Kathryn Sewell, 88, of Milton-Freewater and formerly of Lucile, passed away Thursday, April 1, 2010, at her home in Milton-Freewater.
She was born Nov. 17, 1921, at Deer Creek, near White Bird, a daughter of Edward and Martha Crooks Wyatt. She attended grade school at Deer Creek School through the eighth grade and then attended her first year of high school in Lewiston, before returning to graduate from White Bird High School in 1940. She was valedictorian of her class.
She married Bob Sewell July 17, 1940, at Council, Idaho. Their first home was Kirkwood Cow Camp near Lucile, where they worked for the Cow Creek Stock Association. That fall they moved to the Cow Creek area near Lucile. She was Grangeville Border Days Queen in 1941. They bought property near Lucile in 1944 and that was the beginning of their 7U Ranch, where they lived until 2007, when they moved to Milton-Freewater.
She was proud of her Idaho County pioneer blood, with her grandparents having been early settlers of the area.
She worked at Waites Meat Market during hunting season and the Rapid River Fish Hatchery in Riggins part time, where she made great friends.
She loved to cook and enjoyed living and working on their ranch, and loved the outdoors, where one of her favorite things were huckleberrying.
She was an election board member for Lucile and Riggins for more than 40 years and was a charter member of the Idaho County Cowbelles. She also was a member the Salmon River Cowboys Association and secretary of the Riggins Rodeo for many years, and was also grand marshal of the Riggins Rodeo. She belonged to the Salmon River Bible study and was the cemetery bookkeeper for John Day Creek and Riggins Cemetery for many years. She was the Lucile correspondent for the Idaho County Free Press and a member of the Rebekkahs.
She is survived by her husband, Bob; a daughter, Eileen Uhlenkott of Fenn; three sons, Gary Sewell of Pendleton, Ore., Darrel Sewell of Baker, Ore., and Bow Sewell of Milton-Freewater; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Margaret Rose of Lewiston, with her two children.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville, with burial to follow at John Day Creek Cemetery. Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Walla Walla Community Hospice, 1067 Isaacs Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362. Condolences may be sent to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.
