Posted: Thursday, November 6, 2008 12:00 am
Nov. 8, 1918 - Nov. 3, 2008
Jeanne Summy, 89, of Wilsonville, died peacefully at her home on Monday morning, Nov. 3. Born Nov. 8, 1918, in Marysville, Calif., she was the daughter of Edward Faye Biggs and Winifred Cope Biggs of Gridley, Calif.
Jeanne met Charles L. Summy when her boyfriend at the time brought Charles to her home to find a blind date for him. She was unable to find him the date as she wanted to date him herself. She married Charles on Sept. 3, 1938. After World War II, and Charles no longer desiring to teach music, they moved to Corvallis in 1946 so Charles could pursue a second degree, in pharmacy, at Oregon State College.
Jeanne was a Supreme Page for the Supreme Assembly Order of the Rainbow for Girls for the International Convention in Boston, Mass., in 1937. After her marriage to Charles, she was a homemaker, volunteer for more than 25 years with the Assistance League of Corvallis, and businesswoman, opening the Bee's Knees Gift and Flower Shop in 1974. She was a member of the Church of the Good Samaritan for 62 years. She cultivated bonsai trees and enjoyed working in her garden before her stroke in 1998.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, who died in 1993. Jeanne is survived by her sister, A. L. "Peg" Randall of Euless, Texas; one son, Charles R. "Randy" Summy and wife, Patty, of Corpus Christi, Texas; three daughters: Robin Sohler and her husband, Edward, of Hood River; Susan Watenpaugh and her husband, Richard "Dick," of Oceanside, Calif.; Jill Rafn and her husband, Tom, of Wilsonville; 13 grandchildren: Ray, Robert, and Roy Summy; Renee Summy Harris; Eddie and Scott Sohler; Kimberly Sohler Barnhart; Jason Watenpaugh; Staci Watenpaugh Lee; Jesse Rafn; and Anna Rafn; and 17 great-grandchildren.
The memorial service will be at 1 p.m. on her 90th birthday, Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Church of the Good Samaritan in Corvallis. A reception will follow.
Memorial donations may be directed to the Benton County Foundation in the name of the Charles and Jeanne Summy Fund in care of McHenry Funeral Home in Corvallis. Online condolences may be extended to the family via: www.mchenry