Edna Berniece Row

Edna “Berniece” Row was born on August 4, 1924, in Walnut Grove, Missouri, and died at the age of 96 years on August 30, 2020, surrounded by family at her longtime home in Grants Pass, Oregon. Berniece was born the 7th of twelve children to William Arthur Cauble and Edna May (Fox) Cauble, and was raised as a strong farm girl. Her bonds with her siblings and a very large extended family were strong throughout her life. During her early teenage years, the family left Missouri due to the dust bowl, ultimately settling in Williams, Oregon. Berniece met her husband, James “Jim” William Row, in Grants Pass, Oregon, and they married on June 2, 1941, in Reno, Nevada. When Jim went overseas with the Air Force to serve in World War II, Berniece was one of five Rosie the Riveter sisters who worked at the Richmond shipyards with their father on ships sailed by two of her brothers. While Jim ran a tire shop in Grants Pass, Oregon, Berniece ran the Red Cross blood mobile for several decades, and received recognition for the vast amount of blood donation she achieved in her lifetime. Jim preceded Berniece in death on October 10, 2010. Berniece and Jim are survived by their two children, five grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Their first born, son William Row, married Deanna (Jackson) Row and their children are James William Row (wife Ann Coffey and stepson Mason Crawley), Brandi Row Lazzarini (husband Heider Lazzarini and son Lucca Lazzarini), and Karla (Row) Alvarado (son Keegan Alvarado, and daughters Kiana Rodriguez-Row, and Kalia Rodriguez-Row). Their second born, daughter Kari Lee (Row) Miley married Kenny Miley and their children are Kaitlyn (Miley) Jeffcott (husband Jordan Brett Jeffcoat), and Kyle Miley.
Family and friends remember Berniece as a strong and generous woman. She was a pioneer, getting her pilot’s license during the 1950’s, a time when this was unusual and even discouraged for women. She was always looking to take care of others, and we still hear her voice “can I get anybody something?” She was known to collect food, treats, and useful items to make specialized care packages for family and friends. We will now imagine her forever after beaming and dressed in red, laughing and storytelling with her sisters and brothers, and sitting on the deck with Jim enjoying the evening sun. She will live on in the hearts of so many.

In lieu of flowers, blood donations or monetary donations can be made to the American Red Cross in Berniece’s name.