Mitzi Abel

Lilian "Mitzi" Abel, 81, of Prescott, Ariz., and formerly of La Grande died Aug. 31. A private celebration of life will be conducted.

Mrs. Abel was born Oct. 18, 1924, to William H. "Hal" and Lilian Baker Bohnenkamp in La Grande. She graduated as a registered nurse from the Univeristy of Oregon in 1946, and worked as a nurse for more than 35 years. She helped evacuate the Salem Memorial Hospital during the 1964 flood. She was a dedicated professional nurse of the "old school" who championed quality wherever she worked.

In 1953 she married Art Abel, and played first violin in the All-Northwest Regional Orchestra. She was a trail guide and horse woman in the Wallowa Mountains and loved music and animals. Her door was always open, and her cookie jar was never empty.

Survivors include children and their spouses, Carol Sutton, David and Vickie Abel, Sharon and Fred Trosko, and Larry Abel; foster-daughter, Linda Johnson Evans; seven grandchildren and two foster grandchildren. Her siblings were, Bill, Jim and George Bohnenkamp and Mary Dow.