Wasco County OR Archives Obituaries.....Lauterbach, Mary Ellen (Gaige) July 1, 2006
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Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com December 28, 2006, 6:53 pm

The Dalles Chronicle, July 6, 2006
     Mary Ellen (Gaige) Lauterbach, 47, formerly known as Mary Ellen Gaige and 
a past resident of The Dalles, died at her home in Whitefish, Mont. of a 
sudden heart attack on July 1, 2006.

     She was born Jan. 16, 1959, in The Dalles, the fifth child of William and 
Marjorie Gaige. She attended Joseph G. Wilson, The Dalles Junior High and The 
Dalles High School. After school, she worked for the Oregon State Forest 
Service, Barlow District, for the next three seasons until she met Brian 
Lauterbach. They were married July 1, 1983, while working for the Forest 
Service. 

     She was the only girl working with 10 to 12 men. She was dedicated to her 
job and quickly became a crew chief. She enjoyed the forest and animals.

     Her husband worked for Les Schwab Tire Company. A year or so after the 
couple married, they were transferred to Twin Falls, Idaho, where he helped 
open a new store. A few years later, he transferred to Wenatchee, Wash., as 
assistant manager. After a few years, he was made manager of the Pullman, 
Wash., store. After a few years in Pullman, he transferred to Auburn, Wash., 
to a much larger store.

     The couple had two daughters, Ashley Fay, born June 20, 1984, and Molly, 
born Sept. 19, 1987. 

     On a vacation, they made a trip through Montana with Mary’s parents. They 
loved Montana and, not wanting to raise their girls in a large city, Brian 
returned to Montana and bought a tire store in Whitefish. The couple worked 
hard making the store a success.

     She loved people, especially older and younger ones. Her very close 
friend was Karen Cromer, who was visiting with her the night of her death. 

     She also loved animals and usually had deer in her yard at Whitefish, 
looking for a handout. 

     She is survived by her husband Brian, her daughters Ashley and Molly, her 
father and mother Bill and Marjorie Gaige, her brothers Allen, Denny and 
Robert, sisters Cheryl Lowe and Denise Patton, her uncles Curtis Gaige and 
Paul Karr, her aunts Janice Young, Caroline Anderson and Edith Nagle, numerous 
nieces, nephews and cousins, and her father-in-law and mother-in-law Jim and 
Nancy Lauterbach.

     Funeral services were held in Whitefish earlier today at the Nazarene 
Church. A memorial service will be held in The Dalles at the Mid-Columbia 
Senior Center on Tuesday, July 11, at 3 p.m. in The Dalles. Friends and family 
are welcome.

     In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing may contribute to the Meals on Wheels 
program at the senior center.


Additional Comments:
Written permission to reprint given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, 
Oregon, Dan Spatz, Editor (e-mail dated 3/7/2006).


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