Louie Marian Conklin photograph albums, approximately 1897-1909

Mrs. Louie Marian Church Conklin was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on October 10, 1872, where Mr. and Mrs. Church were missionary teachers. The family later moved to Greenville, Michigan. After graduating from Oberlin College in Ohio, Louie became a teacher in the state school for the blind in Lansing, Michigan, where her father was superintendent. Later she moved to Oregon and took a position in the school for the blind in Salem, where she remained for three years. She married Arthur Conklin, a widower and real estate agent from Grants Pass, Oregon, on November 10, 1904. She became a mother to her husband’s two children from his previous marriage and also had three children with Mr. Conklin. She was active in church, education, and civic affairs.

In early 1909, Mrs. Conklin became ill with a cold and subsequently suffered a stroke on March 9, that rendered her partially paralyzed. She passed away at her home in Grants Pass on March 26, 1909, at the age of 37. Funeral services were held at the Baptist church, where she was a member. She was survived by her husband, children, her mother Mrs. Frances A. L. Church, and two brothers.