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| Sheridan Days Senior Court are, from left, Frances George, Sally Lessig and Margaret Ellis. They will be honored at a tea during Sheridan Days and also ride in the Grand Parade on June 16. Photo by Shelley Harman |
Sheridan Days
Senior Court is announced
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The 2001 Sheridan Days Senior Court includes three long-time area residents -- Margaret "Margie" Ellis, Frances George and Sally Lessig.
Here is a brief biography of the three women in their own words.
Margaret Ellis
Margaret Dorothy (Fourtner) "Margie" Ellis was born Sept. 8, 1928 to Lydia (Schmid) and Alva (Doc) Fourtner in Grand Ronde on the farm of her great-uncle, Alva E. Ackerson.
Her mother came to Grand Ronde at 16 from Parrett Mountain and her father came to Grand Ronde at 21 from Salmon River. They lived right across the street from each other on farms and married Aug. 20, 1921.
Her great-uncle bought the farm with money he earned from hauling Tillamook cheese from Tillamook to the valley with horses and wagon.
She enjoyed her life on the farm with her great-uncle, parents and her brother, Jim. They farmed, sold whole milk, turkeys, chickens and eggs for their livelihood. She is a third generation to own the farm.
She attended Grand Ronde Grade School and Willamina High School, graduating in 1947. She then moved to Salem to work in the Blue Lake Cannery for four months and then attended Oregon School of Beauty Culture. She then moved back to Grand Ronde and worked at Lous Beauty Shop from 1948-49.
She married Roy (Pat) Ellis on Sept. 4, 1949, shortly after he was discharged from the Navy. She met Pat the summer of 1947 at a Saturday night dance at the American Legion Hall.
She moved to Sheridan in 1949, living first at 920 West Main in the Alfred Anderson cabin and later at 107 NW Richard in the Elmer Duncan cabin.
In 1950 she opened her own beauty shop -- Ellis Beauty Shop. In 1954 she moved to 416 SW Chapman St. where the family had built a new home and moved the beauty shop there. She has been a beautician for 53 years.
In 1957 their first son, Terry, was born. Their second son, Douglas, was born in 1962 and third son, Michael, in 1964. They have seven grandchildren.
She enjoyed selling at the flea market for 13 years. Her hobbies include dancing, cooking, gardening, flowers and decorating.
She has been a member of Ethel Rebekah Lodge 162 since 1956 and is a member of Sheridan F.L. Club 24 and Mill Creek Extension group.
Frances George
I was born the daughter of Benjamin and Julia Parks on May 6, 1918 in St. Frances, Kan. I was the fifth child in a family of eight siblings.
I married my high school sweetheart, Jesse G. Helmick in Coffeyville, Kan., in May 1935. We traveled a great deal during the Depression and eventually settled in Nyssa in 1942. In 1944, my husband and I transferred to Boise, Idaho. Our daughter, Judy Beth, was born there on June 16, 1946. My husband fell ill and was diagnosed with terminal cancer; he passed away in 1950.
I worked as a pastry cook for the Elks Lodge in Boise for four years supporting myself and my young daughter. In 1954, I married Robert C. Browning from Sugar City, Idaho.
Bob had been a friend of my late husband and myself. He became a wonderful husband to me and father to Judy. We relocated to Pendleton. My husband worked for the State of Oregon, helping to construct many of the roads and freeways we have today.
The three of us came to Sheridan for a visit during the 1957 Phil Sheridan Days in June. We were impressed by the little town and surrounding area. The following year we decided to relocate. We purchased our home on N.W. Sherman Street in 1958. I started attending the First Christian Church and we made many good friends right from the start.
We set to work on remodeling our home and made ourselves a part of the community. During the next 10 years, we enjoyed the easy life that Sheridan offered us. My husband then suffered a number of heart related problems and after a massive heart attack he died in February 1968. After his death, a friend and I reopened the old Fireside Cafe across from the high school.
Lloyd, "Red" George and I were married in 1970.
"Red" and I operated the Union 76 service station in Willamina. I pumped gas and "Red" was an excellent mechanic. I sang to all my customers while filling their gas tanks and washing their windows, whether they liked it or not. During the 1970s, we left the Willamina service station and operated the Sheridan Union 76, station until 1975.
"Red" retired because of ill health and I became an employee of C.D. Ogle when he became the new owner. I finally retired when "Red" passed away in 1984.
I have been a member of the Rebekah Lodge #162 in the past, and active in the First Christian Church and the Willamina Free Methodist, as well.
My very good friend, Lois Kendall and I started a "skit and singing duo" after my retirement. We named ourselves, "Have Music Will Travel".
Together, she and I performed for many of the care homes in the area. We entertained with our funny skits and singing for numerous events and lodges and get togethers. We were invited to sing hymns at many funerals. The last song that Lois and I sang together was "He Touched Me." She was a dear friend.
I have many dear friends and a wonderful family. My daughter, Judy and her husband, William, moved from Modesto, Calif., in 1996 to be close to me. We demolished the old home and added a manufactured home at the same address on N.W. Sherman Street.
Sally (Stuck) Lessig
I was born in Nebraska and graduated from college in Lincoln. My family moved to Portland in 1941 and to Sheridan in 1944 and set up the Stuck Electric business. Cable TV was installed in 1955.
I’ve given piano and organ lessons for years, but now I’ve slowed down and just give a few.
I was organist at the Methodist Church for 15 years.
At present, I’m doing very little but enjoying every moment.