Florence Edith Green Hoffman

Florence Edith Hoffman died on April 21st, 2011 with her family at her side. She was 89. Edith is survived by her daughters Coleen Gipson, Patricia Langston, and Kim Hoffman, sons-in-law James Gipson and Thomas Tearnen, grandchildren Michelle, Shannon, Jeff, Jennifer, Janette, Laura and Stacy, and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband George who passed away on December 14, 2010, her parents, six brothers and sisters, and a granddaughter, Kristin Hanson.

Edith was born Florence Edith Green on August 27, 1921, the youngest of seven children. She spent her childhood on farms in southwestern Oklahoma near the small town of Custer. After graduating from Custer City High School, she and a neighbor boy, George Hoffman, began a brief courtship and were married on January 31, 1942. They immediately moved to San Diego, California, where they both worked for aircraft companies during WWII. Edith loved the California sunshine and eating fresh avocados right from the tree.

In 1944 they started a new adventure on a small farm in Colorado where their three daughters were born. Anyone who can handle three kids in diapers at the same time with no running water, bake bread, churn butter, and garden and then preserve the bounty for the winter months is truly a superwoman.

After ten years in southwestern Colorado, the family made a series of moves prompted by George’s teaching career. In Grand Junction, Colorado, Edith attained a certificate in accounting and worked as the office manager of Osborn motors. While living in Redmond, Oregon, she fulfilled a lifelong dream and attained a nursing degree from Central Oregon Community College. She began her career in 1966 at Redmond Hospital. After moving to Milwaukie, OR in 1967, Edith worked at a variety of Portland area hospitals and then retired in 1979. She devoted her retirement to her family, enjoying weekend excursions with George, square dancing with the Windy Whirlers, membership in the Sunnyside Grange, card games with friends and family, crochet, stitchery and creating beautiful flower baskets for her decks every spring. In 1980, Kim and Stacy joined their household to form a three generational family in their Clackamas home. They enjoyed trips to the beach and girl’s days out that always included shopping and lunch.

Edith and George were residents of Sommerset Lodge retirement community in Gladstone from 2005 to 2007. In 2007, the family home was remodeled to make Edith and George their own separate space and they moved back home to live with Kim and Thomas in Happy Valley. Their last years were spent cooking, canning, playing cards, eating tacos with catsup and cornbread with milk, and hosting family holidays at Gramma and Popo’s house.

Edith was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, always putting the priorities of her family first. Her disarming smile and the twinkle in her eye always brought warmth and comfort to those around her. Edith was possessed of a keen intelligence, sharp wit and great sense of humor. She is our hero and will be missed by all who knew her. The world is an emptier place without her presence. We will always cherish the memory of a remarkable and strong woman who lived and passed on her own terms.

Arrangements under the direction of Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Portland, OR.