Loretta Irene Hemmert

Loretta Irene Hemmert, 85, of Astoria, died Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012, in Astoria.

She was born June 14, 1927, in Coin, Iowa, to Elijah “Lige” and Minnie Loretta (Starnes) Lewis.

She attended school in Coin.

In 1942, she married Lowell Wilson. They later divorced. He preceded her in death in 1991. The couple moved to Clorinda, Iowa. In 1957, they relocated to Lewiston, Idaho, where she worked as a retail clerk, waitress and at St. Joseph’s Hospital’s special diets kitchen.

On June 24, 1965, she married Max Hemmert. He survives, residing in Astoria, where they moved the year they were married.

Mrs. Hemmert worked at the Owl Drug Store in Astoria, in the cosmetic department, until she and her husband assumed ownership of the local bus depot. She opened a small gift shop inside the depot, then opened an exclusive gift shop on Commercial Street called The Treasure Nook, which was a big success because she knew what the public would want. She remained there until her retirement in 1992.

Family members said that after retiring, she enjoyed gardening, sewing and quilting and traveling in a recreational vehicle with her husband. They visited all of her siblings in many states.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Lanny and Toni Wilson of Astoria; two daughters and a son-in-law, Janet Gau of Clarkston, Wash., and Penny and Art Olsen of Astoria; six grandchildren, Carrie Kaul and her husband, Michael, Gretchen Killion and Trygve Olsen, all of Astoria, Lisa Brocke of Asotin, Wash., Lance Gau and his wife, Rachel, of Clarkston, Wash., and Tiffany Hunt and her husband, Brett, of Svensen; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by two brothers; seven sisters; two grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, and 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Aug. 31, followed by a funeral at 1 p.m. Friday, at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary, 1165 Franklin Ave. in Astoria.

A graveside service with vault interment will follow at Ocean View Cemetery in Warrenton.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1379 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215.

An online guest book can be signed at www.caldwells mortuary.com