Ivon Adelia Williamson

Ivon was born on April 19, 1918, in Sac City, Iowa to Glen Harvey Cole and Pearl Mercedes (Kluge) Cole. She was the second of seven children. In 1929, the family moved to Exeter Missouri, where Ivon completed her high school diploma in May 1937, taking work thereafter as a housekeeper, cannery worker and egg candler.

On November 24, 1937, she married Floyd Leslie Williamson. With the Depression raging, the young couple dispensed with a honeymoon, and set up house, taking work wherever it could be found. Ivon took in ironing and mending, to help make ends meet. In 1937, the young couple heard about opportunities in the logging industry in the Northwest. Initially they moved to a lumber camp in Sprague River, Oregon, then took a promotion moving them to Quincy, California. They moved to Prineville in 1943.

A daughter, Dorothy Elaine, and a son, Leslie Allen, soon followed. The young couple also took on additional employment as managers of Maxwell’s Auto Court on the Eastern edge of Prineville, and Ivon worked part-time as a wallpaper hanger. In 1955, the couple purchased a home on acreage to the East of Prineville.

Ivon’s interests revolved around her church, her home, her family and travel, usually to visit extended family in the Midwest. A lifelong Baptist, Ivon belonged to the Missionary Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and cleaned the church. She was an outstanding housekeeper and seamstress. She kept up a voluminous correspondence with a large family network, including her 31 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and relatives and friends. She earned a well deserved reputation for interest, kindness and common sense from all who knew her.

She is survived by a daughter, Dorothy Elaine (Williamson) Cooper (wife of the late Norm Cooper) of Prineville and a son and daughter-in-law, Leslie Allen and Mary Lou (Pilant) Williamson of Salem. Grandchildren include Scott and Jared Cooper of Prineville, Forrest Cooper of Elmira, Oregon, Lisa (Williamson) Wiesmann, Dean Williamson, Tracy (Williamson) Slaughter, Julie (Williamson) Hawkins, and Sheri (Williamson) Heldt , all of Salem along with 24 Great Grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters Charlotte (Cole) Still of Prineville and Verla Phillips of Redmond and brothers Jerry Cole of Prineville and Loren Cole of Monett, Missouri. She was predeceased by a sister Esperence Haddock and a brother Merle Cole.

A visitation has been arranged for Friday January 6th 2012 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Prineville Funeral Home located at 199 NE 10th St. A service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, January 7, 2012, at the Prineville Missionary Baptist Church 1870 N Riverland Loop, Prineville. Arrangements are being handled by Prineville Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Juniper Haven Cemetery in Prineville and at conclusion there will be a social gathering with food at Missionary Baptist Church. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Missionary Baptist Church at 1870 N Riverland Loop, Prineville, OR 97754 or the Prineville Memorial Home Health and Hospice, 1201 NE Elm St, Prineville, OR 97754.

Arrangements under the direction of Prineville Funeral Home, Prineville, Oregon.