omwwyer.html

The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., February 19, 1937, page 9

PIONEER CALLED
Mrs. T. Wyers, Sr., Passed Away On February 12

Funeral services for the late Mrs. T. Wyers, Sr., were held Sunday afternoon in the Congregational church in White Salmon. Rev. Alfred E. Derby, of Lewiston, Ida., former pastor of the local church, conducting the services. The remains were laid to rest in the I.O.O.F. cemetery.
Six of her grandsons Harry and Will Claterbos, Orie and George Kreps, Tunis J. Wyers and Marion Shepler, as pallbearers, carried the remains to the grave, and another grandson, Jim Shepler, was an usher at the funeral service.
Hundreds of friends filled the church to pay parting respects to the deceased who was one of the best known pioneer women of Western Klickitat county. In the 46 years of residence in White Salmon, Mrs. Wyers had made a host of friends, who now mourn her great loss and to extend their sympathy to the relatives.
Marie Wilhelmina Heyting was born in Zevenaar, Holland, on March 14, 1846. She was married to Tunis Wyers in 1869 and to this union were born nine children, of whom five survive: John G., Teunis, Jr., Peter, Gertrude Kreps of White Salmon, and Minnie Shepler of Portland, Ore. She also leaves to mourn her loss one brother, 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
She came to America from Holland in 1888 and after living in Kansas for three years, came to White Salmon in 1901, where she has resided until her death on February 12. Both she and Mr. Wyers were identified with the early history and pioneer efforts of White Salmon and Western Klickitat county.
In 18_5, Mr. and Mrs. Wyers established the first hotel in White Salmon, also a livery stable. The latter finally became the Wyers Stage Co., now owned by T Wyers, Jr. The hotel was operated for several years until the Colburn hotel was built. The Wyers place became very popular with traveling salesman, of the early days, and the traveling public boasted of the Wyers' hospitality. Mr. Wyers passed away on October 14, 1917.
Mrs. Wyers, affectionately called "Grandma" Wyers by all, was a wonderful woman, loved by friends and neighbors. Always, one heard the words of praise for this good old pioneer woman.
She was a member of the Congregational Church Guild and of the White Salmon Women's club.

The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., February 19, 1937, page 1
Includes portrait

PASSING OF MRS. WYERS IS MOURNED HERE

The passing, Thursday, February 11, at 1 a.m. of Mrs. Marie Wyers, one of the most respected and well-known pioneers of Western Klickitat county, at the age of __ years, 10 months and 27 days, was sadly reported to the many friends here last week.
Mrs. Wyers, born in 1846, the 14th of March in Zevenaar, Holland, came to the United States in 1888. She was married in Holland in 1869, to Teunis Wyers.
When the Wyer's first came to America, they moved to Kansas, then coming directly to the White Salmon Valley in 1891, being one of the many early settlers here.
Previous to their arrival here, her brother, Gilmer Heyting, had settled and homesteaded in Gilmer Valley.
They came by train from Kansas to The Dalles, Oregon, thence by boat to Warner's Landing in Bingen and White Salmon.
Her husband preceded her in passing in White Salmon in 1917.

Well-Known Throughout County

Mrs. Marie Wyers was one of the most liked and well-known pioneers of Klickitat county, having started, on arriving here, the first hotel in the West End, known as the White Salmon hotel, located in the present R.M. Kreps home in White Salmon. It was one of the few buildings erected in the town at the time.
Her good meals, and excellent hospitality were extended to all those who stopped at the well-known and popular White Salmon hotel.
During the time of her illness here and after her passing the greatest concern was expressed by everyone that had had the pleasure of knowing her in her younger years. This was testified by one of the largest funerals ever to be held in the Congregational church.
Funeral services and ministry was under the direction of Rev. A.E. Derby, former White Salmon resident minister, and friend of the family.

Husband Started Stages

Her husband, Teunis Wyers, started the present Wyers stage and mail contracts to Trout Lake and Glenwood, later developed to its present stage by her son Teunis Wyers, Jr.
He also took out claims for a homestead, afterwards completed and drawn up by his other son, John G. Wyers, manager of the Columbia Fruit Union of White Salmon.

Brings Early Days Back

The passing of Mrs. Wyers has brought reminiscences of her early days back to many pioneers here, as she was "home" and mother for all those that either came to or through White Salmon at that time, and leaving on her passing, many years of work toward the development of the White Salmon country that will be remembered by all those that knew her.
Stages that left White Salmon for Glenwood and Trout Lake, left at 6:15 a.m. in those days due to the bad roads. With good weather the stages reached their destination about 7 p.m. that evening.
In early spring with soft roads, the stage was drawn by 6 and 8-horse team and took two and three days to make the trip.
All people going and coming on the stages stopped to either sleep or taste the fine meals of mother Wyers.

Survivors Named

On her passing she leaves to survive her, 11 grand children and 5 great grand children.
One brother, Rudolph Heyting of Portland, and the following children, John G. Wyers, Teunis Wyers, Jr., Peter A. Wyers and Mrs. Gertrude Kreps all of White Salmon also Mrs. Minnie Shepler of Portland.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. A.E. Derby at the Congregational church in White Salmon, at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon with interment in the IOOF cemetery in north White Salmon.

Seven Grandsons Pall Bearers

Seven grandsons of Mrs. Wyers were acting pall bearers. Six taking the actual part, while the seventh walked behind carrying a wreath of flowers. They were: Harry Claterbos, Will Claterbos, both of Pendleton, Oregon; Teunis Wyers of Hood River, Oregon; Gertrude W. Kreps and O.R. Kreps of White Salmon and Marion Shepler and James Shepler of Portland. James carried the wreath of flowers.