Lilian Vance

Wife, mother, grandmother, co-worker, mentor, best friend and truly beautiful person, died peacefully at home with family by her side on Sept. 26, 2012 following an unexpected and fierce four month battle with multiple cancers and a heart attack.

Born Nov, 26, 1940 to William and Elizabeth Hawkins in Kenton Bank Foot, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The family owned the Swinburne Arms in Stamfordham where she spent many memorable days growing up. During her only trip back there in 1989 she was almost immediately behind the bar waiting on customers like it was second nature to her. This pub is now on the British historical record. Her older sister, Joan, was a war bride who moved to the U.S. In 1953 the family followed her here and settled in Prineville.

She graduated from Crook County High School in Prineville and Western Business College in Portland.

An at home mother, den mother, little league score keeper, soccer mom, PTA, etc., while her kids went K - 12 in Gladstone.

Three decades as office manager, payroll clerk, bookkeeper, export documentation, human resources, logistics and just about everything else it took to make the family’s small Wholesale business function.

25 years of snow skiing all over the Northwest. Highlight, the New Years Day morning she went off the cornice at the upper bowl at Ski Bowl and only fell once on the way down (with a little help from Yukon Jack). She loved skiing at Mt. Bachelor and Big Mountain, Montana.

Loved country western music and dancing. Did a mean two step.

Many years of one or two trips a year to Las Vegas. Not a high roller or big gambler but she loved the ambiance and the people watching and the amazing sights on the strip. Her favorite place to stay was the Bellagio.

Over 40 years of travelling with her husband, and best friend Dick, all over the U.S. and the world. Equally at home in the finest restaurants or corner bazaars in San Francisco, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Atlanta, Chicago, New York, London, Paris, Rome, Sicily, Tokyo, Honolulu, Guam and Saipan.

She was a 13 year breast cancer survivor and her favorite, one time experience, was a cruise to Alaska the year after she beat breast cancer. She took a helicopter up to a glacier to drink 4,000 year old water running out of it. She went fly fishing in the bush with bears looking over her shoulder. She learned how you get off a float plane in the bush (you jump into waist deep water). She vowed to never go on another cruise because everything about this one was so perfect it could never be duplicated.

She had a passion for her outdoor flowers and indoor plants. Counting the days after Christmas until it was time to start planting her pots. Upwards of 40 to 50 placed on the deck, around the pool, on the walls and along the walks making the outdoor of her Mt. Scott home alive with blooms throughout the summer. Some wholesale nurseries even sent her notices when it was time to start buying. And, of course, don’t forget the hummingbird feeders. Always busy.

Family and friends cherish the wonderful afgans she knitted for them over the years. All made with love.

None of her kids or grandkids will ever forget the many years of traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas turkey dinners at Grandma’s house.

She lived her life to a simple set of standards. Always honor your obligations. Never lie, cheat or steal. Be tolerant, respectful and non-judgmental of others. While she would always stand her ground and defend herself and family, she would never knowingly be rude or hurtful to anyone. She possessed a deep inner strength and gave unconditional love.

Survived by her husband of 52 years Dick, daughter Deborah Danforth and son-in-law Travis, son Brian Vance and daughter-in-law Sherry, grandchildren Christopher, Courtney, Taylor and Michael and step grandchildren Korey, Jon and James, and niece Judy Schamel. Also by her brother Kenneth Hawkins and wife Audrey and niece Sally-Elaine Bender in Australia.

A private service has already been held. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday Oct. 14 at 2:00 pm at Stanfords on Sunnyside in Clackamas.