Alice “Phoebe” Stephens of Stanfield passed away on May 27, 2020 in Richland, Wash. at the age of 81.
She was born on March 26, 1939 in Forest Grove to Roy and Arlene Rash Thompson.
As a child, Phoebe moved with her family to Umatilla, where she graduated high school in 1957. She moved to Stanfield in 1967, where she had resided for the past 53 years. She worked as a cook at several area restaurants, such as McCabe’s Cafe, Jesse James Club and Bo Jack’s.
After high school, she married Francis William Stephens, and from this union four children were born: Stan, Tony, Tim and Elaine. The couple late divorced. She married Willis George Rueber on Nov. 19, 1967. He preceded her in death in 2002. In 2005, she remarried her first husband, Francis William Stephens, who preceded her in death in 2019.
Phoebe enjoyed growing flowers, photography, gardening, landscaping and quilting, and was a member of a quilting club in Stanfield. She was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary in Hermiston and volunteered at the Stanfield Senior Center for many years.
She is survived by sons, Stan (Crystal) Stephens of Oregon, Tony (Donna) Stephens of Oregon and Tim Stephens of Oregon; daughter, Elaine (Greg) Stevens of Texas; three grandchildren; three great grandchildren; sisters, Patricia Trump of Oregon and Mary Barton of Oregon; brother, Phillip Thompson of Arizona; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be planned at a later date after COVID-19 restrictions have been eased/lifted.
Phoebe will be placed at Olney Cemetery in Pendleton.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
