Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Marian Harriett Oneida


Marian Harriett Oneida passed away at St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center Feb. 14, 2007.

She was born May 1, 1921, in Gooding, Idaho. She grew up on a farm in Gooding County, and later her family moved to another farm at Tunupa, Lincoln County, Idaho. Marian attended a one-room grade school east of Gooding, then high school in Shoshone.

At the ripe old age of 16, she married Joe Oneida, and they enjoyed 65 wonderful years of marriage. Their first home was at the Oneida's Basque Boarding House in Shoshone during the winter. Summer months took them to the Lane Ranch, northeast of Shoshone, for many years. Marrying into the Oneida family began a lifetime of "big Basque family living;" which entailed operating the boarding house with Joe's mother, father, his brothers and their wives. The entire family operated many ranches and a large sheep business throughout south central Idaho. Anyone who was around during those years knows that life for them was thriving, hectic, and mostly a lot of fun.

Marian and Joe were blessed with two children, Charles and Cherie. In about 1958 they purchased the Eddy Bair home in Shoshone where they lived for eight years before moving to their current home, which Charles built. During the kids' younger years, Marian drove a school bus and later went to work for First Security Bank until her retirement.

Marian spent her life involved in many different personal and community activities. She had a passion for dancing including Basque, Spanish (flamenco), Cancan, and Ballroom (tango), with family and friends. She sewed and created her own costumes. Gardening, flower arranging and canning consumed much of her time as well. She bowled for "The Manhattan Café" team, participated in local parades, volunteered for the Community Concerts, was a member of the Gooding Basque Association, and was a very active member of the Golden Years Senior Center.

She is survived by her children, Charles (Carlotta) Oneida, Cherie (Joe) Goitiandia; six grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and seven great great grandchildren; and one sister, Nora Holland. Marian was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; mother, Dorothy Gish; father, Charles Gish; sister, Opal Cooney; and brother, Glen Gish.

Donations may be made in her memory to the Golden Years Senior Center in Shoshone or the Gooding Basque Association.

Visitation for family and friends will be held Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Demaray's Funeral Chapel in Shoshone. Rosary will follow at 7 p.m. at the chapel.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, at the First Baptist Church in Shoshone. Burial will follow at the Shoshone Cemetery.




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