Lucy (Echanis) Conder, 76

Lucy (Echanis) Conder, 76, of Polson, a longtime Pendleton, Ore., resident and businesswoman, passed away at her home in Polson, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2004, after a lengthy illness.

Lucy was born Lucille Jane McKnight on July 21, 1928, in Caldwell, Idaho, the seventh of 11 children of Virgil and Lola (Shriner) McKnight. She was raised and educated in Ontario, Ore., and worked there for Ginzle Jewelry nine years prior to her first marriage.

In January 1953, she married Andres Echanis in Vancouver, Wash. The couple settled in Yakima, Wash., where their two children were born. In 1956 they moved to Pendleton after purchasing Umatilla Distributing Co., a beer and wine wholesale business that thrived and expanded over the years. Although the couple divorced in 1975, Lucy remained a working partner in the business until its sale in 1984.

While in Pendleton, Lucy was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and did volunteer work for St. Anthony's Hospital and St. Mary's Outreach. She was renowned for her capacity for hard work and excelled in her cooking, decorating and hostess skills.

After 1984, Lucy lived in both Walla Walla, Wash., and Portland, before moving back to Pendleton in 1990. In 1996, she moved to Flathead Lake in Montana to marry Dr. John Conder, formerly of Walla Walla. The couple enjoyed sharing their life in northwest Montana until Dr. Conder's death in 1999.

Lucy is survived by her son, Carlos Echanis, of East Hampton, N.Y.; her daughter, Paula Rosenberg, of Pendleton; and two grandchildren, Sarajane and Andrew Rosenberg, also of Pendleton. At the time of her death, she had two surviving sisters.

Besides her husband, John, she was preceded in death by both her parents; two brothers; and six sisters.

At her request there is no funeral or memorial services planned.

Donations in Lucy Conder's name may be made to: The Scleroderma Foundation, 12 Kent Way, Suite 101, Byfield, MA 01922, 800-722-HOPE, or the Neuropathy Association, 60 East 42nd Street No. 942, New York, NY 10165, 212-692-0662.

Arrangements and cremation under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson.