No headline

Vera Alice McElwain

Vera A. McElwain of Coquille, Oregon, passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on Feb. 16, 2019. She was born in Half Moon, Montana, just north of Columbia Falls on Jan. 6, 1936 to Cecil and Mildred McElwain. She was raised in Columbia Falls, where she graduated from high school.

She moved to Oregon over 50 years ago and lived in several different places, including Eugene, Junction City, and Salem. When she retired in 2001 she moved to Coquille with her longtime friend, Lois Seeds. In October of 2016 Vera moved to a Memory Care Center, Sunrise of Bothell.

Vera worked for many years as a property underwriter for Country Insurance. She had a brief stint as a security guard early in her career. Vera loved her dogs and loved to work in her garden, picking and canning her blueberries and raspberries. She also had the most beautiful flower gardens. However, she mostly loved to fish, and she canned and smoked most of the fish she caught. She was an avid fisherwoman. She caught many big fish and had many big fish stories to go with them. She was a huge Seattle Mariners fan and seldom missed watching one of their games. Vera was a strong, savvy, independent woman who will be missed by all who loved and cared for her.

Vera was preceded in death by her longtime friend, Lois Seeds, her parents, Cecil and Mildred McElwain, her brothers, Cecil and LeRoy McElwain and her sister, Dorothy Barnaby. She is survived by six nephews and six nieces and her dog, Buddy.

As Vera requested, she has been cremated and her ashes will be placed with her father and mother in Whitefish Cemetery in Whitefish, Montana. At her request, no services will be held.