Zella Odelia Tally of Sacramento, Calif., formerly of Pendleton and Central Point, Ore. died suddenly and quietly on Jan. 6, 2006, after a short illness.
Zella was born in Haines, Ore., on Aug. 2, 1905, to Henry and Ada Jane Williams Wallace an old pioneer farming family. She was 100 years old. On July 15, 1926, she married the late Eugene Tally. Together they had four sons, Kerwyn E., Richard L Tally of Myrtle Point, Ore., Howard B. Tally of Sacramento, Calif., and Robert W Tally (deceased). Other survivors include 12 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, 18 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was much beloved by all.
Zella rode horseback to school and preferred assisting her father with the farm work, than being inside with her mother learning to cook and sew in which she still became an expert. After graduating from high school in 1923 she earned a teaching certificate at Western Oregon State College in Monmouth, Ore. She taught school in a one-room school house in Pine Town, Ore.
After raising her family on the Tally farm in Haines, she and her husband Eugene moved to Pendleton. Zella attended Eastern Oregon College, majoring in accounting and later received her nursing license at Blue Mountain College in Pendleton. Zella worked for six years at the Pendleton State Mental Hospital as a nurse.
In her later years, Zella enjoyed working crossword puzzles, watching TV game shows and Sacramento Kings games after moving to Elk Grove area with her son Howard and wife Lynn in 2001.
A private family graveside service will be held Saturday Jan. 14, 2006, 2:30 p.m. at the North Powder Cemetery in North Powder, Ore., with the Rev. Forrest Turner officiating.
Active bearers include: Neil Tally, Bob Tally, John Tally, Perry White, Sean Tally and Robert A Tally. Honorary bears, Matthew Butler, Joshua N Tally, Kyle Huss, Ryan Knotts, Kevin Montee and Chad Payant.
A public viewing will be held at Gray’s West & Co. Baker City from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 14.
Contributions can be made to the American Heart Association in her name in lieu of flowers. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Source: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, January 12, 2006 page 4
Contributed by: Belva Ticknor
