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From the archives of the

Bonner County History Museum

611 S. Ella Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho 83864

208-263-2344

50 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

July 26, 1966 – NOTED EDUCATOR DIES

Mary Parker, 64, 509 S. Second, Sandpoint Senior High English teacher has died at Bonner General Hospital.

Mrs. Parker was born on May 1, 1902, at Curlew, Wash. The family came to Sandpoint in 1909 and has resided here ever since. She was married to Otis B. Parker who died in 1957.

Teaching was her life’s work. She graduated from the University of Idaho in 1926 and taught from 1947 to 1965. Mrs. Parker was Idaho Teacher of the Year in 1962.

In recognition of her outstanding achievements as a teacher, Mrs. Parker in 1962 was selected for the 1962 “National Teacher of the Year” honor roll. Only nine teachers in the country were chosen for the honor roll. She was featured in Look magazine with the other winners.

From 1927 until her passing she was secretary-treasurer of Sandpoint Motor Co., a family enterprise now headed by her son, Jack.

Mrs. Parker was a member of P.E.O. Chapter V, the Presbyterian Church, Delta Kappa Gamma educational sorority and Kappa Gamma sorority, University of Idaho.

Survivors include a son, Jack; a daughter, Barbara Schoenecke, Lewiston; three granddaughters and two grandsons.

100 Years Ago

Northern Idaho News

July 26, 1916 – TICKETS SELL RAPIDLY

Sandpoint’s 4th Chautauqua under the Ellison-White system opens Saturday, July 29th. The Misses Josephine Sawyer, Gladys Kircheck, Joy Newland and Edith Allen started work last Friday selling season tickets and are much gratified over the results to date. It is hoped the people of Sandpoint will at once get busy and call up the girls, at the commercial club rooms or at their homes, leaving orders for as many tickets as they can use for themselves or their friends.

•••

MISS GLADYS ASHLEY DIES

One of the saddest deaths of the year is that of Miss Gladys Lillian Ashley, this morning at 3 o’clock. She had returned last week from her vacation and was taken suddenly ill with pneumonia, dying at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.K. Ashley, on south Euclid.

Gladys Ashley was born in Spokane April 11, 1889, and with her parents moved to Sandpoint in 1902. An exceptionally bright young woman, she was the first graduate from the Sandpoint High school, in 1908. When her brother, J.K. Ashley, Jr., was county engineer, she entered his office as assistant, and won many compliments for her drafting ability. Later she entered the county auditor’s office, where she was employed at the time of her death. Besides her father and mother to mourn her loss, she leaves two brothers, Jack and Alfred Ashley, and two sisters, Miss Beatrice Ashley and Mrs. William Hawkins of Sunnyside.

For more information, visit the museum online at www.bonnercountyhistory.org.