old house and moved in. Maybelle moved into Hawks Ridge at that time.
Maybelle worked at Heaman's Grocery Store and Variety Store in the 1950s then started working for Hunsaker's Chevrolet Garage as a bookkeeper and was there for 25 years. She was a member of the Rebekah's Lodge, Eastern Star, and ladies of the Elks. Not only did Maybelle have a full- time job she canned the vegetables she raised and canned the fruit she purchased at Arnet's. She did her own gardening and landscaping. Also, she loved crocheting many afghans that her children and grandchildren are now enjoying. Needless to say, she was never idle! It is worth noting that she never liked napping! A waste of time she thought.
Another hobby was sewing. She sewed many dresses and shirts for the family. Not only did she sew for the family, but she also sewed costumes for her and Ike for they belonged to the Dance Club. Maybelle really enjoyed reading from the daily Oregonian, the weekly Enterprise and many books a month while she could read. Then once Macular Degeneration took over her sight, she listened to books on CD and listened to hundreds!!!! Baseball and Football were her pastimes too, especially the Seahawks!!!!
Her recent comment to a nurse that asked the question of what is your secret to a long life? She stated that ballroom dancing and gardening is the secret!!!!
Maybelle, after Ike died in 1988, started to attend United Methodist Church in White Salmon regularly. She also planted flowers in the entry planter boxes by the front steps of the church. Her part of giving to the church and to God.
Those of us left behind are her children. Gregory Lewis West, Karen Lee Graham-West deceased, Loretta Jean Boran, deceased Grandchildren Brian Lee West and Kristen Wright-West and Great Grandsons Casey Lee and Carson Keith. Shawn Lewis West and Great Grandchildren Taylor, Jason, Jordan, McKaylyn, and Madison. Great Grandson Brandon Stuart and Grandson Donald Gale and Granddaughter Trina Mae. Barbara Jean West-James and Marty James, son-in-law. Granddaughter Rachel Beth Danner and Great Granddaughter Annaliese Maybelle, Tristan Andrew, and Quinn James. Grandson Michael Andrew James and longtime friend Violet Tchalakov. Maybelle's Nieces are Sandra Lee Fordyce deceased. Alzora Lee Camp. Nephews are Damon Cecil Camp and Judy Lessig. Joe Robert Camp and Jacqueline Carter; Friends: Gladys Castle, a good friend from Hawks Ridge, Laurine and Pete from church and Shirley Kerber, a great neighbor, Billie Maxwell, a longtime acquaintance. Mark Cox, son of longtime family friends Dobie and Lorna Cox. Lena and Frank Daubenspeck both deceased and Susie McKee Daubenspeck Reese a very close friend of Maybelle, Ike, and especially Barbara! Many unnamed friends during Maybelle's life that aren't mentioned here, but not forgotten.
Maybelle was well known as one of the nicest, sweetest people in the world and we will proudly remember her that way.
She is predeceased by Ivan West 1988 husband; Hazel Fordyce 2005 sister; Sandy Lee Fordyce Jackson 2016 niece; Karen Lee West 2005 ex-daughter-in-law; Loretta Jean Boram 2017 daughter-in-law.
A service will be held 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at Hawks Ridge (1795 8th Street, Hood River, Oregon, 97031). Memorial contributions can be made out to Hospice of the Gorge C/O Anderson’s Tribute Center (1401 Belmont Ave, Hood River, Oregon, 97031).
Thank you to the nurses and doctors of Providence Hospital, The Columbian Gorge Medical Center, Hawks Ridge, Forest, Mark, Pam, Paula, Michelle, Deana, Rachel, Vicki, Ben and all of the attendants that have become close friends there. Also, thank you to the Hood River Care Center and the devoted nurses and attendants there that looked after mom until the end of life. Maybelle said, "Dance in the garden for long life."
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.