Mabel Rosemarie Eisenbeis

Mabel Eisenbeis was born on December 2, 1926 in her grandparents’ house in Moxee, Washington. Her maternal grandfather, Wilfred Riel, delivered her; like many in those days, he was a type of midwife. An older sister, Violet, died at 1 ½ years of age, before Mabel was born. Her parents, Ray and Rose Poirier, raised Mabel on their ranch, which was located on the Bench, that specific geographical area near Harrah. The ranches were far apart and, as an only child, she depended on animals to be her friends.

Mabel started school when she was five years old in a small, one-room schoolhouse. There was one teacher for grades 1-5. Sometimes Mabel would walk to school; other times she would ride her black Shetland pony. Behind the school was a barn for students’ horses. Sometimes Mabel would forget that she had ridden her pony to school. She would walk home. After she had walked home, she would see that her pony was not there. Then she would have to walk back to school for the little Shetland.

Mabel became an accomplished equestrian. She often made the roundtrip ride on horseback from her parents’ home on Brown Road over to Wiley City. She would head north, climbing up and over the foothills, long before that part of the Reservation was declared off limits. Sometimes on these trips, she would encounter a rattlesnake. She always carried rocks in her saddlebags for protection. More than one rattlesnake met a premature death at her hand. Mabel had the rattles to prove it.

When World War II ended, Mabel met and married Chuck Eisenbeis. She and her husband raised three daughters and had 60 wonderful years together. When they were first married, she raised chickens.

During the fall hunting season, she cleaned and roasted the pheasants, plentiful then, that Chuck brought home. She cleaned and froze the kokanee that they caught at Rimrock Lake. She cooked wholesome meals, baked, and canned fresh fruit in the summer. She maintained the yard, which she had landscaped with flowers and other plantings. She painted the houses that they owned and lived in over the years, both inside and out. She sewed clothing for herself and for her daughters. She raised and sold miniature poodles. Mabel was always busy.

In the early 1970’s Chuck and Mabel bought an 80-acre cattle ranch and started raising cattle. Chuck was still managing his business in town at this time. Raising cattle was Chuck’s hobby. They had many new experiences together as cattle ranchers.

In 2005, Mabel and Chuck sold the house and ranch and purchased their last home in Terrace Heights. After losing her beloved husband in 2007, Mabel lived alone with her little dog, Toto.

During her lifetime, Mabel pursued various activities as an outlet for her creative and artistic talent. These included embroidery, crochet, sewing, knitting, needlepoint, and fine beadwork. She imposed high standards on herself in these creative projects and produced items of artisan and heirloom quality. It must have been very difficult for her as declining health robbed her of what had been a mainstay in her life: the simple pleasure of creating beautiful things.

As her daughters, we knew that she was suffering a great deal during her last few years, but she never complained. She was a member of the Greatest Generation. When asked about what it was like to belong to that generation, she answered, “We didn’t think about it. We just did what we had to do.”

Mother, you were an extraordinary woman. We love you and miss you.

Mabel is survived by three daughters: Nancy Eisenbeis; Judy Calahan; Charlene (and Martin) Loza; and two grandsons: Corey (and Courtney) Calahan, Matthew (and Nora) Calahan; and three great-grandchildren. Her parents and her husband, Chuck, preceded her in death.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Good Samaritan for their kindness and caring during our mother’s extended stay at the facility.

Those wishing to honor our mother’s memory may contribute to the American Diabetic Association or the American Heart Association. To share a memory of Mabel visit www.lepfuneralhome.com.