Ina Claire Fraser

Ina Claire (Stanley) Fraser, age 85, died in Portland on July 23 as a result of complications from a fall. She resided at Capital Manor in Salem. She was born Jan 27, 1928, in Long Beach California to Ralph Dean and Luella (Harmon) Stanley. Ina always loved learning and going to school. She entered kindergarten three months before a severe earthquake in Long Beach destroyed her school. For the next three years she and her classmates attended school in tents while the community began re-building. When Ina was eight, she moved with her family to a remote mountainous region of Northern California. There she and her sister Martha continued their education in a one room school, riding horseback six miles and fording a creek nine times each way. Ina excelled as a student and graduated from high school after her family moved to Gresham. She was only 16 years old. Ina interrupted her college education after two years to marry Robert Arnold Fraser in 1947 in Corvallis where the couple lived until 2011. She eventually went back to college, earning a master’s degree in education from Oregon State University. Ina taught in the Corvallis Public School District for over 20 years. After retiring, Ina volunteered at Good Samaritan Hospital for 20 years, and she and Arnold monitored bluebird boxes in the Corvallis area for the Audubon society. The couple also enjoyed camping with the Roaming Antlers and square dancing with the Spinning Antlers. Together she and Arnold also traveled to all 50 states and enjoyed many cruises and European trips. Ina was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Corvallis. Her hobbies included reading, gardening, birdwatching, camping and sewing. An accomplished seamstress, she made a special quilt for each of her four grandchildren. Recently, with the help of other Capital Manor residents, Ina completed a Sunbonnet Sue quilt begun by her mother in the 1920’s. Over many years Ina participated in writing groups in Corvallis and later at Capitol Manor. This summer her family has begun editing and selecting from her many colorful stories to compile a book about her life. Ina is survived by her sons David (Diane) and Douglas (Holly), daughter Deborah (Pete) Helsell, grandchildren Lincoln (Meagan) Gable, Dylan, Megan and Andrew Fraser. She was predeceased by her husband and her two sisters, Martha Griffiths and Nancy Kerley. Ina’s memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 30, at the First United Methodist Church in Corvallis. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Ina’s name to the Audubon Society of Corvallis at www.audubon.corvallis.or.us. Ina had a tremendous sense of humor and she loved to laugh. Wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, daughter, friend. Ina was loved and will be greatly missed.

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Ina Claire Fraser

January 27, 1928 - July 23, 2013