Charline Belle (Duckworth) Wooster, 94, passed away peacefully on Sept. 1, 2023, at her residence in the Aspens.

She was born Jan. 20, 1929, in Roscoe, Missouri to Charles Duckworth and Sylvia Jewel Bishop Duckworth. 

As a young child she lived with her family on their farm in Missouri. She had five brothers and one sister, two brothers died at very young ages. At the age of seven, they moved to Philomath, by train in search of a better life where her dad’s parents lived. She graduated from Philomath High School in 1946. 

Soon after she graduated, she went to work for Benton Lincoln Electric as a receptionist and bookkeeper where she worked until she got married. She married the love of her life, John Albert Wooster, on Aug. 9, 1952. They then moved to Burns where John started his construction business. They were happily married for 54 years. She was a stay-at-home mom, raising three daughters. Her first daughter Karen was born in 1954, Julie in 1957, and Jolene in 1960. 

Charline was a seamstress making many of the girls’ school clothes and Easter dresses with matching coats. She also sewed formals for her daughters that were involved in the Rainbow for Girls organization. She was a brownie leader, was actively involved in the PTA, and was in charge of classroom parties for her girls’ grade school classes. She was a member of the Harney County Horsewomen’s drill team and performed serpentine drills during the Harney County Fair. She was an avid bowler in two bowling leagues and competed in the state tournament on many occasions. She loved to search old dumps for purple bottles and also searched for arrowheads. Charline was very involved with her daughter’s 4-H clubs, horse play days, and fair court appearances. She loved to travel, crochet, read, do crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles.

Christmas was always a special time at the Wooster house. The house was decorated to the nines inside and out. She hosted John’s annual business Christmas party every year. Not only did she provide all of the food and beverages for the party but she also did the shopping for and wrapping of gifts for each of the crew and their wives. At Christmastime, she made many batches of peanut brittle to share with family and friends.

After Jolene graduated from high school in 1978, John sold his business and they moved to their ranch at Princeton. They had been developing it since 1969 with the goal of moving there. While working at the ranch, locals always loved to be invited to their branding, looking forward to feasting on the fantastic meals Charline cooked from scratch. The lived there for 20 years, and in 1998 they sold the ranch and moved back to Hines, where they fully retired. After that, they enjoyed snow-birding in the winter. Initially they traveled with best friends JC and Erma Tiller, and later with Ray and Vina Tiller. She loved to sunbathe and would come back from Arizona every spring with a dark bronze tan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, one sister, and two grandchildren. 

She is survived by her brother, Jay Dee Duckworth and wife (Karen); daughters, Karen and (Goran) Litsjo, Julie and (Tom) Davis, and Jolene and (Doug) Cawlfield. She is also survived by five grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, one soon-to-arrive great-great-grand daughter, and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service officiated by Leland Tiller, was held at the Burns Cemetery on Monday, Sept.11, at 11 a.m. It was followed by a meal at Faith Baptist Church in Hines. LaFollette’s Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Donations in Charline’s memory can be made to the Faith Baptist Church Awana youth program, 777 No. Saginaw, Hines, OR 97720.