Olive Bertha Orr

Olive B. Orr entered the gates of heaven on Sunday, August 15, 2021. Olive was born in Brush, CO to Harold and Bertha (Vernon) Daily on January 18, 1927. She was the youngest of nine children and grew up during the Great Depression. Her large family worked together as a team to survive the difficult years. Her teen years were engulfed with WWII. She watched as one by one her four brothers went off to war. Her high school years were spent working and educating herself. She attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley where she studied education while she held down a full-time job. Her teaching career began in a two-room schoolhouse on the outskirts of Brush.
Olive married Robert (Bob) Orr the summer of 1948. They moved to Kelso in 1953 where they built their lives together. Olive worked as a Teacher’s Aide while attending Portland State University. Upon completion she taught at Longview Christian School, Kelso School District and tutored in the Indian Education Program in Kelso and Longview. In her later years, she became a mental health lay counselor. Olive and Bob were active members of the Kelso First Presbyterian Church. Their church family was of upmost importance to them. They were part of a close-knit group called The Mariner’s. Those friendships lasted a lifetime. She was also a member of the Harmony Dance Club, Square and Circle Dance Club, and the American Field Service Exchange Student Program.
Olive was a one of kind woman. She loved her family fiercely and was always adding others to it. She loved music and her beautiful singing voice filled her home with warmth. She also loved dancing, the opera, gardening, reading, baking, traveling and sharing stories about her life with her friends and family. Olive was an extremely resilient woman who was able to connect with all age groups. She was a source of strength to others. With the help of her son, John, she remained active socially in her later years and was able to remain at her home until the end. Olive will be remembered for her love of family and friends, abiding strength, endurance, faith, love of music, inquisitive mind, her beautiful rose garden, her amazing coconut cookies, and banana bread.
Olive is survived by her daughter Marcia (David) Ferrell, Her honorary children Manit Jeeradit, Fred (Efua) Atiemo, and Panee Jeer. Her grandson’s, Brian (Amber) Orr, Brian Ferrell, Ryan (Dahianne) Stone, Metha (Nik) Jeeradit, Jack (Tip) Jeeradit. Granddaughters Lindsey (Nick) Dykstra, Bethany (Jacob) Tolle, Brianna (Adam) Williamson, Mei Ling Ferrell, Abena Atiemo. Great Grandchildren Zachary (Nikki) Cader, Brooke (Alex) Orth, Annya Ferrell, Kolby Ferrell, Bryan Ferrell, Margret Aheren, Liam Aheren, Ellie Williamson, Emma Tolle, Jace Williamson, Ryder Dykstra, Catherine Stone and Matthew Stone, Great, Great Grandson Axel Orth and numerous nieces and nephews and a dear friend Jerry Sutton.
Her son, John Orr, joined Olive in heaven on August 19, 2021.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert and her son David.
A celebration of Olive’s and her son John’s life, will be held Sunday September 12, 2021 at 1 p.m. at the Kelso United Methodist Presbyterian Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Construction Workers Christian Fellowship, PO Box 636, Kelso, WA 98626.