HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-020 Article - G EasterlingLifelong southern Oregonian Gertrude Easterting dies at 108
Gertrude W. Easterling, 108, of
Ashland, a native southern Ore-
gonian, died Friday (February 20,
1998) at the Linda Vista Care Cen-
ter.
Even in her last days at the care
center in Ashland, "She main-
tained a dignity that was really re~
freshing," said Lija Appleberry, a
registered nurse and one of East-
erling's many caretakers there.
Easterling had lived at the care
center since 1990.
"She was extremely indepen.
dent...the day she died she insisted
on being up in a wheelchair and
dressed nicely. She wheeled her-
self around the facility," Appleber-
ry said.
"She did not want to lay down
for naps," the nurse said. "Life
was to be lived-- not to be spent in
Easterling was born May 8, 1889
in Phoenix, to Otto and Marie
(Plumicki) Biede. The family
moved to Jacksonville in 1896. Her
father opened a tin shop and hard-
ware store where his name is still
visible on the side of the brick
building on Oregon Street.
In 1902 her family moved to
Ashland where Easterling gradu-
ated from the Southern Oregon
Normal school in 1905. She was the
last surviving member of her
class.
From 1906 to 1918 she worked as
a clerk in the Recorder's Office in
Ashland:
.In 1918 she was appointed City
Recorder to Fill the unexpired term
of John Wimer. That same year she
was elected City Recorder, a posi-
tion she held until 1933.
From 1934 to 1937 she worked
for the State Bank of Ashland until
appointed to ~nish the term of
then City Treasurer G. G. Eu-
banks. She was elected City Trea-
surer in 1937, a position she held
until retirement in 1954.
She married Ollie S. Easterling
on Dec. 10, 1940. He died in 1962.
For many years she was secre-
tary of the Ben E. Evans Student
Loan Fund, which was started in
the 1930's.
She was a member of the Sorop-
timist's Club since 1949 and a
member of the First Church of
Christ Scientist in Ashland.
"Gertrude had an intense spiri-
tual side to her...she and another
old-timer (since-passed) would do
their Christian Scientist readings
together every morning," Apple-
berry said.
Appleberry also said Easter-
ling's friends from the Christian
Scientist community were "there
all the time" to support her.
Easterling was preceded in
death by her sister, Mrs. Helene
Biede Milburn in 1935. There are
no survivors.
Services are pending. Arrange-
ments are in the care of Litwiller-
Simonsen Funeral Home, Ash-
land.