1992 - Pat Cody

1993 - Milo Jensen

1994 - Annie Buel

1995 - Harold and Donna Olsen

1996 - Bruce Oester

2000 - George and Jean LeMont

2001 - Mrs. Mabel Pennell

2002 - Doris Bateham and Margaret Parker

2002 GRAND MARSHALS:

DORIS BATEHAM AND MARGARET PARKER

Two sisters, Doris Bateham and Margaret Parker, share the honors this year as the Grand Marshals of the 2002 Columbia City Celebration on Saturday, September 7, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Doris and Margaret were the youngest of three daughters born to Arthur and Ethel (Caples) Oberg. Their grandparents, Harry and Maude Caples had a dairy ranch on part of the land now used by Coastal St. Helens Chemical. Harry was the eldest son of Hezakiah Caples, and a brother to Dr. Charles Caples who lived in what is now known as the Caples Museum. Hezakiah's father, Joseph Caples, crossed the plains from Missouri in 1843.

Doris was born on Harry and Maude's dairy ranch between Columbia City and Deer Island and Margaret was born in Harry and Maude's home on Second Street in Columbia City where Doris and Margaret now reside.

Doris was two years old and Margaret, seven months, when the family moved to Portland. Both girls attended grade school and high school in Portland, but spent weekends, spring breaks, summers and holidays with their grandparents in Columbia City. Their grandparents were affectionately called Auntie Caples and Uncle Harry by their friends. Columbia City visits became fewer after the girls went to work.

Doris began her working career as a clerk with Standard Insurance and retired as a medical underwriter after 37 years of service. Doris was married a few short months when her husband was killed in Korea. In 1961 she married Harry Bateham and moved to Reno where his job was located. Later wanting to return to Oregon, they moved into her grandparents' home on Second Street in Columbia City.

After graduating from Washington High School in Portland, Margaret began working for Farmers Insurance Company. She married in 1949 and her son, Ronald, was born in 1951. She spent over thirty years working in financial institutions' real estate loan departments. Margaret resided in Portland until 1980 and then moved to Lebanon, Oregon where she spent 11 years. She then returned to her birthplace and lives in a basement apartment in Doris' home.

Doris volunteers regularly every third Wednesday at the St. Helens Senior Center along with others from Bethany Lutheran Church in Warren. She spends one day each week helping make quilts for Lutheran World Relief. The quilts are primarily sent to Third World Countries. She also loves other crafts and gardening.

Margaret is a volunteer at Columbia City Grade School in the Foster Grandparent Program, spending 20 hours each week helping children in grades one through three read. She is an avid bookworm and also likes gardening.

Both sisters enjoy traveling and have been on cruises and tours to Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Europe. Australia and New Zealand ranks highest thus far. They have also traveled to U.S. sites such as the Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore, and Carlsbad Caverns. This fall Doris and Margaret, along with their sister, Ruth, will spend 18 days traveling to the Panama Canal, Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica, Acapulco, the Cayman Islands, Cozmel, Mexico and Columbia, South America. The New England States is also on their future "wish" list.

While Doris and Margaret are very close, they do have differences. Margaret is a "morning" person. Doris is more of a "night owl." Margaret is even-tempered, quiet, and sometimes giggles. Doris admits to speaking and laughing louder and likes entertaining more than Margaret. Margaret loves housework, but Doris is not fond of it. Margaret likes to watch television, but Doris doesn't. Both like yard work, but Doris drives the lawnmower. They can't agree on which one is the better cook.

Doris and Margaret share the same view of Columbia City, however. It is a "quiet, peaceful, and restful place to live." They are proud of their ancestry and the opportunity to live in their grandparents' home built during World War I. They echo their concern that Columbia City is growing too much, but accept the reality of necessary growth. They also join many others who look forward to finding a successful water source to supplement the City's needs.

The sisters and their memories are featured in one chapter of the forthcoming History of Columbia City that is being compiled by Ann Jennings and Shari Ouillette. Preliminary copies are available at City Hall.

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