| Notes |
- Edwardo Paul Urquiaga
Nov. 26, 1916-April 11, 2009
Our Uncle was born on Nov. 26, 1916, to Lazaro and Josefa Urquiaga in Jordan Valley, Ore. He was the fifth of 10 children. They ran sheep. In 1917 the family moved to Arock. The sheep would be wintered there. The sheep ranged all the way from SoSouth Mountain to the desert; the weather in Arock was better for lambing and feeding and the 10 children needed a school. In the fall of 1921, arrangements were made with a close neighbor, Frank Larrasea to provide his children and the Urquiagas with a school. It was in the upstairs of the Larrasea house. Lazaro hired the teacher.
A highlight in Uncle Ed's life was his horse "Champ"; he was a match stakes racehorse in the quarter mile. He raced many times in McDermitt, Vale and Caldwell. Champ won an exceptional race in Winnemucca, Nev.
Ed and Mabel went to grade school in Arock together. Ed went on to high school in Jordan Valley, while Mabel went to high school one year in Jordan Valley, then one year in Weiser, then graduated high school in Caldwell. She graduated from My Ladies Beauty School in Boise. By this time they were getting along better than the grade school years and they married on Aunt Mabel's birthday March 17, 1937. They eloped to Ed's sister Chris's in Medford, Ore. Aunt Mabel smiles when she says Chris and Ma Propes stood up for them.
Uncle Ed worked for Bill Bruce and was a ditch rider for Arock Irrigation District; then finally the District Manager. The diversion dam was already in and farming in Arock was thriving. The attraction of higher wages lured Uncle Ed to operate a drag line for Knudsen Company in Cascade. They were in Cascade about seven years then came back to Caldwell to farm. He'd watched irrigation projects for several years; now it was time to put down his own roots. Uncle Ed knows roots are important.
Aunt Mabel had a horse accident when she was 14 resulting in a ruptured appendix. Doctors tried to repair the damage but they were unable to have children. Aunt Mabel's sister Beverly was 2 when they married. They kept Beverly as often as possible. When Ralph and Beverly had children, they kept Pam and Steve as often as possible.
Uncle Ed farmed with precision, meticulous in everything. He was Canyon County Farmer of the Year in 1973. He grew potatoes, alfalfa, corn, beets and grain. They also raised heifers to sell as milk cows. His niece, Inez and he were gopher warriors together.
Besides farming, Aunt Mabel and Uncle Ed loved hunting and fishing. The stories of game and hunts from long ago created memories for everyone in the family. Goose hunts began at 3 a.m. with decoys set with precision. Chukar hunts lasted for mileles. Uncle Ed is particularly fond of an elk hunt with Martin Jaca. Aunt Mabel and Uncle Ed went to Alaska for two months for several years. They provided us with salmon and halibut. Does anyone remember the gunny sacks of corn? If he didn't grow the corn, he picked it from the Hermans in Melba.
His oldest sister Christina was married to Louie Metcalf. He was Uncle Ed to Kenny and Ed. Ruby's husband was Russell Lynde. Ed, Joe and Mary were their children. Dee Urquiaga was married to Margene. Lazaro, Billy Ray, and Mary Dee Arnett are thheir children. Elaine and Joaquin Jaca children are Elias, Ramona Pascoe and Gloria Jean. Victoria and Frank Eiguren's son is Tom Eiguren. Mercedes and Julian Calzacorta's son is Robert. Pauline and Walter Baltzor's children are Angelia Smallwood and Christy. Josie's first husband was Rufus Yturriondobeitia: they had Richard, Diane Carson, Cecilia and Jim. After Rufus' sad death Josie married George Swisher and their children are Robin Baum and Mary Pharis. The baby in the family is Cecilia. She married Sam Shields and their children are Rhonda Morton, Nancy Smith and Dennis. He is Uncle Ed to Pam White and Steve Eason. Thank you, Uncle Ed, for the wonderful memories.
The family wished to extend special thanks to Grace Assisted Living for the wonderful care given.
Friends may call Thursday from 4 until 8 p.m. at the Flahiff Funeral Chapel, Caldwell. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 17, at the Jordan Valley Cemetery, followed by a dessert reception.
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1916 - 2009 (92 years)
