May 29, 1923-August 11, 2012
Edna Lanore Garber, 89, of Sweet Home passed away Saturday. She was born in Sweet Home to Jim and Vera (Coulter) Morehead.
Edna was raised on the property her father bought from his grandparents, John and Rachel Galbrith in 1912. She lived her entire life on the Ames Donation Land Claim.
Edna was a native of Sweet Home and attended grade school and high school, graduating in 1941. She was a member of the Sweet Home High School Band, playing the clarinet, and Edna also played in a trio at many community functions.
She worked at White’s Cafe and Columbia River Log Scaling as the office secretary. A volunteer in the Air Force as a Ground Observer, Edna spotted planes during World War II and was promoted to supervisor during the three years she served.
Edna married Wayne Garber in February of 1944. She worked at the Sweet Home Church of Christ as a Deaconess, playing piano for services, teaching children’s Sunday school classes, and arranging funeral dinners. In the later years Wayne and Edna took care of the lawn work at the church. They were both baptized members of the church.
They owned Garber Logging for years, where Edna was the bookkeeper. Her hobbies included keeping a magnificent yard, scenic photography, and she made each of her four grandchildren keepsake memory books. She also enjoyed elk hunting and camping with friends, trips to the ocean, and most of all her love for her family.
Edna loved poetry, “The Touch of the Master’s Hand” was one of her favorites and she wanted it shared.
“Whenever your life is out of tune, and no melody soothes your soul, look to the Master whose gentle touch will bless you and make you whole.
“Like an old violin with so little worth, a life may be far less than grand, but may be transformed in a moment, you see, by The Touch of The Master’s Hand.”
Edna is survived by her son Michael and his wife Pamela Garber; daughter Marilyn and her husband Steven Richards; sister Lelia Cole; grandchildren: Traci and Brent Volle of Seattle, Wash., Carly and Jason Dolan of Ukiah, Calif., Tina and Dave Melby and Matthew Garber of Sweet Home; 12 great-grandchildren: Austin, Lucas, and Makenna Melbye, Koby, Brayden, Dayne, Syndelle, and Taivyn Garber, Max and Mason Volle, and Sadie and Cash Dolan.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Wayne Garber; baby daughter Marjorie Lou Garber; brother Melvin Morehead; great-granddaughter Shaina Tyler Nicole Garber and her parents, James and Vera Morehead.
A private burial was held Monday, August 13, 2012, at Gilliland Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Edna wanted donations to Evergreen Hospice.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.