Arlene Marie Morrison

Arlene Marie Degner was born in Storm Lake, Iowa to parents William H. and Minnie K. (Girardin) Degner. She was sister to Lucille, Willis, and Joan. She grew up in Iowa and graduated from Storm Lake High School.

Arlene came to Beaverton, OR in the late 1940s. She moved into the family home on 7th Street in Beaverton in December 1948. She lived in that home for the next sixty six and one-half years (66 ½ years!).

Arlene raised four children: she was a loving mother of James, Thomas, David, and Patrice.

Arlene first worked in Beaverton for the Water Department, later working escrow in real estate. In 1970, Arlene went to work for US Bank at the main Beaverton branch. She retired in 1989.

Arlene held a strong Christian faith and was a lifelong member of Beaverton Christian Church.

It has been said that Arlene was a “lifelong learner”. She had a thirst for knowledge and experience. She was a voracious reader and she had a large library in her home. She had preferences for specific authors and owned whole collections of certain writer’s works.

She was a history aficionado and she enjoyed genealogy study. Arlene was a world traveler. She visited Europe twice and went on several memorable ocean cruises.

Arlene was also an avid gardener and she was best known for her tomatoes, roses (Double Delight were her particular favorite), and geraniums.

She was an unrated bridge “Master”, expert at the New York Times crossword puzzles and member of Century Club for Women, Boys and Girls Aid Society, Beaverton Garden Club, Literary Society, and the Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.

Arlene is predeceased by her parents, William and Minnie Degner; husbands Virgil Anderson and Richard Morrison; brother, Willis Degner; sister, Lucille (Field) Taylor; daughter-in-law, Jacqueline (Hartfield) Morrison; and sister-in-law, Anna (Nelson) Degner.

Arlene is survived by her sister, Joan Litle, Fresno, CA, sons, James R. of Spanaway, WA, Thomas W., of Beaverton, OR, David M., of Beaverton, OR; daughters, Patrice D. (John) Bowie of Astoria, OR; 6 grandchildren, and 12.5 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Arlene’s Life will take place on Saturday, October 11, 2014, 2:00 pm, at Beaverton Christian Church, 13600 SW Allen Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97005. Arlene has been privately laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR.

Please visit Arlene’s internet memorial and online guestbook at www.skylinememorialgardens.com.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Providence St. Vincent Hospital. Thank you.

Arrangements under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skylien Blvd.,Portland, OR., 97229