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Salem Pioneer Cemetery ~ Beatrice Marguerite Sackett ~ part of the Marion County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Beatrice Marguerite Sackett
LAST NAME: Sackett FIRST NAME: Beatrice MIDDLE NAME: Marguerite NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME: Walton AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
TITLE:  GENDER: F MILITARY: 
BORN: 19 Dec 1897 DIED: 17 May 1947 BURIED: 20 May 1947
ETHNICITY:   OCCUPATION:  Gubernatorial executive secretary
BIRTH PLACE:  Salem, Marion Co., Oregon
DEATH PLACE: Coos Bay, Coos Co., Oregon
NOTES: 
1900 OR CENSUS - Beatrice M. Walton, age 2, b. Dec 1897 in Oregon, is enumerated with James Walton, age 78, occupation US Commissioner, b. Mar 1822 in England, year of immigration 1849, and his wife of 18 years, Mary E., age 34, mother of 4 children, b. May 1866 in Illinois, along with James Jr., age 17, b. Jan 1883 in Oregon, William S., age 15, b. Aug 1884 in Oregon, and Leo W., age 9, b. Oct 1890 in Oregon.  Also enumerated with the family are John S., identified as brother [of James], age 76, b. Apr 1824 in England, year of immigration 1854, and his wife of 16 years, Mary, identified as sister-in-law [of James], age 63, mother of 2 children, none of whom are living at the time of the census, b. Pennsylvania.
BIOGRAPHICAL
(Source - Biography posted on the Oregon State University Web site, excerpted from "Residence halls honor two energetic Women," written by Corvallis historian Kenneth Munford for the Corvallis Gazette-Times. November 1992):
 Beatrice Walton had a satisfying career before it became popular for women to have well-rounded lives, balancing a family and professional life.
She was born in Salem in 1898 [sic]. She attended Salem schools and Willamette University and graduated from Mills College in California in 1920. She taught school in Astoria for two years before returning to Salem as a secretary to J. A. Churchill, state superintendent of public instruction. She assisted Hal Hoss, private secretary to Gov. I. L. Patterson.
When Hoss became secretary of state, Beatrice Walton became the governor's executive secretary and continued in that position through the administration of Gov. A. W. Norblad. She went off on a long vacation trip to Europe. In London in December 1930 she received a cable from Governor-elect Julius Meier, whom she had never met, inviting her to become his executive secretary. She cut the trip short and came home.
The next year, in December 1931 at age 33, she married Sheldon F. Sackett, 29, in the house in Salem in which she was born.
In 1934 Gov. Meier appointed Mrs. Sackett to the State Board of Higher Education. The next governor, C. H. Martin, asked her to be his secretary, but she chose to return to private life. With her daughter Marcia Anne and her husband she moved to Coos Bay, where he published the Coos Bay Times and other newspapers. Their son John Walton wa born in 1938.
She was the only woman on the board of higher education through the austere 1930s and war years and into the post-war boom. Much of the time, she was the board's vice president. She had a hand in planning a residence hall of unique and graceful design to house 285 women at Jefferson Way and 30th Street.
As it neared completion, she died of cancer in Coos Bay on May 19, 1947. The board named it Beatrice Walton Sackett Hall in her memory.

PHOTOGRAPH NOTE - The picture of Beatrice is courtesy of Elisabeth Walton Potter.
DEATH CERTIFICATE: 
OBITUARY: 
A Great Woman Passes. 
The passing of Beatrice Walton Sackett at Coos Bay is a great loss to the state of Oregon, Salem, where she was born and spent most of her life and Coos Bay where she resided in recent years. Of brilliant intellectual attainments, sound scholarship, of leadership in education, of faithfulness in her long public and community service she was unsurpassed. With it all she was the perfect mother and devoted to her family. In her long and fatal illness she displayed unconquerable courage and heroism in her battle for life suffering many surgical operations that prolonged her useful career until death bestowed the ‘peace that passeth understanding.’ As executive secretary to three governors she displayed a knowledge of state affairs and devotion to public welfare never exceeded. As a teacher and as a secretary to the state superintendent of public instruction she worked for the improvement of the common schools. In her 12 years’ service as a member of the board of higher education she displayed the same zeal, vision and judgment in developing institutions of higher learning. A member of the board pays her this tribute: She brought to her task unusual wisdom, a keen intellect, spotless integrity, and a broad knowledge of education that will leave an impress on the higher educational institutions for years to come. The entire state loses a distinguished citizen who will be remembered as one of Oregon’s truly great women. Mrs. Sackett was a woman of personal charm and tact and left a wide circle of friends who mourn her passing and who extend in sorrow to her bereaved family their sincere sympathy. 
Undated editorial article, Salem Capital Journal [May 1947]. 

Beatrice W. Sackett Rites At Coos Bay, Here Today. 
A native of Salem who was long active in public life, Mrs. Beatrice Walton Sackett died Saturday in a Coos Bay hospital at the age of 48 [sic]. She was the wife of Sheldon F. Sackett, publisher of newspapers in Coos Bay, Vancouver, Wash., Seattle, and Portland, and formerly managing editor and part owner of The Statesman. Mrs. Sackett's death, following a long illness, was ascribed to cancer. She has been a member of the state board of higher education since 1934. Earlier she had served the state as secretary to three Oregon governors. Funeral services at 9 a. m. today in Coos Bay will be followed by graveside services for the family and intimate friends at 5 p. m. today at the I. O. O. F. cemetery in Salem, The Rev. George H. Swift of the Salem Episcopal church will conduct both services. Mrs. Sackett had left a request that services be private, without flowers. Surviving besides her husband, are two children, Marcia Ann [sic], 12, and John Walton, 9; her mother, Mrs. Mary E. Walton, 1177 Center street, Salem, and two brothers, William S. Walton, Salem banker, and Brig. Gen. Leo Walton, commanding general of the U. S. Army air corps at Orlando, Florida. 
Oregon Statesman 20 May 1947 p. 1. 

Mrs. Sackett Was Aide to 3 Governors. 
Mrs. Beatrice Walton Sackett, who died Saturday in Coos Bay, was a member of a pioneer Oregon family, her father, James Walton, having come to Oregon from Australia [sic] in the 1850's and having been draftsman for the original platting of Roseburg. Mrs. Sackett attended elementary and high schools here and spent two years at Willamette university before going to Mills college, San Leandro, Calif., where she was graduated in 1920. Upon graduation she joined the faculty of Astoria high school. Two years later she became secretary to J. C. Churchill, then state superintendent of public instruction, and some time after became chief assistant to Hal E. Hoss the secretary to Gov. I. L. Patterson. Mrs. Sackett became Gov. Patterson's secretary when Hoss was elected secretary of state, and after Patterson's death remained as secretary to Gov. A. W. Norblad. She resigned her position in the governor's office to travel extensively abroad, but returned when she was invited to become secretary to Gov. Julius E. [sic] Meier. She served throughout his term of office, but declined to remain as secretary to his successor, Gov. Charles H. Martin. She married Sheldon F. Sackett Dec. 31, 1931, in Salem and moved with her husband to Coos Bay in 1936. There she was associated with him in operating the Coos Bay Times until her health interfered. Mrs. Sackett had been an active member of the American Association of University Women and the Town and University clubs in Portland. She also was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, scholastic honorary. 
Oregon Statesman 20 May 1947 2:1. 

SACKETT. Mrs. Beatrice Walton Sackett, at Coos Bay, May 17. Survived by her husband, Sheldon F. Sackett of Coos Bay; a daughter Marcia Anne Sackett of Coos Bay; a son, John Walton Sackett of Coos Bay; her mother, Mrs. Mary E. Walton of Salem; two brothers, William S. Walton of Salem, and Brig. Gen. Leo A. Walton of Orlando field, Fla.; and a nephew, James J. Walton of Salem. Private services will be held at St. James Episcopal chapel at Coos Bay, Tuesday, May 20, at 9 a.m., with the Rev. J. Thomas Lewis officiating. Direction the Mills Funeral home at Coos Bay. Private concluding services at the IOOF cemetery at Salem, Tuesday, May 20, at 5 p. m., the Rev. George Swift officiating. Please omit flowers. 
Oregon Statesman 20 May 1947 4:2.
INSCRIPTION: 
Beatrice Walton 
Sackett 
Born at Salem Ore. Dec. 19, 1891 [sic] 
Died at Coos Bay Ore. May 17, 1947 

Low, polished grey granite monument on paved family plot. Rounded top, low plinth.
SOURCES: 
LR 
LD
S&H p. 80
Saucy Survey & Photographs
1900 OR CENSUS (Marion Co., S. Salem, ED 131, sheet 4A)
Undated editorial article, Salem Capital Journal [May 1947] 
OS 20 May 1947 p. 1 
OS 20 May 1947 2:1. 
OS 20 May 1947 4:2.
CONTACTS: 
LOT: 695 SPACE: 2 SE S½ LONGITUDE: N 44° 55.184' LATITUDE: W 123° 02.932'
IMAGES:
           
 
 

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