Gwendolyn Marie Hord

Passed away at the age of 91, at Sacred Heart Riverbend Hospital in Springfield of end stage renal failure. Gwen went to meet Our Father and be with her beloved son, David Hord, on October 4, 2012. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, sister, son, husband, Monte Hord, and grandson, Scott Backman. We picture them all helping Gwen cross over into God's Heavenly Paradise. We are grateful she is no longer suffering. She is survived by her daughter, Dianne Carter of Lookingglass, Grandchildren Mike (Nicole Evans) Backman of Myrtle Creek; Gary (Denise) Backman, Nick(Kim)Backman; great grandchildren Andy and Lindsey Backman all of Roseburg. Gwen requested 'no service" and will be placed at rest at Roseburg Memorial Gardens. A private Graveside Ceremony in Gwen's memory with a Hot-Air Balloons to Heaven will be held. Gwen was the third child born to Rose and Charles Haugh, in Alma, Nebraska, June 2, 1921. She graduated High School in 1938, entered the Harlan County Beauty Pageant, and won second place. She worked with Bernice Jansen, the actor David Jansen's mother, and she was well on her way to State Competition. However, her life took a turn when she married her first husband, Herschel Rinehart. They left Nebraska and followed relatives to Klamath Falls, where, Gwen worked two jobs, Herschel returned to Nebraska, and the marriage dissolved. Gwen met and married Hershel "Monte" Hord in 1944, in Klamath Falls. Monte enlisted in the Army and was stationed in the South, Gwen returned home to Nebraska. Dianne was born in 1945, in Holdredge. When Monte was discharged, they returned to Klamath Falls, where more relatives migrated. David was born in 1950, and in 1956, Monte got a position in auto Sales and the family moved to Roseburg. Gwen remained a Homemaker into the Sixties. Gwen worked as a Sales Clerk at JC Penny for several years and in 1980, she bought the Winston Liquor Store. She ran the store until her heart attack in 1985. In her retirement, she enjoyed getting together with the "Penny's Girls" to have lunch at different restaurants and swapping the latest novels. She took Contract Bridge lessons, met some avid card players, and enjoyed playing Bridge two or three times a week. She belonged to the Elks and Moose Clubs, loved cooking, and having her friends to the house. She'll be remembered for those good times. When David died in 2006, Gwen lost her will to live. She stopped cooking, dressing herself, and appeared to just give up. She had In-Home Care, until a major Stroke in 2010, rendered her incontinent, unable to walk, and she entered the adult Foster Care system. She had multiple medical issues, dementia, personality changes, and her health declined rapidly, over the last four years. Gwen was a very strong willed individual and even as ill as she was, she found the strength to ask to be moved from an unsafe foster Care situation. Fortunately, the last two weeks of her life were Peaceful. The family wants to thank Mary Metzger, Long Term Care Ombudsman for providing a neutral Third-Party presence and Attorney, Harry Gandy, for his rapid response. We give special thanks to Dr.Neil Kumar, Dr. Dura Totoian of Roseburg and Dr Dickenson of the Vascular Institute at Sacred Heart Hospital, for their heroic emergency effort to save Gwen's legs and her life.