Lois P. "Pat" Dunham Earnest

Pat was the oldest of seven children. She attended school in Leon, Iowa, graduated from Leon High School in June, 1942. Pat moved to Des Moines, Iowa and went to work for Iowa Packing as a ham pumper. She continued working until the end of WWII and moved to Portland, Oregon in 1946 to marry Jack Earnest. Jack and Pat met in Des Moines in 1943 and wrote letters throughout WWII. Jack was discharged from the Navy and Pat joined him in Portland. Jack and Pat were married on November 10, 1946 in Brush Prairie, Washington. Jack worked for Southern Pacific Railroad; pat was a stay at home mother. They lived in Vanpoort, Oregon where their first son was born in 1947. The family lost everything in the Vanpoort Flood, eventually moving to St. John's Woods were a second son was born in 1949. In June, 1950 the family moved into their newly built house on SE Long Street, a third son was born in 1953. Jack and Pat never moved from the house. Pat was involved in PTA, Scouting and was a reading tutor at Woodstock Elementary School. She was a fifty year member of Laurelwood United Methodist Church until the church closed. She was on the Board of Trustees and served in the United Methodist Women. She also taught Sunday School for many years. Pat sang in the choir for more than 25 years. She volunteered countless hours in service to her church. After the Laurelwood closed, Pat attended Trinity United Methodist Church until her health began to fail. She also helped at Red Cross Blood Drives for many years. Pat enjoyed gardening and cooking for her family. She made the best white fruitcake and divinity candy for the holidays. For many years, she baked cookies for Homeless Youth which were distributed by Outside In, downtown Portland. She also made pies for Union Gospel Mission during the holiday season. Pat was a founding volunteer for the Loaves and Fishes Program at Lincoln Street Methodist Church and other area churches. She was a volunteer kitchen helper and food server. The program is now known as the Meals on Wheels Program. Jack and Pat have been long time members of the Rose City Model T Club as well as members of the Oregon Trail Model A Club until that club disbanded. Jack and Pat enjoyed traveling in their motor home as well as trips to Hawaii and cruising to Alaska. They took many train trips including one trip from Vancouver BC to New York and Washington DC. They enjoyed camping with the family at Suttle Lake and the Beach. Pat is predeceased by her parents as well as her only brother, "Sonny" and sister Donella. Pat is survived by her husband, Jack, three sons, Bob ( Donna) of Portland, Ron of Beavercreek and David (Patty) of Happy Valley. She has three grandsons, Geoffrey, Patrick and Andrew. She has four surviving sisters, Shirley Radford (Don) of Albany, Oregon, Marylou Bigler (Gordon) of Woodburn, Delores Burleson (George) of Jefferson, and Karen Whitehead (Bob) of Albany. She has many nieces and nephews and a large extended family in the Albany area in Iowa. Remembrances in Pat's honor may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation by contacting the Oregon Chapter - 2701 NW Vaughn Street, Suite 203

Portland, OR 97210 p: (503) 226-3435 Email: [email protected]. Remembrances may also be made to the to the charitable organization of your choice.