1935-2013
Eloise Rose Young, 78, of Clarkston, passed away peacefully Oct. 19, 2013, at home following a two-year struggle with pulmonary fibrosis. She was born July 2, 1935, at home, the second of three daughters to Russell and Clarabel Young in Potlatch.
The family grew up on a 40-acre farm at Princeton, on a ridge referred to as Gold Hill, and lived in what the girls fondly referred to as the "Tar Paper Shack." In 1942 they relocated to Potlatch, where Eloise entered the second grade and claimed to dislike her teacher and school. The farm was sold in 1945 and the family settled in Moscow, which for a country girl seemed like New York City. Eloise recalled attending The Whitworth School, now the 1912 Center, for grades five through eight, and Moscow High School, where she loved classes, joined the Girls Athletic Association and participated in girl's sports. She graduated in the class of 1953.
She attended the University of Idaho, graduating in 1958 with a bachelor of science in education degree. During her senior year, she and a girlfriend decided to take a class, listed as co-ed, called Athletic Injuries. They made history as the first women to sign up for the class, much to the dismay of the department of Physical Education, which took it to top administration without their knowledge. They were admitted to the class anyway and learned about ankle, leg and arm injuries, plus how to treat and tape them. This is probably a required class for any physical education degree today.
Her first teaching job was at Warden, Wash., where she taught physical education half of the day and classroom work consisting of social studies, reading and art the other half. She remembers by law having to sign and have notarized an affidavit with her teaching contract stating that she was not a communist. The law was removed in 1965. Eloise left Warden after nine years for a full-time physical education position at Pasco. Her career was short-lived. Due to social unrest and 17 school bomb threats in the month of September alone, she knew she could not stay another year.
In 1968, Eloise heard of a job in Clarkston and applied for it. There were plans to build a new school and the need for development of a good physical education program. She knew when she interviewed for the position she had the job. She stayed for 20 years and during that time acquired a master of arts degree in teaching at Whitworth College, Spokane, in 1974. She served as state president of the Division of Girl's and Women's Sports as well as various office positions in Clarkston Education Association, and was a member of the Washington Education Association and National Education Association for 30 years. She was a former member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Teachers Honorary.
Eloise retired at age 53, after 30 years of teaching. Not one to be idle, Eloise began a second career of volunteering and for 20 years she became a self-taught book mender for the Lewiston City Library, saving the city thousands of dollars during that time. Whatever project Eloise took on, she gave it her all, from Girl Scouting to participating and chairing her last four high school reunion committees. She was fortunate to be with her 1953 classmates in June of this year for their 60th reunion. Her many interests included reading, kite flying, stamp collecting and card making, family genealogy and spending time with her family and friends, particularly the "Schoolhouse Gang" who she had lunch with the week before her death.
Eloise is loved and survived by her cat Sunshine; nieces Jeanette Carson, Paulette Lowery (Mike), both of Pullman, Beth Hopp (John), Mellany Olson (Steve), both of Tulalip, Wash.; and brother-in-law Allen Duncan of Marysville, Wash.; four great-nieces and nephews; and 10 great-great-nieces and nephews; as well as many friends and relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Clarabel Young; sisters Virginia Havens and Donna Duncan; nephew Russell Gilliam; great-niece Tara Olson; and great-nephew Bradley Olson.
A remembrance reception will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Silver Room at the Best Western Plus University Inn in Moscow. Food will be served. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Tri-State Hospital Foundation, Asotin County Library or Latah County Historical Society.
Please sign the online book of memories at www.merchantfuneralhome.com.
