Fannie E. McMullen Myers, who was a tireless worker and pioneer of Oregon and Nevada, passed away peacefully at Harmony Manor. Fannie, a longtime Winnemucca resident, was one of the last of her kind. At 97, she lived through almost a century of classical moments in American history we all should remember; i.e., the Great Depression; segregation; World Wars; Woman's Suffrage; many U.S. presidents, etc. Her life is a commemoration of American's humble pioneers.
Fannie was born on a ranch near Drewsey, Ore., to James Lester and Zella Corbin McMullen, local ranchers. She attended Kimball Flat, a tiny one room school in Crane, Ore., a settlement founded as a livestock shopping post. Fannie was the last surviving member of her family and all nine McMullen children.
Fannie's life is a story of the plight of hard-working ranchers. Fannie would have loved us to remember the days before electricity, there were party-line telephones, very few doctors, when people cured meat and everyone bartered with their neighbors. Fannie was so very proud of her history.
The McMullen house was filled with music played on an organ and violins. Fannie loved to sing and dance. While attending a dance in Drewsey she met Marvin Myers, Sr. who was a local and historic buckaroo. Fannie and Marvin married in 1933. Marvin was employed as a buckaroo while Fannie cooked for many of the local legendary ranches such as The Bullhead, CS, Brown, 25, Upper Clover, and Petit Ranches. Fannie and Marvin had two children Charles Ivan and Marvin Myers, Jr.
Fannie loved to cook since she grew up helping her mom raise nine children. As a girl she would cook out of a buckaroo wagon along the Owyhee Desert. Fannie was well known for her exquisite sewing, quilting, cooking, baking and gardening. In Wyoming, Fannie bought the Historic Bell House and became a local landlady. Fannie liked to say her success came through hard work and her love of real estate rentals.
Fannie was an acting member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Rebecca's and the PEO.
In the late '90s, Fannie met her love and companion Denny Jones, of Ontario, Ore. Fannie and Denny had a great deal in common and enjoyed each other's company. Their love of Nevada and Oregon people and places led them on many trips where they enjoyed visits to see many of the historic ranches throughout Nevada and Oregon. They even traveled as far as Ireland to explore their heritage.
Fannie was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved her family and many friends and was always cheerful and had smiles for everyone. Fannie loved Winnemucca and the whole community. Fannie's love was a blessing she will always be missed but never forgotten.
Fannie is survived by her son Charles Ivan Myers of Winnemucca, her grandchildren Dodie Adelt, of Dixon, Calif.; Brett Myers and Lana Myers of Winnemucca. Daughter-in-law, Arlene Bodily Myers of Winnemucca; Granddaughters: Sadie Beth Myers-Miller of Reno, Nev.; Annie Rae Myers of Phoenix, Ariz. Great-grandchildren Glen Adelt of Sacramento, Calif.; Kyle Myers of Winnemucca and Erin Acosta-Myers of Winnemucca. Fannie is preceded in death by her husband Marvin Myers Sr. and son Marvin Myers, Jr.
Graveside services will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the Winnemucca Cemetery under the care of Albertson Funeral Home of Winnemucca. A commemoration reception is being held following services at the Winnemucca Inn's Humboldt Room.
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