Obituaries for Dec. 30, 2009

Evelyn Neal

Evelyn Rose Neal, 93, of Cortez, Colo., died Dec. 26, 2009, at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez.

Disposition was by cremation, and no services are planned.

Evelyn was born on July 7, 1916, in Sugar City, Idaho, to George and Irene (Bruce) Curtis.

Evelyn was an active member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Baker City. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking, and decorating for the holidays.

Evelyn is survived by her children: Edryn Kast and her husband, William, of Dolores, Colo., and Bracey Neal and his wife, Shelby, of Carson City, Nev.; 14 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and her siblings, Bruce Curtis of Ripon, Calif., Aradeth Adkisson of Cottonwood, Ariz., Romona Mortensen of Ceres, Calif., Raydene Cravey of Los Angeles, and Paul Curtis of Modesto, Calif.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bracey Neal; her children, Blaine Johnson, Jack Johnson and Rowena Hastaran; and her brother, George Curtis.

To send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.

Elva Lois Franklin

Her funeral was Dec. 23 at the Pine Baptist Church in Halfway. Pastor Shawn Thatcher officiated. Interment was at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. 

Lois was born April 21, 1939, at Derek’s County, Ark., to Elven Lois Jones and Doshie Lorene “Gilbert” Jones. She shared her growing up years with two sisters, Minie Sue and Euphema Gay, and one brother Bobby D., and a few years later another sister, Wynnie Lorene. She grew up in Turkey, Texas, and Acuff, Texas. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1957. 

Lois met the man of her dreams, James Wayland Franklin, and they eloped two weeks later in Juarez, Mexico. They shared their life in Lubbock, Texas, before moving to Yuma, Ariz. In December of 1958 they were blessed with a son, Steven B., who was only to be with them a short few days. Not long after they were given the gift of James Sr.’s son, James Jr., who at age 2 came to live with them. They then moved to Phoenix in 1959. There she gave birth to a daughter, Anitra Louise, in May of 1960, and in July of 1961 another daughter, Elizabeth Kay. 

In 1962 they moved to Las Vegas, where Lois was a homemaker and mother. She enjoyed cooking and sewing and was a great winning bowler. She played on many leagues throughout the years. She also taught cooking for 4-H. She was active in all her children’s lives. Her dream was to own her own restaurant and that dream was granted in 1968-1971 with a little mom and pop cafe. She loved the work and was successful. 

In 1970 the family moved out of Las Vegas to a farm/ranch in Alamo, Nev. There she had plenty of room for her gardens; she loved raising roses of all colors. Her front yard was a rainbow in spring and summer. She also raised every kind of chicken she could get her hands on. Even ducks and peacocks. She also raised sheep, many from bottles.

Eventually they moved another 52 miles to Rachel, Nev., where the ranching was left behind and farming took over. She still had her chickens for a while but the weather was too cold. She still had her huge gardens, feeding not only her family but many others as well. Lois had a green thumb and could grow most anything. She also had the opportunity to have her second restaurant, in Rachel, which was a huge success. She finally had to stop after a long illness, which saddened her.

In 1986 they moved to Adrian, where they once again were farming. The place was a lot smaller but the soil was rich and she was once again able to plant her roses and vegetable gardens. She was able to start her bowling leagues again, which made her really happy, and also to raise chickens.

In 1990 they moved to Halfway, closer to the more important things, like fishing. After the loss of her husband, James, in January of 2000, she stayed in Halfway for five years. She loved going to Wild Bill’s for breakfast and soon was given the nickname of “Grandma Yuck.” She yucked all the odd things people would do like mix eggs in with hashbrowns.

She missed her daughter, Elizabeth, and all her grandchildren so in April of 2005 she moved to Logandale, Nev. She loved being close to them and cherished each moment she had, her family said.

Survivors include one son and two daughters: James and his wife, Nancy, of Las Vegas, Nev., Anitra Castleton of Halfway, and Elizabeth and her husband, Eric Hardym of Logandale, Nev.; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one brother and three sisters: Sue Roberts, Gaye Smith, Bobby D. Jones and Winnie Lorene Davis, all of Texas. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Wayland Franklin; her mother and father, Doshie and Elven Jones; her son, Steven B. Franklin; and a grandson, Ethan R. Castleton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pine Baptist Church building fund through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home P.O. Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834.