Ionie "Onie" Myers

Ionie “Onie” Myers, 79, of Grants Pass died Thursday, April 18th, 2013, at her home in Grants Pass surrounded by family and friends.

A viewing will be held Saturday, April 27th, 2013, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. A funeral service will begin at 1:00 pm at Hull and Hull Funeral Directors. The family request in lieu of flowers, contributions to Lovejoy Hospice, 939 S.E. 8th St, Grants Pass, OR 97526 or the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Ionie was born into the Jaquess family in Whitesboro, Oklahoma, on May 4th, 1933. One of ten children, she grew up during the great depression on a small farm. Her father died when she was six years old and her mother raised the family with determination, refusing charity of any kind, passing a strong work ethic and sense of family to Ionie. In 1951, Ionie married Dillard Myers and started a family. After Dillard’s service in the Korean War, they started migrating west. Dillard logged and Ionie worked various jobs while raising the children.

Ionie and family arrived in Grants Pass, Oregon in 1959. Dillard continued in the timber industry and Ionie found the career of her lifetime in caring for the elderly. She worked at Parkview, Oak Lane, and Royal Gardens nursing homes for over thirty one years. She took care of and loved thousands of the elderly, and in return was dearly loved by them and their families. Ionie was sought out by her employers as a trainer for new employees because of her dedication and skill with the elderly. It was not uncommon to find several of her patients, who had no family or were neglected by theirs, in her personal home on her days off having coffee and home cooked donuts.

Ionie had three great loves that defined her entire life. An unwavering belief in God, love of family, and love of the United States of America. Ionie loved hunting, camping, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. Ionie was known for her excellent cooking and enjoyed cooking for the entire family on the holidays. She belonged to a local Tops club and was a member of the Christian Singles church.

Ionie was preceded in death by all of her siblings, her husband Dillard, and their son Jerry. She is survived by her daughters Carmen Elaine James and her husband Colvin, of Dora, Alabama, Teri Cooper and her husband Jack of Grants Pass, Oregon, and her sons Dillard O. Myers and his wife Meg, of Reno, Nevada, and Ray Myers and his wife Julie of Grants Pass, Oregon. She is also survived by ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren.