Vada Viola Byers

Born Vada Viola Tucholke on January 27, 1923 in Denton, Montana to wheat farmers August and Katherine Tucholke. Life in Montana was difficult for farmers, especially during the depression. So, six years later, the Tucholke’s packed up their children and moved to a small community called George just outside of Estacada, Oregon. The family continued raising wheat and dairy cattle – and more children. In all, they ended up with seven girls and three boys. Vada was fourth in the line of ten.

Vada graduated from Estacada High School. It was a small graduating class as was usual in small farming communities. Although the numbers were few, there was a band! Vada joined the band and learned to play the trumpet. It was the trumpet playing that got her into the marching band, which participated in the Rose Festival Parade. That was one of the highlights of her high school career.

After graduation, Vada moved to Portland to find work. She lived with an older sister, Unetta. Her first job was as a file clerk for Meier & Frank. After two years she left for an office job in the shipyards. The war was on and all hands were needed to help fill the gap left by the men who had gone overseas.

Eventually, the war ended and so did the job. Vada then went to work for another of the famous original Portland retailers, JK Gills as a typist. She stayed with JK Gills until marriage called her away.

On May 30, 1947, Vada Viola Tucholke married Wilburn Elton “Red” Byers. Forever after she would be Vada Byers. Red used his WWII military experience with the Navy CB’s (Construction Battalion) to go to work for the City of Portland, and in short order, three children were born – Larry, Lloyd, and Lynn. As you might have guessed, they were all boys.

Unfortunately, news isn’t always so good. Red’s life was taken after barely six years of marriage in a work related cave-in. Vada was left to raise three sons on her own. By hook or by crook, she got all of them through high school with hard work and perseverance. Larry left for college. Lloyd followed his father’s lead and enlisted in the Navy. Lynn, in his time, chose college. And Vada, well, she went back to work. For the next 15 years, she worked for Portland Public Schools as a cook and baker—really more baker than cook. After her first batch of cinnamon rolls, the demand for them was too great to allow her to spend her time just cooking.

Throughout all of these years, Vada maintained her two passions—crocheting and cake decorating. It seems everyone got at least one free decorated cake from her for some occasion. At some point, Vada became enthralled with basketball and succumbed to Trailblazer Fever. She rarely missed a game either on TV or radio. An opportunity to see them play live was a real treat. Retirement also allowed Vada to do some traveling. While not an avid traveler, she went to Vancouver, BC, and Victoria, BC, with her youngest son and daughter in law. She visited Orlando, Florida, to celebrate a cousin’s graduation from college and marriage the same week. One of her favorite trips was to Scotland with all of her sons and a sister. While there she was able to track down some of the “Byres” heritage (the name she discovered is often spelled differently there) including a street and theater named after some long-forgotten Byres relative. But perhaps here favorite trip was to Lake Tahoe, Nevada for her youngest son’s wedding.

In her later years, Vada traveled less often and over shorter distances; but enjoyed it no less than before. Traveling often meant visiting her granddaughters – Caitlin and Sarah Byers – who were the joys of her life. She would sometimes go out to dinner with friends and relatives – an event of which she never tired. She had a passion for chocolate – even when she was so full she couldn’t possibly eat another bite, there was always room for chocolate. Truth be told, despite her devotion to her many siblings, cousins, daughter in law, sons and such, it was always her granddaughters who mattered the most. They truly were the lights of her life.

When living in her own house became less desirable, Vada chose Edgewood Downs as her residence; then Markam House, and finally Bonaventure Retirement and Assisted Living Facility. Perhaps it was the weekly trips she enjoyed most. Or, as she said, it was the caring and friendly neighbors she found there that made it home.

Vada was preceded in death by her husband, Wilburn Elton “Red” Byers; son, Lloyd Byers; and siblings. She is survived by her sons, Larry and Lynn; daughter-in-law, Laura Byers; and her two beloved granddaughters, Caitlin and Sarah Byers. She is also survived by a number of extended family members who loved her dearly.

Vada was cherished by those who love her and her presence will be sorely missed.