Lillian Meyers passed away May 24, just shy of her 97th birthday.

She was born May 27, 1922, in Melba, Idaho, to Iva and James Cason, the fourth of eight children, Ella, Lee, Betty, Lillian, Marie, Jamie, Richard, and Jean.

The family moved to Burns when Lillian was an infant. While in high school, she worked for the Burns Times-Herald, the Weather Bureau, the hospital, and the courthouse.  Her interest in the law was inspired by her time working in the courthouse and it was then she decided to be an attorney, going against all odds of the time for a woman to pursue a career traditionally considered to be a man’s job. It was this independent outlook and strength of character that served her well throughout her life when presented by various challenges and obstacles.

After graduation from high school in 1940, she worked as a legal secretary in Gresham and then at a law firm in downtown Portland. To pursue her dream, she worked full time and attended Lewis and Clark, College of Law at night. She graduated in 1964 as the only woman in a class of 34.

In 1942, she married Edward Meyers. They bought 45 acres on the Clackamas River where they raised their five children, Lynne, Edward, Leslie, John, and Mona. She also has one granddaughter, and three great-grandchildren, Arjun, Lily and Julian. They divorced in 1970.

Lillian met Paul Olenik, who would become her second husband in 1978, through a group of dear friends who Paul would nickname “The Committee.” Paul had six children from his first marriage, Bethany, Jeff, John, David, Theresa, and Cindy, which brought the total of their combined families to 11. Lillian and Paul spent many wonderful years traveling and enjoying life until Paul’s untimely death in 1997. After his passing, Lillian continued to travel and spend time with family and friends.

Throughout her life, Lillian was a proud Oregonian and never lost her connection and love of Burns and the high desert, returning as often as possible with her children, leaving a legacy of memories of these trips spent with aunts and uncles while traveling the back roads of Steens Mountain and the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. These road trips also included misadventures which became part of the family lore. One such trip was when Lillian was on a mission to find her family’s former ranch on Dog Mountain resulting in an impromptu Thanksgiving meal on the side of a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, eating dinner from the tailgate of the station wagon.

After living a full life, it was slowly diminished by dementia in her last seven years. Her daughter, Leslie, and partner, Jeff Kiggins, did their best to care for Lillian and keep her at home in familiar surroundings before it became evident that she needed to move to a care facility.

She was predeceased by her parents; her first husband, Edward; her second husband, Paul; and her oldest daughter, Lynne.

Donations in her memory may be sent to the Harney County Museum, https://culturaltrust.org/get-involved/nonprofits/harney-county-historical-society.

A celebration of her life is planned for late spring, early summer of 2020; contact leslied1922@gmail.com for more information.