Gertrude McCann

Mom was born June 12, 1916, at her grandmother's home nine miles outside of Craigmont, to Estella and Ed Hoss. Little did her parents know at the time of her birth that their daughter, Anna Gertrude Hoss, would grow to be such an amazing woman.

She lived with her parents and two sisters, Marguerite and Mary, a short distance from the farm house where she was born on acreage where her mother and father farmed. She remembers "daddy" farming the old-fashioned way with horses. Gertrude grew up as the oldest of the living children, having lost her older brother when he was just a toddler. Mom talked about her brother "Jakie" but sadly never had the chance to enjoy having a big brother. Being the oldest, mom always said she had to work the hardest. However, before Mary passed away, she disputed this fact, which we all laughed about. We know living out in the country shaped the woman mom was today. She spent hours helping around the farm house, cooking for the family and the hired crew and tending a large garden. She learned the love of cooking and canning from her mother and grandmother. She truly loved her life on the prairie.

Mom graduated from Craigmont High School in 1935. After graduation, mom attended the "Normal School," now called Lewis-Clark State College, and earned her teaching certificate in 1937. She started teaching school in one-room schoolhouses at Morrow Town, Icicle Flats and at Locus Grove. She spoke fondly of the families she lived with while teaching their children, most particularly, she loved living with the Shears family. It was common then for the teacher to live with a family for a month or two and then move to another family's home. She told us stories of riding horseback through several feet of snow to make it to school to get the fire going to warm up the classroom before the children arrived. One cold winter's day, mom told the story of getting snowed in with the children. The only food she had with her was some tomato soup and bread. She learned the art of making a meal stretch that day.

Mom always loved music, especially the Big Band era. Whenever we traveled with her in her car, we would have to endure hours upon hours of Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman or Lawrence Welk, to name just a few. She learned to play the piano and enjoyed sitting down at her old Steinway Upright to play a tune. She also loved to listen to other members of the family play, especially when her grandson, "Billy III" would play his rendition of a Ragg.

Mom also loved to dance. She told us stories of the family dances held from Nez

perce to Winchester and made sure that we knew her "Dance Card" was always filled. At a dance one evening in Winchester, one handsome young beau named William V. McCann was constantly getting his name on her dance card. She quickly learned this young man was special. This was where she and dad met and soon thereafter fell in love. Dad and his good friend, Bob Baldwin, along with dad's sister, Susie, had great memories of attending dances, picnics and other fun outings.

On Feb. 8, 1941, in Lewiston, Gertrude married William V. McCann, and other than a brief stay in an apartment on Eighth Street, mom and dad purchased their home on Stewart Avenue, and made that their home for approximately 75 years. Dad farmed and ranched and mother was a homemaker. Being a homemaker to mom was more than what one might think. She helped dad farm, cooked meals for the hired men, took food to the fields, kept her house immaculate, especially the outside flower beds. She loved her home and welcomed all to stop by for a chat, a cup of coffee, an opportunity to "fix" whatever might be in need of repair, or to help feed cows.

On June 10, 1943, mother gave birth to her first son, William Vern McCann Jr., (Bill Jr.). A few years after Bill Jr. was born, on a hot Fourth of July in 1946, her second son, Ronald R. (Ron) McCann was born, and her family was now complete. She loved being a mother. Babies and small children have always been very special to mom. She enjoyed volunteering at our schools. She was president of the PTA, she made cookies, attended every event we had and was den mother to Den 3, Pack 122, from Webster School. She was the president of the local cancer association for many years. Looking back, we are not sure how she got everything done. She not only raised her own children, but took in other kids that needed a place to stay. We always had extra kids in and around our house. Two young men who became very close to our family are Mike Staffelbach and Bob Catherman. They lived or stayed at our home while we were growing up. We all learned the meaning of hard work. Mom would have us all out hauling manure, hauling hay, doing chores, or even helping her milk her six cows twice a day. She raised cows for milk and cream. She separated the milk twice daily and sold cream for $1 a quart or 50 cents a pint. After school, mom would pick us up and we would help her deliver cream and/or eggs to her many customers. In addition to her cows, she raised chickens, pigs, had a huge vegetable garden where she grew beautiful tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, corn and most other vegetables grown around our area. She canned everything and made wonderful jellies and jams. Her flower gardens were always beautiful. She loved all flowers, but especially her famous roses and beautiful lilies and also she never stopped loving her cows.

In 1974, mom and dad started McCann Ranch & Livestock Co., as a business to run cattle, farm and then later, to develop commercial land. They were both very proud of continuing on the family heritage.

After we were grown, mom became quite an avid bridge player. She coordinated many bridge parties and ran a couple of bridge clubs at the Elks Club. Mindy spent many hours as "Grammies'" helper setting up and taking down at these bridge events. If mom was involved in something she went all out. She enjoyed her time in the Cowbells, the women's organization for the Nez Perce County Cattlemen's Association. Mom and Dad, but particularly mom, loved to travel. She and dad purchased a Holiday Rambler Trailer and drove across the United States visiting friends and relatives along the way. Some of the most-memorable places they visited were Switzerland, New Zealand and China. If dad couldn't get away for a trip, that didn't stop mom. Her first travel partner was her dear friend, Naomi Parker. She and mom went everywhere. After Naomi passed away, mom began to take tours. During this time she became very close to her travel agent, Sandy Scott. Sandy took mom under her wing and took her to wonderful places around the globe. One of mom's favorite places to visit was Branson, Mo. She loved Branson, especially during the holiday season. The last major trip mom took she needed some help, so she and her daughter-in-law, Lori, traveled to Scotland with a tour. Mom was 93 at the time. Mom drove up to the time she was 98 years old. We can all tell you she didn't give up her keys willingly. Being the independent woman she was, she hated to depend on others to do her work, or do her chores, as she wanted to do things herself and her way. Mom lived with family for about 11 months before moving to Guardian Angel Homes, in Lewiston.

She is survived by her two sons, Bill Jr. (Lori) and Ron (JoAnn); her grandchildren, William V. McCann III of Springfield, Ore., and Malinda (Mindy) McCann of Lewiston; stepgrandchildren Jason (Sadie) Beck of Winchester, Aaron (Lindy) Beck of Cartersville, Ga., and Christopher Carpenter of Lewiston; great-grandchildren Orion (Brittany) McCann and Justis McCann, both of Lewiston, and Lyric McCann and Cadence McCann, of Springfield, Ore.; stepgreat-grandchildren Gracie, Kylee and Halle Beck of Winchester, Colton and Carter Beck of Cartersville, Ga., and Phelan Franklin of Lewiston; and many nieces, nephews and some very dear friends.

A special thank you goes to the staff at Guardian Angel Homes and in particular, to what mom referred to as "Her Girls" at the Liberty House. We cannot thank you enough for your care, love, support, and patience, during her time with you.

For those who knew her best, we know you will agree. She was independent, honest (to a fault), meticulous, strong-willed, hard-working, worldly, fiercely loyal and uncompromising. She taught all of us the meaning of hard work. She passed away peacefully holding Lori's hand, two months and six days shy of 100 years old. It is bittersweet that we say goodbye, but we know we will see her again. We are sure she met her siblings, parents and husband as she entered heaven, and by now has them all whipped into shape! Until we meet again, Mom, we love you, we will miss you, and for now, so long.

A viewing will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. today at Malcom's Brower Wann and funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home, 1711 18th St., Lewiston. Burial to follow at Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens. A lunch will follow. Donations can be made in Mom's honor to the charity of your choice.