Sept. 10, 1913 — March 19, 2008

Letha Mae Paden, 94, of Sweet Home passed away Wednesday.

She was born in Bowlegs, Okla., to Thomas Everett and Ida Ellen (Caulkins) Caldwell.

She lived in Oklahoma until she moved to Sanger, Calif., in 1944. In 1973, she moved to Marcola and lived there until she moved to Sweet Home in 1999. She had homes in Sanger, Tollhouse and Morro Bay, Calif.

Letha owned and operated restaurants in California before moving to Oregon. She retired from JC Penney in Eugene. She was active in the Republican Party. Letha received an award from the Lane County Farmers Market.

She loved all kinds of needlework, especially crochet. She also loved cake decorating, gardening and farming, and selling at craft shows. She also sold baked goods, jams and jellies, fruit and vegetables at the Lane County Farmers Market. She loved to travel to anyplace in a car but an airplane would do.

Letha is survived by daughters Barbara June Jostrom of Marcola, and Glenda Sue Doughman of Yreka, Calif.; grandchildren William “Skip” Doughman of Eugene, Mark G. Doughman of Chico, Calif., Kirsten Seaberry of Vacaville, Calif., Kari Cooper of Charlotte, N.C., and Barbara Gates of Danville, Calif.; great-grandchildren Vernon and Misty Doughman, Kiersten, Mark A., Courtney and Kari Doughman, Karissa, Rebecca and Jessica Seaberry, and Adam and Joel Gates; great-great-grandchildren Conli, Jasmine, Daelen and Dyani Doughman; and brother David Bennett of Sweet Home.

She was preceded in death by parents Thomas E. Caldwell in 1941 and Ida Ellen Caulkins Bennett in 1972; brothers Homer, Charles, Clifford and Paul Bennett, and Everett, Velmore and Herman Caldwell; sisters Nita Joyner and Thelbe Elder; and husbands Glenn R. Bennett in 1973 and W. L. “Larry” Paden in 1991.

A viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, also at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Private burial will be at Mable Cemetery in Marcola.

Memorial contributions can be made to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice and Wiley Creek Community Activity Fund.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements (www.

sweethomefuneral.com).