Grace Vivian Weller went home to The Lord on Friday, August 19, 2011.
Grace Vivian Lee was born in Seattle, WA on September 3, 1915, to Charles and Anna (Curtis) Lee. Her mother had five children by a previous marriage – none of whom Grace ever knew. She passed away when Grace was only 2 ½ years old.
About the time she was to start school, Grace was adopted by George and Mena Duncanson. Coincidentally, her new “Mom” had five children by a previous marriage, so now Grace had five step-brothers and sisters, which provided Grace with the unusual background of having “10 brothers and sisters, but was an “only child” in two different families.”
Grace grew up mostly in the Chelan, WA area, although she graduated from North Central High School in Spokane while living with one of her step-brothers and his wife. She returned to the Chelan area and reunited with a former school friend, Kenneth R. Peaslee. She and Ken were married in 1935 and in 1936 relocated to the San Francisco area, where two daughters, Delores and Joanne were born.
In 1949, Grace and Ken divorced and in 1951 Grace married James H. (Jim) Weller. They lived most of the time from 1951 to 2000 in Hollister, CA, when they decided to retire to Roseburg, OR.
In the mid-1960’s, their family was further enhanced when Jim’s two sons, Brian and Jeffrey, from his prior marriage, came to live with them while completing their school years. The expanded family of Grace and Jim, Delores and Joanne, now married and with children of their own, together with the boys, enjoyed many years of true family togetherness, which continues to this day.
“Gracie” was very active in community service for many years, serving as a “Pink Lady” in local hospitals and as volunteer-assistant in the public libraries and in the church.
She thoroughly enjoyed gardening and was also a very accomplished artist – both in handicrafts and oil painting. Many ranches in the Hollister area contain her paintings of their homes and the surrounding rangeland.
In the 1950’s, Grace and Jim became involved in sports-car activities, competing often and winning many awards. Then, in the early-1960’s, they began their long-term involvement in motor home travel and over time they visited every state and almost all the national parks and monuments.
Since moving to Roseburg, health problems substantially slowed their active travel program, but they still managed occasional shorter trips. Grace was predeceased by her parents and her granddaughter, Cheryl Smith. She is survived by her husband, Jim; her daughters Dolores Kirkham and Joanne Welker (and her husband Gale); two step-sons Brian (and wife Diane) and Jeff; step-daughter Janet Pease (and her husband Dennis), seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
A brief memorial service to be followed by a Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, September 3, 2011, at 11:30 A.M. at the Glide Baptist Church, 357 Glide Loop, Glide, Oregon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Saving Grace Animal Shelter P.O. Box 803, Winchester, OR, 97495.
Arrangements are under the direction of Taylor’s Family Chapel in Winston, OR (541) 679-6983.
