Independent Enterprise
Thursday, November 22, 1956
Mrs. A. Coughanour Long Time Resident Passes At Payette
Mrs. Alta Stroup Coughanour, a pioneer of Washoe Community, died at the Payette General Hospital, Friday afternoon from shock following a fall which broke her leg.
Mrs. Stroup Coughanour was born on a farm in Washoe in 1880. She was the daughter of Susan and Jacob Stroup pioneers who crossed the plains in 1876, arriving in Washoe that year, where he acquired several hundred acres of land. There was only one family living in Washoe at the time.
Alta grew to womanhood on the home place and her first school was in the little school house that was located on land her father, Jacob had given to the district if they would help build a school. Washoe had a school before Payette. Mrs. Coughanour graduated from the Payette High School, one of the fourth classes to graduate under Prof. Aboert, in 1899.
On June 6, 1902, Alta Stroup was married to William M. Coughanour, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Coughanour, pioneers of Payette. Several years after their marriage they moved to North Powder, Ore. She returned to Payette in 1948. Mr. Coughanour died several years ago.
Alta Stroup was one of a family of seven. Mrs. Coughanour was installed as Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star in 1905, she was a charter member and the fourth Worthy Matron to serve. She was also a member of the Christian Science Church and P.E.O.
Survivors include a sister, Jessie Moore of Payette, four nephews and seven nieces. Services were held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Shaffer Memory Chapel with Bernice Babbot of Nampa as reader. Interment was at Riverside Cemetery.
