PUD Announces 2013 My Fair Lady Court

June 20, 2013 – Columbia River People’s Utility District (PUD) has announced the members of the 2013 My Fair Lady Court. The My Fair Lady pageant is held during the Columbia County Fair each year to recognize senior women for their outstanding service in our community. The PUD, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and Northwest Apparel are co-sponsors of this year’s pageant.

This year’s My Fair Lady Princesses are: Marian Smith, representing St. Helens; Lesle Ruby, representing Scappoose; Joanne Bernard, representing Rainier; Delores Mellinger representing Clatskanie; and Ann Mitchell, representing Vernonia.

Marian Smith, Representing St. Helens

Marian was born and raised in Watertown, South Dakota. She has lived in Columbia County for 14 years. She is married and has 10 children, 19 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Marian worked at JC Penney in South Dakota for 32 years, serving as the personnel supervisor in Rapid City and working at two other stores. She has volunteered for 18 years as a hospice worker, for three years as a grandma helper at the Columbia City School, for five years at the St. Helens and Columbia City libraries, and for nine years at the Thrift store in St. Helens. Her hobbies are reading and gardening.

Lesle Ruby, Representing Scappoose

Lesle was born in Sturgis, South Dakota and raised on a ranch in White Owl, South Dakota. She settled in Columbia County in 1982. Lesle has been married for 36 years and has 6 children, 5 grandsons, and 2 great grandsons. She has been a wife and a homemaker, she has held several jobs, including banking, the U.S. District Courts, the Candle manufacturing and Country Catering. Lesle has decades of volunteer service for many organizations, including the Columbia County Christian School, the American Cancer Society, and Habitat for Humanity. Her hobbies are embroidery, basket weaving, planning family reunions, and spoiling her grandchildren. Her most treasured memories are of times when her whole family was together, and from growing up on a ranch.

Joanne Bernard, Representing Rainier

Joanne was born in Ada, Minnesota, and raised in Rainier, Oregon. She has lived here for 73 years. She has been married for 56 years and has 4 children, 6 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild and one due in November. Joanne worked as a clerk for Bob’s Sporting Goods for 11 years. She belongs to the Rainier Garden club, and acts as a secretary for the Columbia County Chapter Oregon Hunter Association. Her hobbies are gardening, crocheting and crossword puzzles. She also enjoys spending time with her family, taking trips to the casino and traveling. Her most treasured memory is a 10 mile snow machine ride up to Deer Mount in Montana.

Delores Mellinger, Representing Clatskanie

Delores was born in Ames, Iowa, and grew up on chicken ranches in California. She has lived in Columbia County for 24 years. Delores is married and has 4 children, 12 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. She was a State Farm Insurance agent for 20 years, she had her own Real Estate Agency, and also sold and designed display advertising and small sections for weekly newspapers. Delores is currently active in P.E.O, a women’s philanthropic organization. She is also an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and Chair the committees of Worship and Evangelism. She has also volunteered several years for CASA and Clatskanie Kiwanis. Delores enjoys spending time with family, traveling, gardening and reading. Her most treasured memories are of the smiles and hugs, good times she shares with her children and grandchildren, and of seeing her now-husband Bill’s big grin as he stood on the front step when she opened the door for their first date.

Ann Mitchell, Representing Vernonia

Ann was born in Salem, Oregon and grew up in Dallas, Oregon. She and her husband moved to Columbia County 33 years ago to build their own home. Ann has been married for nearly 50 years; she has 7 children and 14 grandchildren. For 31 years she worked for the Interstate Trust Dept. Her company, Homestead Clearing, helped elderly clients sell their belongings and their homes so the proceeds could pay for their care in retirement and nursing homes. After retiring she continued to work and volunteer for 20 hours a week at the Vernonia School District. She is a former member of the County Planning Commission and a member of the First Christian church. Her hobbies are being with friends, cooking, gardening, and helping children to read. Her most treasured memory is having Christmas with her children.