558 N. Main St., Prineville, OR 97754 | (541) 447-6205
Bessie Marie Houston, a Madras resident and formerly of Prineville, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 at her daughter’s home. She was 97 years old.
Graveside services were held on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m. at Juniper Haven Cemetery. Jeff Freshour of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Madras officiated. A reception followed at the Prineville Eagles Lodge.
Bessie was born in Prineville on Feb. 3, 1914 to Roy E. and Elva (Zimmerlee) Stuart. They were a pioneer family of Crook County, coming in the 1880s from the Carolina’s.
Bessie was raised as a child in Grizzly, Ore. and later moved into Prineville. She attended and graduated from Crook County High School in 1929 at the age of 16. After High School, she moved to Portland and worked as a nanny while attending Benke-Walker Business College for two years. She then moved back to Prineville, and married Waldo Emerson Houston (June 4, 1932), and raised their children.
She worked at Doc Cleaners and 1st National Bank as a bookkeeper. They lived on Bear Creek (near Brothers, Ore.) where the pace was much slower, as they had no phone, televisions and the only communication was a two-way radio. She had time to study her Bible and become a Christian. In 1974, they moved back to Prineville. After her husband died, she moved to Madras to be close to her daughters.
Bessie was a charter member of the Prineville Eagles Lodge and attended many dinners and dances there. Bessie was also a member of the Ochocoians Club where they would get together to quilt and have luncheons and swap recipes. She was also a member of the Ochoco Grange Hall. Bessie loved playing cards including Pinochle, Canasta, Yahtzee and Manipulation. She enjoyed crocheting, embroidering, hunting, fishing and camping.
Bessie is survived by her daughters, Joy Harvey of Prineville, Jeanette Allard and her husband, Reginald, and Geraldine Moore and her husband, Gary – all of Madras; six grandchildren, Michael Harvey of Nebraska, Paul Harvey of Alaska, Jeff Lane of Washington, Dan Lane of Oregon, Debbie Stubblefield of Washington, and Dave Moore of Oregon; 11 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three sisters and two granddaughters.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gideon’s International at PO Box 114, Redmond, OR 97756.
Arrangements are in the care of Prineville Funeral Home.
Please visit www.PrinevilleFuneralHome.com to share your memories or express your condolences by signing the on-line Guest Book.
