Roberta E. Still

Roberta E. Still

NOVEMBER 28, 1943 ~ DECEMBER 26, 2018 (AGE 75)

Roberta Edna Still passed peacefully in her sleep on December 26, 2018 with her children Tami and Robert at her side.  She was so determined to beat the breast cancer that had spread throughout her body before it was diagnosed in July 2018 but she didn’t quite make it.  She would want to insist that anyone with a lump in their breast not assume that a negative biopsy is the final word.  She really appreciated the people at the Sunnyside Cancer Center for their dedication, kindness and humor throughout this battle.

Luckily, she insisted that she was not in pain and she didn’t suffer the ill effects of the chemo and radiation.  She was still taking care of her sister Sherry Huffman, herself right up to her last few days on this earth and visiting and facetiming with family members up to December 22.  She was adamant about not messing up Christmas and was stubborn enough to hold on until after Christmas Day.

She was an independent soul, a true redhead with the fire that goes with that and she lived a very full life without regrets.  She was born 28 November 1943 to John Robert Huffman and Edna Mae Emery in Prosser, WA, the first of her siblings to be born in a medical facility instead of at home.  She had two older sisters and an older brother, and both a younger brother and sister. She grew up in Sunnyside, WA and graduated Sunnyside High School in 1962.  She graduated from the Grandview Nursing School as Valedictorian of her class in 1963 and became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 1964. She enjoyed caring for people and worked at Sunnyside General Hospital for 18 years and HillCrest Manor Nursing Home for 27 years.  The last 6 years Sherry Huffman, her sister, joined her as a volunteer helper for the nursing home residents, sharing many smiles along the way.

She married Robert Ace Lovern in 1964 and gained a dear stepdaughter Cydni (Lovern) Ely.  Their first child, Tamara Louise (Lovern) Galland, was born in November that year.  They adopted William Dean Lovern in June 1969, who tragically died of a birth defect at 7 weeks old.  They adopted Jesse Leroy Lovern in September 1969 and their last child (surprise!) Robert Howard Lovern was born in 1973.

Robert and Roberta Lovern went their separate ways in 1977.  Roberta remarried Arlie Bennie Still in 1979 and welcomed Arlie’s children Trixie (Still) Johnson, Lisa and Scott Still to her family.  They enjoyed spending time with family and fishing and camping with the grandkids.  She is preceded in death by her son Billy in 1969, sister Dorothy Dauphin, parents, husband Arlie Still in 2006, and son Jesse in 2017, also from cancer.

Roberta was life member of the Order of Eastern Star, a Masonic Lodge affiliated group.  She served as the head of the Sunnyside Eastern Star Chapter at least 7 or 8 times, with Sherry serving as her special assistant.  Sherry came to live with Roberta in 2000 and together they became very involved in local and state Special Olympics events over the years, bowling and track being Sherry’s favorites.

Roberta is survived by siblings Arlie Huffman, Frances Pardue, Jim and Sherry Huffman; by children Cyd, Tami, Robert, Trixie, Lisa and Scott; grandchildren Vanessa (Ely) Mathis, Al Ely, Kenneth, Jeremiah, and Levy Johnson, Camille Still, Loy Jimmy Dockery, Brittany (Dockery) Schindeldecker, Jes and Shiray Galland, Annaleigh and Chase Dickinson, Stephen and Krishna Lovern, Natasha and Alic Lovern, and great grandchildren Kierra and Jacinda Mathis, Orion, Sirius and Seren Dockery, Julian Schindeldecker and Johnson's great grandchildren Kenneth Jr., Kileab, Josiah, Grayden, Grace, Addie, July and Junebug. She is also survived by Yunness, Emily, and Damian Garibaldo along with Damian Flores all great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at Noon at the Smith Funeral Home, Sunnyside, WA.  A reception for family and friends will be held after at the Sunnyside Masonic Lodge at 610 Harrison Ave in Sunnyside.  Her ashes will later be interred beside her husband Arlie and son Jesse in Lower Valley Memorial Gardens Section A, Sunnyside, WA.

Flowers are welcome and will be shared with Sherry who is now living with Tami in Wapato, WA.  Donations to the Special Olympics in lieu of flowers would be welcome. Those wishing to sign Roberta's online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com   Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements  

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