Eleanor (Ele) was born in Selma, California; the 2nd of 4 children born to Curtis F. and Edna B. (Irwin) Cook. She attended high school in Coalinga, California, where she participated in most sports: basketball, soccer, softball, tennis and track, and she played the clarinet in band.
Ele's first job after completing business college in Fresno was short lived because she finished in four days what Montgomery Ward had expected to fill three weeks. She then began secretarial work for an oil refinery where she continued for several years.
Ele married her first husband, Bill Nehring, in California in 1938. They had one son, David.
Ele married her second husband, Lester Morris, in 1950. That same year, they moved to Yoncalla, Oregon. There, they would build a house and help care for Eleanor's mother, who was ailing.
The move from California was also a search for job opportunities and a place where they could enjoy outdoor activities. In 1955, Les was offered a position helping to establish the Longbell (IP) mill at Vaughn. "Outdoor" they got! The family (including 3-yr-old daughter, Gail) lived in a tent for three months while Les worked at the mill as a millwright-mechanic and on their house as time would permit. Gradually they moved in, first to the garage (where it is rumored that she made the "best" pumpkin pies using a wood burning stove/oven) and then to the house where Ele would live out her life.
Between them, Ele and Les had 3 children. They each had one child from their first marriages, then one child together. There later came 5 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Les suffered a series of strokes through the 1970's, resulting in partial paralysis. Ele and Gail undertook the task of caring for him until he passed away in 1983.
She didn't put her extra "home time" to waste, but used it to reach out to friends and family who may have been feeling down. EVERYONE got a card on their birthday! EVERYONE got a call if they weren't at church "where they should be." Her manual Smith-Corona typewriter put out (on average) 3 cards and letters per day.
Asked about personal interests, she would quickly respond that she "LOVED" fishing and hunting! She owned her own guns and was a good shot! She loved her family and friends; playing Cribbage, Rummy, Scrabble, Yahtzee and Continental with Children, Grandchildren and visitors was a daily occurrence.
Often, the evening card games were also accompanied by the sounds of multiple TV's and the radio, as she was always keen to keep up with her favorite sports teams. She could quote years worth of stats and was the BEST cheerleader any team could ask for!
Her favorite team was the U of O women's basketball team (GO DUCKS!). Through the years she befriended several players and their parents (regularly saving newspaper clippings for some).
Later in life, Ele lost her right leg below the knee due to circulatory problems. Maybe it slowed her down, but it was hard to tell as she still moved faster than the rest of us! She lamented not going hunting as much any more, and the loss of her car (a standard-transmission Javelin), but she still fished, played cards, and attended all the U of O women's home basketball games. She could also use her canes to tap the shoulder of the person 3-people ahead of her -- something she took advantage of regularly!
Ele often got together with her sisters to play cards and just have good sisterly fun. They were still playing penny-ante poker into their 80's! (She was pretty excited one year to come home with over $6!)
To "Gramma Ele," things were pretty cut-and-dried. She always spoke her mind (whether you liked it or not), and it was usually just the "nugget of wisdom" you needed! By the time she had great-grandchildren, they started calling her "Great" -- and that is EXACTLY how we all felt.
She is still missed every day! We were lucky to have her as a part of our lives!
Ele's first job after completing business college in Fresno was short lived because she finished in four days what Montgomery Ward had expected to fill three weeks. She then began secretarial work for an oil refinery where she continued for several years.
Ele married her first husband, Bill Nehring, in California in 1938. They had one son, David.
Ele married her second husband, Lester Morris, in 1950. That same year, they moved to Yoncalla, Oregon. There, they would build a house and help care for Eleanor's mother, who was ailing.
The move from California was also a search for job opportunities and a place where they could enjoy outdoor activities. In 1955, Les was offered a position helping to establish the Longbell (IP) mill at Vaughn. "Outdoor" they got! The family (including 3-yr-old daughter, Gail) lived in a tent for three months while Les worked at the mill as a millwright-mechanic and on their house as time would permit. Gradually they moved in, first to the garage (where it is rumored that she made the "best" pumpkin pies using a wood burning stove/oven) and then to the house where Ele would live out her life.
Between them, Ele and Les had 3 children. They each had one child from their first marriages, then one child together. There later came 5 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Les suffered a series of strokes through the 1970's, resulting in partial paralysis. Ele and Gail undertook the task of caring for him until he passed away in 1983.
She didn't put her extra "home time" to waste, but used it to reach out to friends and family who may have been feeling down. EVERYONE got a card on their birthday! EVERYONE got a call if they weren't at church "where they should be." Her manual Smith-Corona typewriter put out (on average) 3 cards and letters per day.
Asked about personal interests, she would quickly respond that she "LOVED" fishing and hunting! She owned her own guns and was a good shot! She loved her family and friends; playing Cribbage, Rummy, Scrabble, Yahtzee and Continental with Children, Grandchildren and visitors was a daily occurrence.
Often, the evening card games were also accompanied by the sounds of multiple TV's and the radio, as she was always keen to keep up with her favorite sports teams. She could quote years worth of stats and was the BEST cheerleader any team could ask for!
Her favorite team was the U of O women's basketball team (GO DUCKS!). Through the years she befriended several players and their parents (regularly saving newspaper clippings for some).
Later in life, Ele lost her right leg below the knee due to circulatory problems. Maybe it slowed her down, but it was hard to tell as she still moved faster than the rest of us! She lamented not going hunting as much any more, and the loss of her car (a standard-transmission Javelin), but she still fished, played cards, and attended all the U of O women's home basketball games. She could also use her canes to tap the shoulder of the person 3-people ahead of her -- something she took advantage of regularly!
Ele often got together with her sisters to play cards and just have good sisterly fun. They were still playing penny-ante poker into their 80's! (She was pretty excited one year to come home with over $6!)
To "Gramma Ele," things were pretty cut-and-dried. She always spoke her mind (whether you liked it or not), and it was usually just the "nugget of wisdom" you needed! By the time she had great-grandchildren, they started calling her "Great" -- and that is EXACTLY how we all felt.
She is still missed every day! We were lucky to have her as a part of our lives!
Eleanor (Ele) was born in Selma, California; the 2nd of 4 children born to Curtis F. and Edna B. (Irwin) Cook. She attended high school in Coalinga, California, where she participated in most sports: basketball, soccer, softball, tennis and track, and she played the clarinet in band.
Ele's first job after completing business college in Fresno was short lived because she finished in four days what Montgomery Ward had expected to fill three weeks. She then began secretarial work for an oil refinery where she continued for several years.
Ele married her first husband, Bill Nehring, in California in 1938. They had one son, David.
Ele married her second husband, Lester Morris, in 1950. That same year, they moved to Yoncalla, Oregon. There, they would build a house and help care for Eleanor's mother, who was ailing.
The move from California was also a search for job opportunities and a place where they could enjoy outdoor activities. In 1955, Les was offered a position helping to establish the Longbell (IP) mill at Vaughn. "Outdoor" they got! The family (including 3-yr-old daughter, Gail) lived in a tent for three months while Les worked at the mill as a millwright-mechanic and on their house as time would permit. Gradually they moved in, first to the garage (where it is rumored that she made the "best" pumpkin pies using a wood burning stove/oven) and then to the house where Ele would live out her life.
Between them, Ele and Les had 3 children. They each had one child from their first marriages, then one child together. There later came 5 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Les suffered a series of strokes through the 1970's, resulting in partial paralysis. Ele and Gail undertook the task of caring for him until he passed away in 1983.
She didn't put her extra "home time" to waste, but used it to reach out to friends and family who may have been feeling down. EVERYONE got a card on their birthday! EVERYONE got a call if they weren't at church "where they should be." Her manual Smith-Corona typewriter put out (on average) 3 cards and letters per day.
Asked about personal interests, she would quickly respond that she "LOVED" fishing and hunting! She owned her own guns and was a good shot! She loved her family and friends; playing Cribbage, Rummy, Scrabble, Yahtzee and Continental with Children, Grandchildren and visitors was a daily occurrence.
Often, the evening card games were also accompanied by the sounds of multiple TV's and the radio, as she was always keen to keep up with her favorite sports teams. She could quote years worth of stats and was the BEST cheerleader any team could ask for!
Her favorite team was the U of O women's basketball team (GO DUCKS!). Through the years she befriended several players and their parents (regularly saving newspaper clippings for some).
Later in life, Ele lost her right leg below the knee due to circulatory problems. Maybe it slowed her down, but it was hard to tell as she still moved faster than the rest of us! She lamented not going hunting as much any more, and the loss of her car (a standard-transmission Javelin), but she still fished, played cards, and attended all the U of O women's home basketball games. She could also use her canes to tap the shoulder of the person 3-people ahead of her -- something she took advantage of regularly!
Ele often got together with her sisters to play cards and just have good sisterly fun. They were still playing penny-ante poker into their 80's! (She was pretty excited one year to come home with over $6!)
To "Gramma Ele," things were pretty cut-and-dried. She always spoke her mind (whether you liked it or not), and it was usually just the "nugget of wisdom" you needed! By the time she had great-grandchildren, they started calling her "Great" -- and that is EXACTLY how we all felt.
She is still missed every day! We were lucky to have her as a part of our lives!
Ele's first job after completing business college in Fresno was short lived because she finished in four days what Montgomery Ward had expected to fill three weeks. She then began secretarial work for an oil refinery where she continued for several years.
Ele married her first husband, Bill Nehring, in California in 1938. They had one son, David.
Ele married her second husband, Lester Morris, in 1950. That same year, they moved to Yoncalla, Oregon. There, they would build a house and help care for Eleanor's mother, who was ailing.
The move from California was also a search for job opportunities and a place where they could enjoy outdoor activities. In 1955, Les was offered a position helping to establish the Longbell (IP) mill at Vaughn. "Outdoor" they got! The family (including 3-yr-old daughter, Gail) lived in a tent for three months while Les worked at the mill as a millwright-mechanic and on their house as time would permit. Gradually they moved in, first to the garage (where it is rumored that she made the "best" pumpkin pies using a wood burning stove/oven) and then to the house where Ele would live out her life.
Between them, Ele and Les had 3 children. They each had one child from their first marriages, then one child together. There later came 5 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Les suffered a series of strokes through the 1970's, resulting in partial paralysis. Ele and Gail undertook the task of caring for him until he passed away in 1983.
She didn't put her extra "home time" to waste, but used it to reach out to friends and family who may have been feeling down. EVERYONE got a card on their birthday! EVERYONE got a call if they weren't at church "where they should be." Her manual Smith-Corona typewriter put out (on average) 3 cards and letters per day.
Asked about personal interests, she would quickly respond that she "LOVED" fishing and hunting! She owned her own guns and was a good shot! She loved her family and friends; playing Cribbage, Rummy, Scrabble, Yahtzee and Continental with Children, Grandchildren and visitors was a daily occurrence.
Often, the evening card games were also accompanied by the sounds of multiple TV's and the radio, as she was always keen to keep up with her favorite sports teams. She could quote years worth of stats and was the BEST cheerleader any team could ask for!
Her favorite team was the U of O women's basketball team (GO DUCKS!). Through the years she befriended several players and their parents (regularly saving newspaper clippings for some).
Later in life, Ele lost her right leg below the knee due to circulatory problems. Maybe it slowed her down, but it was hard to tell as she still moved faster than the rest of us! She lamented not going hunting as much any more, and the loss of her car (a standard-transmission Javelin), but she still fished, played cards, and attended all the U of O women's home basketball games. She could also use her canes to tap the shoulder of the person 3-people ahead of her -- something she took advantage of regularly!
Ele often got together with her sisters to play cards and just have good sisterly fun. They were still playing penny-ante poker into their 80's! (She was pretty excited one year to come home with over $6!)
To "Gramma Ele," things were pretty cut-and-dried. She always spoke her mind (whether you liked it or not), and it was usually just the "nugget of wisdom" you needed! By the time she had great-grandchildren, they started calling her "Great" -- and that is EXACTLY how we all felt.
She is still missed every day! We were lucky to have her as a part of our lives!
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
