Delores "Elaine" Skochenko died of age-related causes two months shy of her 80th birthday.
Raised in Elgin, Oregon, Elaine was Clifford and Margaret McDaniel's middle child, with an older sister and a younger brother. She was a member of the Elgin High School Class of 1950. She also later attended Gloria Lavonne School of Modeling in Eugene.
During high school, Elaine was hired for a coveted position as an usherette at the Rex Theater (now restored as the historic Elgin Opera House). While working at the Rex Theater, Elaine met Russell Barton from Wallowa County. They were married on October 29, 1949 in Lewiston, Idaho. They had two daughters before they separated. Their divorce was finalized in March of 1954.
On her own with a baby and a toddler, Elaine worked as a waitress in nearby LaGrande, Oregon. Looking for more job opportunities, she relocated with her girls to Baker (now Baker City), Oregon in about 1956. She worked days in the coffee shop at the Baker Hotel and at the popular Fireside Restaurant in the evenings. She moved to Eugene in 1960 and was employed in the hospitality industry there throughout most of her working life.
She married Robert Leber, who was a professional photographer for Kennell-Ellis Studio, in 1964. Although their marriage was annulled after just nine months, they remained friends for life.
Realizing she could make more money than as a waitress, Elaine trained and became one of the first female bartenders in Eugene. She worked in the Bib 'n Tucker in the Eugene Hotel, where over the years she made many friends within the community.
She married Steve Skochenko on December 31, 1968 in Las Vegas. They were acrimoniously divorced in late 1977 and she never remarried.
In her later years, Elaine worked for a professional answering service and then as a nanny for several Lane County families.
Elaine was an excellent cook, enjoyed flower gardening, decorating her home, and being a part of her grandson's and great-grandson's lives. She loved animals, especially cats. Elaine was a kind and generous person all her life.
She was survived by her daughters and their husbands, Christie and Ken; and Jan and Mike; her sister, Marcella Widell of Elgin and her brother and his wife, Dale and Jan McDaniel of Hillsboro. She was also survived by two grandsons, James Steen and his wife Joleen of Alaska and John of San Diego; three great-grandsons, Casey, Kyle and Jesse; one nephew and four nieces.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, and by her brother-in-law, Bud Widell.
No services are planned. Donations in her memory may be made to Greenhill Humane Society, 88530 Green Hill Road, Eugene, OR 97402.
Raised in Elgin, Oregon, Elaine was Clifford and Margaret McDaniel's middle child, with an older sister and a younger brother. She was a member of the Elgin High School Class of 1950. She also later attended Gloria Lavonne School of Modeling in Eugene.
During high school, Elaine was hired for a coveted position as an usherette at the Rex Theater (now restored as the historic Elgin Opera House). While working at the Rex Theater, Elaine met Russell Barton from Wallowa County. They were married on October 29, 1949 in Lewiston, Idaho. They had two daughters before they separated. Their divorce was finalized in March of 1954.
On her own with a baby and a toddler, Elaine worked as a waitress in nearby LaGrande, Oregon. Looking for more job opportunities, she relocated with her girls to Baker (now Baker City), Oregon in about 1956. She worked days in the coffee shop at the Baker Hotel and at the popular Fireside Restaurant in the evenings. She moved to Eugene in 1960 and was employed in the hospitality industry there throughout most of her working life.
She married Robert Leber, who was a professional photographer for Kennell-Ellis Studio, in 1964. Although their marriage was annulled after just nine months, they remained friends for life.
Realizing she could make more money than as a waitress, Elaine trained and became one of the first female bartenders in Eugene. She worked in the Bib 'n Tucker in the Eugene Hotel, where over the years she made many friends within the community.
She married Steve Skochenko on December 31, 1968 in Las Vegas. They were acrimoniously divorced in late 1977 and she never remarried.
In her later years, Elaine worked for a professional answering service and then as a nanny for several Lane County families.
Elaine was an excellent cook, enjoyed flower gardening, decorating her home, and being a part of her grandson's and great-grandson's lives. She loved animals, especially cats. Elaine was a kind and generous person all her life.
She was survived by her daughters and their husbands, Christie and Ken; and Jan and Mike; her sister, Marcella Widell of Elgin and her brother and his wife, Dale and Jan McDaniel of Hillsboro. She was also survived by two grandsons, James Steen and his wife Joleen of Alaska and John of San Diego; three great-grandsons, Casey, Kyle and Jesse; one nephew and four nieces.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, and by her brother-in-law, Bud Widell.
No services are planned. Donations in her memory may be made to Greenhill Humane Society, 88530 Green Hill Road, Eugene, OR 97402.
Delores "Elaine" Skochenko died of age-related causes two months shy of her 80th birthday.
Raised in Elgin, Oregon, Elaine was Clifford and Margaret McDaniel's middle child, with an older sister and a younger brother. She was a member of the Elgin High School Class of 1950. She also later attended Gloria Lavonne School of Modeling in Eugene.
During high school, Elaine was hired for a coveted position as an usherette at the Rex Theater (now restored as the historic Elgin Opera House). While working at the Rex Theater, Elaine met Russell Barton from Wallowa County. They were married on October 29, 1949 in Lewiston, Idaho. They had two daughters before they separated. Their divorce was finalized in March of 1954.
On her own with a baby and a toddler, Elaine worked as a waitress in nearby LaGrande, Oregon. Looking for more job opportunities, she relocated with her girls to Baker (now Baker City), Oregon in about 1956. She worked days in the coffee shop at the Baker Hotel and at the popular Fireside Restaurant in the evenings. She moved to Eugene in 1960 and was employed in the hospitality industry there throughout most of her working life.
She married Robert Leber, who was a professional photographer for Kennell-Ellis Studio, in 1964. Although their marriage was annulled after just nine months, they remained friends for life.
Realizing she could make more money than as a waitress, Elaine trained and became one of the first female bartenders in Eugene. She worked in the Bib 'n Tucker in the Eugene Hotel, where over the years she made many friends within the community.
She married Steve Skochenko on December 31, 1968 in Las Vegas. They were acrimoniously divorced in late 1977 and she never remarried.
In her later years, Elaine worked for a professional answering service and then as a nanny for several Lane County families.
Elaine was an excellent cook, enjoyed flower gardening, decorating her home, and being a part of her grandson's and great-grandson's lives. She loved animals, especially cats. Elaine was a kind and generous person all her life.
She was survived by her daughters and their husbands, Christie and Ken; and Jan and Mike; her sister, Marcella Widell of Elgin and her brother and his wife, Dale and Jan McDaniel of Hillsboro. She was also survived by two grandsons, James Steen and his wife Joleen of Alaska and John of San Diego; three great-grandsons, Casey, Kyle and Jesse; one nephew and four nieces.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, and by her brother-in-law, Bud Widell.
No services are planned. Donations in her memory may be made to Greenhill Humane Society, 88530 Green Hill Road, Eugene, OR 97402.
Raised in Elgin, Oregon, Elaine was Clifford and Margaret McDaniel's middle child, with an older sister and a younger brother. She was a member of the Elgin High School Class of 1950. She also later attended Gloria Lavonne School of Modeling in Eugene.
During high school, Elaine was hired for a coveted position as an usherette at the Rex Theater (now restored as the historic Elgin Opera House). While working at the Rex Theater, Elaine met Russell Barton from Wallowa County. They were married on October 29, 1949 in Lewiston, Idaho. They had two daughters before they separated. Their divorce was finalized in March of 1954.
On her own with a baby and a toddler, Elaine worked as a waitress in nearby LaGrande, Oregon. Looking for more job opportunities, she relocated with her girls to Baker (now Baker City), Oregon in about 1956. She worked days in the coffee shop at the Baker Hotel and at the popular Fireside Restaurant in the evenings. She moved to Eugene in 1960 and was employed in the hospitality industry there throughout most of her working life.
She married Robert Leber, who was a professional photographer for Kennell-Ellis Studio, in 1964. Although their marriage was annulled after just nine months, they remained friends for life.
Realizing she could make more money than as a waitress, Elaine trained and became one of the first female bartenders in Eugene. She worked in the Bib 'n Tucker in the Eugene Hotel, where over the years she made many friends within the community.
She married Steve Skochenko on December 31, 1968 in Las Vegas. They were acrimoniously divorced in late 1977 and she never remarried.
In her later years, Elaine worked for a professional answering service and then as a nanny for several Lane County families.
Elaine was an excellent cook, enjoyed flower gardening, decorating her home, and being a part of her grandson's and great-grandson's lives. She loved animals, especially cats. Elaine was a kind and generous person all her life.
She was survived by her daughters and their husbands, Christie and Ken; and Jan and Mike; her sister, Marcella Widell of Elgin and her brother and his wife, Dale and Jan McDaniel of Hillsboro. She was also survived by two grandsons, James Steen and his wife Joleen of Alaska and John of San Diego; three great-grandsons, Casey, Kyle and Jesse; one nephew and four nieces.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, and by her brother-in-law, Bud Widell.
No services are planned. Donations in her memory may be made to Greenhill Humane Society, 88530 Green Hill Road, Eugene, OR 97402.
Inscription
Our Beloved Mother and Grandmother
A Kind and Generous Spirit
