Edda Mae Lovgren, nee Thorpe, passed away in Hermiston on May 21, 2021 after celebrating her 91st birthday and Mother’s Day with her family.
She was born in Heppner on May 5, 1930 to Eddie Rudolph and Reta Mae Crawford Thorpe. Edda Mae had a younger brother, Carl William Thorpe, who also lived in Heppner.
She spent her entire life in Heppner until ill health required her to move into assisted living in Hermiston when she was 84 years old.
She was a very good student and graduated in 1948 from Heppner High School. She was a majorette and lettered in tennis at HHS. As a young girl she worked helping her brother deliver milk from Hager’s Creamery, then during and after high school she worked at JCPenney in retail and designing their display windows.
On March 23, 1949 Edda Mae eloped and married Marshall Lovgren. Edda Mae and Marshall had two children, a daughter and a son. They raised their family in Heppner, where Edda Mae was active in school PTA, the Elks B.P.O.E. 358 and playing bridge, and she was an excellent baker of pies, cookies and candy, which she shared with family and friends. When the children got older she worked at Court Street Market, then at Morrow County Courthouse for the county clerk and in the sheriff’s department.
In 1970, Edda Mae had a thyroidectomy and her parathyroid glands were destroyed, which resulted in her being unable to return to work. Many years were spent finding the right doctor and care. The majority of her time in those years was spent on needlework, knitting and ceramics—she was artistic and creative and excelled at all of them. Edda Mae had a deep love of Heppner and, while she could be reclusive in her later years, it was mainly health related. When raising her family she was cheerful and could be heard whistling, “Oh
what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day,” getting the children ready for school. She had no desire to travel and was happiest when she was home, taking care of her cats and feeding the birds. She taught her children valuable lessons about perseverance and not having to conform to what everyone else was doing, wearing, thinking—to be true to yourself and to be a good citizen.
She is survived by her daughter, Marsha Lovgren Shannon and husband William of Carmel, Ind.; her son, Mark Lovgren and wife Christy of Hermiston; and nieces, Carla Jean Thorpe Segren of Kennewick, Wash. and Joycelyn Kay Thorpe Garrett of Lubbock, Texas.
Edda Mae was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marshall; her brother, Carl; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Per her request, there will not be a memorial or grave service. A private burial will be at Heppner Masonic Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice in her name. Rest in peace with your beloved Marshall.
Please share memories of Edda Mae with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
