Home > United States of America > Kansas > Rawlins County > McDonald > Grace Cemetery > Josephine May DeMerchant Thorndike

Josephine May DeMerchant Thorndike

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Birth	:	30 Sep 1904 Caribou, Aroostook County, Maine, USA
Death	:	8 Mar 1999 Tonasket, Okanogan County, Washington, USA
Burial	:	Grace Cemetery, McDonald, Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.7849998, -101.3824997
Inscription	:	MOTHER TOGETHER FOREVER
Description	:	Wenatchee World - Mar 10, 1999 Josephine May (DeMerchant) Thorndike, age 94, of Oroville, passed away Monday, March 8, 1999 at the North Valley Nursing Home in Tonasket. She was born on Sept. 30, 1904 in Caribou ME to Wilfred and Emma (McNeal) DeMerchant. When Josie was four years old, she came to Washington. She traveled westward by train with her parents and three brothers, George, Leslie and Kenneth. Her parents took squatters rights and homesteaded a 160 acre ranch near the flourishing town of Golden. Josephine loved school days and was a very good student. She liked to study the stars and... Read More	Wenatchee World - Mar 10, 1999 Josephine May (DeMerchant) Thorndike, age 94, of Oroville, passed away Monday, March 8, 1999 at the North Valley Nursing Home in Tonasket. She was born on Sept. 30, 1904 in Caribou ME to Wilfred and Emma (McNeal) DeMerchant. When Josie was four years old, she came to Washington. She traveled westward by train with her parents and three brothers, George, Leslie and Kenneth. Her parents took squatters rights and homesteaded a 160 acre ranch near the flourishing town of Golden. Josephine loved school days and was a very good student. She liked to study the stars and once had a daydream of there being a man on the moon. She entered the first grade at the Wannacut Lake School. She skipped the seventh grade and finished the eighth grade at Enterprise. In 1919, the family moved from Wannacut down to Dairy Point in Oroville. She finished her last four years of schooling at Oroville High School, graduating 76 years ago. She worked at numerous jobs to earn money for college including working in the Oroville Cannery and the laundry, etc. After receiving her teaching certificate from Cheney Normal School in 1924, she taught two years in Pennawawa. In 1926, she married David A. Thorndike who had already established an apple orchard and in 1933 they built a warehouse in Oroville-Ellisforde district. In 1946, a childhood dream came true when the family moved to live on the beautiful Okanogan Smith Ranch where they continued to raise apples and they established a new warehouse, D.A. Thorndike and Sons. Josephine lived through a number of Oroville's greater historical events including the beginning of the Oroville-Tonasket irrigation system which her husband David worked on. She saw O-T's dedication in 1916. She also witnessed the construction of Enloc Dam and the floods of 1948 and 1972. Her early memories of the early town of Oroville consisted of many hotels, saloons, churches, fairs and theaters where they held dances and many other small businesses. She remembers the time in the early 40s when the Mexicans and the German prisoners of war came to help the farmers. She set up a long table at their home to feed the work crew. For breakfast it took a lot of pancakes. Josephine had a real love for history. She was known as the "Walking History Book." She helped organize the Okanogan Historical Society and she was the second president of this organization. She was a member of the Okanogan Pioneer Association and was also a lifetime member of the Oroville Grange and Oroville Garden Club with an avid knowledge of birds and gave many speeches throughout the State of Washington. She held many offices in the church; the Women's Society, Sunday school and youth groups. It was through her Christian faith that she touched so many lives. She was also active in both Tonasket and Oroville schools, P.T.A. (president), room mother and community activities. Twice she had the honor of being Oroville May Day Grand Festival Marshall. She was known for her hospitality among her family and friends. Due to failing health, she spent the last three years in North Valley Nursing Home. She continued her hobbies of crocheting, reading, even writing a little bit, but most of all she loved to be with people. Josephine is survived by a loving family of four children, one son, Ted Thorndike, Oroville and special friend, Phyllis, Oroville, three daughters, Eleanor (Ken) Gausman of Oroville, Joan (Francis) Jensen of Soap Lake, and Joyce (Duane) Ward of Oroville, one daughter-in-law Carol Thorndike of Oroville, 21 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, a sister-in-law Lenora DeMerchant and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband David A., one son Donald, one granddaughter and six brothers. Services will be held Saturday, March 13, 1999 at 2 p.m. at the Oroville United Methodist Church, officiated by Pastor George Lockwood with interment at the Riverview Cemetery in Oroville. Memorials may be made to the Oroville United Methodist Church. Bergh Funeral Service of Oroville is in charge of arrangements.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Josephine May DeMerchant Thorndike's memorial?
Josephine May DeMerchant Thorndike's memorial is located at: Grace Cemetery, McDonald, Rawlins County, USA.
When did Josephine May DeMerchant Thorndike death?
Josephine May DeMerchant Thorndike death on 8 Mar 1999 in Tonasket, Okanogan County, Washington, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Josephine May DeMerchant Thorndike's memorial?
Latitude: 39.7849998
Longitude: -101.3824997

Family Members:

Parent

Wilfred James DeMerchant

(1865 - 1941)

Emma Ann McNeal DeMerchant

(1875 - 1962)

Spouse

David Alexander Thorndike

(1901 - 1973)

Siblings

George Alexander DeMerchant

(1897 - 1988)

Wilfred DeMerchant Jr.

(1915 - 1915)

Children

Donald James Thorndike

(1930 - 1993)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Grace Cemetery
McDonald, Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7849998, -101.3824997

2. Evergreen Cemetery
Bird City, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8400002, -101.4856033

3. Bird City Cemetery
Bird City, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7705994, -101.5175018

4. Midland Cemetery
McDonald, Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6624520, -101.3738880

5. Mayflower Cemetery
Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9006004, -101.3067017

6. Immaculate Conception Cemetery
Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8856010, -101.2217026

7. Greisler Cemetery
Bird City, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6699100, -101.5621400

8. Gritzland Cemetery
Bird City, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6118800, -101.4507500

9. Saint Johns Cemetery
Atwood, Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9199982, -101.2052994

10. Faber Cemetery
McDonald, Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5978060, -101.3196500

11. Blakeman Cemetery
Blakeman, Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8142300, -101.1300500

12. Enterprise Cemetery
Blakeman, Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9149600, -101.1587400

13. Stevens Chapel Cemetery
Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6630000, -101.1509000

14. Barley Cemetery
Wheeler, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8655000, -101.6541300

15. Sunnyside Cemetery
Bird City, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5827800, -101.5109900

16. Ilion Cemetery
Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6152992, -101.1605988

17. Atwood Fairview Cemetery
Atwood, Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8063820, -101.0579090

18. Mount Calvary Cemetery
Atwood, Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8133011, -101.0569000

19. Wheeler Cemetery
Wheeler, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7483800, -101.7114800

20. Cheyenne Valley Cemetery
Wheeler, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7483800, -101.7115200

21. Fairview Cemetery
Brewster, Thomas County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5260530, -101.3799140

22. Saint Cyril Cemetery
Atwood, Rawlins County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9432983, -101.1097031

23. Saint Pauls Lutheran Cemetery
Wheeler, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6389000, -101.6937000

24. West Union Cemetery
Hitchcock County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0600014, -101.2830963