Mabel Maud Braden was born in Fairfield, North Dakota to parents William and Winifred (Pierce) Braden on September 5, 1916. Mabel and her seven siblings were raised in the North Dakota Badlands. They lived in a log and sod house near Medora. It was hot and dusty in the summer and brutally cold in winter. Mabel recalled using mud and scraps to fill in the gaps between the logs of their home to help insulate themselves from the elements. They made their own soap, baked their own bread, and made do with the resources they had to survive. They lived several places in North Dakota including Fryburg, Belfield, and finally Beach (near the Montana border).
At the age of 16, Mabel married Hollis Chester Adams in Wibaux, Montana in 1932. Following marriage, the new young family lived and worked on a dude ranch in Beach, ND. Mabel and Hollis had five children: Their first child, a daughter, Iona Mae, born in 1933, sadly passed away due to whooping cough. They had 3 sons: Merle Robert, Verl Delbert, and Hollis Chester; and another daughter, Yvonne Ilene.
In 1942, the family relocated to Rathdrum, Idaho and Hollis went to work as a mechanic where he aided in the construction of a naval air base. The family moved to Portland, OR in 1943 and Hollis went to work in the Portland Shipyards supporting the war effort. They moved to Sherwood, OR in 1950. Mabel worked for the hot lunch program at Hopkins Grade School for many years. She also was employed by Portland Canning Company, Dundee Nut Packers and the original Crab Bowl. She made blankets for the poor with her sister, Vera. Mabel always has a house full of family and friends on the weekends. and would feed anyone who came to her door.
Mabel will be remembered as someone who was full of humor and laughter. She had a quick wit, a wicked sense of humor (sometimes even a little off-color), and an unforgettable, signature smile. When greeting family and friends, she gave the best hugs. Mabel enjoyed playing cards, bingo, and crafts. She liked listening to Lawrence Welk, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Elvis Presley. She loved watching Price is Right on the television and she followed Tiger Woods from the beginning of his career. Mabel also enjoyed tending to her flowers, gardening, and canning fruits and vegetables. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have many fond memories of their stays at her home. Mabel was always thinking of others. She was limitless in her generosity, forgiving, and never held a grudge against anyone. Her door was always open; Mabel welcomed friends and family and fed a house full of folks on the spur of the moment. Her specialties were lemon pie, cinnamon rolls, donuts and fresh bread.. At the age of 49, Mabel received her driver’s license. She was very generous with the car and made it her mission to give rides to anyone he needed a lift (she was known for her lead foot). Thanks in part to her rugged, humble upbringing; Mabel was someone who appreciated what she had. She was thrifty, practical, and encouraged “repurposing” of things that would ordinarily be cast aside. It has been said that Mabel saw “the beauty in the broken”. Mabel will also be remembered as very independent and self-sufficient – right up until the end of her life. She was a loving daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother and will be missed by all. She is now smiling down on us.
Mabel is predeceased by her parents William and Winifred; husband, Hollis Chester; daughter, Iona Mae; sons, Verl Delbert and Hollis Chester; and siblings: Jessie, Vera, Arnold, Bernard, Frank, and Virgil and a grandson, Robert Harold.
Survivors include her son Merle Robert; daughter, Yvonne Scheller (husband Don); brother, Floyd Braden; 9 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; great-great grandchildren; and many extended family and friends.
A celebration of Mabel’s life will be held in Skyline Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home Chapel, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, Oregon, on Monday, May 20th, 2013, at 2pm followed by a reception in Skyline Hospitality Room. A Viewing for Mabel will be held prior at 1pm. Mabel will be privately laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens.
Remembrances in honor of Mabel may be made to Meals on Wheels, Cat Adoption Team in Sherwood or the charity of your choice.
Please visit Mabel’s Internet memorial and online guestbook at www.skylinememorialgardens.com.
A second celebration of life will be held at The Springs in Sherwood at 10 am on Wednesday, May 22nd.
Thank you.
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