Lucille Anna Ockfen's Obituary
Longtime area resident Lucille Ockfen departed from this life on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006 at home in Madras, Oregon at the age of 101. Born Feb, 6, 1905 in Fairfield, Nebraska to Charles A. and Ruperta (Seward) Massie, Lucille was the second oldest in a family of four children. Her older brother was Charles, and younger siblings were Arthur and Gertrude. LucilleÂ's father went west in 1920 looking for better conditions and in 1921 bought a farm in Roy, Wash where the rest of the family joined him. In her letters, Lucille wrote of sod houses and schoolhouses, skunk trapping, the Great Depression, and rationing during World War II. Lucille graduated from Roy High School in 1924 with a class of six students. It was there she met her future husband, Albert Ockfen. They were married Nov. 28, 1925. Albert and Lucille had three children, Marjorie, Leslie Â"EarlÂ", and Doris. In 1940 Albert and Lucille moved to Puyallup where they bought a 20 acre farm and built their own home. Lucille and Albert began fishing and rock hounding soon after, a passion they followed for decades. Lucille was a member of four rock hound clubs, the chief one being the Puyallup Valley Gem and Mineral Club. They took many trips to Oregon and Idaho to Â"dig rocksÂ" as Lucille said. Lucille was always active in her community belonging to the Fruitland Grange, Royal Neighbors Club, and serving on the election board for many years. Lucille is survived by two children, Marjorie Croft of Madras, Oregon and Leslie Earl Ockfen of Roundup, Montana. Her daughter Doris Cartwright passed away in 2003 and husband Albert in 1989. There are eight grandchildren including David (Susan) Cartwright, Tom (Rocky) Cartwright, Christine (Bob) Marson, Rosemary (Joe) Ariz-Mendez, Linda McIntosh, Allan (Tammy) Smith, Larry (Mary) Smith, and Marlowe Ockfen. There are numerous great grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. LucilleÂ's younger siblings, Gertrude Hostetler, now 91, and Arthur Massie, now 89, still live in the area. Throughout her long life, Lucille was blessed with a quick wit and a razor-sharp mind. She was devoted to and loved by her extended family.
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