1926
Esther
2024
Esther Ogier
May 8, 1926 — August 7, 2024
Our beloved mother Esther "Ilene" Ogier passed away on August 7, 2024 at Friendsview Retirement Community in Newberg, OR at the age of 98. She passed peacefully there in the presence of her daughter, Divonna, and surrounded by the thoughts and prayers of her family. Three months prior, her 98th birthday was celebrated by a large gathering of family in Newberg.
She was a wonderful mother who was always there when we needed her most, offering support, wisdom, and love in abundance. She kept the family, including relatives from out of state, close by organizing family reunion campouts at the coast for many years. Some of the family's fondest memories come as a result of those campouts. Ilene was a friend to many and we cannot recall anyone that ever met Ilene that did not truly enjoy her spirit and love of Life. Our family, among others, often referred to her as a "Saint" as she never had a cross word, spoke of anyone negatively, and forgave us of many misdeeds. Ilene was a cherished member of the community and her church, Medford Friends Church, in Medford, OR. Ilene's music was her passion and she played Organ for church services, weddings, and many other church events for many years. Ilene could also play the piano and had the voice of an Angel. All of her children were blessed with a bit of her musical talents. She was a school teacher and school librarian for 25 years and she had a lasting influence on many of her students.
She moved to Friendsview Retirement Community in 2016 to be closer to her family and to be among friends that had taken residence there before her. She remained active there playing piano, attending church services, and again, organizing family gatherings. She was very much loved there by staff and caregivers.
Ilene Ogier was predeceased by Orrin Charles (husband) and Stephen Charles (son) Ogier.
She is survived by: Sandra (husband Steve) Ogier in Hillsboro, OR; Ronald "Ron" Ogier and wife Pam in Port Angeles, Washington; Gary Ogier and wife Marie in Battle Ground, Washington; and Divonna Ratliff and husband Michael in Portland, Oregon.
She had seven grandchildren: Matthew Turcotte (Sandra) in OR; Anna (Steve) Ogier in OR; Elizabeth "Beth" (husband Doug) Stoecker in Illinois; Brian (wife Pilar) Ogier in Montana; Caleb (Gary) Ogier in Washington; Leah (husband Ricky) Boice in Washington; Katherine (husband Kai Krokum) Ratliff in OR.
She had seven great-grandchildren: Lauren and Jenna (Beth) Stoecker; Kellen (wife Samantha) Ogier; Brielle and Maiya (Brian) Ogier; Hunter and Tanner (Pilar)Stancliff; Harlan and Eldon (Leah) Boice.
She had five great-great-grandchildren: Maverick (Lauren) Seufert; Navi (Jenna) Johnson; Felicity, Milo, and Ronan (Kellen) Ogier.
A brief biography of Esther Ilene Ogier
Esther Ilene Brown was born on May 8, 1926, in the little town of Booker, in the panhandle of Texas. Her grandparents were pioneers in that area and were involved in the founding of a school and a Friends Church known as View Point, because it was located on a small rise of ground there on the prairie. Her parents, Hazel and Bernard Brown, moved to Texas from Kansas to settle there with his parents and other family members.
Ilene had an older brother and two sisters, one of whom died before Ilene was born and one was about five years younger and died very young. Her father, Bernard, sang in a quartet and sometimes was the song leader for evangelistic meetings. Both of her parents had attended Haviland Bible School, now Barclay College. Sadly her father died of double pneumonia at 33 years of age, leaving her mother, Hazel, to manage their little farm.
After about five years her mother remarried and they moved to Citrus Heights, California, where her husband Francis Lowe was pastor of the Friends Church. She and her brother, Olen, acquired a stepsister Clarice and stepbrother Jay. She graduated from San Juan Union High School in 1943. She met Orrin Ogier at Quaker Meadow Camp. Orrin attended the Holtville Friends Church in Imperial Valley. He became a student at Pacific College, now George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, graduating in 1946. Ilene attended Cascade College in Portland and graduated in 1947, with a major in music. They were married in the Newberg Friends Church shortly after she graduated. They lived in Jennings Lodge and later Gladstone while he attended seminary. They moved to Southern Oregon to pioneer a little church at O'Brien. From there they moved to Medford, where they lived until Orrin passed away in 2012. She continued to live in Medford until 2016 when she decided to move to Friendsview Retirement Community in Newberg Oregon. Being nearer to her family and to reunite with long time friends was important to her.
A highlight in Ilene's life that has helped give her a world view, was a three week World Circle Tour in 1976, led by Robert A. Schuller and his wife. A week of that was spent in the Holy Land. After retirement (and some before) she and Orrin traveled some in their motorhome, mostly in the West and in Arizona.
After the children were all in school, Ilene enrolled in Southern Oregon College, now University, to get her teaching credential. Orrin was a caseworker and supervisor for Jackson County Public Welfare. She later received a master's degree in English with a library endorsement. She was employed for 25 years in Medford Public Schools, ten years in the classroom at Ruch and fifteen years in the library/media center at Hedrick Junior High, now Middle School.
Ilene was actively involved with Medford Friends Church since 1952, mostly with music, the library, and the women's missionary group. She played organ for Sunday services and also for many church functions. She and pianist Ruth Brewster played for as long as we (her family) can remember.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday August 31, 2024 at 11:00 am at Medford Friends church, 525 De Barr Ave., Medford, OR.
A viewing and service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 2201 N. Phoenix Road, Medford, OR. at 1:00 pm in the chapel.
A private graveside will be held following the services.
Ilene's family would like to invite all those who knew and loved her to either attend the services or to remember her at this time in their thoughts and prayers.
Thank you,
The Ogier Family
She was a wonderful mother who was always there when we needed her most, offering support, wisdom, and love in abundance. She kept the family, including relatives from out of state, close by organizing family reunion campouts at the coast for many years. Some of the family's fondest memories come as a result of those campouts. Ilene was a friend to many and we cannot recall anyone that ever met Ilene that did not truly enjoy her spirit and love of Life. Our family, among others, often referred to her as a "Saint" as she never had a cross word, spoke of anyone negatively, and forgave us of many misdeeds. Ilene was a cherished member of the community and her church, Medford Friends Church, in Medford, OR. Ilene's music was her passion and she played Organ for church services, weddings, and many other church events for many years. Ilene could also play the piano and had the voice of an Angel. All of her children were blessed with a bit of her musical talents. She was a school teacher and school librarian for 25 years and she had a lasting influence on many of her students.
She moved to Friendsview Retirement Community in 2016 to be closer to her family and to be among friends that had taken residence there before her. She remained active there playing piano, attending church services, and again, organizing family gatherings. She was very much loved there by staff and caregivers.
Ilene Ogier was predeceased by Orrin Charles (husband) and Stephen Charles (son) Ogier.
She is survived by: Sandra (husband Steve) Ogier in Hillsboro, OR; Ronald "Ron" Ogier and wife Pam in Port Angeles, Washington; Gary Ogier and wife Marie in Battle Ground, Washington; and Divonna Ratliff and husband Michael in Portland, Oregon.
She had seven grandchildren: Matthew Turcotte (Sandra) in OR; Anna (Steve) Ogier in OR; Elizabeth "Beth" (husband Doug) Stoecker in Illinois; Brian (wife Pilar) Ogier in Montana; Caleb (Gary) Ogier in Washington; Leah (husband Ricky) Boice in Washington; Katherine (husband Kai Krokum) Ratliff in OR.
She had seven great-grandchildren: Lauren and Jenna (Beth) Stoecker; Kellen (wife Samantha) Ogier; Brielle and Maiya (Brian) Ogier; Hunter and Tanner (Pilar)Stancliff; Harlan and Eldon (Leah) Boice.
She had five great-great-grandchildren: Maverick (Lauren) Seufert; Navi (Jenna) Johnson; Felicity, Milo, and Ronan (Kellen) Ogier.
A brief biography of Esther Ilene Ogier
Esther Ilene Brown was born on May 8, 1926, in the little town of Booker, in the panhandle of Texas. Her grandparents were pioneers in that area and were involved in the founding of a school and a Friends Church known as View Point, because it was located on a small rise of ground there on the prairie. Her parents, Hazel and Bernard Brown, moved to Texas from Kansas to settle there with his parents and other family members.
Ilene had an older brother and two sisters, one of whom died before Ilene was born and one was about five years younger and died very young. Her father, Bernard, sang in a quartet and sometimes was the song leader for evangelistic meetings. Both of her parents had attended Haviland Bible School, now Barclay College. Sadly her father died of double pneumonia at 33 years of age, leaving her mother, Hazel, to manage their little farm.
After about five years her mother remarried and they moved to Citrus Heights, California, where her husband Francis Lowe was pastor of the Friends Church. She and her brother, Olen, acquired a stepsister Clarice and stepbrother Jay. She graduated from San Juan Union High School in 1943. She met Orrin Ogier at Quaker Meadow Camp. Orrin attended the Holtville Friends Church in Imperial Valley. He became a student at Pacific College, now George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, graduating in 1946. Ilene attended Cascade College in Portland and graduated in 1947, with a major in music. They were married in the Newberg Friends Church shortly after she graduated. They lived in Jennings Lodge and later Gladstone while he attended seminary. They moved to Southern Oregon to pioneer a little church at O'Brien. From there they moved to Medford, where they lived until Orrin passed away in 2012. She continued to live in Medford until 2016 when she decided to move to Friendsview Retirement Community in Newberg Oregon. Being nearer to her family and to reunite with long time friends was important to her.
A highlight in Ilene's life that has helped give her a world view, was a three week World Circle Tour in 1976, led by Robert A. Schuller and his wife. A week of that was spent in the Holy Land. After retirement (and some before) she and Orrin traveled some in their motorhome, mostly in the West and in Arizona.
After the children were all in school, Ilene enrolled in Southern Oregon College, now University, to get her teaching credential. Orrin was a caseworker and supervisor for Jackson County Public Welfare. She later received a master's degree in English with a library endorsement. She was employed for 25 years in Medford Public Schools, ten years in the classroom at Ruch and fifteen years in the library/media center at Hedrick Junior High, now Middle School.
Ilene was actively involved with Medford Friends Church since 1952, mostly with music, the library, and the women's missionary group. She played organ for Sunday services and also for many church functions. She and pianist Ruth Brewster played for as long as we (her family) can remember.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday August 31, 2024 at 11:00 am at Medford Friends church, 525 De Barr Ave., Medford, OR.
A viewing and service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 2201 N. Phoenix Road, Medford, OR. at 1:00 pm in the chapel.
A private graveside will be held following the services.
Ilene's family would like to invite all those who knew and loved her to either attend the services or to remember her at this time in their thoughts and prayers.
Thank you,
The Ogier Family
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Esther Ogier, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
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Memorial service
Saturday, August 31, 2024
Starts at 11:00 am (Pacific time)
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