Mary Schoenhals McJunkin Papers, 1925-1977

Mary was a junior at Ingomar High School. She covered family, school, community events, and her work at Cox Cafe. On November 21, she made a ten hour trip to Bozeman and attended a Congress and returned home November 25, 1927.

Mary was a senior in high school. Friend Wayne was often mentioned. She began her first semester at University of Montana in September 1929.

As a University of Montana freshman, Mary mentioned college events, grade concerns, friends, and working in Cox Cafe at home in summer.

Mary focused on grades and commented on attending church as a junior. When home she did house cleaning and went to Billings Fair in September.

Returning to the University, Mary expressed getting terrible grades on January 5, 1932. June 1933 Mary graduated from the University of Montana. She also wrote about young men she dated, such as Wayne and then Colee McJunkin, her husband-to-be, in October 21, 1933. September 4, 1934 Mary discussed teaching a class of 23 pupils. May 21, 1936 she married Colee. They lived in Fort Peck, Montana, where Colee worked on Fort Peck Dam and Mary worked in a store. November 9, 1936, Dr. Larson examined Mary.

January 9, 1937, Colee and Mary bought a house that Colee and friend Roy moved. January 12, 1937, Mary saw a doctor who said she would have a girl. January 22, 1937, they added another room in the house for the two of them. March 9, 1937, daughter Myrna was born in Glasgow, Montana, where she and Mary spent 10 days in the hospital. October 12-13, 1937, Colee and Mary drove to Redding, California, where Shasta Dam was being built. They lived in a tent in Central Valley (now known as City of Shasta Lake, near Redding) while the men waited for tools to build a store and house. The store was finished so moved into it December 11, 1937. December 28, 1937, Colee was working on their house. January 20, 1938, the store opened. April 23, 1941, daughter, Anita, was born, and was in the hospital with Mary 12 days.

With two young daughters, Mary was very busy with church activities, families and friends, Red Cross, Pep Club, PTA, sewing, playing cards and updating their house. She was close to her sister Lydia Schoenhals Robertson, husband Willard, and their children Vicky, Mary and Jim who also moved to Central Valley. December 6, 1945, Mary and Colee's third daughter Sandra was born, and Mary experienced hemorrhaging after the delivery. Mary and Sandra were in the hospital nine days.

From 1947-1949 Mary taught school in Central Valley. Colee worked in Arabia in construction for 17 months from October 1, 1947 to April 3, 1949. July 26, 1948, Mary and the girls took the bus to Portland, Oregon, to see Aunt Amelia and Uncle George. On July 27, 1948, they went by train to Vananda, arriving July 29, 1948. They visited many family and friends before leaving for home August 21, 1948, and got home August 26, 1948. June 11, 1949, McJunkins and Robertsons moved to Hermiston, Oregon. In August 1949, Colee, Willard Roberston and George Schoenhals built and opened Hermiston Lumber Company. They also built houses for Robertsons at 277 E. Jennie Ave and McJunkins at 120 E. Elm Ave with grandparents next door. From February 5 to June 25, 1951, Colee worked in Arabia again.

In Hermiston Mary was involved mostly with family, sewing, PTA and Methodist Church events. On May 5, 1955, Myrna graduated from high school and attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, for two years. Colee went to Idaho to prospect for uranium in May 1955. The girls served lunches at noon Rotary lunches. Sandi got a sore leg that lasted from June 14-21, 1955. There was some concern about polio, but it didn't seem to be that and she recovered. Colee was in a car wreck that turned over twice on November 11, 1955, breaking his collar bone. An operation was required on November 26 and several days of hospitalization.

Mary and the girls continued to work at Kiwanis and Rotary luncheons. Mary often sewed clothing for the girls, her mother and herself. Myrna became a United Airlines stewardess in 1957 and was based in Seattle. March 7, 1959, Myrna moved to Los Angeles. Mary commented that from 1959-1961 the lumber company business was not doing well. July 24-29, 1959, the family visited Myrna, other relatives and various tourist sites. They attended a concert by Ella Fitzgerald in the Hollywood Bowl and drove home August 1, 1959. September 25, 1959, Anita started college at Central Washington University. Colee and Mary regularly played Canasta and other card games. August 12, 1961, Colee helped Robertsons move into a new home they built at 374 E. 21st St. .

January 2, 1962, Colee and Mary drove Anita back to Ellensburg for winter quarter. February 9, 1962, Myrna called with news that Phil gave her a diamond ring. September 6, 1962, Colee and Mary moved into the new home he built at 2106 N. 2nd St. Myrna and Phil were married on November 3, 1962. August 20, 1963, Mary made a trip to Missoula. President Kennedy was assassinated November 22, 1963. Sandi graduated from Hermiston High School. July 9, 1964, Mary was named "Homemaker of the Day" at the Umatilla County Fair. Sandi left for Eugene September 21,1964, to attend at University of Oregon. Myrna sent a Special Delivery message October 4, 1964, that she was pregnant. On April 24, 1965, David Glenn Mullard was born and was baptized September 12, 1965. Colee sold some of his steers and bought new ones October 26, 1965. January 2, 1966, Earl Blackaby, his brother Mike and Sandi returned to Eugene. Mary, sister Lydia, Mom and Pop (Katie and George) were very close and spent much time together. Lydia had a lump removed from her breast on August 2, 1966. Myrna, Phil, and David spent Christmas in Hermiston December 24-26, 1966.

Mary was involved in many church activities and attended an executive meeting of WSCS [Women's Society of Christian Service] on February 7, 1967. January 8, 1968, Colee was out of work so started doing carpentry jobs and buying and selling calves. February 6, 1968, Myrna and Phil's daughter Marci was born, so Mary took a bus to Portland to help. Colee checked out a uranium mine in Spokane May 10, 1968. Sandi and Earl married April 5, 1969. Mary and Colee vacationed in Spokane, Alberta, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Ontario, Oregon, from June 26-July 5, 1969. July 20, 1969, astronauts walked on the moon. Marci was baptized in Hermiston November 6, 1969. December 3, 1970, at 2:30 Mary and Mom found Pop had passed away at the hospital. January 1, 1971, Mary was involved in usual activities like shopping, sharing meals with Mom and Robertsons, sewing, gardening, church, and working around town.

February 8, 1972, Colee sold calves and did well. April 13, 1972, Lydia went to Richland, WA, for nose surgery. December 26, 1972, Truman died. January 22, 1973, Lyndon B. Johnson died. November 21-25, 1973, Blackabys, Mullards, and Anita visited for Thanksgiving. February 13, 1974, Colee's heifer had a stillborn calf and became paralyzed so Mary watered and fed her until she began standing. December 24-26, 1975, Mary and Colee were in Portland for Christmas. April 15, 1976, Colee walked past Boardman in a picket line. November 2, 1976, Lydia had surgery--2/3 of stomach was cancerous and into liver. She came home November 13, 1976. January 3, 1977, Mom (Gram) went to hospital and Mary stayed with her all day and night. February 16, 1977, Lydia had an x-ray and found tumor on esophagus.

High School Days in Ingomar, Montana

Class of 1929 in Ingomar, Montana

College Days at University of Montana

Newlyweds Mary and Colee McJunkin standing in front of living quarters at Fort Peck Dam in Nashua, Montana.

photo loose in University of Montana photograph album

from State University of Montana, Missoula

document in which is written details of the wedding day including a list of gifts received