Mildred “Millie” Eshelby, 101, passed away peacefully on the morning of Aug. 17.

Millie was born July 17, 1918, in Oklahoma to James “Bill” and Jessie Doss. She lived in the southern U.S. before her family settled in Meridian, Idaho, on the “One Mile Ranch.”

After high school graduation, she worked at the local creamery and soon met the love of her life, Bud. They were married in Boise, Idaho, and after one year, they moved to Burns with son, Jimmy. Joining Jimmy two years later, was Judy, then Mary Jo was born six years later.

Bud and Millie purchased the Ranch Supply Co. in 1952, and Millie worked there six days a week, pounding the concrete floor in her little, white Keds tennis shoes. She worked there until they sold the store in 2000.

Millie was an active member of her community, Eastern Star, and Pioneer Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed her bridge club and rooting for the Portland Trail Blazers.

She was also honored as “Woman of the Year”  in 1962, and in 2008 as “Senior Woman of the Year” for Harney County.

Millie loved trains. Her father worked on the railroad, she came into Burns on a train, and then she gallivanted through Canada on a cross-country train trip in her later years.

She enjoyed countless trips with her friends, family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. From camping and picnics to weekend road trips and traveling abroad, Millie loved it all. In addition, she cherished the extended trips to visit her family all over the country.

Her favorite season was the summer, which was sweetened by the family reunions that gathered relatives from all over.

Millie’s dinner table always had room for an extra plate at a moment’s notice. She opened her home to countless relatives and friends whenever they needed a place to stay.

She was always ready to give a hand in any way she could, and always invited an extra person for dinner.  Her house was open to all.

Millie was a generous person, and although small in stature, she was large in spirit.

Her selflessness, sense of humor, and friendly smile will be missed by all.

Millie is survived by her daughters, Judy Anderson and her husband, Fred, of Annandale, Va., and Mary Jo Eshelby and Ron Daniel of Burns; grandchildren, Karen Hildebrand and husband, Barret, of Arlington, Va., Randi Jo Korell and husband, Chris, of Sweet, Idaho, Christopher Eshelby, David Anderson of Washington, D.C., Matthew Eshelby and wife, Melanie, of Lenexa, Kan., and Brian Anderson of Annandale, Va.; great-grandchildren, Sydnee and Lafe Korell, Chase and Christopher Hildebrand, and Kanyon and Ezra Eshelby.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James “Bud” Eshelby; and son, James “Jimmy” Eshelby.

A funeral service was held Aug. 23 at the Pioneer Presbyterian Church. Contributions in her memory may be made to Harney County Hospice, and mailed to LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720. Click here to sign the online guestbook.