1913
Mary
2016
Mary Elizabeth Little
November 26, 1913 — October 10, 2016
Age 102, passed away on Monday, October 10, 2016. She was born on November 26, 1913, to parents James Franklin Webster and Clara Alice Webster in Drinkwater, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Mary spent her first two years on a homestead in Saskatchewan, Canada. Her father grew wheat and raised horses to sell to the army.
In 1912, friends of James Webster traveled to Canada to visit. They brought along Clara, a nanny, to care for the children, and James married Clara that same year. In 1915, they returned to Indiana.
Three years later, they bought property in Portland and traveled to Oregon in a Model T touring car. Some of Mary's earliest memories are of this trip and the Model T. She recalled her father walking for miles to get one of its wooden spoke wheels repaired. The family camped in a tent he made and attached to the side of the car and Mary remembered eating her mother's canned tomatoes. At one point, Mary's brother complained of being cold and their mother suggested he put on his coat. Mary said "He threw it out the side curtain."
The Webster's left Portland for farmland along the Rogue River west of Grants Pass in 1920. That's where Mary attended school. She graduated in 1933, and married Ted j. Baker in July of the following year.
Ted and Mary lived for several years in California, where she helped a mine owner's wife prepare meals on a wood cook stove for the miners. The women also hunted deer and wild pigs.
One hunting trip didn't work as planned. They shot a pig, but only wounded it. The smell of blood caused the herd to run amok and chase the women, who took refuge in a tree. When the miners returned to camp, they searched for the women and found the wild pigs still surrounding the tree. The miners drove away the pigs and rescued their stranded cooks.
The Bakers moved to Oregon in 1943, and settled in Douglas County in 1949. For several years, Mary ran an alterations shop above Larry's Men's Wear store on Main St. in Roseburg. She retired in 1970, and she and Ted were divorced in 1971. Two years later, she married World War II Combat Marine, Harold Little. He died in 2001.
Mary resided at Riverview Terrace for five years. She attributes her longevity to eating good food, not smoking or drinking, and genetics (her mother lived to age 96). Having a positive attitude may also be a contributing factor. Mary enjoyed spending time with her friend, Mary Kuhn, who recently celebrated her 108th birthday. The two Mary's liked to have their meals together, sit in the sun and watch TV.
Mary is survived by her son, Ted R. Baker and his wife, Loretta; seven grandchildren Mindy, Scott, Jeff, Chana, Natalie, Christy, Nathan.
She preceded in death by her parents James Franklin and Clara Alice Webster; brother, James Seward Webster; first husband Ted J. Baker; second husband Harold V. Little; daughter, Linda C. Baker; sons, Michael C. Baker and Lynn A. Baker.
No services are planned. There will a private family gathering at a later date.
Mary spent her first two years on a homestead in Saskatchewan, Canada. Her father grew wheat and raised horses to sell to the army.
In 1912, friends of James Webster traveled to Canada to visit. They brought along Clara, a nanny, to care for the children, and James married Clara that same year. In 1915, they returned to Indiana.
Three years later, they bought property in Portland and traveled to Oregon in a Model T touring car. Some of Mary's earliest memories are of this trip and the Model T. She recalled her father walking for miles to get one of its wooden spoke wheels repaired. The family camped in a tent he made and attached to the side of the car and Mary remembered eating her mother's canned tomatoes. At one point, Mary's brother complained of being cold and their mother suggested he put on his coat. Mary said "He threw it out the side curtain."
The Webster's left Portland for farmland along the Rogue River west of Grants Pass in 1920. That's where Mary attended school. She graduated in 1933, and married Ted j. Baker in July of the following year.
Ted and Mary lived for several years in California, where she helped a mine owner's wife prepare meals on a wood cook stove for the miners. The women also hunted deer and wild pigs.
One hunting trip didn't work as planned. They shot a pig, but only wounded it. The smell of blood caused the herd to run amok and chase the women, who took refuge in a tree. When the miners returned to camp, they searched for the women and found the wild pigs still surrounding the tree. The miners drove away the pigs and rescued their stranded cooks.
The Bakers moved to Oregon in 1943, and settled in Douglas County in 1949. For several years, Mary ran an alterations shop above Larry's Men's Wear store on Main St. in Roseburg. She retired in 1970, and she and Ted were divorced in 1971. Two years later, she married World War II Combat Marine, Harold Little. He died in 2001.
Mary resided at Riverview Terrace for five years. She attributes her longevity to eating good food, not smoking or drinking, and genetics (her mother lived to age 96). Having a positive attitude may also be a contributing factor. Mary enjoyed spending time with her friend, Mary Kuhn, who recently celebrated her 108th birthday. The two Mary's liked to have their meals together, sit in the sun and watch TV.
Mary is survived by her son, Ted R. Baker and his wife, Loretta; seven grandchildren Mindy, Scott, Jeff, Chana, Natalie, Christy, Nathan.
She preceded in death by her parents James Franklin and Clara Alice Webster; brother, James Seward Webster; first husband Ted J. Baker; second husband Harold V. Little; daughter, Linda C. Baker; sons, Michael C. Baker and Lynn A. Baker.
No services are planned. There will a private family gathering at a later date.
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