Elena Emons (Barber) Emons

Elena May (Barber) Emons
August 11, 1931 - November 18, 2012

Cottage Grove, OR - Elena May Emons was born August 11, 1931 in Bonanza, Oregon to Birtrum and Anna Gooch. She passed away on November 18, 2012 at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, Oregon at the age of 81.
After graduating from Boisefort High School in 1949, Elena attended Oregon College of Education, earning a Bachelor's in Education in 1959. She went on to earn her Master's in Library Science from U of O in 1960. She put herself through school typing other students' term papers.
Elena worked as an elementary school teacher in Days Creek, Tiller, Sheridan, Taft and Delake. She taught 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades (sometimes together) "before the kids got taller than her."
Elena attended the Evangelical Church of North America in the Taft area of Lincoln City. For most of the 35+ years she attended there, she was the Church Secretary and/or the Sunday School Superintendent. She also cleaned the church for a while. She enjoyed reading the Bible, doing crossword puzzles (with a pen!), and driving friends and church members to the store or their doctor's visits. She loved to get in the car and take an unfamiliar road, just to see where it went. She loved Crater Lake and would take her children there often when they were young.
Elena was a single mother back in the day when that just wasn't accepted well. She worked hard and put herself through college, because she wanted a career that would support her and her two children. She was a good Mom and Grandma, a good Christian and a really fun person to be around.
Elena was preceded in death by her husband, Williard Luther Emons; father Birtram W. Gooch; mother Anna Rueck Gooch Meyers; and step-father Rollan Meyers. She is survived by sister Bonita Spencer of Grants Pass, OR; nephew Richard Spencer of Grants Pass, OR; daughter Phyllis (Cliff) Kaylor of Eugene, OR; son Robert (Sharon) Barber of Glen Burnie, MD; granddaughter Christine Stone of Eugene, OR; granddaughter Elizabeth Barber of Glen Burnie, MD; great-grandson Aaron Williams of Fort Jackson, SC; great-grandson Paul Stone of Eugene, OR; and great-granddaughter Abbigail Barber of Glen Burnie, MD.
A memorial service will be held Monday, November 26 at 2 pm at Evangelical Church of North America, 4406 U.S. 101, Lincoln City, OR. A visitation will be held Tuesday, November 27, from 10 am to 1 pm at Farnstrom Mortuary, 410 Monmouth St, Independence, OR. Interment will follow at 2 pm at Fir Crest Cemetery in Monmouth, Oregon.
Arrangements are under the care of Farnstrom Mortuary. For memories and condolences, please visit www.FarnstromMortuary.com .