Loree Buckingham Bierly Fox

Loree Buckingham Bierly Fox, 88, of Keizer and formerly of Imbler, died Jan. 30. A celebration of Loree's life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Golden Mortuary in Salem. A graveside ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in Madras.

Loree was born March 29, 1921, to Elsie and George Buckingham in Bellfountain. She and her siblings, Frank, Stan and Hazel, helped their parents farm.

She studied home economics at OSC (now OSU). To earn her tuition and expenses Loree worked in a seed certification laboratory.

On March 29, 1941, Loree married Amos Bierly. Together they lived in Coquille, Salem and Gervais; homesteaded in Tulelake, Calif., then moved to Toledo, and lastly Madras. They reared five children: Carol, Kenneth, Arthur, Anita and Rufus. In Madras, Loree worked on the Jefferson County Fair Board and state unemployment office, was Chamber of Commerce president, and volunteered for the United Methodist Church and many other causes. She and Amos were fiercely competitive bridge players, both life masters. Loree became a florist and owned and managed the flower shop in Madras for several years.

Following Amos' death in 1975, Loree returned to school and worked for the state of Oregon first in Salem, then at the library at Oregon State University, where she met a friend from college days, Clayton Fox.

After a courtship including many OSU football games and 4-H events, Clayton and Loree married May 25, 1987. They lived in Imbler, where Loree met many new and dear friends, played bridge, gardened and quilted. She was active in Family and Community Education. She and Clayton traveled to each of the seven continents.

After Clayton died in 2007, Loree moved to Salem to be near her children.

Those who knew Loree say she was known for her positive outlook at all times and for her flexibility.

She is survived by four children; 13 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. Loree was preceded in death by her husbands, Amos Bierly and H.Clayton Fox; and her son, Arthur.

Memorial contributions may be made to the 4-H Foundation.

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