Wahkiakum Eagle-September 2, 1999

Foster, Loida Mae 

  Loida Mae Foster, 96, of Columbia City, Ore., died on 
August 23, just a few weeks short of her 97 birthday.
  She was born on September 6, 1902 to John and Ida Benson 
McEvoy.  The granddaughter of Andrew and Sarah Benson, 
Middle Valley pioneers, she joined two brothers, Roy and 
Leslie, who both preceded her in death.
  She married Vincent Kelly, a Skamokawa native, in 1919.  
They lived in Skamokawa for a number of years before moving 
to Portland where they lived until his death.  Loida moved 
to Columbia City and some years later married Harry Foster 
of Cathlamet.  After Harry’s death she continued to live at 
the family home until she died.
  An excellent pianist, Loida was piano accompanist for the 
old silent movies that were shown at Silverman’s Hall in 
the early 1920’s.  She was also much in demand to play for 
local dances.
  She is survived by her niece, Bernice Scott of Cathlamet; 
cousins, Dorothy Kasnick, Muriel Williams and Barbara 
Ditmer all of Pousbo.
  At her request there was no services.  Inurnment was at a 
Portland cemetery.


Loida Mae (McEvoy) Kelly Foster
Unknown-Portland, OR
6 September 1902-23 August 1999
(As transcribed by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society 
2006 from original newspaper collection.)