Obituary

Claire Ethel Barnum
May 4, 1902--February 18, 1994 (age 91)

The funeral will be February 22 for Claire E. Barnum of Eugene who died February 18 of age-related causes. She was 91. Barnum was born May 4, 1902 in Ukiah. She married Dale Mercier in Walla Walla, Washington on June 8, 1921 [Umatilla Co., OR]. He died in September 1957. She married Ernest Barnum in Reno, Nevada on November 13, 1961. He died in March 1980.

Primarily a Pendleton resident, she also lived in Klamath Falls, Portland and Mount Vernon, Washington. She had lived in Eugene for the past 10 months. Barnum helped her husband manage Barnum's Trading Post and other properties in the Pendleton area. She was a member of the Pendleton Country Club, where she won the club's golf championship for women. She belonged to the Pendleton Women's Club and to five different bridge clubs.

She is survived by a sister, Belle Ross of Salem; two grandsons; and three great grandchildren. Tuesday's service will be at 4 p.m. at Musgrove Funeral Chapel in Eugene, with vault interment Friday at Olney Cemetery in Pendleton. Visitation will be Monday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Musgrove Funeral Chapel and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Bishop Funeral Chapel in Pendleton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Eugene Education Fund or to the Umatilla County Historical Society.

Eugene Register-Guard, February 20, 1994