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Wallowa County Obituaries

~ Childers ~

     While picking flowers with playmates near the Wallowa river at Minam last Saturday, May 8, Betty Childers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Childers lost her balance and fell down the steep bank into the stream. She had been perhaps ten feet above the river. The water was high and deep quite to the bank. The child was carried about a mile down stream where her body was found half an hour later.
     She would have been three years old June 2 and was born near Lostine, where her parents formerly lived. Her parents and a baby brother, 15 months old, survive her. Funeral services were held Sunday at Elgin where the girl was laid to rest.

      Boone Childers, the well known freighter between Elgin and Wallowa for 25 years, died Monday June 24, at Wallowa of heart disease.  He was buried the following day at Lostine.  Mr. Childers was born October 9, 1868, in Scotland county, Missouri, and came west when a young man.  His wife, who was Miss Maude Herring [Hearing], and four children survive.  One brother, George lives at Lostine, and another W. S. Childers, lives at Elmira,
Wash., and Mrs. Belle Merritt, a sister, lives at Allerton, Iowa.

     Cecil Childers, 91, of Joseph, died at La Grande, on May 18, 1991. He was born July 6, 1899, at Lostine, the son of George and Liza (Herring) Childers.
     On July 24, 1921, he married his wife, Thelma Marie. He worked for the park services.
     Survivors include his wife, Thelma of Joseph; son, Jack, of Joseph; and grandchildren.
     Funeral arrangements were held at the Joseph Baptist Church with vault interment following in the Lostine Cemetery.
     Memorial in his memory may be made to the charity of one's choice in care of Bollman Funeral Home, in Enterprise.

     Claire Amos Childers, 79, died Monday, May 28, 1990 in Klamath Falls, OR. He is survived by his wife, Lucille Childers; sons, James and Eugene Childers, all Klamath Falls, OR. Services will he held Saturday, June 2, 1990 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church, Enterprise, OR with the Bollman Funeral Home officiating. Burial will follow in the Enterprise Cemetery. Davenport's Chapel of the Good Shepherd is in charge of the local arrangements.

     Enterprise native, Claire Amos Childers, died May 28, 1990, in Klamath Falls. He was born Aug. 16, 1910, in Enterprise, the son of Earl and Edna (Knapp) Childers.
     On June 6, 1929, he married Lucille Sizemore in Enterprise.
    Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Eugene Childers and James Childers, Klamath Falls; sisters Oma Smith, Myrtle Creek, Arvilla Krantz, Las Vegas, Nev.; brother Bill Childers, Rathburn, Idaho; step-mother, May Childers, Las Vegas; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
     Services were held Saturday, June 2, at the Enterprise Christian Church with Dan Troutman officiating. Special music was provided by Nyoda Scott.
     Interment followed at the Enterprise Cemetery.

     CHILDERS - Claire B. Childers of Vida, Oregon died October 13, 1962. He was born June 12, 1905 in Lostine, Oregon. He had been a resident of this community for the past 22 years. He was owner and operator of Claire's Barber Shop, 942 Oak Street. He was a member of the Eugene Elks Lodge Number 357. Survived by this wife, Leona; 1 daughter, Geraldeen Mobley of Los Angeles; 1 brother, Cecil of Joseph, Oregon; 3 sisters; Vera Pearson of Portland, Maxine Schumaker of Kelso, Washington and Verda Davis of Emmett, Idaho. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 16, 1962 at 2 p.m. in Simon-Lounsbury Funeral Chapel. Dr. Carlton C. Buck officiating. Interment Rest Haven.

     MILTON-FREEWATER - Dale Childers, 57, of Milton-Freewater, died Sunday, Nov. 13, 1988, at his home.
     At Childers' request there will be no funeral service.
     He was born Aug. 7, 1931, in Wallowa, to Cecil and Thelma Crow Childers. He grew up in the Wallowa Valley and graduated from Joseph High School in 1949.
     He attended Moler Barber College at Portland, graduating in 1950. Childers owned and operated barbershops at Klamath Falls and Arlington before moving to the Milton-Freewater area in the late 1960s. He operated Dale's Barber Shop in Milton-Freewater for 20 years.
     On Nov. 5, 1973, he married Jan Hobbs at Lewiston, Idaho. Childers was a past member of the Elks and Eagles lodges.
     Survivors include his wife, at home; sons, Michael of Sacramento, Calif., and Craig of Redding, Calif.; daughter, Lynette Haines of Portland; stepdaughter, Kristine (Mrs. David) Murray of Milton-Freewater and Paula Hobbs of Spokane; his parents, Cecil and Thelma Childers of Joseph; a brother, Jack of Portland and three grandchildren. A sister, Lois Sample, died in July 1987.
     Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner's Hospital or Meadowood Springs Speech Camp though Munsell-Rhodes Funeral Home in Milton-Freewater.

     Mrs. Earl Childers died early on the morning of Wednesday, October 23, at the family home in Enterprise. For three years she had been a sufferer from pulmonary tuberculosis. She made a brave fight against the dread disease but nothing could stay its progress. Late Tuesday she was seen to be growing faint and before the night had advanced far she lapsed into unconsciousness and life departed as she lay quietly as if sleeping.
     Mrs. Childers was Edna Knapp the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Knapp of Leap. She was born in Union county and was 22 years old on February 2 of this year. When sixteen years old she married Mr. Childers March 14, 1906.
     She went to the Oregon state tuberculosis sanatorium at Salem April 11 of this year, after she and her family had vainly sought to stop the advances of consumption. She believed she was improving, but this was a false hope, and she came back to Enterprise, October 5.
     There are three children, Jimmie, five years old, is with his grandmother, Mrs. J. W. Childers, Clair, two, is with an aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Chapman, and Oma B., the one year old girl, is cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Childers.
     Two brothers, Guy and Bud, and two sisters, Mrs. Harry Hearing and Mrs. Hartley Whitmore, also survive their sister.
     The funeral will be held this Thursday morning, probably at the Methodist church in this city, Rev. B.F. Meredith will conduct the services. Burial will be in the Enterprise cemetery.

     Eliza Mary Crossler passed away at her home in Walla Walla November 28. She was born February 2, 1878, at Sweet Home, Oregon. Her parents, George and Mary Hearing, with their family, came to Wallowa county in 1884, settling in the hill country east of Lostine where they farmed many years and endured the hardships of the early pioneers. Years later they moved to Lostine and then to Wallowa.
     Eliza was married to George Childers and to this union seven children were born, five of whom survive.
     Mr. Childers carried the Lostine mail to the first passenger train coming into the county, and held this position until his death many years afterward. They were both members of the Christian church.
     Several years later she married E. A. Crossler, a prosperous farmer of the Chapman district. After selling their farm they moved to Walla Walla where they have since resided.
     She is survived by her husband; two sons, Cecil of Joseph and Clair of Eugene; three daughters, Mrs. Vera Pierson and Mrs. Maxine Schumacher of Portland; and Mrs. Verda Davis of Emmett, Idaho; one brother, M. V. Hearing of Joseph, Oregon, and one sister, May of Medford. She also leaves nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; besides three step-daughters, Mrs. Charles (Eula Bloodsworth of Hermiston, Mrs. Quentin (Irene) Lathrop of Lostine, and Mrs. Herman (Marie) Wood of Colville, Washington; and several nieces and nephews.
     While rearing her family Mrs. Crossler always found time to assist her neighbors in times of need. After her children were grown she became interested in painting, and many of her pictures adorn the homes of her children and close friends. Some of her best were painted at the age of seventy-three.
     Services were held at MacMartin & Chamberlain "Chapel of the Chimes" in Walla Walla Tuesday, December 1st, 1953. Concluding services were at Mt. View Cemetery in Walla Walla. All members of her family attended.

     Mrs. Emma Childers, widow of the late James W. Childers, passed away Saturday evening, July 16, 1932, at the home of her son Earl Childers, east of Joseph.
     She was taken ill with a heart affliction seven weeks ago and was confined to her bed since then. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon in the Methodist church and burial was in the Enterprise cemetery. The pastor Rev. Hall K. Wallis, conducted the services.
     Emma Tice was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Tice and was born in Salem, Jan. 12, 1854. Her mother was born in New Hampshire and crossed the plains with the Whitman party, and her father was born in New Jersey. She was married to James W. Childers at Weiser, Idaho, June 5, 1870.
     They lived on a farm near Summerville until 1892 when they moved to a farm at Elgin, and then made their home in town until 1899, when they came to Wallowa county and settled on a farm on Trout Creek. That remained their home until Mr. Childers passed away, October 4, 1929, although they were away from it a few years.
     Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Childers. One passed away in infancy and six survive: Mrs. E. A. Breshears of San Jose, Calif.; Mrs. L. M. Carswell of San Francisco, Calif.; Mrs. Dora Becker of Portland; and William, Albert and Earl, and there are 22 grand children and 11 great grandchildren.
     Mrs. Carswell arrived from San Francisco June 23 after driving from that city to Portland in two days, and she remained in constant attendance on her mother until the last. Four children were at Mrs. Childers bedside when she passed away, Mrs. Carswell and the three sons, William, Albert and Earl.
     A native Oregonian, Mrs. Childers was of pioneer stock and had seen the west develop from a wilderness to its present condition.

     LOSTINE, Ore. (Special) - Another of Wallowa county's influential citizens and pioneers was laid to rest Sunday afternoon. Perhaps no man in the county was better known than George Childers, having lived here 37 years. To know him was to become his friend. Few men have been more closely associated with the development of Wallowa county. He served on the freight lines between Wallowa county and Union county until the railroad made its appearance and he met the first train as a mail carrier to the Lostine depot. This position he served faithfully for 33 years, having failed only one-half day before his death.
     George Finley Childers, youngest son of Robert and Mary Childers, was born in Scotland county, Missouri, Sept. 15, 1867. At the age of 20 he came west to the state of Washington and spent the winter near Spokane. After a harvest near Walla Walla he moved to the Grande Ronde valley where he made his home with his cousin, Jim Childers. Being possessed of the true pioneer spirit, he was not satisfied with what that country offered and he and his brother, Boon, came to Wallowa county and homesteaded in 1894. Mr. Childers has been a man of much influence and highly esteemed by those who knew him.
     On Oct. 23, 1896 he was married to Mary Eliza Herring, of Enterprise, and to this union seven children were born, five of whom survive. Clarice died in infancy and Russell at the age of 11. Cecil, Clair, Vera and Verda reside in Wallowa county and Mrs. Max Nicolas, of Pendleton. Mr. Childers has been for many years an officer of the Christian church and his life has been an example of his true Christian faith. He was a member of the I.O. O. F. lodge. As a friend he was loyal, as a neighbor he was kind and obliging and he was a patient and loving father and husband. This vicinity will long remember George Childers, as he was loved by everyone.
     In addition to the many friends he is survived by his widow and five children as well as six grandchildren, one brother, Lawrence, of Spokane, and a sister, Bell Merritt, of Alerton, Iowa. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Fred Harriman, assisted by Rev. Arthur Harriman at the Christian church which was crowded to capacity. Burial was made in the Lostine cemetery.

     Howard Boone Childers, a native of Lostine and son of the late B. F. and Maude Childers, passed away at his home in Kennewick, Wash., on Monday, May 8, 1967. Funeral services were held yesterday (Wednesday) at 10:30 a.m. at the Desert Memorial Chapel in Kennewick.
     He was a retired forest service employee, and at one time worked for the Walla Walla ranger district of the Umatilla National Forest and resided in College Place.
     He is survived by a son, Howard J., assistant superintendent of schools in Kennewick, a daughter, Mrs. Gay Tracy of Hermiston, and four sisters, Mrs. Uley (Georgia) McGinnis of Enterprise, Mrs. Maurice Dimmick of Pendleton, Mrs. Norma Wood, of California, and Ruth, address unknown. There are also ten grandchildren and one great grandchild. A sister, Mrs. Pauline Cruzan, of Portland, passed away a few years ago.

     Resident of County for Many Years Crossed Plains In 1865.
     James W. Childers died early Friday morning, Oct. 4, 1929, at the Wallowa hospital where he had been taken on Thursday for an operation for cancer of the bladder, an affliction with which he had suffered for years, and for which he underwent an operation about 20 years ago.
     Mr. Childers had been in poor health for years but always refused to give way to his ill health and kept active in the management of his farm until a few weeks before his death, and not until the day before his death did he consent to enter the hospital, when he was taken to Wallowa and an operation performed from which he was unable to rally.
     Mr. Childers was born near Memphis, Scotland county, Missouri, Oct. 24, 1828, and crossed the plains in 1865 with his parents who settled near Summerville, in Union county. He lived with his parents until June 5, 1870 when he was married to Miss Emma J. Tice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Q. A. Tice, who came from Iowa in 1843 in the second wagon train to cross the plains to the far west. Mr. Childers father, James L. [sic - P.] Childers, died in Summerville in 1896 and his mother passed away in 1901.
     Mr. and Mrs. James W. Childers lived on a farm near Summerville until 1892, when they moved to a farm near Elgin, later moving into town where they lived until 1899 when they came to Wallowa county and settled on the farm north of Enterprise which has since been the family home, and where he farmed and raised some stock.
     Mr. Childers was one of the earliest pioneers of the Grande Ronde valley and always worked for the advancement of the country and for the cause of education and better facilities. He was a man of high character and moral worth. He was a charter member of Enterprise lodge, No. 154, I.O.O.F., and affiliated with the Masonic order.
     Mr. Childers leaves to mourn their loss his widow, Emma J. Childers, and six children: Mrs. Everett Breshears of Los Angeles; Mrs. Lillian Carswell of San Francisco, Calif.; William F. Childers of Enterprise; Mrs. Dora E. Beoker [sic - Becker] of Portland; Albert L. Childers of Enterprise; and Earl Childers of Enterprise; besides several grandchildren. One son, Charles L. Childers, preceded his father to the great beyond. All the living children, except Mrs. Carswell, who is ill in a sanitarium [sic - sanitarium] in Los Angeles, were present at the funeral, which was conducted Sunday at the Methodist church, of which Mr. Childers had been a member.

     We wish to thank our friends for the beautiful flowers and for their kind expression of sympathy during the sickness and death of our beloved husband and father, also Rev. Wallis and the I. O. O. F. and Rebekah lodges and Mr. Booth for his many favors. - Emma Childers and family.

     Former Wallowa County resident, Lucille C. Childers died July 11, 1996, at Medford.
     She was born May 16, 1911, at Milner, Idaho, the daughter of Frank O. and Rosella (Bennett) Sizemore.
     On June 6, 1929, she married Claire Childers at Enterprise. He preceded her in death on May 29, 1990.
     She is survived by sons, James Childers and Eugene Childers, both of Klamath Falls; sister, Ruth Bragg of Medford; grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
     Graveside services were held Monday, July 15, at 1 p.m. at the Enterprise Cemetery.
     Memorials may be made to the Enterprise Christian Church in care of the Bollman Funeral Home, 315 W. Main, Enterprise.

     HERMISTON - The funeral for Minnie M. Childers will be 10 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel at Burns Mortuary of Hermiston with burial to follow at the Hermiston Cemetery.
     Mrs. Childers, 93, of Hermiston, died Sunday, July 14, 1996 at her home.
     She was born Feb. 21, 1903, at Tillamook, to John and Elvira Parrish Bailey. She grew up in Wallowa County and lived there until her marriage to Howard B. Childers. The couple moved to Walla Walla. She came to Hermiston in 1953.
     Mrs. Childers enjoyed playing cards, fishing and quilting.
     Survivors include her son, H. Jay Childers of Prosser, Wash.; daughter Gay Van Scholack of Hermiston; brother, Walter Bailey of Hermiston; 10 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. Her husband, Howard, parents, two brothers, and one sister preceded her in death.
     Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.

     Robert Edward Childers III, 60, an artist, who designed the Hobbie Holly cloth doll while on the staff of American Greetings Inc. in New York, died Saturday in Medford.
     Enturnment [sic - Interment] will be in Jacksonville Cemetery with Hillcrest Mortuary, Medford, in charge of arrangements. No service is planned.
      Mr. Childers was born Jan. 21, 1924, in Lostin [sic - Lostine], Ore. He attended Medford schools, graduating in 1941 from Medford High School. While a student he had small parts in early Oregon Shakespearean Festival productions in Ashland.
     Following graduation he served in the U.S. Navy for six years.
     He then attended school in Copa, Miami, Fla., Philadelphia Museum School of Art, and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, from which he received his master's degree. He received a gold medal upon graduating from the Museum School of Art and attended the Academy of Fine Arts on a Cresent scholarship.
     He also attended evening classes at Fleisher Memorial and performed for two years with the Philadelphia Dance Theater.
     His paintings - oil on canvas and wood - are exhibited in Philadelphia galleries, including three permanent exhibits in Wagner, Pa., and Minsky History of Theater. He was sponsored for three one-man shows in Philadelphia.
     While in Florida he worked for Ron Rico Rum.
     Following his studies, he worked in fabrics, film production, toys and illustrations for publishers with du Pont in New York City. At the same time he maintained a studio and old twine factory over the Cherry Lane Theater.
     He lived in Greenwich Village for 19 years before accepting a position developing new products for American Greetings Inc. While there he designed the Hobbie Holly cloth doll. His paintings are on display in Washington Square.
     Returning to Pennsylvania, he joined the staff of Norcross Inc. and opened a gallery. "The Red Pony", in Eagle, Pa., where he lived until returning to Medford in 1980. While here he worked as an artist.
     Survivors include his mother, Flora Merriken, Central Point; one brother, Tom Childers, Hayward, Calif.; and one son, Toby Childers.

     Russel Gesner Childers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Childers, passed away July 5 after an illness which lasted several months. Early in September he began showing signs of extreme nervousness and later this was accompanied by paralysis on one side. A short time before his death he was stricken by apoplexy.
     His death has saddened the hearts of all who knew him as his sunny smile and loving disposition will be missed by all his friends and playmates.
     He was born at Lostine May 6, 1913, being 11 years, 1 month and 29 days old. He leaves to mourn his loss, his father and mother, three sisters, and two brothers.

     We wish to thank all our friends and neighbors who contributed the floral offerings, and who assisted so kindly during the sickness and death of our little son and brother Russel. - Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Childers and family.

     Graveside services will be held at the Lostine Cemetery for Thelma Childers on Thursday, March 27, 1997 at 2 p.m.
     Mrs. Childers, a lifelong resident of Wallowa County was 97 years of age. Born at Hurricane Creek on December 12, 1899, the daughter of Grace and S. P. Crow, she attended and graduated from Lostine Schools. On July 24, 1921, she married Cecil Childers and has lived most of her remaining years in Joseph.
     She was preceded by her husband in 1991. She was a longtime member of the Eastern Star, Rebeccas, Daughters of the Nile and the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion. She worked for many years at several local businesses and had many friends.
     She is survived by one son, Jack of Joseph; a sister, Mina Houser of Elgin; a brother, Wayne Crow of California; nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
     Memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice in care of the Bollman Funeral Home.

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