Atherton Biography

CLINT AND EMOGENE ATHERTON - by Pearl Anderson ..OMGA NEWSLETTER

A PAIR TO DRAW TO...
Emogene and Clint Atherton are master gardeners, and had been long before the Master Gardener program ever appeared. Approaching their 50th year of marriage, they have traveled and lived many places in the world. During that time, they also raised a family of four.

It started in Douglas County. Emogene Yokum was born in Riddle, and moved to Canyonville where she eventually met Clint. Clint was born in Waldport, but grew up in Canyonville, where he returned after World War II from a stint with the Air Force. Clint and Emogene met, and soon married. With the Korean conflict, Clint was called up from the reserves, and stayed on in the Air Force for 27 years before retiring. Clint and Emogene had gardens everywhere they lived, the unforgiving clay soil of Madrid, Spain, the wonderful soil of New Jersey (the Garden State), to Midway Island in the Pacific, where it was "like living in a nursery."

The Athertons to become involved with the master gardener program 13 years ago. Involved is the word for it. Since their joining the program, Emogene has served as president for the Douglas County Chapter, also historian for "several" years. Clint was treasurer for 5 years, and often served as photographer for special events.

Clint was awarded the Douglas County Master Gardener Of The Year, and Emogene was given a Recognition of Leadership plaque. On a state level, Clint and Emogene were given the 1993 Outstanding Master Gardeners of Oregon award jointly, the first time that award had been given out to two people. In 1997 Clint was given the Diamond Pioneer Award. His reaction to that was surprise at finding himself in company with so many outstanding agriculturists.

In the Oregon Master Gardener Association, Emogene was state historian for 6 years, while Clint persisted with his camera until appointed Official Photographer. They have attended all but one of the Mini-College sessions. The two of them have attended 12 years of State Representatives meetings, and have missed only 2 National Master Gardener meetings.

The question might be, do the Athertons do anything else? As a matter of fact, yes. Aside from activities in the Scottish Society and local Historical Societies, and watching grandchildren grow, they garden. Asked how many fruit trees they had in their town lot, Clint thought a moment and said 14 in the back yard. They grow blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. The three raised beds are used for vegetable gardening. That doesn't cover the dozens of trees, shrubs, and flowers around the rest of the house and in the front yard, all of which require care and show they receive it. Oh, yes, and the greenhouse. Clint explains with a chuckle, "We needed someplace to put all the geranium starts we brought up from our last place in Riddle."

At a time of life when many people would settle in front of the TV set, this lively couple is busy anticipating coming events, planning what pruning needs to be done, what plants to grow this summer, garden club events, and much more. It would be hard to imagine anyone more involved with gardening than the Athertons.

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