Elsie Irene Hinds

Elsie I. Hinds
March 26, 1925 - July 13, 2013
Monmouth - Elsie Irene Hinds went to be with the Lord on July 13, 2013. She was born at home on her family farm north of Salem Oregon to Willard and Pauline Matthes on March 26, 1925. She was the grand-daughter of Oregon Trail pioneers. She attended Salem High School, which is now North Salem High School and graduated in 1941. She was very athletic, lettering in sports and was the left handed pitcher of her high school soft ball team. Her older sister Wilma was always there to look after her through her school years. She went on to get her teaching certificate in 1945 from OCE in Monmouth, Oregon. She met Herbert Hinds at a church function when he was home on leave during WW II. They married in 1947 and moved to Pasadena California while Herbert completed his education. They moved to Coos Bay, Oregon and Elsie became a stay at home mom, raising her much loved six children. In 1964 the family moved to a farm near Airlie, south of Monmouth. She sold the farm in 1991. She moved to Monmouth where she happily lived independently and proudly drove her car until her death. Elsie loved teaching. She began her teaching career in 1945 at Coos River, near Coos Bay Oregon. She taught 3rd grade for 18 years at Oakdale Heights Elementary School in Dallas before her retirement in 1992.
She was an active member of the Monmouth Senior Center. She was a member of the Oak Grove Grange and past member of the Rickreall Grange.
Elsie will be remembered for her wonderful potato salad, canning apple sauce (and other fruits and veggies), shopping at yard sales, Bingo at the Senior Center, taking picture with her disposable camera, working on puzzles, collecting bells (and everything else), preparing and wrapping Christmas presents all year long, caring for animals, volunteering at the Monmouth Senior Center, and her very generous heart. She loved cooking for family gatherings and having her children and grandchildren nearby. She enjoyed entering her poetry and her canning in the Polk County Fair and won many special awards. She loved playing the piano. She played by ear and was able to transpose songs into any key.
Elsie loved the Lord. She wrote many poems and songs about Him. She loved to read her Bible. She loved attending Buena Vista Community Church.
Elsie was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert in 1967, son Herb in 2004, and much loved cat Luke in 2011. She is survived by her children, Millee Johnson, Marie Gueths, Miriam Booze (Tim), Marla McLean (Dave), Tim Hinds (Mona) and Kathy Hinds (daughter-in-law). She has 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at Thursday, July 18 at 1:00 pm at the Monmouth Christian Church. Her Pastor, Shelby Wildman will officiate. Interment will be at Fir Crest Cemetery, south of Monmouth. Donations in Elsie's memory can be made to the Gideon's or your favorite charity. Arrangements by Farnstrom Mortuary, FarnstromMortuary.com.