Gweneth "Gwen" Mae Bane

Gweneth Mae "Gwen" Bane, 85, of Enterprise died May 8 in Enterprise. The funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at Bollman Funeral Home in Enterprise.

She was born June 1, 1925, to Maud and Charles Filener at home on a farm on upper Prairie Creek east of Joseph.

When she was 4 years old, the family moved to Central Oregon, then to Florence where she attended first grade at the age of 5. The family returned to Wallowa County and moved to a ranch on upper Prairie Creek. They lived there for 16 years until her parents retired.

Gwen attended grade school at the Prairie Creek one-room school, then high school in Joseph, graduating in 1942 as valedictorian. She received a scholarship to Oregon State University that she was proud of. Because ranch help was scarce with so many young men in the service during World War II, she had to stay and help her parents run the ranch rather than attend college, something she always lamented.

In 1949, she met her husband-to-be, Jimmie Dale "Jim" Bane, in Joseph. They married Aug. 16 of that year, and spent more than 61 years together.

In 1950, Gwen and Jim bought property from his parents and built a tiny one-bedroom home (expanded over the years).

Before they could move in, Jim, a veteran of WWII, was called back into active service in the Navy. Gwen was able to live off the base with Jim while he was stationed at Bremerton, Wash., and later at San Francisco.

In 1954, they started an electrical contracting business, J. D. Bane Electrician.

For the first few years, Gwen worked at Weaver Hardware in Enterprise as clerk and bookkeeper until the electrical business was well established and successful. Gwen kept the books for their business and helped out any way she could for many years until she began sharing the duties with her daughter-in-law in 1982. In 1993, Gwen and Jim sold the business to their son and daughter-in-law.

This allowed them more time to travel.

Gwen will be remembered as an excellent cook, something she learned from her mother cooking for ranch hands. Gwen loved hunting, fishing and taking vacation trips across the country with Jim. She especially enjoyed the naval reunions they attended, as many of these friends became like family.

Gwen is survived by her son, James B. "Bret" Bane and his wife, Elizabeth J. "Jane" Bane; two grandsons; several cousins; and two nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Bane; her parents; and an infant brother and infant sister.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wallowa Valley Health Care Foundation, P. O. Box 53, Enterprise 97828, or any charity.

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