Elizabeth C. Meeuwsen Obituary (1931

Elizabeth C. Meeuwsen, a longtime resident of the Verboort Community passed away Friday morning, July 14, 2023 in Forest Grove. She was 91. Elizabeth was born on November 19, 1931 at home in Verboort, Oregon. She was one of six siblings born to Stephen Kemper and Elizabeth Hillecke Kemper. She was raised on the family farm in Verboort, and attended Visitation Grade School. Elizabeth graduated from Visitation High School in 1949. Elizabeth married Harold Meeuwsen, whom she met at a dance in Forest Grove, on September 10, 1951. Harold and Elizabeth were happily married just a month short of 67 years prior to Harold's passing. They raised seven children together. Life was difficult sometimes, but laughter helped them through the toughest times. Harold valued Elizabeth's quiet strength and strong Catholic Faith. He would credit her as the reason for everything they had. He loved her deeply. Elizabeth and Harold made their home in Verboort until 1954, when they bought a small farm on a hill near Banks. In 1961, they moved to Hillsboro with their growing family. Two homes later, in 1989, they moved back to Verboort. This property was known as "The Woods," and was part of the Kemper farm where Elizabeth grew up just down the road. Elizabeth would often share childhood memories of growing up on this farm. Elizabeth was a "Domestic Engineer." She took on multiple roles in taking care of the Meeuwsen household. As Harold supported the family financially, she would be left home to take care of the children, animals, and house. Harold's responsibilities with the National Guard would also take him away for periods of time, leaving Elizabeth with added responsibilities, often with no other help. She was a cook, cleaner, seamstress, mechanic, and parent all in one. Elizabeth enjoyed travel and camping. She traveled in the RV with her husband and their son, Leland to many places including Alaska, Utah, Colorado and British Columbia among others. The Oregon Coast was her favorite. She had a love for seafood. This was rooted in her childhood trips to Tillamook to catch fish or go clamming. She also enjoyed sewing, playing cards (Cribbage and Crazy 8's), and watching or listening to sports including golf, Seahawk football, Major League Baseball, Oregon Duck Football, Trailblazer basketball and many others. One had to be wary of her card playing as she was quick and very competitive. She was everyone's favorite partner playing Cribbage. Her greatest loves were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She relished the phone calls and visits from each of them, and would instantly grow younger with their company. Elizabeth had a terrific sense of humor. Her sarcasm and dry wit were her strengths, and often she would throw the one-liners out with ease. Above all, her unwavering love for her family and faith in God was what she most leaned on throughout her life. We are thankful for this quiet strength, as well as her humor, which she imparted to her children, grandchildren, and even her great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Harold who passed in 2018; her parents; her brother, Francis; and her sister, Rosella. Elizabeth is survived by her seven children and their spouses; Leland Meeuwsen of Aloha, Gwendolyn and Emmett Orr of Guffey, CO, Theresa and Lynn Ewing of Maupin, OR, Mary (Jane) and Garry White of Prineville, Joanne Ornie of Forest Grove; Nolan and Lourdes Meeuwsen of Hillsboro, and Helen and Bob Warberg of Newberg. Also surviving are 18 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild; three siblings; Matthew and Lori Kemper, Gales Creek, Barbara and Jerome Rush, Forest Grove, George and Julie Kemper of Forest Grove; and two in-laws, Lyle Meeuwsen, Forest Grove and Clara Kindel, Forest Grove. She was a second mother to many, including Peggy Gardiner, Forest Grove and grandmother to many, many more, all of whom loved her very much and will miss her terribly. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in Elizabeth's honor to the Verboort Visitation Catholic School Building Fund 4285 NW Visitation Rd, Forest Grove, OR 97116 or to a charity of their choice.