Kathleen Alice Elvin

“She lived to love us.” Kathleen Alice Elvin (nee Swickard), age 96, died from heart failure on December 22, 2022 at Salem Hospital. She was preceded in death by husband, Robert “Bob” Elvin, and three brothers whose families she adored. She is survived by daughters Rene Grier (Randall) and Rona Willford (Eric Marshall), grandchildren Tyler Willford and Cambree Willford, and great-grandchildren Traven Willford and Kylee Willford.

Kathleen migrated with her family from Kansas to Los Angeles during the Great Depression. Although poor, the family was sustained by the bounty from her grandparents’ Anaheim farm. Kathleen graduated high school where she played on the volleyball team, and worked at various retail and office jobs while living with her parents. Weekends in sunny California were spent dancing to the big bands at the Casino Ballroom on Catalina Island and playing volleyball on the beach with budding Hollywood stars.

Kathleen married Bob who was stationed in San Diego during the Korean Conflict. After the births of their daughters, she left her city roots and her family to pursue Bob’s dream to build a life in rural Polk County, OR. Kathleen, who remembered fondly summers on her grandparents’ farm, became a “country wife,” raising two girls in an unfinished house, living without water during dry seasons, nursing lambs to health, and entertaining Bob’s beloved extended family with chili feeds and hot dog roasts.

Kathleen sang and played the piano and provided her daughters with music lessons. When family obligations allowed, she worked as office manager of a psychiatric clinic and secretary at Calvary Baptist Church in Salem. Kathleen, whose grandfather was a Methodist minister and whose mother was a German Lutheran, was a long-time member of Faith Lutheran Church of Monmouth. She faithfully took her children to church and volunteered her time generously, cleaning and performing altar duties.

Her grandchildren brought her immeasurable joy, and they spent many weekends and summers enjoying country life and learning what devotion to family means. Kathleen was a loving and involved part of their lives right to the end. After Bob’s death in 2002, Kathleen continued to serve her family, assisting with shopping, cleaning and our various pursuits. For the last 10 years, she lived with Rene and Randy in the old house, just across the road from Rona and Eric, still driving, shopping and volunteering into her 90’s.

Kathleen was a gracious woman who laughed easily. She lived and passed peacefully without complaint. Her life was centered on making sure her family had everything they needed. She loved cats, current events, football, cherry chocolates and shopping, especially for a new purse. Her favorite charities include Salem Friends of Felines, Special Olympics and Faith Lutheran Church of Monmouth. Although no plans for a memorial have yet been announced, Kathleen will be interred at Dallas Cemetery. We are eternally grateful for the many years we had together.

Farnstrom Mortuary is caring for the family.