Elsa Opal "Elsie" Long was the eldest daughter of John R. and Daisy Ellen Toney Long.
She left her parent's farm in Haines, Ore., to board with a family (an aunt, I believe) in Baker City to attend school so she could become a teacher. She taught for at least a year before she married.
On 31 March 1917, she married Robert Louis Vandecar in Weiser, Idaho. They had three children:
-- Priscilla Dorothy Vandecar Jenkins, born 1 Jan 1920 in Muddy Creek, Ore. (died 27 April 1973 in Eugene, Ore; buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Springfield, Ore.)
-- Robert Louis Vandecar Jr., born 29 Aug 1921 in Durkee, Ore. (died 6 Mar 1968; buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Baker, Ore.)
-- Mary Louise Vandecar Long Forsea, born 29 Dec 1923 in Durkee (died 18 Dec 1986; buried in Mount Hope Cemetery)
The family lived on a number of homesteads in the Durkee area before building what we called "the main ranch" on Durkee Creek in the early 1930s. Robert and Elsie remained there until their deaths.
Robert and Elsie decided that even though they lived on a ranch a long way from anywhere, they would not raise their children in an isolated environment. Throughout their lives they traveled extensively and maintained friendships with people all over the country. After Robert's death in 1973, Elsie became active in the Retired Teachers Association travel group and took world tours to the South Seas, including Australia and New Zealand, and Egypt and the Holy Lands. Her last trip was when she was 93.
Elsie and Robert, along with Skinner and LaVerne Kirby, began what became the Durkee Steak Feed in the 1930s as a way to feed all the ranch hands who had taken part in hay harvest. After about a dozen years of holding the increasingly huge "potluck" at the Vandecar ranch on Durkee Creek, the Vandecars and Kirbys turned the event over to the Durkee Grange as a fundraiser held the third week of July.
Throughout their lives on the ranch, Elsie and Robert took in people who needed a home. This included two foster sons
— Joseph Lee Hindman (born 24 Dec 1933) and Edwin Michael Hindman (born 1 Aug 1941) — who were sons of Lillian and Chick Hindman of Durkee.
When their only son, Robert Louis Vandecar Jr., was terminally ill late in 1967 or very early in 1968 (he died 6 Mar 1968), they made the decision to adopt Joe Hindman, who was about 35 at that time.
With the help of Eddie Hindman and his wife Margit, Elsie remained on the Durkee ranch until she fell and broke her hip when she was 96 and then required nursing care in Baker. She returned to the ranch for a time before requiring full-time care again. She died in a Baker nursing home on 16 Jan 1996, when she was 99½ years old.
She is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Baker.
— From Sarah Jenkins, granddaughter
This additional information is from Belva Ticknor of Portland, Ore.:
Elsa Opal "Elsie" Long was born on the farm of her pioneer grandparents, Andrew and Hannah Toney. She attended Muddy Creek and Haines schools and was a graduate of Baker High School in 1915.
She taught school for at least a year, and then in 1917 she married Robert Louis Vandecar. In 1918 she and Robert moved to the Durkee area, in Baker County, where they continued to live until her death. She was a charter member of the Durkee Grange serving many years as secretary and as an active member, including being named Baker County Mother of the Year in 1987. Her dedication and help to others will long be remembered. She was a staunch supporter of education having taught in Baker, Haines and Durkee districts. She served on the Durkee School Board for many years.
She served 14 years on the Baker County Library Board and gave encouraging support to the new library. In addition, she was a member of the Durkee Election Board for over 20 years.
During the American Bicentennial Celebration in 1976, she and her daughter Mary (Forsea) and her husband were among nine delegates from Baker County chosen to demonstrate folk art and ranching skills of the west. The demonstration set up on the Washington, D.C., Mall included hay stacking and a sample of the Durkee Steak Feed skills. Many honors were given during her lifetime.
She left her parent's farm in Haines, Ore., to board with a family (an aunt, I believe) in Baker City to attend school so she could become a teacher. She taught for at least a year before she married.
On 31 March 1917, she married Robert Louis Vandecar in Weiser, Idaho. They had three children:
-- Priscilla Dorothy Vandecar Jenkins, born 1 Jan 1920 in Muddy Creek, Ore. (died 27 April 1973 in Eugene, Ore; buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Springfield, Ore.)
-- Robert Louis Vandecar Jr., born 29 Aug 1921 in Durkee, Ore. (died 6 Mar 1968; buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Baker, Ore.)
-- Mary Louise Vandecar Long Forsea, born 29 Dec 1923 in Durkee (died 18 Dec 1986; buried in Mount Hope Cemetery)
The family lived on a number of homesteads in the Durkee area before building what we called "the main ranch" on Durkee Creek in the early 1930s. Robert and Elsie remained there until their deaths.
Robert and Elsie decided that even though they lived on a ranch a long way from anywhere, they would not raise their children in an isolated environment. Throughout their lives they traveled extensively and maintained friendships with people all over the country. After Robert's death in 1973, Elsie became active in the Retired Teachers Association travel group and took world tours to the South Seas, including Australia and New Zealand, and Egypt and the Holy Lands. Her last trip was when she was 93.
Elsie and Robert, along with Skinner and LaVerne Kirby, began what became the Durkee Steak Feed in the 1930s as a way to feed all the ranch hands who had taken part in hay harvest. After about a dozen years of holding the increasingly huge "potluck" at the Vandecar ranch on Durkee Creek, the Vandecars and Kirbys turned the event over to the Durkee Grange as a fundraiser held the third week of July.
Throughout their lives on the ranch, Elsie and Robert took in people who needed a home. This included two foster sons
— Joseph Lee Hindman (born 24 Dec 1933) and Edwin Michael Hindman (born 1 Aug 1941) — who were sons of Lillian and Chick Hindman of Durkee.
When their only son, Robert Louis Vandecar Jr., was terminally ill late in 1967 or very early in 1968 (he died 6 Mar 1968), they made the decision to adopt Joe Hindman, who was about 35 at that time.
With the help of Eddie Hindman and his wife Margit, Elsie remained on the Durkee ranch until she fell and broke her hip when she was 96 and then required nursing care in Baker. She returned to the ranch for a time before requiring full-time care again. She died in a Baker nursing home on 16 Jan 1996, when she was 99½ years old.
She is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Baker.
— From Sarah Jenkins, granddaughter
This additional information is from Belva Ticknor of Portland, Ore.:
Elsa Opal "Elsie" Long was born on the farm of her pioneer grandparents, Andrew and Hannah Toney. She attended Muddy Creek and Haines schools and was a graduate of Baker High School in 1915.
She taught school for at least a year, and then in 1917 she married Robert Louis Vandecar. In 1918 she and Robert moved to the Durkee area, in Baker County, where they continued to live until her death. She was a charter member of the Durkee Grange serving many years as secretary and as an active member, including being named Baker County Mother of the Year in 1987. Her dedication and help to others will long be remembered. She was a staunch supporter of education having taught in Baker, Haines and Durkee districts. She served on the Durkee School Board for many years.
She served 14 years on the Baker County Library Board and gave encouraging support to the new library. In addition, she was a member of the Durkee Election Board for over 20 years.
During the American Bicentennial Celebration in 1976, she and her daughter Mary (Forsea) and her husband were among nine delegates from Baker County chosen to demonstrate folk art and ranching skills of the west. The demonstration set up on the Washington, D.C., Mall included hay stacking and a sample of the Durkee Steak Feed skills. Many honors were given during her lifetime.
Elsa Opal "Elsie" Long was the eldest daughter of John R. and Daisy Ellen Toney Long.
She left her parent's farm in Haines, Ore., to board with a family (an aunt, I believe) in Baker City to attend school so she could become a teacher. She taught for at least a year before she married.
On 31 March 1917, she married Robert Louis Vandecar in Weiser, Idaho. They had three children:
-- Priscilla Dorothy Vandecar Jenkins, born 1 Jan 1920 in Muddy Creek, Ore. (died 27 April 1973 in Eugene, Ore; buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Springfield, Ore.)
-- Robert Louis Vandecar Jr., born 29 Aug 1921 in Durkee, Ore. (died 6 Mar 1968; buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Baker, Ore.)
-- Mary Louise Vandecar Long Forsea, born 29 Dec 1923 in Durkee (died 18 Dec 1986; buried in Mount Hope Cemetery)
The family lived on a number of homesteads in the Durkee area before building what we called "the main ranch" on Durkee Creek in the early 1930s. Robert and Elsie remained there until their deaths.
Robert and Elsie decided that even though they lived on a ranch a long way from anywhere, they would not raise their children in an isolated environment. Throughout their lives they traveled extensively and maintained friendships with people all over the country. After Robert's death in 1973, Elsie became active in the Retired Teachers Association travel group and took world tours to the South Seas, including Australia and New Zealand, and Egypt and the Holy Lands. Her last trip was when she was 93.
Elsie and Robert, along with Skinner and LaVerne Kirby, began what became the Durkee Steak Feed in the 1930s as a way to feed all the ranch hands who had taken part in hay harvest. After about a dozen years of holding the increasingly huge "potluck" at the Vandecar ranch on Durkee Creek, the Vandecars and Kirbys turned the event over to the Durkee Grange as a fundraiser held the third week of July.
Throughout their lives on the ranch, Elsie and Robert took in people who needed a home. This included two foster sons
— Joseph Lee Hindman (born 24 Dec 1933) and Edwin Michael Hindman (born 1 Aug 1941) — who were sons of Lillian and Chick Hindman of Durkee.
When their only son, Robert Louis Vandecar Jr., was terminally ill late in 1967 or very early in 1968 (he died 6 Mar 1968), they made the decision to adopt Joe Hindman, who was about 35 at that time.
With the help of Eddie Hindman and his wife Margit, Elsie remained on the Durkee ranch until she fell and broke her hip when she was 96 and then required nursing care in Baker. She returned to the ranch for a time before requiring full-time care again. She died in a Baker nursing home on 16 Jan 1996, when she was 99½ years old.
She is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Baker.
— From Sarah Jenkins, granddaughter
This additional information is from Belva Ticknor of Portland, Ore.:
Elsa Opal "Elsie" Long was born on the farm of her pioneer grandparents, Andrew and Hannah Toney. She attended Muddy Creek and Haines schools and was a graduate of Baker High School in 1915.
She taught school for at least a year, and then in 1917 she married Robert Louis Vandecar. In 1918 she and Robert moved to the Durkee area, in Baker County, where they continued to live until her death. She was a charter member of the Durkee Grange serving many years as secretary and as an active member, including being named Baker County Mother of the Year in 1987. Her dedication and help to others will long be remembered. She was a staunch supporter of education having taught in Baker, Haines and Durkee districts. She served on the Durkee School Board for many years.
She served 14 years on the Baker County Library Board and gave encouraging support to the new library. In addition, she was a member of the Durkee Election Board for over 20 years.
During the American Bicentennial Celebration in 1976, she and her daughter Mary (Forsea) and her husband were among nine delegates from Baker County chosen to demonstrate folk art and ranching skills of the west. The demonstration set up on the Washington, D.C., Mall included hay stacking and a sample of the Durkee Steak Feed skills. Many honors were given during her lifetime.
She left her parent's farm in Haines, Ore., to board with a family (an aunt, I believe) in Baker City to attend school so she could become a teacher. She taught for at least a year before she married.
On 31 March 1917, she married Robert Louis Vandecar in Weiser, Idaho. They had three children:
-- Priscilla Dorothy Vandecar Jenkins, born 1 Jan 1920 in Muddy Creek, Ore. (died 27 April 1973 in Eugene, Ore; buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Springfield, Ore.)
-- Robert Louis Vandecar Jr., born 29 Aug 1921 in Durkee, Ore. (died 6 Mar 1968; buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Baker, Ore.)
-- Mary Louise Vandecar Long Forsea, born 29 Dec 1923 in Durkee (died 18 Dec 1986; buried in Mount Hope Cemetery)
The family lived on a number of homesteads in the Durkee area before building what we called "the main ranch" on Durkee Creek in the early 1930s. Robert and Elsie remained there until their deaths.
Robert and Elsie decided that even though they lived on a ranch a long way from anywhere, they would not raise their children in an isolated environment. Throughout their lives they traveled extensively and maintained friendships with people all over the country. After Robert's death in 1973, Elsie became active in the Retired Teachers Association travel group and took world tours to the South Seas, including Australia and New Zealand, and Egypt and the Holy Lands. Her last trip was when she was 93.
Elsie and Robert, along with Skinner and LaVerne Kirby, began what became the Durkee Steak Feed in the 1930s as a way to feed all the ranch hands who had taken part in hay harvest. After about a dozen years of holding the increasingly huge "potluck" at the Vandecar ranch on Durkee Creek, the Vandecars and Kirbys turned the event over to the Durkee Grange as a fundraiser held the third week of July.
Throughout their lives on the ranch, Elsie and Robert took in people who needed a home. This included two foster sons
— Joseph Lee Hindman (born 24 Dec 1933) and Edwin Michael Hindman (born 1 Aug 1941) — who were sons of Lillian and Chick Hindman of Durkee.
When their only son, Robert Louis Vandecar Jr., was terminally ill late in 1967 or very early in 1968 (he died 6 Mar 1968), they made the decision to adopt Joe Hindman, who was about 35 at that time.
With the help of Eddie Hindman and his wife Margit, Elsie remained on the Durkee ranch until she fell and broke her hip when she was 96 and then required nursing care in Baker. She returned to the ranch for a time before requiring full-time care again. She died in a Baker nursing home on 16 Jan 1996, when she was 99½ years old.
She is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Baker.
— From Sarah Jenkins, granddaughter
This additional information is from Belva Ticknor of Portland, Ore.:
Elsa Opal "Elsie" Long was born on the farm of her pioneer grandparents, Andrew and Hannah Toney. She attended Muddy Creek and Haines schools and was a graduate of Baker High School in 1915.
She taught school for at least a year, and then in 1917 she married Robert Louis Vandecar. In 1918 she and Robert moved to the Durkee area, in Baker County, where they continued to live until her death. She was a charter member of the Durkee Grange serving many years as secretary and as an active member, including being named Baker County Mother of the Year in 1987. Her dedication and help to others will long be remembered. She was a staunch supporter of education having taught in Baker, Haines and Durkee districts. She served on the Durkee School Board for many years.
She served 14 years on the Baker County Library Board and gave encouraging support to the new library. In addition, she was a member of the Durkee Election Board for over 20 years.
During the American Bicentennial Celebration in 1976, she and her daughter Mary (Forsea) and her husband were among nine delegates from Baker County chosen to demonstrate folk art and ranching skills of the west. The demonstration set up on the Washington, D.C., Mall included hay stacking and a sample of the Durkee Steak Feed skills. Many honors were given during her lifetime.
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