Obituary of Neta Stebbins

Neta Evelyn Stebbins, September 27, 1920June 8, 2012 Neta Evelyn (Duff) Stebbins died at home in Fern Prairie, WA, on June 8, 2012, from congestive heart failure and renal failure. She was 91. Neta was born at home to Jessie Hazel Carter Duff and Roscoe Robert Duff on 9/27/1920 in Walla Walla, Washington. She had three sisters: Josie Faye, Lesta Imogene, and Frances Elaine. She attended Walla Walla High School for a couple of years, then graduated from Dayton High School. After graduation, she attended Kinman Business College in Spokane. At age 16, she secretly became engaged to Vern Oliver Stebbins. When she announced the engagement two years later, her sister Imogene immediately started planning Neta's wedding. In revolt, Neta and Vern decided to get married immediately, and three days after Neta's 18th birthday, they got the marriage license and were married by a Justice of the Peace. Vern's career required a number of moves. The new couple made their first home in Dayton, then moved to Spokane in the spring of 1939, where their first child (Louise) was born. In the spring of 1942, they moved to Colville. From 1942-1957, five more children were born to them: Mark, Carol, Don, Gene, and Kathy, and they cared for their "official" foster son, David Munden, as well as two other foster children. In 1957, the Colville Methodist Church elected Neta "Mother of the Year." In June that year, the family moved to Kennewick, and in August, moved again, to Pasco. In 1959, the family moved to Kent, where the seventh child, Merry, was born. The family moved to Lynden, WA, in late September of 1966, then again to Roseburg, Oregon, in September 1967. In the summer of 1972, the family moved for the last time, to Fern Prairie, WA. Neta was constantly involved in the church and the community. She served as a youth counselor for the Colville Methodist Church youth group, and she continued as a youth counselor and/or a Sunday school teacher until 1972, in each of the places they lived. She sang in the choir and was a member of United Methodist Women, which honored her with a life membership in 1972. She served as a delegate to Pacific NW Conference of the United Methodist Church for 9 years. Neta and her husband were members of the Grange, exhibited at the county fairs, and had a long involvement in the Parent-Teacher Association. They also got involved with the Missions program at the church, taught adults to read using the Laubach Literacy program, and were on the board of the Lacamas Campground Association. Neta loved to garden, and she was a member of the Home Economics Club in Colville for seven years. She took sewing lessons from the County Extension Agent and learned sewing and pattern fitting. She passed on to her sewing knowledge as a 4-H group leader, and she also led 4-H groups in cooking, gardening, and livestock. Money was always in short supply, so Neta pursued a number of part-time jobs to add to the family income. In Pasco, she picked grapes; the following spring, she cut potatoes in a "spud" cellar. She babysat one year to earn a little money. When they lived on the west side of the state, she picked beans and strawberries, along with the kids who were old enough. When they "retired," Vern and Neta sold Watkins and Fuller Brush products door-to-door in the Camas area, owned Camas Health Foods for about 15 years, and ran a second health food store in Vancouver for two years. In addition to her many other accomplishments, Neta will be remembered for her love and generosity. Everyone who met her immediately felt like her friend. Neta is survived by five childrenMark Stebbins of Stockton, CA; Carol Mariano of Seattle, WA; Don Stebbins of Medical Lake, WA; Kathy Bruni of Woodinville, WA; and Merry Shipman of Aurora, OR28 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vern Stebbins; daughter, Louise Daniel; and son, Gene Stebbins. A memorial service will be held June 16 at 2 p.m. at Fern Prairie United Methodist Church, 26112 NE Brunner Rd., Camas, WA, with a reception to follow. Brown's Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Camas has been entrusted with arrangements.