The passage of time finally ended for longtime Orofino, Kamiah and Lewiston resident Ella Mae Schlader Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. She would say her 94 years passed by slowly leaving many adventures and accomplishments along the way.
Ella Mae was born on Christmas Day in 1929 in a farm house at the top of the Gilbert Grade to Earl and Hazel (Bell) Wright. She was raised a farmer’s daughter learning everything she needed to know about keeping the farm going during hard times.
She began her schooling at the old Gilbert School on the north end of the Nezperce Prairie. She graduated from Nezperce High School as co-valedictorian in 1948 with her lifelong friend Cleta Bognar. After graduation she worked for General Telephone and the Clearwater County Extension office in Orofino.
She married Raymond Schlader Oct. 13, 1950, in Orofino. They lived on Riverside near Orofino where they welcomed a son, Ron in 1953 and a daughter, Donna in 1954.
They soon moved to the family ranch on Wells Bench Road and raised Hereford cattle on the side. With her children in school, Ella Mae began her career with the U.S. Postal Service in 1961 as a substitute mail carrier and postal clerk at the Orofino Post Office.
The family moved to Kamiah in 1964 and built a new home a block from the school. Ella Mae continued her postal service career at the Kamiah Post Office until 1974 when she and Raymond moved back to the family ranch at Orofino. She transferred back to her previous job at the Orofino Post Office where she retired after 28 years of service in 1989.
Raymond passed away in 1999 and she sold the ranch and moved to Lewiston in 2003, where she lived until the time of her death.
Ella Mae lived a full life where she enjoyed camping with friends, traveling with family, collecting antiques, attending auction sales and spoiling grand kids. She was a member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association and the Lady Eagles.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Raymond and sister Lorraine Kachelmier of Nezperce.
She is survived by her son Ron (Sheri) Schlader of Missoula, Mont. and daughter Donna (Gene) McClure of Mesquite, Nev. She also leaves behind grandchildren Travis (Dyane) Schlader of Stanley, N.D.; Mark (Mellissa) Schlader of Clarkston; Amanda (Scott) Dunlap of Anchorage, Alaska and Tom McClure of Casper, Wyo. She is also survived by nine great grandchildren, sister-in-law Shirley Seeley of Orofino and many nieces and nephews.
A grave side service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 25 at Normal Hill Cemetery.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Thursday, January 25, 2:00 PM
- Location
-
Normal Hill Cemetery
1122 7th Street
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
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