Obituaries for April 3, 2008

Chloie Bacharach, 96, former resident

   Chloie Shaw Bacharach, 96, died on the evening of Monday, March 24, 2008 in Duluth, MN. Chloie was born July 10, 1911 in Orofino, the daughter of W. Arthur and Lena Shaw. She was one of the earliest babies born in Clearwater County after it was formed Feb. 27, 1911 and spent most of her life living there.

   Chloie graduated from Orofino High School and attended one year at the University of Idaho in Moscow before marring Roy A. Bacharach Sept. 15, 1934.  He was on the State of Idaho survey crew laying out the road between Spalding and Orofino that is now U.S. 12.

   They lived in Kendrick and New Meadows for several years while he continued surveying for the state, and she stayed in Orofino while he worked in Washington State.  The family moved to Indiana in the winter of 1944-1945, where he was a surveyor for the construction of war plants during World War II. After V-Day, in 1945, they left Indiana and moved back to Orofino, where they lived until the fall of 1997, when poor health forced them to move out.

   They lived in Fairfax, VA for nine months, at an assisted care facility in Lewiston for two years, and spent their last years in assisted care in Duluth, near their daughter.

   Chloie was thought to be the first woman licensed as an embalmer in the State of Idaho when she passed her examination in 1932. She served as Orofino City Clerk for two years from 1943-1945, and ran the family business, Shaw Funeral Home, from 1942-1949, except for the brief time in Indiana.

   She worked at the Style Shop, a ladies clothing store in Orofino, for two years after selling the funeral home, followed by five years as a reporter for the Clearwater Tribune and then at the Clearwater National Forest supervisor’s office from 1959 until retiring in 1975.

   Chloie was preceded in death by her husband in 2002; her older sister, Lillian DeLisle and her younger brother, W.A. Shaw, Jr.

   She is survived by her daughter, Susan (Howard) B. Meyer, of Duluth, MN and her son, Sam (Kay Ellen) A. Bacharach, of Fairfax, VA; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

   Private services will be held at a later date.

Evelyn Puksta Myers, 76, Weippe

   Evelyn Agnes Puksta Myers died March 24, 2008 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. She was 76.

   She was born in Dearborn, MI Nov. 3, 1932 to Richard and Irene McHale. On April 11, 1954, she married Walter Puksta. Walter died in 1973. On Feb. 24, 1983 she married Charles Myers.

   Evelyn was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was very devoted to her church. Father King and Sister Petronilla were very special people in her life.

   She enjoyed visiting with family and friends and was a great storyteller. Evelyn enjoyed long rides in the woods and spending time with her grandchildren.

   She is survived by her husband Charles Myers; sister, Florence Shinn; children, Ann and Galen Lewis, Renee and Mark Green, Jeff and Debbie Puksta, Walt and Melissa Puksta; extended family, Charles and Robin Myers; Everett Myers; Wesley and Gina Myers; Janel Halsey, Leigh and John Berdrow, and numerous grandchildren and great grand-children.

   Preceding her in death were three sons, Mark, Scott and Greg Puksta.

   Memorial services were held Monday, March 31 at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Orofino. Pine Hills Funeral Chapel and Crematory was in charge of arrangements.

Ina Mala Curtis, 86, Tacoma, WA

   Ina Mala Curtis was born Nov. 11, 1921 in Snowville, UT and passed away March 27, 2008 in Tacoma, WA. Mala was 86.

   Mala is survived by her daughter Elda Kallman (Larry) of Tacoma; a stepson John A. Curtis (Lonnie); three brothers Jess (Ardella) and Arlond Wolverton of Spokane, WA, Albert (Elsie) Wolverton of Lewiston; and one sister, Carol (Dick) Bashaw of Orofino. There are several grandchildren and great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren.

   Mala moved to Orofino from Snowville as a preteen and lived there until Aug. 1999, at which time she moved to Tacoma.

   She married George Gleason Sept. 29, 1940 in Weiser. George passed away April of 1970. Mala married John H. Curtis July 1, 1971. He passed away March of 1999.

   Mala will be sorely missed by her family and many friends.

   There will be a graveside service Friday, April 4 at 11 a.m. at Lewis Clark Memorial Gardens in Lewiston.

Roy Mattson, 69, Clearwater

   Roy Mattson was born in Grangeville to Ruth and John (Pete) Mattson March 21, 1939. He went to live in his new mansion with his Lord and Savior on March 25, 2008 after a month long battle with cancer at the age of 69.

   His close family was with him constantly in his last days with us. He said, “How can I be so lucky to have two sons like I have?”

   Roy loved to hunt and play music. Playing music with his wife and boys was the very best. He played fiddle, piano, bass guitar and button accordion. Roy and his wife Alice played for old time Grange dances for years. He played for many anniversaries, nursing homes, birthday parties and jam sessions.

   He logged for years, supporting his family, then worked in the sawmill for 30 years before retiring. He always loved the mountains and the smell of sawdust and dirt as he skidded logs, farmed, and made wood.

   Roy accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized in 1991. He was a member of the Clearwater Baptist Church and Clearwater Grange. Gospel music became top priority and he played bass with Almon and Virginia Manes, the church choir and piano with Alice and Shirley and Phil Pollard, practicing with them every Thursday night until the last two weeks of his life.

   Because he was saved in 1991, he told us many times in the last month that he was not afraid. He said, “Twenty or thirty years ago I would have been scared to death, but not now.”

   He met Alice, his wife of nearly 42 years, at the Clearwater Dances. “He danced with me once a night to be polite for years while I was growing up and going to the dances with my Mom,” says Alice. “When I graduated from high school in 1964 he started dancing with me lots. He still did not ask to drive me home.

   One night my mom couldn’t go to the dance, so I called Kenneth Kidder, who was playing fiddle with the band, and asked if I could ride with him. I thought for sure Roy would ask to drive me home that night, but the last dance was playing and he hadn’t. I thought I was going to have to ride back with Kenneth, but at the last minute he asked me. That was the beginning of nearly 42 years of marriage.”

   Roy and Alice were married on June 10, 1966 in Alice’s folk’s house—the house they now reside in. Mom baked the wedding cake, Alice decorated it, Grandma Crain’s roses were the flowers, the dress and all the trimmings were handmade for under $10. This shows that with love and commitment, money spent doesn’t matter for a long marriage.

   Roy is survived by his wife Alice, and two sons, Eddy and wife Pam of Weippe and Danny of Spokane, WA; two sisters, Clara Smith and Kathy of Oregon; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

   He was preceded in death by his parents.

   Roy is playing music in Heaven now, but we will miss him and his music here until we join him again.

   Funeral services were held March 28 at Clearwater Baptist Church. Pastor Bill Horn officiated. Interment took place at Clearwater Cemetery in Clearwater. A covered dish dinner followed in the church basement.

Mark D. Ewing, 48, Nashville, TN

   In loving memory of Mark Dana Jay Ewing, who passed away Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008, at the University Medical Center in Nashville, TN after a long battle with cancer. Mark had resided in Nashville with his wife Carla for the past several years.

   Mark was born Dec. 29, 1959, in Hermiston, OR. His family moved to Northern California in 1961 and later moved to Orofino in 1966, where he completed the next 12 years of his schooling.

   When he was 15, he worked for C.P.T.P.A. and later after high school he attended welding school in Spokane. He then went on to work for Clearwater County Road and Bridge in Orofino. He later completed a course in truck driving and became a long-haul driver. This would become one of his proudest accomplishments.

   He loved traveling and lived in numerous states throughout his life, including Oregon, Nevada, Montana, Utah and Washington. Unfortunately for those who knew and loved him, his last stop was Tennessee.

   Throughout his life he had a wonderful witty sense of humor and everyone he met became a "buddy" and a friend. His younger days were spent hunting, camping, and hanging out with family and friends. He was normally found around the campfire with a cup of coffee in his hand most mornings. He will be greatly missed by those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

   Mark is survived by his wife, Carla in Tennessee; his parents, Earlene of Palm Desert, CA, and Bill and Bonnie Ewing of Culdesac; maternal grandmother, Frances Wardwell of Lewiston; his brothers and sisters, Mike and wife Dina Ewing of Orting, WA, Marcie Ewing Littell and husband Reid of Lewiston, Mitchell Ewing of Benton, WA, Robert and Cheryl Samuels and Dawn and Dan Baheza, all of Lapwai, Melvin Samuels of Sanford, ME; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and the many good friends all who knew and loved him.

   In second grade, his teacher said that he was her "ray of sunshine," and he truly was that to all who knew him. Rest in peace.

   In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society. By his request, cremation has taken place. A memorial and covered-dish dinner to celebrate his life will be from 4 to 7 p.m. April 5 at the Lewiston Community Center, 1424 Main St. All who knew Mark are encouraged to attend and share their memories with the family.