Something About Elizabeth
Miss Elizabeth Horn, our sister, auntie, and friend, passed away on Saturday, November 7, 2015, due to complications from pneumonia. Elizabeth never talked about her age. And although you can do the math once you read her birth year, age is just a number, and hers will remain unlisted here.
To her family and friends, Elizabeth was a fiercely loyal and devoted companion. And to those who were unable to meet her in person, our sincere condolences. We offer this poor substitute, a thumbnail sketch of the beautiful woman we knew and loved, as partial compensation.
Born in 1921 in Wisconsin, Elizabeth moved to Portland, Oregon with her mother in the early 1920s. She attended Linnton Elementary School and graduated from Roosevelt High in 1940. After high school, she took a job as a clerk at the main branch of the US Bank in downtown Portland. Did we mention she was loyal? She worked her entire professional career, which spanned more than four decades, for that same branch of the US Bank.
To her family and friends, Elizabeth was a fiercely loyal and devoted companion. And to those who were unable to meet her in person, our sincere condolences. We offer this poor substitute, a thumbnail sketch of the beautiful woman we knew and loved, as partial compensation.
Born in 1921 in Wisconsin, Elizabeth moved to Portland, Oregon with her mother in the early 1920s. She attended Linnton Elementary School and graduated from Roosevelt High in 1940. After high school, she took a job as a clerk at the main branch of the US Bank in downtown Portland. Did we mention she was loyal? She worked her entire professional career, which spanned more than four decades, for that same branch of the US Bank.
She was the first in her immediate family to obtain a driver license and a car, and she relished her role as family chauffeur. She took to heart the jingle, “See the USA in your Chevrolet” and with friends and family by her side, put hundreds of thousands of miles on her beloved 1964 Impalla and the several vehicles that “Valiantly” (here's looking at you, Plymouth) tried in vain to replace it over the years.
As a child of the Great Depression, she learned to pinch pennies ‘til they squealed, and eventually, she saved enough squealing pennies to travel the world. She kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, walked China’s Great Wall, explored Hiroshima, Japan, cruised the Amazon, sailed the Caribbean, and floated through the locks of the Panama Canal. She toured the mainland US, the UK, and Europe, and made several trips to Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. She once claimed to have visited Timbuktu, but we think she was pulling one or more of our legs about that—a favorite pastime of late.
As a child of the Great Depression, she learned to pinch pennies ‘til they squealed, and eventually, she saved enough squealing pennies to travel the world. She kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, walked China’s Great Wall, explored Hiroshima, Japan, cruised the Amazon, sailed the Caribbean, and floated through the locks of the Panama Canal. She toured the mainland US, the UK, and Europe, and made several trips to Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. She once claimed to have visited Timbuktu, but we think she was pulling one or more of our legs about that—a favorite pastime of late.
She was a long-time volunteer at many community and arts organizations, including the Oregon Food Bank, Washington Park Rose Garden, Portland Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA), the Portland Art Museum, and Art in the Pearl as well as the Catlin Gabel Rummage Sale “sort center,” where she found treasure in both the donations she helped to sort and the friendships that she made.
She was active in several organizations, including the English Speaking Union, Native Plant Society, and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She also held life-long membership in Portland’s First Presbyterian Church and was a firm believer in the Church of Golf on Television.
She never married, and she had no children of her own, but she did have a favorite sister, niece, and nephew. She delighted in reminding them that they were, in fact, her only sister, niece, and nephew. But that didn’t alter the truth. They were indeed, her favorites.
She never married, and she had no children of her own, but she did have a favorite sister, niece, and nephew. She delighted in reminding them that they were, in fact, her only sister, niece, and nephew. But that didn’t alter the truth. They were indeed, her favorites.
Like Ethel Merman, Elizabeth loved a parade. Specifically, she loved the Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade, and she was always cheered by The Clan Mackay bagpipers and their righteous renditions of Scotland the Brave.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her mother, Alberta Kraatz Vianello; her favorite aunt, Elsie Kraatz Blankenship; her step-father, Dan Vianello; her father, Frank Horn; and her brother-in-law, Walter Simons. She is survived by her sister, Barbara Simons (“Bob”), and her nephew, Bruce Simons, of Portland, Oregon; her niece, Katherine Wilcox (“Katie”) and Katie's husband, Ken Wilcox of Carmel, California; her sister-in-law, Wynter Lovejoy of Yelm, Washington; many special friends including Cecilia Crater, Evelyn Rogers, and Laraine Vonfeldt; and several of her dear sorority sisters from Beta Sigma Phi.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her mother, Alberta Kraatz Vianello; her favorite aunt, Elsie Kraatz Blankenship; her step-father, Dan Vianello; her father, Frank Horn; and her brother-in-law, Walter Simons. She is survived by her sister, Barbara Simons (“Bob”), and her nephew, Bruce Simons, of Portland, Oregon; her niece, Katherine Wilcox (“Katie”) and Katie's husband, Ken Wilcox of Carmel, California; her sister-in-law, Wynter Lovejoy of Yelm, Washington; many special friends including Cecilia Crater, Evelyn Rogers, and Laraine Vonfeldt; and several of her dear sorority sisters from Beta Sigma Phi.
The family sends a heartfelt “thank you” to Bonnie, Beth, Rita, Teresa, Sibbonne, and all the caregivers at The Garden Place for the love and kindness they showed to Elizabeth and her family over the years.
Thanks also to the US Navy for lighting up the western sky with a missile launch just as Elizabeth was embarking on her final adventure. A spectacular salute, it was truly above and beyond, and the best use of taxpayer dollars we've seen in ages.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you don something blue (her favorite color), do a Happy Dance in Elizabeth’s honor, and donate some of your time or treasure to your favorite charity or community organization.
A celebration of Elizabeth's life will be held at Skyline Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd. Portland, Oregon, on Friday, November 13, 2015. Friends are welcome to attend the viewing beginning at 1:00 PM, as well as a short ceremony, which will begin at 2:00 PM. And if possible, wear something blue.
Elizabeth will be laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens after the ceremony. For more information, or to sign Elizabeth's guest book, please visit the Skyline Memorial site http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Elizabeth-Horn&lc=2433&pid=176423040&mid=6669938.
Thanks also to the US Navy for lighting up the western sky with a missile launch just as Elizabeth was embarking on her final adventure. A spectacular salute, it was truly above and beyond, and the best use of taxpayer dollars we've seen in ages.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you don something blue (her favorite color), do a Happy Dance in Elizabeth’s honor, and donate some of your time or treasure to your favorite charity or community organization.
A celebration of Elizabeth's life will be held at Skyline Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd. Portland, Oregon, on Friday, November 13, 2015. Friends are welcome to attend the viewing beginning at 1:00 PM, as well as a short ceremony, which will begin at 2:00 PM. And if possible, wear something blue.
Elizabeth will be laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens after the ceremony. For more information, or to sign Elizabeth's guest book, please visit the Skyline Memorial site http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Elizabeth-Horn&lc=2433&pid=176423040&mid=6669938.
