Elsie C. Yetter

Elsie Beth Clarke Yetter
May 15, 1909- March 9, 2011

DALLAS ~ Elsie Clarke was born at home in Cle Elum, WA. She was known to her father as Sasha. She passed away at Dallas Retirement Village, with her family by her side.
Elsie graduated from Franklin High School in Seattle in 1927. During her high school years, Elsie decided she needed a middle name and inserted "Beth" in honor of her grandmother, Elizabeth. After high school graduation, she took coursework to become a legal secretary. On May 13, 1933, Elsie married Cecil Yetter in Nehalem WA, near the Skagit River. They lived in Seattle WA, Wenatchee WA, and Portland OR. While in Portland, Elsie worked as a secretary for Parkrose School District and then spent several years as a legal secretary for Portland Terminal Railroad Company. She moved to Dallas OR in 2006. Elsie was a master seamstress, tailoring clothes at an early age for her siblings and later for her children and grandchildren. She was an environmentalist before it became cachet; reusing wash and rinse water when doing laundry, eschewing the use of small electric appliances; instead opting to use an egg beater, a knife and a cutting board in the kitchen. She set the standard to reuse, recycle, and compost. She was proud of the work her father did to unionize mine workers in Cle Elem and became a life long supporter on union work and the work of the common man. Elsie was fiercely independent. She did not wear glasses because her early belief that eye exercises would prevent the need. She exercised daily and felt it contributed to a strong mind and a healthy body. Elsie was brilliant and amazed those who knew her by mathematical calculations she made without the need for pencil and paper, right up until the end of her life. Elsie was preceded in death by her mother, Helen (Holden) Clarke; her father, William "Sandy" Clarke; brother, Harry Clarke; sister, Irene Clarke; sister, Dora (Clarke) Wait; husband, Cecil Yetter; and sons, Thomas and William Yetter. Elsie is survived by her son Richard (Carol) Yetter, Independence. She is also survived by grandchildren Pamela Robinson, Portland; Beth (Roger) Peer, Prineville; Michael Yetter, Portland; Brook Yetter, Bend; Katheryn Yetter, Reno NV; and Ian Yetter, Portland. Her great
grandchildren are Madja and Valja Ducis, Robert Robinson, and Annalisa and Addison Peer. Elsie loved to bask in the warmth of the sun. With that in mind, a memorial service will be held at a later date when the sun is shining. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Elders in Action, 1411 S.W. Morrison Street, Suite 290, Portland OR 97205 in Elsie's name.