| Last Name |
Shepherd [McElroy, Chandler, Trefry] |
| First Name |
Viola |
| Middle Name |
Belle |
| Born |
14 Jan 1901 in Mill City, OR |
| Home Addresses (Salem) |
1444 Ferry St.
4715 Auburn Rd. |
| Died |
12 Jan 1979 in McMinnville, OR |
| Place Buried |
Fairview Cemetery in Mill City, OR |
| Spouse |
1st – Percy B. McElroy
2nd – John E. Chandler
3rd – Vernon Trefry |
| Date of Marriage |
1st – 7 May 1927 in Salem, OR
2nd – 2 Feb 1954 in Salem, OR
3rd – unable to locate |
| Children |
None |
| Dates of Employment |
1923-1926 |
| Job(s) at TKWM |
weaver |
| Life Story
|
Viola Shepherd worked as a weaver at TKWM from 1923-1926.
Viola Belle Shepherd was born 14 Jan 1901 in Mill City, Oregon to Elonzo L. and Louisa [Ellis] Shepherd, the youngest of six children. She attended school through the seventh grade and lived with her family in Mill City where her father farmed.
In 1923, she began work at the Santiam Woolen Mills in Stayton, Oregon, then moved to the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill in Salem. She boarded at 1444 Ferry St. in Salem while she worked. She left the mill in 1926 and took a job at the Oregon State Hospital as an attendant. Here she met future husband Percy B. McElroy who worked in the laundry. They married 7 May 1927 in the Methodist Parsonage.
Percy had served in France and Germany during World War I and returned home disabled. During their marriage he spent a great deal of time in the Veteran’s Hospital in Portland. He passed away 16 June 1937 from adenocarcinoma.
In 1940, the census recorded Viola, age 39, living on Auburn Rd. with a lodger. She remained here until 1954 when she married John E. Chandler on 2 February. John worked at the Dole Cannery as a boiler foreman. Both were widowed.
John died unexpectedly 14 Oct 1962 from a heart attack while cutting up a fallen tree after the Columbus Day storm. He was 60 years old. Following this, Viola married Vernon Trefry and moved to McMinnville in 1965.
Viola died on 12 Jan 1979 in McMinnville, OR. She was buried in Fairview Cemetery in Mill City, OR, with her first husband Percy McElroy. |
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| Name |
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| Salem City Directories |
1924 Shepherd Viola, weaver, Santiam Woolen Mills
1926-27 Shepherd Viola, weaver, T K Woolen Mill Co, r 1144 Ferry |
| Census Records |
1910 Viola Shepherd Age: 9. Birth Date: 1901 in Oregon. Home in 1910: Rock Creek, Linn, OR. Single, daughter to HOH. Additional household members: Elonzo L. Shepherd age 59 (father), Louisa Shepherd age 57 (mother), Lottie Shepherd age 20 (sister), Floyd Shepherd age 13 (brother).
1920 Viola B. Shepherd Age: 18. Birth Year: abt 1902 in Oregon. Home in 1920: Mill City, Linn, OR. Single, daughter to HOH. No occupation listed. Additional household members: Elonzo L. Shepherd age 63 (father), Louisa C. Shepherd age 61 (mother), William F. Shepherd age 23 (brother).
1930 Viola B. McElroy Age: 29. Birth Year: abt 1901 in Oregon. Home in 1930: North side Auburn Rd. Englewood, Marion, OR. Married, wife to HOH. No occupation listed. Additional household member: Louisa C. Shepherd age 71 (mother).
1940 Viola B. McElroy Age: 39. Birth Year: abt 1901 in Oregon. Home in 1940: 488 Route 6, Englewood, Marion, OR. Widowed, HOH. No occupation listed. Highest grade completed: Elementary, 7th grade. Additional household member: George M. Whipple, age 72 (lodger).
1950 Viola McElroy Age: 49. Birth Date: abt 1901 in Oregon. Home in 1950: Rt. 5, Auburn, Marion, OR. Widowed, HOH. Occupation: Keeping house. Additional household member: George Whipple, age 82 (lodger). |
| 1st Marriage Record |
7 May 1927 Salem, OR. McElroy – Shepherd. Husband: Percy McElroy. Residence: Oregon State Hospital. Age: 32. Birthplace: Oregon. Occupation: Laundryman. No. of marriage: First. Wife: Viola B. Shepherd. Residence: 2397 Center St. Salem. Age: 26. Birthplace: Oregon. Occupation: Attendant. No. of marriage: First. Place of marriage: Methodist Parsonage, Salem, Marion, OR. Date: 7 May 1927. |
| 2nd Marriage Record |
2 Feb 1954 Salem, OR. Chandler – McElroy. Husband: John E. Chandler. DOB: 22 Oct 1901. Birthplace: Laural County, Kentucky. Occupation: Boiler foreman. Previous marital status: Widowed. Usual residence: 1366 Lee St. Salem, OR. Wife: Viola Belle McElroy. DOB: 14 Jan 1901. Birthplace: Mill City, OR. Occupation: Retired. Previous marital status: Widow. Usual residence: 4715 Auburn Rd. Salem, OR. |
| Oregon Death Index |
Viola Mce[lroy] Trefry. Age: 77. Birth Date: 14 Jan 1901. Death Date: 12 Jan 1979. Death Place: Yamhill. Spouse. Vernon. Certificate: 79-01856 |
| Find-a-Grave |
Viola Bell Shepherd McElroy Birth: 14 Jan 1901. Death: 1979 (aged 77-78). Burial: Fairview Cemetery, Linn County, Oregon. Memorial ID: 26608284
Percy Byron McElroy Birth: 27 Jan 1895. Death: 16 Jun 1937 (aged 42). Burial: Fairview Cemetery, Linn County, Oregon. Memorial ID: 26608283
John Elzern Chandler Birth: 22 Oct 1901, Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Death: 14 Oct 1962 (aged 60), Salem, Marion County, Oregon. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion County, Oregon. Plot: Block 33, Section 25, Lot 6. Memorial ID: 138520351 |
| Digital Newspapers
|
Capital Journal 14 May 1927, p. 5 – Marriage Announcement [McElroy]
Albany Democrat-Herald 18 June 1937, p. 2 – Obituary [McElroy]
Capital Journal 5 Feb 1954, p. 6 – Marriage Announcement [Chandler]
Capital Journal 15 Oct 1962, p. 19 – Obituary [Chandler]
Oregon Statesman 14 Jan 1979, p. 27 – Obituary |
| WHC Materials |
M3 1966-001 Mill Records |
