Edna Mae Fullman

Edna was born on November 21, 1925, in Savannah, Oklahoma, to Edward and Mattie (Garside) Blackburn. She spent her childhood in Stringtown, Oklahoma, and graduated from Stringtown High School in 1943. During World War II, the Blackburn family moved to Oregon and lived for a time in Vanport. In Portland, Edna worked for Pacific Bell as an operators’ supervisor and in accounting. While at the telephone company, she met Jerry Fullman, and they were married in Portland in July 1958.

Edna was a devoted mother to son, Jeff, and to daughter, Dana. She had married into a skiing family and, while she never became a skier herself, Edna was always there with bowls of hot chili when Jerry and the children came home from a day on the slopes. The Fullmans enjoyed many years together at their family cabin in Government Camp.

Edna was a longtime member and Worthy Matron of the Rose City Chapter of Eastern Star and of Nydia Temple #4 Daughters of the Nile. In 1982, she served as queen and traveled extensively throughout the United States in that role and in other positions. She was dedicated to the temple’s mission of supporting Shriners Hospitals for Children.

She was also a longtime member of the Multnomah Athletic Club.

Edna loved her Portland Trailblazers. She and Jerry held season tickets for 34 years, relinquishing those tickets only when failing health made it difficult for her to get to the Rose Garden. She also was a lucky gambler who amazed friends and family with her success at the slots.

Edna enjoyed traveling and accompanied Jerry to faraway places including Australia, Egypt, Spain, Russia, and others. Closer to home, Edna loved spending time at Roads End on the Oregon Coast. She watched the beautiful ocean sunsets from her beachfront window and particularly enjoyed when friends and family would arrive to share “beach weekends” at the family home. She served up hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and her family-famous cheese bread.

In 1987, Edna became grandmother to twin grandsons, Chris and Michael. She doted on them until the end of her life. She was interested in every aspect of their lives and was proud as they grew into young men pursuing careers in design (Michael) and in the United States Coast Guard (Chris). At family gatherings when asked how she was doing, Edna would always say, “I’m fine now that I have my family with me.”

Edna is survived by Jerry, her husband of 59 years; by her son, Jeff Fullman (Anne Voegtlin) of Sherwood; by her daughter, Dana Fullman Manning, of Tigard; by her grandsons Chris Fullman of Providence, Rhode Island, and Michael Fullman of Los Angeles; and by a niece, Jerri Lee Bennett of Captain Cook, Hawaii. She was a loving sister to Jeannie Webster and Margaret Merritt, both of whom died in earlier years.

Edna will be remembered as a gracious and elegant woman with a bright smile and a welcoming manner. A private family burial has been held. The family would like to thank hospice support and caregiver Maureen Darrow, who became a dear friend and helper to Edna for the last three years. Memorials in Edna’s name may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239.

Arrangements under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Portland, OR. (503) 292-6611