Clara "Ellen" (Fraser) Brown

Clara Ellen Brown (nee Fraser) passed away Thursday November 4th, 2021, at Guardian Angels in Hermiston.  Her passing occurred after a few weeks at Good Shepherd Hospital, followed by Hospice.
Ellen, as she went by in her adult life, was born in Kendrick, Idaho on December 19th, 1928.  Her family moved to nearby Julietta, Idaho after Ellen’s first year of elementary school.  She had two brothers, Jim and Elton Fraser, and a sister, Maxine Leonard.  In 1942 she and her family moved to Irrigon, Oregon for her father Kenneth’s work at the Army Depot.  Her future husband Robert “Bob” Brown lived just down the road. 
Tragically, Ellen’s father Kenneth was killed in 1944 at the Army Depot along with five others, while inspecting a bomb igloo. Ellen graduated from Irrigon High School and then attended Eastern Oregon State College, graduating at the age of 19. 
She then taught grade school for several years before marrying Bob Brown in 1950. Bob was also a graduate of Eastern Oregon State College and a teacher in Hermiston. They had three children: Vickie, born in 1951, Gary in 1952, and Daryl, born in 1956. Ellen taught mostly at West Park Elementary and Armand Larive Junior High School for many years. 
She enjoyed working in her yard and researching family genealogy.  She and her husband Bob loved camping and traveling in their R.V.  They traveled extensively together, visiting numerous State and National Parks. 
Ellen is survived by daughter, Vickie, and son, Daryl, along with daughters-in-law Sue and Peg.  She has 6 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews. 
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years and their son Gary David Brown. 
In lieu of flowers please consider cards or a donation to cure Alzheimer’s, which claimed her son Gary in 2015.  
Due to current conditions, a  memorial service for family will be held at the First Christian Church, Hermiston, Oregon.
A private burial will be at the Hermiston Cemetery, Hermiston, Oregon.
Please share memories of Ellen with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon is in care of arrangements.

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