Marla Elaine Widell Luse
April 22, 1950 ~ September 24, 2015
Marla Luse unexpectedly died in her sleep at her home in Elgin, Oregon on Thursday, September 24, 2015. She was 65. She died of causes related to chronic obstructive pulomonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
A lifelong resident of Elgin, Marla Elaine Widell was a descendant of Union County pioneers. Marla was born at St. Joseph Hospital in LaGrande, Oregon on Saturday, April 22, 1950. She was the eldest of the two daughters born to Loren Dale "Bud" Widell and Marcella Marie "Marcy" McDaniel Widell. Her middle name was chosen in honor of her mother's younger sister. Marla was the firstborn of Cliff and Margaret McDaniel's seven grandchildren:
The Elgin Recorder
Union County, Oregon
Thursday, May 4, 1950; Page 7
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Widell are the proud parents of a baby daughter, born on April 23 (sh/be 22). The little lady weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and was given the name of Marla Elaine. Mrs. and Mrs. Cliff McDaniels (sh/be McDaniel) and Mr. and Mrs. John Widell are the grandparents.
~~~
Marla was 4½ years old when her only sibling, Bonita Kay was born.
In 1955, just before Halloween, 5½-year-old Marla was struck by a passing car when she darted into the roadway in front of the family's home on Alder Street in Elgin. She suffered skull and pelvic fractures, a broken leg, and was badly bruised. She was in the hospital for a month and then spent several months in a full body cast at home. This accident resulted in a lifelong phobia about running over a child herself, and despite much encouragement over the years, Marla declined to learn to drive.
Marla attended Elgin's Stella Mayfield Elementary School and Elgin secondary schools. She graduated in the Class of 1968 of Elgin High School.
On Friday, March 8, 1968, seventeen-year-old Marla Elaine Widell and twenty-year-old Benny Leroy Luse were married in Union County. A 1966 graduate of Elgin High School, Ben Luse was the only surviving child of Roy and Julia Luse. Ben and Marla set up housekeeping in Elgin and Marla Luse graduated from high school in June of that same year.
Due to the physical trauma suffered in her childhood accident, Marla had been told that it was unlikely that she would be able to have any children. However, in 1974 Marla and Ben Luse's first child, Jeffrey Allan was born. Two years later they completed their family with the birth of Greggrey Ryan.
Marla was a stay-at-home mother until after her sons were grown. Throughout his career with the State Highway department, Ben was a concrete finisher on freeways and bridges. Ben's work schedule required working long stretches away from home. He frequently had to live in his own residence away from his family in Elgin. Due to this, Marla often was the primary parent to their sons, assisted by her parents. After a thirty-year marriage, in 1998 Marla and Ben were divorced. Ben moved to Washington state and remarried. After the divorce, Marla bought her own house not far from Stella Mayfield Elementary School, where she went to work as a food service staff member.
Marla loved her sons, daughters-in-law and her grandchildren. She supported them 110% in their athletic endeavors and other activities. She loved "gabbing" with her girlfriends while they did manicures and pedicures. She was also impressively able to wiggle her ears.
Marla was a devoted daughter, especially in providing care for her father before he passed away. Despite not being able to drive and her own struggles with rheumatoid arthritis, Marla continued to assist her mother as Marcy's needs increased and she was moved into assisted living and later nursing care.
Marla was preceded in death by her father in 2011; and by her paternal grandparents, John Alvis Widell & Ethel Violet Croghan Widell; and her maternal grandparents, Charles Clifford "Cliff" McDaniel & Margaret May McDonald McDaniel, all of Elgin. She was predeceased by her aunt & uncle, Nova Jean Widell Hallgarth & Myron "Jiggs" Hallgarth of Elgin and her aunt Delores Elaine McDaniel Skochenko of Eugene, Oregon. She was also preceded in death by her former husband, Ben Luse of Everett, Washington.
Marla was survived by her mother, Marcy Widell, now of LaGrande; her two sons Jeff (Sherry) Luse of North Dakota and Gregg (Beth) Luse of Elgin; her sister Bonnie Widell of Elgin; and by her three grandsons, Andrew, Kyler and Derek Luse and her granddaughter, Taylor Luse.
In addition to other relatives, Marla was also survived by her uncle and aunt, Charles "Dale" and Janice Gerber McDaniel of Hillsboro, Oregon; her McDaniel cousins, Kathy, Mike & Karen, all of the Portland, Oregon area; and her aunt Elaine's daughters, cousins Christie and Jan. Her Hallgarth cousins included Donna Jean, Jim and Wayne. Marla was also survived by her former mother-in-law, Julia Luse of Elgin.
In addition to her family, Marla left behind a host of friends. She is dearly missed by all who had the joy of knowing her. She enriched the lives of everyone she met. Hers was a life well-lived.
April 22, 1950 ~ September 24, 2015
Marla Luse unexpectedly died in her sleep at her home in Elgin, Oregon on Thursday, September 24, 2015. She was 65. She died of causes related to chronic obstructive pulomonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
A lifelong resident of Elgin, Marla Elaine Widell was a descendant of Union County pioneers. Marla was born at St. Joseph Hospital in LaGrande, Oregon on Saturday, April 22, 1950. She was the eldest of the two daughters born to Loren Dale "Bud" Widell and Marcella Marie "Marcy" McDaniel Widell. Her middle name was chosen in honor of her mother's younger sister. Marla was the firstborn of Cliff and Margaret McDaniel's seven grandchildren:
The Elgin Recorder
Union County, Oregon
Thursday, May 4, 1950; Page 7
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Widell are the proud parents of a baby daughter, born on April 23 (sh/be 22). The little lady weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and was given the name of Marla Elaine. Mrs. and Mrs. Cliff McDaniels (sh/be McDaniel) and Mr. and Mrs. John Widell are the grandparents.
~~~
Marla was 4½ years old when her only sibling, Bonita Kay was born.
In 1955, just before Halloween, 5½-year-old Marla was struck by a passing car when she darted into the roadway in front of the family's home on Alder Street in Elgin. She suffered skull and pelvic fractures, a broken leg, and was badly bruised. She was in the hospital for a month and then spent several months in a full body cast at home. This accident resulted in a lifelong phobia about running over a child herself, and despite much encouragement over the years, Marla declined to learn to drive.
Marla attended Elgin's Stella Mayfield Elementary School and Elgin secondary schools. She graduated in the Class of 1968 of Elgin High School.
On Friday, March 8, 1968, seventeen-year-old Marla Elaine Widell and twenty-year-old Benny Leroy Luse were married in Union County. A 1966 graduate of Elgin High School, Ben Luse was the only surviving child of Roy and Julia Luse. Ben and Marla set up housekeeping in Elgin and Marla Luse graduated from high school in June of that same year.
Due to the physical trauma suffered in her childhood accident, Marla had been told that it was unlikely that she would be able to have any children. However, in 1974 Marla and Ben Luse's first child, Jeffrey Allan was born. Two years later they completed their family with the birth of Greggrey Ryan.
Marla was a stay-at-home mother until after her sons were grown. Throughout his career with the State Highway department, Ben was a concrete finisher on freeways and bridges. Ben's work schedule required working long stretches away from home. He frequently had to live in his own residence away from his family in Elgin. Due to this, Marla often was the primary parent to their sons, assisted by her parents. After a thirty-year marriage, in 1998 Marla and Ben were divorced. Ben moved to Washington state and remarried. After the divorce, Marla bought her own house not far from Stella Mayfield Elementary School, where she went to work as a food service staff member.
Marla loved her sons, daughters-in-law and her grandchildren. She supported them 110% in their athletic endeavors and other activities. She loved "gabbing" with her girlfriends while they did manicures and pedicures. She was also impressively able to wiggle her ears.
Marla was a devoted daughter, especially in providing care for her father before he passed away. Despite not being able to drive and her own struggles with rheumatoid arthritis, Marla continued to assist her mother as Marcy's needs increased and she was moved into assisted living and later nursing care.
Marla was preceded in death by her father in 2011; and by her paternal grandparents, John Alvis Widell & Ethel Violet Croghan Widell; and her maternal grandparents, Charles Clifford "Cliff" McDaniel & Margaret May McDonald McDaniel, all of Elgin. She was predeceased by her aunt & uncle, Nova Jean Widell Hallgarth & Myron "Jiggs" Hallgarth of Elgin and her aunt Delores Elaine McDaniel Skochenko of Eugene, Oregon. She was also preceded in death by her former husband, Ben Luse of Everett, Washington.
Marla was survived by her mother, Marcy Widell, now of LaGrande; her two sons Jeff (Sherry) Luse of North Dakota and Gregg (Beth) Luse of Elgin; her sister Bonnie Widell of Elgin; and by her three grandsons, Andrew, Kyler and Derek Luse and her granddaughter, Taylor Luse.
In addition to other relatives, Marla was also survived by her uncle and aunt, Charles "Dale" and Janice Gerber McDaniel of Hillsboro, Oregon; her McDaniel cousins, Kathy, Mike & Karen, all of the Portland, Oregon area; and her aunt Elaine's daughters, cousins Christie and Jan. Her Hallgarth cousins included Donna Jean, Jim and Wayne. Marla was also survived by her former mother-in-law, Julia Luse of Elgin.
In addition to her family, Marla left behind a host of friends. She is dearly missed by all who had the joy of knowing her. She enriched the lives of everyone she met. Hers was a life well-lived.
Marla Elaine Widell Luse
April 22, 1950 ~ September 24, 2015
Marla Luse unexpectedly died in her sleep at her home in Elgin, Oregon on Thursday, September 24, 2015. She was 65. She died of causes related to chronic obstructive pulomonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
A lifelong resident of Elgin, Marla Elaine Widell was a descendant of Union County pioneers. Marla was born at St. Joseph Hospital in LaGrande, Oregon on Saturday, April 22, 1950. She was the eldest of the two daughters born to Loren Dale "Bud" Widell and Marcella Marie "Marcy" McDaniel Widell. Her middle name was chosen in honor of her mother's younger sister. Marla was the firstborn of Cliff and Margaret McDaniel's seven grandchildren:
The Elgin Recorder
Union County, Oregon
Thursday, May 4, 1950; Page 7
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Widell are the proud parents of a baby daughter, born on April 23 (sh/be 22). The little lady weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and was given the name of Marla Elaine. Mrs. and Mrs. Cliff McDaniels (sh/be McDaniel) and Mr. and Mrs. John Widell are the grandparents.
~~~
Marla was 4½ years old when her only sibling, Bonita Kay was born.
In 1955, just before Halloween, 5½-year-old Marla was struck by a passing car when she darted into the roadway in front of the family's home on Alder Street in Elgin. She suffered skull and pelvic fractures, a broken leg, and was badly bruised. She was in the hospital for a month and then spent several months in a full body cast at home. This accident resulted in a lifelong phobia about running over a child herself, and despite much encouragement over the years, Marla declined to learn to drive.
Marla attended Elgin's Stella Mayfield Elementary School and Elgin secondary schools. She graduated in the Class of 1968 of Elgin High School.
On Friday, March 8, 1968, seventeen-year-old Marla Elaine Widell and twenty-year-old Benny Leroy Luse were married in Union County. A 1966 graduate of Elgin High School, Ben Luse was the only surviving child of Roy and Julia Luse. Ben and Marla set up housekeeping in Elgin and Marla Luse graduated from high school in June of that same year.
Due to the physical trauma suffered in her childhood accident, Marla had been told that it was unlikely that she would be able to have any children. However, in 1974 Marla and Ben Luse's first child, Jeffrey Allan was born. Two years later they completed their family with the birth of Greggrey Ryan.
Marla was a stay-at-home mother until after her sons were grown. Throughout his career with the State Highway department, Ben was a concrete finisher on freeways and bridges. Ben's work schedule required working long stretches away from home. He frequently had to live in his own residence away from his family in Elgin. Due to this, Marla often was the primary parent to their sons, assisted by her parents. After a thirty-year marriage, in 1998 Marla and Ben were divorced. Ben moved to Washington state and remarried. After the divorce, Marla bought her own house not far from Stella Mayfield Elementary School, where she went to work as a food service staff member.
Marla loved her sons, daughters-in-law and her grandchildren. She supported them 110% in their athletic endeavors and other activities. She loved "gabbing" with her girlfriends while they did manicures and pedicures. She was also impressively able to wiggle her ears.
Marla was a devoted daughter, especially in providing care for her father before he passed away. Despite not being able to drive and her own struggles with rheumatoid arthritis, Marla continued to assist her mother as Marcy's needs increased and she was moved into assisted living and later nursing care.
Marla was preceded in death by her father in 2011; and by her paternal grandparents, John Alvis Widell & Ethel Violet Croghan Widell; and her maternal grandparents, Charles Clifford "Cliff" McDaniel & Margaret May McDonald McDaniel, all of Elgin. She was predeceased by her aunt & uncle, Nova Jean Widell Hallgarth & Myron "Jiggs" Hallgarth of Elgin and her aunt Delores Elaine McDaniel Skochenko of Eugene, Oregon. She was also preceded in death by her former husband, Ben Luse of Everett, Washington.
Marla was survived by her mother, Marcy Widell, now of LaGrande; her two sons Jeff (Sherry) Luse of North Dakota and Gregg (Beth) Luse of Elgin; her sister Bonnie Widell of Elgin; and by her three grandsons, Andrew, Kyler and Derek Luse and her granddaughter, Taylor Luse.
In addition to other relatives, Marla was also survived by her uncle and aunt, Charles "Dale" and Janice Gerber McDaniel of Hillsboro, Oregon; her McDaniel cousins, Kathy, Mike & Karen, all of the Portland, Oregon area; and her aunt Elaine's daughters, cousins Christie and Jan. Her Hallgarth cousins included Donna Jean, Jim and Wayne. Marla was also survived by her former mother-in-law, Julia Luse of Elgin.
In addition to her family, Marla left behind a host of friends. She is dearly missed by all who had the joy of knowing her. She enriched the lives of everyone she met. Hers was a life well-lived.
April 22, 1950 ~ September 24, 2015
Marla Luse unexpectedly died in her sleep at her home in Elgin, Oregon on Thursday, September 24, 2015. She was 65. She died of causes related to chronic obstructive pulomonary disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
A lifelong resident of Elgin, Marla Elaine Widell was a descendant of Union County pioneers. Marla was born at St. Joseph Hospital in LaGrande, Oregon on Saturday, April 22, 1950. She was the eldest of the two daughters born to Loren Dale "Bud" Widell and Marcella Marie "Marcy" McDaniel Widell. Her middle name was chosen in honor of her mother's younger sister. Marla was the firstborn of Cliff and Margaret McDaniel's seven grandchildren:
The Elgin Recorder
Union County, Oregon
Thursday, May 4, 1950; Page 7
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Widell are the proud parents of a baby daughter, born on April 23 (sh/be 22). The little lady weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and was given the name of Marla Elaine. Mrs. and Mrs. Cliff McDaniels (sh/be McDaniel) and Mr. and Mrs. John Widell are the grandparents.
~~~
Marla was 4½ years old when her only sibling, Bonita Kay was born.
In 1955, just before Halloween, 5½-year-old Marla was struck by a passing car when she darted into the roadway in front of the family's home on Alder Street in Elgin. She suffered skull and pelvic fractures, a broken leg, and was badly bruised. She was in the hospital for a month and then spent several months in a full body cast at home. This accident resulted in a lifelong phobia about running over a child herself, and despite much encouragement over the years, Marla declined to learn to drive.
Marla attended Elgin's Stella Mayfield Elementary School and Elgin secondary schools. She graduated in the Class of 1968 of Elgin High School.
On Friday, March 8, 1968, seventeen-year-old Marla Elaine Widell and twenty-year-old Benny Leroy Luse were married in Union County. A 1966 graduate of Elgin High School, Ben Luse was the only surviving child of Roy and Julia Luse. Ben and Marla set up housekeeping in Elgin and Marla Luse graduated from high school in June of that same year.
Due to the physical trauma suffered in her childhood accident, Marla had been told that it was unlikely that she would be able to have any children. However, in 1974 Marla and Ben Luse's first child, Jeffrey Allan was born. Two years later they completed their family with the birth of Greggrey Ryan.
Marla was a stay-at-home mother until after her sons were grown. Throughout his career with the State Highway department, Ben was a concrete finisher on freeways and bridges. Ben's work schedule required working long stretches away from home. He frequently had to live in his own residence away from his family in Elgin. Due to this, Marla often was the primary parent to their sons, assisted by her parents. After a thirty-year marriage, in 1998 Marla and Ben were divorced. Ben moved to Washington state and remarried. After the divorce, Marla bought her own house not far from Stella Mayfield Elementary School, where she went to work as a food service staff member.
Marla loved her sons, daughters-in-law and her grandchildren. She supported them 110% in their athletic endeavors and other activities. She loved "gabbing" with her girlfriends while they did manicures and pedicures. She was also impressively able to wiggle her ears.
Marla was a devoted daughter, especially in providing care for her father before he passed away. Despite not being able to drive and her own struggles with rheumatoid arthritis, Marla continued to assist her mother as Marcy's needs increased and she was moved into assisted living and later nursing care.
Marla was preceded in death by her father in 2011; and by her paternal grandparents, John Alvis Widell & Ethel Violet Croghan Widell; and her maternal grandparents, Charles Clifford "Cliff" McDaniel & Margaret May McDonald McDaniel, all of Elgin. She was predeceased by her aunt & uncle, Nova Jean Widell Hallgarth & Myron "Jiggs" Hallgarth of Elgin and her aunt Delores Elaine McDaniel Skochenko of Eugene, Oregon. She was also preceded in death by her former husband, Ben Luse of Everett, Washington.
Marla was survived by her mother, Marcy Widell, now of LaGrande; her two sons Jeff (Sherry) Luse of North Dakota and Gregg (Beth) Luse of Elgin; her sister Bonnie Widell of Elgin; and by her three grandsons, Andrew, Kyler and Derek Luse and her granddaughter, Taylor Luse.
In addition to other relatives, Marla was also survived by her uncle and aunt, Charles "Dale" and Janice Gerber McDaniel of Hillsboro, Oregon; her McDaniel cousins, Kathy, Mike & Karen, all of the Portland, Oregon area; and her aunt Elaine's daughters, cousins Christie and Jan. Her Hallgarth cousins included Donna Jean, Jim and Wayne. Marla was also survived by her former mother-in-law, Julia Luse of Elgin.
In addition to her family, Marla left behind a host of friends. She is dearly missed by all who had the joy of knowing her. She enriched the lives of everyone she met. Hers was a life well-lived.
