Ervyl Arminta Schroeder

Ervyl Arminta Schroeder, age 85, of Union, died Wednesday, December 17, 2003 at her home of an extended illness. Her three children were at her side. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Union at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2003 with Father Hank Albrecht officiating. Burial will follow at the Union Cemetery followed by a celebration of life reception at the Catholic Church hall in Union. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Mrs. Schroeder was born on August 26, 1918 to Charles and Mable (Woolf) Pike in Mtn. Home, Idaho. The family moved around to various locations in Oregon and Idaho, including Boise and Summerville. During the depression work was hard to come by but Charles Pike always found it and was able to provide the basics for his family. Ervyl was very much a country girl and helped out with the work and chores while always attending school. One of the schools she attended was Pleasant Grove in Summerville. Ervyl and her family eventually settled in Union where Charles was employed by the Ronde Valley lumber mill where he worked until his retirement. Ervyl graduated from Union High School in 1936 and then acquired her teaching certificate from Eastern Oregon Normal School in 1938. She taught in the one-room rural schools of Wallowa County including two years each at Lost Prairie, Trout Creek and Minam. She greatly enjoyed those times as she and her friends would ride horses to Troy to a dance or travel by car to the Lewiston Round-Up - a fairly rough road in those days. Ervyl was able to keep in touch with some of the many students and their families that she met there.

Ervyl met and married Frank Schroeder, a railroad carpenter who had migrated to Oregon from Illinois with Union Pacific in the 30's. Frank entered the service and World War II shortly thereafter. When Frank returned home after the war the couple settled in Union to raise a family. They subsequently had three children. Ervyl enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking and camping with Frank and later with the whole family. Frank passed away in 1961, leaving her to finish raising the children.

In 1955 Ervyl returned to the classroom as she was hired to teach at Union's J.F. Hutchinson elementary school. She taught 2nd Grade there, eventually moving over to the S.E. Miller school when it was built in 1958. After taking coursework over a number of summers she attained her bachelor's degree from Eastern Oregon College in 1960. She retired from teaching in 1981. Ervyl was an excellent teacher and was well-liked by her students and fellow teachers, as well as the custodial, secretarial and administrative staffs.

In retirement Ervyl was able to enjoy traveling. She bus toured across Canada and to the Eastern United States. She made several trips to Alaska to visit with her daughter and her family. She visited several other states with friends, including Branson, Missouri and enjoyed bus trips to gamble in Nevada.

She loved visiting and being with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was very caring and compassionate. She enjoyed socializing with her many friends and belonged to several clubs and organizations. Her recent favorites being TOPS and singles club. She was a devout Catholic and was an active member of the Sacred Heart Alter Society. She was an extremely generous person, not only to her family and friends but also to a variety of worthy causes.

Survivors include her daughters and their spouses, Fran and Jay Potter of Palmer, Alaska and Chris and Jim Harris of Marsing, Idaho; son and his wife, Scott and Cathy Schroeder of Union; grandchildren, Mike Potter and Paula Martone of Anchorage, Paul and Brandon Harris of Melba, Idaho, Cody Schroeder of Montrose, Colorado and Shandy Schroeder of Seattle, Washington; great grandchildren, twins, Mathew and Michaek Martone, Meghan Martone and Heaven and Wayland Potter, all of Anchorage, Alaska; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, younger brothers, Robert Pike, a Navy medic who was killed in action on Okinawa and Warren Pike who died in infancy, and her husband, Frank Schroeder.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bobcat Foundation (a Union High School Scholarship organization); the Bobcat Athletic Complex or the GRH Home Care/Hospice in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850. To view the obituary, sign the guest book or leave a condolence on-line, visit www.danielschapel.com