Yvonne Millicent Stark

Yvonne M. Stark, 75, of Grants Pass, died Friday, April 13, 2007 at Highland House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

No services will be held. Southern Oregon Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to Gospel Rescue Mission, P O Box 190, Grants Pass, OR 97528.

Yvonne was born on November 26, 1931 to Earl Edward Abbott and Betty Lou Hackney in Miller, South Dakota. She attended elementary school in Bremerton, Washington and high school in Bellingham where she sang in school operas. She also enjoyed swimming while attending high school. On July 2, 1965 in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho she married Kenneth Irwin Stark, who survives. Yvonne was a broker and manager in Real Estate Sales and Management. In 1990, she moved to Wimer from Olympia, Washington, where she helped take care of her father. Prior to moving to Olympia, she lived in Bellingham, Washington. In 2003 she and her husband moved to Grants Pass from Wimer.

She attended a Presbyterian Church while raising her children and volunteered with Josephine Memorial Hospital and Three Rivers Community Hospital Auxiliaries and the Elks Lodge.

Her hobbies included genealogy research through the internet, Family History Center and through the mail and researched clear back to 1629. She also enjoyed quilting, embroidery, counted cross stitch, music, playing the piano and singing for family and friends at their weddings. She especially loved to travel.

In addition to her husband, Ken Stark of Grants Pass; survivors include her daughters, Brynn Graham of Olympia, Washington; Teri Wisdom of Honduras, where she is a missionary; Gretchen Young of Bellingham, Washington; step-daughters, Susan Nikle of Grants Pass; and Jill Guinn of Brighten, Colorado; a son, Mark Short of Fort Lupton, Colorado; her mother, Betty Abbott of Lacey, Washington; her sister, Sandra Ruhle of Olympia, Washington; her brother, Edward Abbott of Seattle, Washington; 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her son Edward in 1971; her step-daughter, Diana in 1969 and her step-son, Ken in 2000.