Eva Pauline Gleason, 91

E. Pauline Gleason, 91, of Elk City and formerly of Weippe, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Tuesday May 29, 2007 at a Syringa General Hospital in Grangeville. She was diagnosed with liver cancer only five days previously.

Pauline was born January 17, 1916 in Macon, Missouri to Arthur and Irene Violet Yocum Bradford. As a girl she grew up in Bevier, MO where her favorite toy was a little red rocking chair her Daddy had bought for her. She was known to drag it behind her as she went down the street to see her Grandmother. She graduated Valedictorian at age 16 from Bevier High School. She then went on to be a school teacher in a one room school house in rural Missouri, teaching grades 1 through 12.

At age 19 she met Russell E. Gleason on a blind date at a country dance. They were married six weeks later. The union lasted 56 years. They made their home in Missouri, but shortly thereafter left for California with just $40.00 in their pockets. She and Russell later enjoyed living in Japan where she climbed Mt. Fuji on her first attempt. She was thrilled to return home to California and her already growing family after two years living over-seas.

Pauline loved to square dance, as Russell was a professional square dance caller. She participated in several bowling leagues and regularly went camping, hiking and fishing. She went 25 miles each way on a pack horse several times to revel in the beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

After retirement, they bought an R.V. and spent many happy years traveling the country from their new home in Grants Pass, OR. They eventually settled in Weippe where Russell passed away in October of 1991. More recently she had moved to Elk City with her daughter and son-in-law.

Pauline was preceded in death by her husband Russell, her parents and her siblings. She leaves behind her daughters Mary Pauline (Gerald) Dahl of Southern California and Irene Anne (William) McBride of Elk City, 13 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and two more on the way!

Her sense of humor made us smile right through the last days of her life. At the end of her life, she showed us what she was really made of, and more importantly what is truly important in this life. Mother, Grandma and Grandma Great left us with a wonderful legacy of love that will stay with each of us forever.

Private family graveside services were held today, May 31, 2007 at the Weippe Cemetery. Services were under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.