Evelyn Ruth Gooderham

Evelyn Ruth Gooderham, age 97, of La Grande, died Friday, September 4, 2015 in Boise, Idaho. Viewing will be held from 4:00 until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2015 at Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande. A funeral will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at Daniels~Knopp. Interment will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery.

Evelyn was born on November 22, 1917, the daughter of William Patterson and Hattie Pearl (McGinnis) Ballard in Elgin, Oregon. The family moved to La Grande when Evelyn was 5 years old and Evelyn graduated from La Grande High School in 1935 and then attended Drapers Business School for 2 years. She worked as an office assistant for a few years for Dr. Clarence Gilstrap and later the Oregon State Highway Department. From 1937 until 1955 Evelyn was married to Donald Nathan Gray who farmed at what is now known as 'Gray's Corner'. They later divorced. In 1957 Evelyn married Wayne Homer Gooderham in Weiser, Idaho and they made their home in La Grande. Evelyn was a member of the United Methodist Church since the age of eight and was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, was a Pink Lady for Grande Ronde Hospital since 1956 and was a member of TOPS OR 98 and the Lady Engineers of UPRR. She was a member of the Union County Museum. She was an avid fisherwoman and hunter and enjoyed mushroom hunting and picking huckleberries.

Survivors include her children, Judy Gray Johnson of La Grande; Mike and Patty Gooderham of La Grande and Nancy Gray Findeisen of San Diego; grandchildren, Delda Ann Findeisen, John Tyler Holmes, Brad William Holmes, Douglas Wade Holmess, Craig Randall Holmes, Gretchen Ann Forkan and Eric Michael Gooderham; six great grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

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