Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home
Published by Tri-City Herald on Aug. 31, 2008.
Beloved wife and mother Ellena Mae Cater died Wednesday, August 27, 2008, at the Tri-Cities Retirement Inn in Pasco, Washington. She was 82.
Born on September 9, 1925, in Healdton, Oklahoma, Ellena was the seventh of eight children. She lost her mother at a very young age and was the main cook for the family and caretaker of her little sister.
The family moved to California to find work and a better life.
She married Howard L. Cater on March 3, 1946. She was a bank employee until they moved to Washington to fulfill Howard's dream of becoming a farmer. She traded her steno pad for a butter churn, canning, baking bread and long hours making the family farm run smoothly.
She was the first school secretary at the new Basin City Elementary School in 1963 and later worked at North Franklin School District's central office.
Ellena loved to read, enjoyed gardening, camping, playing bridge, spoiling her grandchildren and wonderful memories of her 'kids' at Basin City.
She is survived by her daughters, Laurana (Bill) McMillen of Kennewick and Valerie (Tom) Fisher of Connell; grandchildren, Amy McMillen of Richland, Heather Berry of Connell, Matthew McMillen of Forest Hills, New York; and four precious great-grandchildren.
Also surviving is her sister, Mildred Cantrell of San Jose, CA.
Ellena was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Lee, her mother and father, George E. and Laura Jane Teese; her brothers, Lawrence, Earl, Floyd, and Herb Teese and sisters, Velma Parker and Opal McDonald.
We had to let you go today, it was more than we could bear. One minute we were holding you and then...you were not there. Now all we have are memories with which we'll never part. God has you in his keeping and we have you in our heart.
For their love, friendship and caring we'd like to thank Angelica (Angie), Laura and the staff at Tri-Cities Retirement Inn and Mom's dear friend, Estelle.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 11 a.m., at Mountain View Cemetery in Connell.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mid Columbia Library, Bookmobile Program, 405 S. Dayton St., Kennewick, WA 99336
www.muellersfuneralhomes.com.
Contributed by Bobbie Howard # 49160889 in February of 2024. Also, birth place.
Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home
Published by Tri-City Herald on Aug. 31, 2008.
Beloved wife and mother Ellena Mae Cater died Wednesday, August 27, 2008, at the Tri-Cities Retirement Inn in Pasco, Washington. She was 82.
Born on September 9, 1925, in Healdton, Oklahoma, Ellena was the seventh of eight children. She lost her mother at a very young age and was the main cook for the family and caretaker of her little sister.
The family moved to California to find work and a better life.
She married Howard L. Cater on March 3, 1946. She was a bank employee until they moved to Washington to fulfill Howard's dream of becoming a farmer. She traded her steno pad for a butter churn, canning, baking bread and long hours making the family farm run smoothly.
She was the first school secretary at the new Basin City Elementary School in 1963 and later worked at North Franklin School District's central office.
Ellena loved to read, enjoyed gardening, camping, playing bridge, spoiling her grandchildren and wonderful memories of her 'kids' at Basin City.
She is survived by her daughters, Laurana (Bill) McMillen of Kennewick and Valerie (Tom) Fisher of Connell; grandchildren, Amy McMillen of Richland, Heather Berry of Connell, Matthew McMillen of Forest Hills, New York; and four precious great-grandchildren.
Also surviving is her sister, Mildred Cantrell of San Jose, CA.
Ellena was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Lee, her mother and father, George E. and Laura Jane Teese; her brothers, Lawrence, Earl, Floyd, and Herb Teese and sisters, Velma Parker and Opal McDonald.
We had to let you go today, it was more than we could bear. One minute we were holding you and then...you were not there. Now all we have are memories with which we'll never part. God has you in his keeping and we have you in our heart.
For their love, friendship and caring we'd like to thank Angelica (Angie), Laura and the staff at Tri-Cities Retirement Inn and Mom's dear friend, Estelle.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 11 a.m., at Mountain View Cemetery in Connell.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mid Columbia Library, Bookmobile Program, 405 S. Dayton St., Kennewick, WA 99336
www.muellersfuneralhomes.com.
Contributed by Bobbie Howard # 49160889 in February of 2024. Also, birth place.
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