Let me introduce you to Esther, a week after she left us.

Caoimhe

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Sat May-16-09 09:03 PM
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Let me introduce you to Esther, a week after she left us.

Edited on Sat May-16-09 09:34 PM by Caoimhe

Firstly, here is her obituary. Don't get all depressed until you learn a bit about her. She wasn't afraid to live, or to die.

Jefferson County's oldest citizen, Esther Harmon, 106, died Saturday, May 9, at East Cascade Retirement -- mentally sharp to the end.
Harmon, who was featured in the 2008 edition of Sageland magazine, moved to Culver 77 years ago, with her husband and young family. "We were newcomers until 1946, when water came in," she said in an interview last year, recalling the formation of the North Unit Irrigation District. "With the stroke of a pen, we became oldtimers."
Harmon's daughter Theo Schonneker, of Culver, said that despite having to be hospitalized, "She was extremely alert to the end, and knew the names of all the nurses, and their families."
After a week in Mountain View Hospital, she moved into Cascade East Retirement last week. "The world has lost its biggest fan because she saw the best in everybody and made you see the best in everybody," said Schonneker. "She stood up for the underdog -- that's how she lived."
Harmon is survived by two of her four children, her daughter Theo Schonneker, and son, Charles Harmon, of Tumalo; twin sisters, Bernice and Beatrice, 93, of Palm Springs, Calif.; and numerous grandchildren and stepgrandchildren, including Chuck Schonneker, of Madras, as well as great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Her husband Chester and two sons Robert and Chester Jr. preceded her in death.

-Madras Pioneer May 16, 2009 http://www.madraspioneer.com/MAPNews1.shtml

What this obituary doesn't tell you is that Thelma was a lifelong liberal and proud Democrat. She would get angry at anyone who told her they didn't think their vote mattered. Read on from the 2008 article mentioned above:

-snip- The centenarian is also blessed with a keen mind and extraordinary memory.
-snip-"She's sharp as a tack," said her daughter Theo Schonneker, 82, also of Culver, admitting that she often relies on her mother's memory for names and dates. "She's up on what happened yesterday in the news."
"I watch the news because I don't like to be left behind," explained Harmon, a former nurse and schoolteacher with an inquisitive nature and a love of learning.

-snip-When the 19th Amendment, giving women the vote, was ratified in 1920, Harmon was just 18 years old -- too young to cast her first ballot. At the first opportunity, the 1924 presidential election, she voted for John Davis, the Democratic candidate, over the winner, Calvin Coolidge.
Since then, she said, "I've never missed a vote." This year's presidential election will be the 22nd for the lifelong Democrat.-snip-
Although she follows the news, she doesn't necessarily believe it. "Most of it is hype nowadays -- to get the most mileage out of the whole thing," she said, reminiscing about a time when well-respected newscasters, such as Walter Cronkite and Hugh Downs, could be counted on for the truth.
For television entertainment, she relies on Oregon Public Broadcasting. "I want something that's informative," she said. "I don't like junk."-snip-

-Madras Pioneer May 7, 2008 READ IT ALL, IT'S FASCINATING STUFF http://www.madraspioneer.com/ArcStoryPage.asp?Database=Story&StoryID=9255

Esther's family has told me how excited she was to support Barack Obama in last year's Presidential Primary and General Election. She told everyone who would listen what a fine and honest man he was and she was so proud to cast her vote for him.

She was invited to meet Obama and attend the huge Obama Rally in Portland, Oregon last year. Obama was told he had a 105 year old supporter and he wanted to meet her. Unfortunately she had a bout with illness and couldn't go.

The reason I know about Esther Harmon is twofold. She is famous here for her longevity, her amazingly sharp memory, quick wit and her good deeds throughout her life. The reason I learned about her Obama support was this: in Spring 2008 I was outside working on my crappy sprinkler system in the heat when a sweaty, bald youngish man approached me with some literature. He was pounding the pavement in this rural backwoods small town part of Oregon, because he had talked to Esther Harmon and she had made it clear to him that this was probably going to be the MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION of his lifetime. He told her he'd thought about taking a Saturday or two to go door to door for Obama. She was so delighted! His enthusiasm and his appreciation for her and his confidence in Obama really hit me.

At the time I was liking Barack more and more, but I still held a glimmer of allegiance to Hillary. When this guy found my house and told me all about Barack Obama and the importance of being a part of moving the nation forward, I realized how one little old lady understood the power of voting, the importance of speaking your mind and that her inspiration to others would outlive her many times over.

I asked about the townfolks reaction to his effort and he admitted that a few people had told him they weren't interested in politics, but he said more folks than not wanted bumper stickers, round stickers and pamphlets explaining some of Obama's positions. He said most people felt they couldn't openly support Obama because of the basic BLUENESS of the eastern rural side of the State. But they still planned on voting for him. He had ran out of all the handouts, but managed to fish a crumpled white bumper sticker out of his car and proudly write his name and number on the back. I kept in touch a few times, I called him once after one of the debates and we were both giddy with excitement. He had some family problems arise and didn't have much of a chance to campaign for Obama outside those first few weekends, but that's okay. I for one, am glad he came to my house, that an elderly woman inspired him to volunteer his time and shoe tread and that we now have a decent, honest man as our President because of the efforts of people like her and him and me and you. He ain't perfect, but no President ever has been.

Thank you Esther. You helped add a little drop to a tidal wave and I want everyone to know about you.