Laura Esther Reichen's Obituary
Laura Esther Reichen passed away on February 4, 2012 in Portland. She was 95. Laura was born on Nov. 22, 1916, in Madras, OR to Sam and Anna Barbara Strasser Reichen, the younger of two daughters. Her parents emigrated from Switzerland, arriving in both the Sandy and Helvetia, OR areas. They moved to Portland, OR when Laura was five years old. Laura graduated from Franklin High School and then attended and graduated with honors from Oregon State University in 1938, receiving her degree in chemistry. Laura worked in the Tacoma area for several years before taking a train across country to Washington D.C., where she worked for the federal government in the Department of the Interior, Geological Survey until 1971, when she retired at age 55. Laura moved back to Portland in 1972, where she has resided since. Laura was quite the photographer and took many pictures. As the family historian, she kept records of the family lineage past and present and made sure the family was given yearly updates. She was very fond of animals, especially cats, and contributed to the Oregon Humane Society on a regular basis and to Oregon Public Broadcasting television for many years and also volunteered her knitting for CAPS for Kids. Laura never married and is survived by her niece, Ruthanne C. Tarter of Deer Island, OR; nephew Don Capon of Kimberly, OR and his sons Ryan, Ross, Reid, Raymond, and their families; cousins Mary Bishop of Portland, OR, Anne Richards of Salem, OR, Hazel Schroeder of Portland, OR, David Sturmer of Rochester, N.Y., and their families. She was preceded in death by her sister, Lydia Margaret Capon Gertsen in 2011. A private inurnment will be held at Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland.
On-line condolences can be made at; www.columbiafh.com
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