1696OROFINO -- Faye Irene Porter, 96 years young, of Orofino, passed away at home in her sleep on Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, from causes related to age.
She was born to Clarence Hagler (Claude) Pippenger, and Lillie Maude McPhee Pippenger near Cavendish on May 19, 1910. Faye attended school at Cavendish and Southwick.
She married Lewis Nelson Porter on Nov. 25, 1932. She and Louie lived in Leland during the Depression and Louie worked with Wayne Pippenger, his brother-in-law, logging and making firewood. Next, Faye and Louie moved to Potlatch Creek, near Kendrick, to start their first logging camp. Next came a logging camp on Harmony Heights, near Orofino during the 1950s.
The next move was to Porters Camp, which is still on the map today, located where Poorman Creek meets Orofino Creek, and this was to be where they lived, worked and played until retirement in the 1970s.
Over the years Faye was an avid gardener and a member of the Grangemont Homemakers and the Orofino Sod Busters clubs. Her love of flowers and baking was quite evident to all who traveled through Porters Camp to enjoy her work and have cookies and coffee. She worked long hours to maintain the grounds, cookhouse, bunkhouses and all that comes with running a logging camp.
Upon retirement Faye and Louie returned to Orofino where she enjoyed friends, family, and her golden years, gardening, knitting, crocheting, baking and camping.
In the early 1990s she lost the love of her life, Louie, but continued to live in Orofino, (along Orofino Creek) until her passing. She was living in her home with the assistance of her two guardian angel caregivers, Melissa and Jenna, as they helped her maintain her independence until her passing.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Louie; parents, Claude and Maude; as well as two brothers, Paul and Wayne Pippenger.
Faye is survived by her two nephews, Paul and Joe Pippenger of Orofino; as well as numerous, nieces, nephews, great- and great-great-nieces and nephews, who will all miss their "Auntie" Faye.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pine Hills Chapel, 939 Michigan Ave. in Orofino. Following the chapel service there will be a graveside service, where she will be laid to eternal rest, next to Louie, at the Riverside Cemetery in Orofino.
Pine Hills Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.