Katherine Lucille Lucille Damerell

SALEM - Katherine “Lucille” Damerell was born to Romie Westley Gilbert and Blanch Edna Scherer on December 28, 1915 – though she would often argue that she was not really that old. She was born on a farm located 3 miles north of Curtis, Nebraska. The farm was homesteaded by her Fathers parents. Her Father farmed the place to allow his brothers and sisters to be able to go to school. Her Mother and Father (she called him Papa) went together for 10 years since they were both the oldest of the family and needed to stay in their parent’s homes to help. Her Gilbert grandparents moved to Curtis when her Father took over the farm. The foundation of the sod house his parents built was still there when we visited years ago. The children walked three miles to school and occasionally stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Scherer when there was too much snow to walk. Lucille said she stayed over a few times with Grandma Gilbert, but would get homesick and would rather walk the 3 miles to be home. They went to town on Sunday mornings with the horse and buggy to attend church.

Lucille had 2 sisters and 2 brothers – Elsie, Bill, Leonard and Vestina. When Bill, Elsie and Leonard were ready for high school her parents rented a small house in Curtis for the school term each year. Her Papa stayed on the farm during the week and came to Curtis on the week-ends. Her Papa passed away from a stroke when she was 11.

Lucille’s Grandpa had staked claims and bought a house about 50 miles from Douglas, Wyoming. After her Papa passed away her Grandpa talked her Mother into moving to Douglas. Elsie, Leonard, Vestina and Lucille attended school there for 3 years. Lucille’s Mother was not happy in Douglas – she disliked the sage brush and missed Nebraska, so Lucille’s Brother Bill bought a Model T for them to travel back to Nebraska. Lucille finished up high school in Curtis, Nebraska.

On August 13, 1932, Lucille married Lorand Welch in Oberlin,Kansas. They eventually moved to a farm north of Moorefield, Nebraska, where they lived with their family. The family included Iliene (1934), Dwaine (1936), Johnny (1938) and Carol (1947). Lucille cooked for the thrashing crews and other hired help for the farm – sometimes cooking for as many as 15 for each meal. She also canned, pickled, made jelly and sewed many of their clothes. The school teacher for the local school also stayed with the family so that she was able to get back and forth to the school. Our farm was ¼ of a mile from the school. In December, 1947, Lorand was killed in an accident and Lucille was left with four children to support and raise. Her Brother, Leonard and his wife, Mary, moved in with the family and farmed the place. liene and Dwaine attended Nebraska School of Agriculture for high school at Curtis. Lucille eventually moved to Curtis and went to work as a cook at the school they attended.

In 1952, Lucille met and married Albert Wolske. Iliene had married and moved away, Dwaine was in his last year of school and Johnny joined the Navy. Carol was just old enough to start school. Al worked on heavy construction so the family moved from job to job for several years. Gary was born in 1955 and Larry in 1958. The family finally moved to Laramie, Wyoming, where they resided for nine years. Lucille held various retail jobs during this period including Hesteds, Woolworths, and J.C. Penney. In 1966, the family moved to Salem, Oregon and she resided there the rest of her life. After her arrival in Salem she went to work for Cherry Growers and retired from there in 1980.

Lucille and Al bought a house on 47th Avenue in 1972, so Lucille kept busy with gardening and being “Mrs. Clean” at the house. Gary was near graduation when they moved in the new house and Larry graduated 2 years later. Al passed away in August, 1973.

Lucille met and married Fred Damerell. They started out by remodeling her house. Lucille loved to paint and decorate the house and spent many hours picking out paint, carpet and curtains. They, both, loved to work in the yard so they spent many hours planting and landscaping. Lucille and Fred had the time to travel and made several trips to Hawaii, Mexico, British Columbia and trips back to Nebraska for visits. Fred was from British Columbia so they often visited his relatives and made many trips with his son to Mexico. Fred preceded Lucille in death.

Sewing was always a hobby of hers, including taking classes at Chemeketa Community College when she retired. She shortened pants, shirts, etc., even for her grown children. She also helped her Granddaughters with their sewing projects. She completed hand stitching work along with her canning, cooking and yard work. Lucille grew her own rhubarb to make rhubarb crunch for the family and made huge Christmas trays full of candy, cookies, and cakes for each of her children’s families every year. Everyone especially loved her vegetable mustard sauce made from tomatoes grown in the garden. You would never leave her house empty handed. She would always send something home with you. She spent many hours going through pictures from all her years and put together a picture album for each of her children. She always stayed active in her Grandchildren’s activities including graduations, sports activities, and music programs. She loved to listen to music and dance. She learned new dances as they came along and took dance lessons on several occasions.

Lucille was Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Great, Great Grandmother to more than we can keep track of! Lucille taught her children that when things get tough you have to preserver and continue to work at what needs attention. She also taught us to smile and have fun along the way. The aids at Marian Estates always talked about her wonderful smile and how she never let it quit.

Viewing will be Tuesday, November 1, from 10 am to 5 pm and Wednesday, November 2, from 10 am to 12 pm. Service will be held Wednesday, November 2 at 1 pm, all at Howell-Edwards-Doerksen Funeral Home.

Arrangements under the direction of Howell-Edwards-Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Directors, Salem, OR.