Sept. 10, 1913 – March 19, 2008
Letha Mae Paden, 94, of Sweet Home died March 19, 2008.
She was born Sept. 10, 1913 in Bowlegs, Okla., to Thomas Everett and Ida Ellen (Caulkins) Caldwell.
She lived in Oklahoma until 1944, when she moved to Sanger, Calif. In 1973 she moved to Marcola and lived there until she moved to Sweet Home in 1999. She had homes in Sanger, Tollhouse and Morro Bay, Calif.
Mrs. Paden owned and operated restaurants in California before moving to Oregon. She retired from JC Penney in Eugene. She was active in the Republican Party. She received an award from Lane County, Oregon farmers market.
She loved all kinds of needlework, especially crochet, cake decorating, gardening, farming and selling at craft shows. She also sold baked goods, jams and jellies, fruit and vegetables at Lane County Farmers Market. She loved to travel; any place in a car but not an airplane would do.
Mrs. Paden is survived by two daughters: Barbara June Jostrom of Marcola and Glenda Sue Doughman of Yreka, Calif.; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and one brother, David Bennett of Sweet Home.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas E. Caldwell (1941); Ida Ellen Caulkins Bennett (1972); brothers, Homer, Charles, Clifford and Paul Bennett, and Everett, Velmore, and Herman Caldwell; sisters Nita Joyner and Thelbe Elder; and her husbands: Glenn R. Bennett (1973) and W.L. “Larry” Paden (1991)
Memorial contributions may be made to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice and Wiley Creek Community Activity Fund.
A funeral service was held March 25 at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel, with a graveside service following at Mable Cemetery in Marcola.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements