Hattie Graybeal

Her family worked the farms in southern Kentucky and as part of a big family she was assigned to the kitchen becoming a wonderful cook and attending the local Mt Zion Church of God, where the famous chocolate pie story became a legend. She later married a neighboring (1 mile apart) young man, Herman Graybeal, at the age of 18, and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Two children, Barry and Nita, were born and Hattie spent time working in the factories sewing parachutes during WWII.

After the War Herman needed a job and Hattie’s brother, having traveled to Oregon earlier to work in the shipyards, said “come West”. They traveled the original gorge highway during the winter months with two small children and a trailer in tow. Hattie said that was a “scary time” and later in life the family loved to travel that road and hear her stories.

Settling into SE Portland her husband became a mechanic – as he could fix anything! There the third child, Rhonda, was born. Hattie became a homemaker, wonderful mother, active PTA participant, great cook, sewing expert, cake decorator, green thumb, gardener, and piano player. Somewhere in there she also garnered the title of “Best Dressed” which continued until her 101st birthday – she loved shopping. After the kids started school, she worked outside the home as a seamstress and quality inspector for Jantzen Knitting Mills on SE Sandy Blvd.

After several weddings and the family growing with 6 grandchildren Hattie retired from Jantzen when Herman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. With his passing in 1983 she was a widow for 37 years. The family wishes to give a special thanks to her son Barry for his love and support through those years as his care and attention kept her in her beautiful home in Boring, Oregon until her stroke on March 17th. Like his father he could fix anything and spent untold hours maintaining her home in addition to helping her with other major shopping issues.

Life brought two devastating events with the loss of her daughter Nita, at the age of 33 leaving 3 young children. Then 6 years later the loss of Nita’s oldest son Steven, at the age of 19, as the result of a plane accident in Gander, Newfoundland, while returning from an Army NATO peace keeping mission in the Sanai Desert.

Those that met Hattie would ask her what her secret was for living to be 100+. The answer? Her family. She said many times that she was blessed and very proud of her 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. The family Christmas Eve celebrations were always at her home with everyone in attendance that could make it (she greatly missed her 2 great grandchildren living in Green Bay.) Even at 101 years old, the family still gathered every Friday night at her home to play cards, eat desserts, ice cream and tell stories. When she won the quarters, she would always say “thanks guys.”

The Wood family were associated with the Church of God organization in Anderson, Indiana. Hattie’s family members were pastors, music instructors, and members of many Church of God organizations in the east. When she moved to Portland she belonged to the Lents Church of God until it combined to become the Lents-Gilbert Church of God in 1950.

Hattie leaves behind:

Son, Barry Graybeal (Virginia) Gresham, Or, son-in-law Ted Venneri, Vancouver, Wa, daughter Rhonda Cramer (Tom) Estacada, Or.

Grandchildren: Trevor Graybeal (Connie) Eagle Creek, Or, Denice Venneri, Gresham, Or, Brett Venneri (Laura) Battleground, Wa, Shawn Graybeal (Kristin) Welches, Or, Scott Cramer, Portland, Or.

Great Grandchildren: Jacob Shields (Falon) Pilot Rock, Or, Nathan Graybeal, Eagle Creek, Or, Tyler and Ashley Nita Venneri, Battleground, Wa. Henry and Thomas Graybeal, Green Bay, Wisc.

Hattie was buried beside her husband on May 7th at a private event at Willamette National Cemetery. A rousing Celebration of Life will be held at Lents-Gilbert Church of God later this summer due to the corona virus issues.