Louise McBee

December 21, 1929 – July 4, 2026

Ruby “Louise” McBee passed away peacefully on July 4, 2026, at the age of 96 ½ !

Louise was born on December 21, 1929, in a small farmhouse just outside Broken Bow, Oklahoma, about two miles down a dirt road. She was the middle of five children born to Jesse Floyd Cole and Mary Jane Oehler (nee). Her siblings were Mary Neva, Jesse Calvert, Ida Faye, and David.

Growing up during the Great Depression, life was simple and resources were few. The family’s wood stove warmed the house, cooked every meal, and heated water for the children’s weekly baths. They did not own a car, so Louise walked to school in town each day.

As a girl, Louise described herself as “smart and sassy.” She had a quick wit and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, often finding herself in trouble for sassing her mama. Although segregation meant that some children attended separate schools and churches in those days, Louise remembered that her family’s dairy cows supplied milk to many Choctaw families, reflecting the small-town community where she grew up.

During her last two years of high school, Louise worked weekends as a clerk at the local five-and-dime store, her very first job. When she wasn’t working, she loved walking along Main Street with friends and flirting with the boys, as she would later laugh.

After graduating from high school in 1948 and marrying James Henry Pettigrew, Louise moved with her family to Sweet Home, Oregon. They later settled in Medford. Together they welcomed two daughters, Ruby Gayle in 1950 and Sherrie Jane in 1956. After that marriage ended, Louise later married Stanley Paul McBee and in 1963, welcomed another daughter, Julie Ann. In 1966, Louise and Stan made their home in Portland, Oregon, where she would live for the rest of her life.

In Medford, Louise worked as an operator for the Pacific NW Bell until her second child was born. For a few years she worked at an insurance company, then decided to reapply at the phone company in Portland in the late ‘60s. She enjoyed traveling with friends and family including many trips on their boat as members of the Tyee Yacht Club and the Columbia River Yacht Club. She had many fond memories of cruising through the San Juan Islands. Louise retired in the ‘90s. She loved to play bingo, word games, and cards with her friends. They would also go to local casinos where she would spend hours at the slot machines.

Family was always at the heart of Louise’s life. She treasured every opportunity to spend time with those she loved and found great joy in watching her family grow through the generations.

Louise is survived by her daughters, Sherrie and Julie; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and dear friends.

Louise will be remembered for her resilience, her humor, and the “smart and sassy” spirit that stayed with her throughout her life. From her humble beginnings in rural Oklahoma to the loving home she built in Oregon, she leaves behind a legacy of strength, laughter, and unwavering love for her family.

Funeral Service

A celebration of Louise’s life will be held on Friday, July 24, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. at Finley-Sunset Hills Mortuary in Portland, Oregon.