Irene Frances Susannah Swank was born on May 11, 1873, to James Washington Swank (1834-1910) and Martha (Arnold) Swank (1847-1916), who, like other Oregon Pioneers, had come to Oregon in search of a new beginning. The family had settled in Brownsville, a small town South of Albany, where they set about farming in the rich Willamette Valley soil. Irene married Robert William Fry on Nov 6th, 1895 in Linn County, OR. They were blessed with a daughter, Donna Marie, on Dec 15, 1899, who she named after her sister, Donna Catherine. Donna would be their only child. They farmed the land in the Tallman area of Linn County until her dear husband became ill and they had to move into town, in 1910. Donna had married John B. Marquis and they had been themselves blessed with four children of their own, starting in the 1920's. When Irene and Robert moved into Albany, Donna and John moved in with her parents so she could be close by and help out. They were a close family and it was a deep loss when Robert died from stomach cancer on March 8th, 1931. He had suffered with it for over 10 years. Irene, her daughter and son-in-law lived on at the house until she passed away on March 7th, 1969, nearly 38 years to the day after her husband had died, joining her husband in Heaven, at last. She had lived nearly 96 years. She was buried next to Robert at the Masonic Cemetery in Albany, Linn County, Oregon, sharing a headstone.
Thank you to Jackie Nedrow for sharing Irene's photo and headstone. She also shared with me that Donna Marquis married John Marquis on Christmas Day, 1922, which is also written on their headstone.
Thank you to Jackie Nedrow for sharing Irene's photo and headstone. She also shared with me that Donna Marquis married John Marquis on Christmas Day, 1922, which is also written on their headstone.
Irene Frances Susannah Swank was born on May 11, 1873, to James Washington Swank (1834-1910) and Martha (Arnold) Swank (1847-1916), who, like other Oregon Pioneers, had come to Oregon in search of a new beginning. The family had settled in Brownsville, a small town South of Albany, where they set about farming in the rich Willamette Valley soil. Irene married Robert William Fry on Nov 6th, 1895 in Linn County, OR. They were blessed with a daughter, Donna Marie, on Dec 15, 1899, who she named after her sister, Donna Catherine. Donna would be their only child. They farmed the land in the Tallman area of Linn County until her dear husband became ill and they had to move into town, in 1910. Donna had married John B. Marquis and they had been themselves blessed with four children of their own, starting in the 1920's. When Irene and Robert moved into Albany, Donna and John moved in with her parents so she could be close by and help out. They were a close family and it was a deep loss when Robert died from stomach cancer on March 8th, 1931. He had suffered with it for over 10 years. Irene, her daughter and son-in-law lived on at the house until she passed away on March 7th, 1969, nearly 38 years to the day after her husband had died, joining her husband in Heaven, at last. She had lived nearly 96 years. She was buried next to Robert at the Masonic Cemetery in Albany, Linn County, Oregon, sharing a headstone.
Thank you to Jackie Nedrow for sharing Irene's photo and headstone. She also shared with me that Donna Marquis married John Marquis on Christmas Day, 1922, which is also written on their headstone.
Thank you to Jackie Nedrow for sharing Irene's photo and headstone. She also shared with me that Donna Marquis married John Marquis on Christmas Day, 1922, which is also written on their headstone.
Gravesite Details
Age 95. Thank you to Jackie Nedrow for the lovely pictures.
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