Obituary in The Oregonian August 23rd

OBITUARY-CHRISTLE ANN WICKHERST
11-16-49 to 8-13-09

Christle Ann Wickherst, of Portland, died August 13th, 2009, 3 days and 3 months before her 60th birthday. She suffered from polymyositis and rheumatoid arthritis for many years, and some of her vital organs were compromised. It has been suggested that toxicity from the pharmaceutical that helped her manage her illnesses, methotrexate, was a contributing factor to her demise.

In keeping with Christle’s life of giving, her children donated her body to Kaiser for research, after which they will obtain her cremated remains. Each of her children will, as willed by their mother, plant an Asian pear tree in their yards, with cremains at the root. Additional ashes will be brought to a beloved oceanside location on Chirlstle’s birthday.

Christle Ann Wickherst was born in Beadle County, South Dakota, to Patricia Ann (McGee) and Dale Duane Wickherst. Their marriage did not last more than a few years, and Patricia moved to Spokane, Washington.

Christle was raised in Wessington, South Dakota, by her birth father and step mother, Darlene Wickherst, along with their children, Sherri, Joan, Chuck, and Dale Duane Jr. (“D.D.”).

She is survived by those step-siblings, as well as by two step-siblings in Spokane, Tammi and Wade, children of Pat. She is also survived by another step-sister, a friend from South Dakota who adopted her late in life. She was predeceased by her birth parents as well as by her step mother.

Christle is survived by her children and their families, who include seven grand-children and one great-grand son: Chanel Lee Thomas and John Thomas, both of Gervais; Chanel’s children Chansie Donald, Brandon Donald, and Xionlong Knickrehm; Brandon’s son (with Claudia Fernandez), Omar Donald; Matthew Ellerton, Linda Van Wyk Ellerton and their children, Nicole and Austin, of Newberg; and Skylar Ellerton and Kim Severdia Ellerton and children Sara and Maxwell, also of Newberg. She is also survived by her beloved African Grey Parrot, OLIVIA, who continues to speak in Christle’s voice.

Christle married Lee Quiram when she was 18. Her daughter, Chanel Lee Quiram, was born when Chrilstle was 19. At 20, Christle was widowed when Lee died in a motorcycle accident.

Soon after that Christle moved to Vermillion, South Dakota, where she took classes at the University of South Dakota, worked, and was a single mom. She and Chanel were a joyous team.

After a number of years in Vermillion she met and was united with John Ellerton.They moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota late in 1974 and their first son Matthew Ellerton was born in 1975. The family moved to Portland in 1977 and Skylar Ellerton was born in 1979.

While growing a family and working Christle continued taking classes, eventually earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

A nurturing and insightful woman as well as a creative visual artist and a writer, Christle held many jobs in the Portland area including counseling pregnant young women at the White Shield
Center, where she is remembered for the impressive quality of her writing and diagnostic skills. She had a private practice in Vancouver, Washington. She was a counselor with Protocol in Portland, where her work included dealing with emergency calls patched through from New York City in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. She helped many people process the trauma they experienced during and after that tragedy.

Christle was a loving and beloved mother and grandmother, a gifted counselor, a wise and generous friend, a prolific writer who left volumes of notebooks, a visual artist who worked with paint and Lakota style beadwork, and a lover of life who was known to go on guerilla planting expeditions and sow poppy seeds in vacant lots. Consider planting poppies in her honor. What you plant now will bloom next year and brighten a piece of the planet and bring a smile to someone. Or make a donation to an organization or cause she would like.

To offer condolences and/or to share your memories please visit:

http://christleandolivia.blogspot.com

A gathering honoring Christle Wickherst will be held atop Mt. Tabor in Portland next Sunday, August 30th at 3 pm. Look for the group with the balloon bouquet, and a sign that says HONORING CHRISTLE. All who knew her are welcome. As was her wish, food will be shared, provided by the family. Participants are invited to bring snacks to share, but more importantly, feelings and memories, and are also invited to wear some purple, Christle’s favorite color.

Christle’s memory is a blessing.

PHOTOS

THIS IS A PLACE TO SHARE PHOTOS OF OUR DEAR CHRISTLE OF BLESSED MEMORY:

(Send photos to: anyroad65@yahoo.com)

CONDOLENCES

Feel free to leave a comment for Christle's family here:

August 23, 2009
I am so sad. I was her friend for many years - worked with her at White Shield and again at Children's Home Society.
I would like to speak to one of her kids. please email me at gailer888@yahoo.com. I loved Christle.

END OF LIFE

Christle Wickherst was disconnected from a respirator Thursday August 13th, 2009, 3 months and 3 days before her 60th birthday. She took one breath on her own and died. She was pronounced dead 6:26 pm Pacific Daylight Savings time, in the intensive care unit of Kaiser Sunnyside.

At her bedside were her daughter Chanel; grandchildren Chansie and Brandon; Chanel's husband John; and daugher in law Linda Ellerton. Matt Ellerton was nearby.

Other friends and family were present in spirit.

Check back here for information about a memorial service, possibly 8-30-09.

Thank you for support and healing thoughts.

Christle's life was a gift to us, a true blessing.

The memory of Christle is a blessing for us all.

Christle's interests

Christle loves birds, especially Olivia. She taught Olivia....



Also Christle loves flowers, especially poppies. She went on "guerilla poppy planting expeditions" and scattered poppy seeds on crummy old lots to brighten up Portland. Christle is in the hospital now. If you can, go out and Plant some Poppies for Christle. PP4C! Yes!



Christle did lots of artwork, and wrote LOTS, when she was in her 20's, before she became a busy therapist. She continued to do art. Let's gather her work and put some pictures on here on a new section of this blog called Christle's art work. What do you think?

Christle's friends

How did YOU meet Christle? Christle is the most wonderful friend. Her intuition and insight and her ability to understand are SO GREAT....

Christle's health

Can you say Christle is the Queen of rare diseases? Not really but....