Longtime resident and community business leader Ethel A. Telfer
died June 26, 2004, at home after a lengthy illness. She was
84.
Longtime resident and community business leader Ethel A. Telfer died June 26, 2004, at home after a lengthy illness. She was 84.
Ethel was born in St. Helena, on July 19, 1919. She was the daughter of the late William Steele and Charlotte Norling Steele. She moved to Morgan Hill as an infant with her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest M. Telfer, and sisters Edna Mae Coates, Aimee Beckenhauer, and brother William Burns Steele Jr.
Ethel, along with her late husband Ernest Telfer, participated in and carried on local family businesses that date back to the early 1920s. Ernest was the son of the late John Telfer who was an early pioneer of Morgan Hill and mayor of Morgan Hill for 15 years. Ethel Telfer was the owner and broker of South County Realty established in the early 1970s with her husband. She pledged herself to professional service to the community in all phases of real estate and development. She was an advocate of beneficial, orderly community growth for South Santa Clara County. Prior to owning South County Realty, she owned and operated “Telfer’s Market” with her husband for more than 30 years.
Ethel attended Morgan Hill schools and graduated from Live Oak High School in 1936. She also attended San Jose State and Healds Business College. She was an avid equestrian rider and was selected as the Madrone Rodeo Queen in 1937. She was selected that same year as the Santa Clara County’s representative at the Salinas Rodeo.
Ethel was also a member of the Manzanita Chapter of Eastern Star and in the past had displayed a keen interest in local youth groups where she served many years as a 4-H leader. Through her son John Telfer she also took a strong interest in the local swim club and water polo membership functions and played an active part in membership and AAU officiating during Santa Clara Swim Club International events.
Ethel is survived by her daughters Joan K. Bardwell and son-in-law Milo of La Quinta, Bonnie A. Kregear and son-in-law Archie of Morgan Hill, son John E. Telfer and daughter-in-law Diane of Morgan Hill; sister Alyce Brown of Panorama City, Wash; and grandchildren Kimberly Mattraw of San Francisco, Erica Heinrich of Bellevue, Wash, Brett Bardwell of La Quinta; Matthew Telfer and Erik Telfer of Morgan Hill; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. July 6 at Johnson Funeral Home.
The family asks that any donations be made to Santa Teresa Hospice Care.
