OBITUARY

Vivian Eslick McCauley

January 9, 1020–July 6, 2024

Vivian Eslick McCauley, 104, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2024, in Chandler, Ariz. Loved by her family and friends, she will be deeply missed.

Vivian was born on January 9, 1920, in Mission City, BC, to Grover and Beatrice Turner. She spent her first years in rural Telkwa, BC, riding horses and avoiding bears with her siblings.

In 1930, the family moved to Dayton, Wash. She graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1938. In 1945, she married Paul F. Eslick, a long-time farmer in Dayton. They farmed, owned the local bowling alley, and raised two children, Richard Eslick and Susan Shea.

Vivian earned a teaching degree from Laguna Beach School of Art in 1967 and painted throughout her life. She taught both children and adults and was able to study with many great artists. She once reminisced that, "just about every adult artist in Dayton can verify they took lessons from me."

Vivian focused on bringing out the beauty of her surroundings in her art. She is known for her paintings of local landmarks, animals, and landscapes. She traveled throughout the Northwest, earning many awards.

Vivian also supported art in Dayton by painting public art for the Columbia County Fairgrounds, volunteering to help to run the art department at the Dayton Fair, spearheading the Columbia County Mural Society and starting the Blue Mountain Artists Guild.

Vivian's other passion was horses. She rode them growing up then raised and raced them in her later years. In the 1980s her race horse, Minnie Moe, won races throughout Washington and Oregon.

In 1982, Vivian married Wallace "Swede" McCauley. Although they called Dayton home, they loved to travel in their motorhome and eventually became snowbirds in Arizona.

In 2015, Vivian retired permanently to Arizona. She enjoyed playing cards, doing aqua aerobics, and visiting with friends at her retirement complex.

Vivian is survived by her sons, Richard Eslick (Vicki) and Wally McCauley (Marie); granddaughters, Monica Wagenhoffer (Matt), Wendy Eslick, Dianna McCauley, and Teresa McCauley; six great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren along with a number nieces and nephews.

Vivian will be remembered at a graveside service at 11 a.m. on July 29, 2024, at the Dayton City Cemetery, followed by a lunch reception at Dayton United Brethren Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Carnegie Picture Lab, an art program for children in Walla Walla.