Clara Anabell Phippen

Clara Anabell Phippen, age 94, of La Grande, died Friday, April 22, 2005 at her daughter's home in Forest Grove, Oregon. A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at the Zion Lutheran Church, 902 Fourth Street in La Grande. Family and friends are invited to a dinner at the church following graveside services at Hillcrest Cemetery. Viewing will be held Tuesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley between 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Mrs. Phippen was born on March 20, 1911 in Delaware, Ohio the daughter of Charles Hensley and Bertha Nixon Hensley. She moved to Oregon at the age of three and was raised and educated in Union. She married Frank Milton Phippen on September 7, 1938 in La Grande where they lived their entire married life. Milton died on September 17, 1978 shortly after celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary.

Mrs. Phippen was a wife, mother, homemaker, laundress and seamstress. She was a long time employee of St. Joseph Hospital and later Grande Ronde Hospital. After retirement in 1976 she became involved in the La Grande Senior Activities Group which was instrumental in raising money for the construction of the Union County/La Grande Senior Center built in 1982. She remained active at the Senior Center and continued to assist in raising money for improvements and purchases once it was opened. She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Royal Neighbors, AARPS, Nine Aces, Hospital Retiree Luncheon Group and a 60 year member of the Eagles. She was skilled at crocheting and loved to share the things she made with family and friends.

She is survived by a sister, Dorthy Gale of Delaware, Ohio; daughters and their spouses, Shirley and Bruce Simmons of La Grande, Carol and Jim Hilsenkopf of Forest Grove and Phyllis and Joe Bechtel of Elgin; five grandchildren and spouses, Chris and Cheryl Simmons, Stephanie and Keith Williams, Vickie and Don Hook, Shellie and Jesse Rysdam, Tammie and Clay McEnroe; nine great-grandchildren, Jeremy Williams, Jordan Williams, Whitney Simmons, Cole Hook, Kyle Hook, Dustin Rysdam, Ashley Rysdam, Haley McEnroe and Taylor McEnroe. She was preceded in death by her husband, Milton; daughter, Cleta Clark; grandson, Tony Simmons; three brothers, Roland Hensley, Ed Hensley and Lawrence Hensley and a sister, Hazel Halsey.

The family suggests that remembrances be made in her memory to the La Grande Senior Center or the Zion Lutheran Church in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850.