Valley County, IDGenWeb Project | |
Marion Patoray, 89, passed away Sept. 8, 2012, following a brief illness, knowing without a doubt how much she was cherished by her loved ones.
A family service will be held this fall with her remains being inurned in the beautiful Meadows Valley Cemetery.
Marion was born an identical twin, with Marcia (LaFay) Wilson in Meadows, to a ranch family with rich history dating back to the settlement days of New Meadows Valley.
She was born at their ranch on Cemetery Road to James A. (Dick) and Marie Wilson, delivered by her grandmother Leota Becker.
With their older sister Margaret (Percifield) Wilson, the twins travelled with their parents to winter and attend school in Long Beach, Calif., Grangeville, and Lewiston and escape the harsh New Meadows winters.
Marion’s memories of the ranch life were vivid, recalling summers spent at local family ranch rodeos, eating and dancing with Basque families that came to the ranch to graze sheep, and of travelling farm families that came up from California to raise peas, potatoes and strawberries on the families’ land. Summer’s work ended with celebration at Burgdorf Hot Springs.
Marion’s first marriage to Glenn Anderson ended in divorce, but during their time together they owned and operated the Rodeo Club Restaurant in Riggins and later lived in the Seattle area during the war.
They had two sons. Robert Lee Anderson and his wife Carla live in Moses Lake, Wash. Their son, James Charles, died in 1990.
She later married Michael Pat Patoray, and together they operated Casey’s Corral in New Meadows, a western dance hall. In 1960 they moved to Lewiston and in 1963 opened Casey’s, a rock-and-roll dance hall that encouraged a great movement of local musicians during the 1960s and early 1970s. Marion and Pat had two children. Their son, Casey Patoray, and his wife Patty reside in Grangeville, and their daughter April Patoray-Smith, lives in Lewiston.
When their marriage ended in divorce in 1972, Marion returned to New Meadows and began her much loved career at Shore Lodge in McCall, working under chef Ozzie, until retiring after 26 years.
Along with other family members she provided care and comfort to her parents, which allowed them to live their entire lives in the family ranch home. Marion was curious and independent with a great sense of humor, and any time spent with her is to be treasured. Her caregivers of the last few weeks fell fast in love with her and we are all blessed to have had her with us for so long.
Along with her sons and daughter, she is survived by grandchildren Lisa Lee, Dina Cay, Bobbi Jo, James Charles, Ursula Dawn, Michael Shane, Stephanie, Jennifer, Aaron, Guy and 12 great-grandchildren.
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