Alta Faye Walters

Alta was born in Little Kansas, Oklahoma, and was a self-proclaimed “Okie”. The 10th of 14 children (11 girls) born to Robert Hendren and Eva Cherry Hendren. The family relocated to the Great Northwest in 1930. The first of many moves. She attended 11 schools! She, proudly, graduated from Tacoma High School while working full time to support herself at Brown and Haley Candy Company. Thus beginning her lifetime love of milk chocolate, preferably with nuts.

After some miss-steps she found herself living in Portland, Oregon with a good job at the AT&T phone company as an operator. She was having a great time with friends living the city life after years of dirt farming with her family. And, was even able to indulge her love of clothes. In 1953, she went with her friend to visit her older sister Ola in Yakima, WA. They all went off to a local dance where she found a tall, dark and handsome lad and his best friend Al. The boys (with some liquid courage, of course) had slipped into the hall without paying! Shortly after Eddie moved to Portland and began courting Alta with the aid of his trusty sidekick niece, Cheryl. On June 5, 1954, Eddie and Alta began a 60 year friendship and love affair. And, they blended together 2 very large families. Often confusing the rest of the world because they had so many family members and picked up some special spares along the way.

Along about April 1955, daughter Charlotte Anne was born. Rex Edward arrived 24 January 1957.

Alta and Eddie moved the family to Oregon City in 1971 opening the Lazy W Feed and Garden store. She ran the operation with the help of the family. It soon became a fun gathering place with the coffee always on and Alta always friendly with open heart to all. She remained friends with many good customers after they shut the business down in 1976. She also found true friends with the next door neighbors, the Thomas Family.

In 1984, she amazed everyone when after a disastrous fall, breaking her back, she resumed her life. She had lots to enjoy with grandchildren Samantha and Jason. They made many trips with the trailer, camping around the country.

In 1985, Alta and Eddie officially retired and their travels really began. They were off for family reunions, church camp, trips all over the US, Canada, 2 long trips to Costa Rica, and of course her favorite trips to visit friend, Virginia, in Maui. To everyone’s amazement last October, Alta went to her final Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Really!

Over the years she was active with many church activities at Immanuel Lutheran in Portland and Trinity Lutheran in Oregon City. Alta’s faith sustained her through the many trials of life. Her church community was a very important part of her life and brought her great joy with many friends.

Another grand-daughter Aimee arrived when Rex married Susan in 1994. She proudly bragged about her 10 great-grandchildren.

After the loss of Eddie and a major stroke in May 2014 Alta moved to a lovely community, River Crest, where in the last year of her life she made many new wonderful friends and had many good times with much assistance and support from old friends, especially Lee.

Importantly, she is survived by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many beloved nieces, nephews, greats, and of course dear wonderful friends. She is the last of her generation in the blended Hendren and Walters family and will be missed!

A celebration of life memorial and luncheon will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 16000 S. Henrici Road, Oregon City, OR 97045. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice or Trinity Church Dorcas Guild for community service.