Allene McElrath

Allene A. McElrath of Manzanita, Oregon passed away at the age of 94 peacefully at her son's home in Manzanita on Friday July 10th, 2009 where she had resided for the past five years. Allene was born Allene A. (LaVerne) Armstrong in Alhambra, California to Merle & Vernon Armstrong on July 17, 1914. Allene played the trumpet from age 9. She played often on the radio station KHJ and many times on the children's hour. Later on she was a member of the Long Beach, California Women's Symphony. She lived in Los Angeles until she was 10 years old when her family moved to Seal Beach, California where her father and grandfather owned and published a weekly newspaper, The Post & Wave. Allene married Robert Jackson McElrath Sr. on September 13th, 1933 in Seal Beach, California where in 1934 the Police Department employed them both, her husband as an officer and Allene as a matron. A little over a year later they moved to Spokane, Washington where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife employed her husband. This employment would take them to Fish Hatcherys in numerous parts of the country including, Haggerman, Idaho; Leavenworth, Underwood and Carson Washington; Anderson California; Ennis, Montana; and Cortland, New York. In 1940 Allene and her husband added to their family with the birth of their son Robert J. McElrath, Jr. Allene often was employed at various credit departments and a number of years with the U.S. Forest Service. After her husband's retirement they moved to Ocean Park, Washington where Allene was employed in the office of Ilwaco Boat Works and later as manager of the Village Variety Store in Ocean Park. In 1975 Allene's husband passed away. A short time later she moved to Manzanita, Oregon to be closer to her son where she has resided since. She has been a life member of the Eastern Star Lodge and a member of the Rebakah's lodge. Allene is survived by her son Robert McElrath, Jr. and wife Beverly of Manzanita, Oregon; four grandchildren, Colleen Ragstad and husband Gary of Spirit Lake, Idaho, Dan McElrath of Portland, Oregon, Tracy Chartier and husband Keith of Nehalem, Oregon, Shawn Vincent and wife Sue of Rockaway Beach, Oregon; five great grandchildren Dylan Ragstad of Spirit Lake, Idaho, Erica Allene Knudson and her partner Tia Driggs of Tillamook, Oregon, Samantha Hunt and her husband Blake of Omaha, Nebraska, Kali Knudson of Nehalem, Oregon and Brianna Vincent of Rockaway Beach, Oregon. Allene also leaves a niece & nephew in Cedar City, Utah, Jim Terry and wife Sandy and Carolyn Lincoln and husband Mike. At her request Allene will be laid to rest beside her husband Robert at Ocean Park, Washington. A graveside funeral service will be held at Ocean Park Cemetery on Friday, July 17, 2009 at 2 PM. The guest book is available at www.penttilaschapel.com