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Obituary for Elinor Lucile Gardenheir
Elinor Lucile Gardenheir, 96, of Brookings, Ore., passed away in Crescent City, Calif. on June 16, 2015. Elinor Lucile Gardenheir was born in Modesto, Ca. to Clinton and Ruth Sisson on January 6, 1919. She and her family spent many happy years in Modesto. They moved to Oakdale in her 2nd year of High School where she made many lifelong friends. After graduating from High School she attended Humphreys School of Business in Stockton, Ca. On April 25, 1938 she married Neil C. Gardenheir and they moved to Modesto. Her career in accounting started when she began working for Montgomery Wards in the accounting department. In April 1940 daughter Joanne Carol was born. Elinor then went to work for the Teamsters Union where she worked until she and her 2 year old daughter moved to San Francisco to be with her husband who taught at Treasure Island for the U.S. Navy Department. In March 1945, Neil and Elinor added a son, Steven Neil to the family. After several years and many different business adventures the Gardenheir’s relocated to Anchorage, Alaska where Elinor worked in the accounting department at The University of Alaska. They remained in Alaska for the next ten years retiring in 1979. After retirement Elinor and Neil moved to Brookings, Or. Elinor was a member of the Presbyterian Church, past President of the Presbyterian Women’s Association, a Deacon of the Church, past President of the American Business Women’s Association of Anchorage and a member of Eastern Star, Tops Or. #432. Elinor loved to play dominos, bridge and a friendly game of pinochle. She is survived by son Steven and wife Rhonda Gardenheir of Brookings, five grandsons, Robert Strandwold of Modesto, Jeffrey Strandwold of Modesto, Cody Cole of Idaho, Greg and Scott Gardenheir of Utah, ten great-grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Neil Gardenheir, daughter Joanne Mather, sister Marjorie Johnson, two brothers Leonard Sisson, George Sisson and grandson Jason Gardenheir. Memorial contributions may be made to the Brookings Presbyterian Church, PO Box 697, Brookings, OR 97415. A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm on Sunday, July 5, 2015 at the Brookings Presbyterian Church, 540 Pacific Ave. in Brookings. Private interment was at the WJ Ward Memorial Cemetery in Brookings. Redwood Memorial Chapel is assisting the family. Condolences may be expressed online at www.redwoodmemorial.net.
