Phyllis J Anderson Kimble

Phyllis Joyce Anderson was born in Orenco, Oregon to parents Henry E. and Hetta A. (Smith) Anderson on September 24th, 1924. She was sister to Roy, Woody, and Naomi. Her family resided in Boring, Oregon until Phyllis was in her teen years at which time they relocated to the Cedar Mill area of West Portland. As a young girl, Phyllis’ favorite thing to do was to ride around on her horse “Peanut” with her German shepherd following behind. Phyllis attended Beaverton High School.

Following high school, Phyllis went to work alongside her mother at Libby’s Cannery. Soon after she went to work in the Portland Shipyards to support the WWII war effort – she served as a true-to-life “Rosie the Riveter”. It was at the shipyards that she met a handsome welder, Clarence “Clancy” Kimble. The two were married at the Justice of the Peace on November 4, 1944 in Vancouver, Washington.

Once the war had come to a close and their work had concluded in the ship yards, the couple moved to Lowell, Oregon and Clancy went to work as a logger. They lived in several Oregon towns during Clancy’s career in logging in places such as Lowell, High Prairie, Ophir, Bandon, Gold Beach, and Ophir again, then Portland.

In 1964 Clancy and Dennis moved to New Mexico for 6 months while Clancy looked for work. Terry stayed in Ophir to finish 8th grade before moving to Portland. Phyllis and Debbie moved in with her mother, Hetta in the Cedar Mill area of Portland. Clancy came back to Portland and went to work at Timber Structures. Phyllis continued in the tradition of her mother as the babysitter for all of the children in the neighborhood. Phyllis then worked at Chico’s Pizza where she enjoyed serving people and making friends with her customers.

The home that Phyllis made was truly the “place to be” for many of their neighbors, friends, and family. Everybody wanted to go visit Phyllis’ because her door was always open. She created such a warm, welcoming, comforting, and loving environment. All of us kids would have our friends come to see Phyllis even if we were not home. If Phyllis knew someone was coming to visit she would always bake something special that she knew they liked. She loved to cook and was famous for her biscuits, maple bars, fudge, divinity, pies, cinnamon rolls, potato soup, and many other favorites. Growing up us kids remember making salt water taffy with Mom and her cute bunny cake with the paper ears and coconut “fur” that was a staple every Easter. Most family gatherings were centered around Phyllis’ wonderfully prepared food. Many years she would have all the family to her house for Thanksgiving dinner. It was a delight to feed all those people and have them in her home. Clancy would always barbecue Kimble-burgers that consisted of one patty of hamburger, hot dogs cut in half, dill pickles, and cheese in between another patty of hamburger. Clancy also barbecued ribs, and chicken. Phyllis would always make something yummy to go with the barbecue and we all enjoyed the special meals.

When not cooking, Phyllis enjoyed playing card games such as pinochle and cribbage, and her favorite board game was Rummikub. When her friend Thelma would come for a visit they would stay up until the wee hours of the morning playing Rummikub. Phyllis also kept her hands busy crocheting afghans and hats. At one time she counted over 200 afghans she had made. She also made many baby blankets, sweaters, hats and booties. Whenever she heard of someone having a baby she would start a special handmade set for them. She did beautiful work.

All summer long, Phyllis and Clancy would work together canning all of the fruits and vegetables harvested from their backyard fruit trees, vines, and Clancy’s vegetable gardens. They canned green beans, cherries, peaches, pears, applesauce, and mincemeat. Phyllis made freezer jam from the raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. Loganberries were usually juiced or made into pies. She also spent a lot of time making both sweet and dill pickles. All of their bounty was shared with family and friends.

Phyllis and Clancy hosted the Anderson Family Reunion at their home for several years running. Clancy would do all the yard work and Phyllis would make several dishes for everyone. They both loved having everyone come and visit. It was the highlight of their lives.

Phyllis and Clancy normally stayed close to home in their leisure time, but they did travel a few times. In the summer of 1973 Phyllis, Clancy and Debbie went on a three-week road trip to New Mexico to see Phyllis’ brother Woody, and Clancy’s brother Earnie. They went through seven states and there was a stop in the Grand Canyon, Reno, Dallas Texas, and a short visit to Nogales, Mexico. The most beautiful sight for all was Crater Lake on the way home. In 1979 Phyllis, her mother Hetta, and daughter Debbie went to Hawaii for a week. It was a trip to remember since Phyllis had not flown in an airplane before. She wanted to jump out into the clouds and bounce around. Once in Hawaii Phyllis tanned so dark that the tourists were asking her directions. We all enjoyed the sights and smells of the island. In 1985 Phyllis and Clancy took a trip to Nebraska so Clancy could show Phyllis where he grew up. She met several of his friends and saw his family home. They would make several trips to Tillamook to see her sister, Naomi and her husband Hank.

Phyllis loved the beach more than anything. She used to go to Lincoln City with Debbie and Nick two or three times a year. Once her health did not let her go onto the sand she still went down once a year for a couple of days but watched out the window at Debbie and Nick playing on the beach. She always wished she could live at the beach again.

Phyllis will be celebrated as a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She will be forever remembered for her kind, giving nature and warm spirit.

Phyllis is predeceased by her loving husband, Clarence “Clancy” Kimble; parents, Henry and Hetta; brothers, Roy and Woody Anderson; and sister, Naomi Roth.

She is survived by her sons, Dennis and Terry Kimble; daughter Debbie Schwartzkopf; grandchildren, Alicia Kelly, Nikki Blodgett, Lexi Culp, Grant Kimble, and Nick Schwartzkopf; and ten grandchildren.

A celebration of Phyllis’ life will be held in Skyline Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home Chapel, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, October 19th, 2013 at 1pm. Phyllis will be privately laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens in the garden of the Sermon on the Mount.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to American Heart Association.

Please visit Phyllis’ internet memorial and online guestbook at www.skylinememorialgardens.com. Thank you.