Her children will rise up and call her blessed. Proverbs 31:27
Ellie went home to heaven on Nov. 12, 2016, at 88 years if age in St. Louis, Missouri.
She is survived by Laurie Leeper of Fortuna, California; Timothy Ives of Vancouver, Washington; and Kerri (Rick) Bonasch of St. Louis, Missouri. She was blessed with nine grandchildren, Daniel, David, Jacob, Ryan and Abraham Leeper, Angela Langfield, Timothy Ives, Melissa Duffy and Matthew Bonasch; and 24 great grandchildren.
We were so blessed to have her as our mother and grandmother. She touched the lives of those who knew her.
Ellie was a rugged new Englander, born Jan. 20, 1920, in Portland, Maine. She met her beloved Hal “Doc Ives” at UC SF Dental School while in Dental Hygiene School. She was a longtime Happy Camp resident; she loved her Family, Jesus, Maine, music, dogs, ice cream, the sea and the Klamath River!
Graveside services will be held at the Happy Camp Cemetery in the spring.
“Mom loved the music programs at Mary Queen and Mother Center. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations go to: Mary Queen and Mother Center, Attention: Activities Director, 7601 Watson Road, St. Louis MO 63119.
by Judy Bushy Published in the Siskiyou Daily News October 4, 2016
Light breezes kept the mosquitoes at bay around the campfire. Stars sparkling in the vast black sky overhead gave a peaceful feel. Occasionally you’d hear a fish splash in their leap from the Klamath River nearby. Sitting around a cheery campfire with friendly camaraderie was the perfect end of a very busy day.
We were content from the 50’s style Sunday chicken dinner that Bonnie had made and was served by smiling high school girls. Previous year Gloria had made delicious so ‘mores, but we’d enjoyed dinner and all the homemade pies! Pete had brought his guitar and sang a couple of songs, one about the silver-hair aging, and one he’d just written about new young life. How fast it goes from one to the other.
A couple from the resort joined the circle and asked what brought us here. Liz explained we were celebrating the author, Stella Patterson, who wrote Dear Mad’m. Liz and Pete Lismer, grandnephew of Stella, had written Dear Mad’m Who Was She? answering many questions about Stella’s life.
.. They shared how Stella’s relatives wanted her to move back to San Francisco to “take care of her” in her declining years. Her independent streak and having been told she had “young legs” recently, led to her plan. For one year she wanted to live on her mining claim on the Klamath River! That it was for “business reasons,” gave her the excuse she needed! She’d try it for a year.
Dear Mad’m was the book she wrote about living in a rustic cabin, the friends she met, a mule named Pete, goats invasion, learning mining and clean-up, storms, wildlife, without indoor plumbing, woodstove, and other challenges, with only her faithful dog, Vickie. Even with all the answers to questions about Stella’a life, more questions pup up. On that night around the campfire, as we so often wished that we could ask her questions and get to know her better. If only she had written more!
Rod Diridon said right then, “Remember That!”
Have you ever written down the stories of your life? You have wonderful experiences, probably hardship and trials mixed in too, but they’ve made you who you are and you’ve learned from them. Write them down! It might end up being something you’d just want to share with your family and friends, but Stella W. Patterson’s one year story turned into a best seller and 70 years later, people are still reading and enjoying her adventures. Adventures which are like those you have in your own life each day and could write about as well.
Wilson Forbes was born in Moynalty, county Meath, Ireland on September 14, 1922 on the farm where he grew up. He emigrated to England after World War II and worked at repairing tractors and farm machinery. In 1950 Wilson emigrated to North Dakota where he was in the ministry for 6 years. Following that he went to Minot State College and became a teacher, teaching four years in North Dakota and Montana before receiving a grant from the National Science Foundation for a year of graduate studies. He then moved to Happy Camp and stayed the rest of his life.
Wilson married Helen Houkom on December 24, 1960 (55 years) and they have three children.: Kathleen (Ron) Johnson, Craig (Twila) Forbes, and Ken (Janel) Forbes. Kathleen preceded him in death in 2006. Wilson and Helen have 10 grandchildren. At services October 1st his grandchildren, Kyler & Rachel Forbes, Jayden Forbes, Kade Forbes, Alex Forbes, Zachary Forbes and Riley Forbes sang, “Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go!”
Wilson was the science teacher at Happy Camp High School from 1965 to 1980, and during evenings and weekends he built the house that is still the family home.
Afer retiring from teaching he became a master craftsman, making beautiful furniture and moved on to desighing cand making concrete garden beds and chicken tractors. Through the years he had an amazing garden and he was never happier than when he had baskets of produce to share with others.
From a young age he submitted to the will of God in his life always seeking to follow the teachings of Jesus. this was the guiding light of his life. He passed from this life into eternity in the home he had built, surrounded by loving friends and family on September 21, 2016. He will be dearly missed by many.
Joe Blackhawk Harrison passed away on Sept. 18, 2016. He was 25 years old.
Blackhawk was born on Nov. 3, 1990, in Yreka to Joe and Dorcas Harrison.
He is survived by his father, Joe Harrison of Happy Camp; mother, Dorcas Harrison of Happy Camp; brothers and sisters, Mario Gomez (Whitney Kelly), Bubba (Matthea) Perez, Robert (Emma Lee) Perez, Kevin Harrison (Ramona McCovey), Ben Harrison, Brenda Harrison, Malford Harrison, Charlie Eastlick, Ella (Arden) McCovey, JoAnne Harrison, Suzanne Harrison, LuAnne Harrison, Sandra (Keith) Aubrey, China, John Frank, and Rain; Maternal Grandma, Priscilla Tuter; Grandma, April Spence; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and many loving friends.
He is preceded by his Wife, Karrie Albers; Paternal Grandparents, Joe Frank Sr. and Winoma Harrison; Maternal Grand Father, Robert Spence; Uncle, Hobart Harrison; and Maternal Great Grandmother Rose.
Join Blackhawk’s family to celebrate his life at the Karuk Tribe gym, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. Burial services at the Happy Camp Cemetery with a Potluck to follow. Girdner Funeral Chapel is assisting the family. Online condolences can be made at www.girdnerfuneralchapel.com.
Blackhawk will be remembered for his smile, charming personality and his stories.
Stella Patterson was born October 14, 1866, I know that all you loyal fans of Stell’s book remember (correctly) that the book says her birthday was April, but who moves to begin gardening in the country in October?? that was one of those things that were changed from fact. Stella seemed irked with all the changes that the publishers made and wondered if the story would be the same!
So she turned 80 in 1946 and that began the tale of moving to a cabin in the wilds along the Klamath River to live with Vicki, her dog. Mrs. Patterson passed away in December 23,1955 just weeks before her memoir, Dear Mad’m was published. The book became a popular book club selection and was sold internationally. Naturegraph publishers has reprinted the book and we are grateful that it is avaialble here in Happy Camp!
The Happy Camp Chamber of Commerce has enjoyed many inquiries from visitors to our area who have read the book and come to see Dear Mad’ms cabin. Some people loved it so well that they moved here, like three ladies from Chicago, Joan Richardson, Vivian Witt and Marie Miller. In 2011, with the Klamath Writer’s Group, they started a wonderful tradition of honoring Dear Mad’m with a luncheon, and will again do so this year. Instead of the heat of August, it is moved to also celebrate her birthday in October.
The special weekend with a reception Friday, October 12th. Peter and Elizabeth Lismer were here. they are the authors of a new book by Naturegraph, Dear Mad’m Who Was She? and we anticipate their first opportunity for a book signing of the new publication. Saturday will be the luncheon Symposium, and Sunday morning a Dear Mad’m pancake breakfast will be served before a field trip to the area where her cabin was located.
For further information on 2012 Dear Mad’m Day, go to www.friendsofdearmadm.com.
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