Aug. 16, 1905 — Nov. 17, 2008

Ella Frances Miller Van Arsdale died at Avemere Heart of the Valley on Monday, Nov. 17. She was 103.

Ella was born on Aug. 16, 1905, in Niles, Kan., to John and Anna Miller. In 1910, the family moved by train from Kansas to Junction City and a year later resettled at Ladd Canyon near LaGrande. Ella graduated from LaGrande High School in 1922 and from Oregon Agricultural College (Oregon State University) in 1927. She taught school for one year at Prairie City and then became a Deschutes County Extension agent in Bend.

In 1932, she married Harry E. Van Arsdale, owner of Farmers Hardware in Redmond. Ella and Harry and their two children moved to Woodburn in 1948 and then to Beaverton in 1961. Ella recertified her teaching certificate and taught school at St. John the Baptist in Milwaukie, and later Jefferson and Roosevelt High Schools in Portland until 1970.

Her husband, Harry, died in 1974. In 1980, Ella moved to Corvallis. She volunteered at the Corvallis Public Library, was a member of the Corvallis Garden Club and attended the Church of the Good Samaritan. After living on her own, Ella moved to Samaritan Village and when she needed more care, to Greeley Place Foster Care and then Heart of the Valley.

Ella was a 75-year member of PEO and a member of Chapter EK in Corvallis. She was also a 50-plus-years member of the Redmond Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. She was an active volunteer, an avid gardener and an accomplished seamstress and knitter.

She is survived by her son Sam Van Arsdale and his wife, Mary, of Spokane, Wash.; daughter Harriet Lorz and former son-in-law Harold Lorz of Corvallis; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nine nieces and nephews. Her husband, Harry; infant son Jon; two stepdaughters; a brother; and four sisters predeceased her.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at Pilot Butte Cemetery in Bend. A local memorial is planned for December.

Arrangements are by McHenry Funeral Home.