Florence Trudell

Florence Hannah Adair Trudell, 89, of Caldwell. Florence passed away on January 27, 2013. She was born on October 26, 1923 in Warrenton, Oregon to Grace Amelia Dawson and John Adair. She grew up on a farm with her younger sister Marjorie, brother John and many nearby aunts, uncles and cousins. A natural teacher, even as a child, once Florence began attending the one-room schoolhouse called Clatsop Plains School she would teach her sister what she had learned each day. This allowed Marjorie to skip a grade once she began school. Brother John was always too busy with projects of his own to attend Florence’s lessons. Helping on the farm, playing with her cousin John William, picking berries, going clamming, enjoying practical jokes on her Uncle Seymour and listening to the radio program “Gangbusters” were some of the activities that kept her busy in childhood. Florence attended high school and graduated from Seaside High School in Seaside, Oregon. After high school Florence went on to get her teaching degree at Oregon Normal School in Monmouth, Oregon. She spoke fondly of her college years and all the friends she made then, many of whom she kept in touch with through her life. She was in college during WWII and especially enjoyed attending dances at nearby Camp Adair. If you asked her she would tell you she had a great time during the war. In 1955 Florence married Francis Joseph Trudell in Oregon. Joe was in the U.S. Navy when they met at yet another dance. It didn’t take them long to realize they should be together even though he was eleven years younger than she was and many of their friends teased them about the age difference. Over the next decade or so, while he earned his degree and then served in the Coast Guard, they moved all over the USA, living in Rhode Island, Florida, Michigan and Alaska. Florence taught school wherever they moved. They finally settled in Canyon County and began to build Purple Sage Mobile Manor. In 1970 at the age of forty-seven Florence had her first child, Jennifer. In 1975 Florence and Joe divorced and she began working outside the home again. She worked for the Department of Employment and retired from there. After retirement Florence kept busy playing in several bridge groups. She was an avid bird watcher and doll collector. Florence volunteered at St. Mary’s Church and West Valley Medical Center. She loved to garden and once won an award for her beautiful flower beds. Florence is survived by her daughter Jennifer Trudell, son-in-law Ambrose Richardson, grandchildren Gus and Starla, brother John Adair and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister. Rosary will be recited before Florence’s memorial service on Thursday, January 31, 2013 beginning at 2:00 PM at Flahiff Funeral Chapel, Caldwell. Memorials may be given to Malheur Field Station 34848 Sodhouse Ln. Princeton, OR 97721. Service Information