Jeanne Strickland Roach

Jeanne Melanie Strickland Roach, educator, mother and a most proud “Grammee,” died on Sept. 9, 2013, at Oregon Health & Science University’s Kohler Pavilion in Portland. At the end of May, Jeanne received a bone marrow transplant to combat myelodysplastic syndrome. She had been rehospitalized since mid-June, valiantly struggling against Graft-vs.-host disease. Jeanne was a diligent educator, serving as a public school teacher and librarian in North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Her teaching career spanned most every grade from lower elementary through high school. She embodied the best of her profession, taking personal interest in her students and treasuring the opportunity to turn kids on to reading and the joy of learning. Before transitioning to the library for the latter half of her career, Jeanne served beyond her classroom, coaching Odyssey of the Mind middle school teams. As a school librarian, Jeanne took considerable personal time to research, study and read, determining the most appropriate books to include in her school’s library. She enjoyed book-talking new additions to the library with her students, to encourage readership. She also was a leader in arranging and hosting numerous authors and illustrators of children’s books to visit the libraries she served, again to encourage readership. Since retiring in 2011, Jeanne enjoyed finally being able to read for her own personal pleasure. Moving to Corvallis last year, she participated in the Newcomers Book Club of Corvallis and the Wednesday Book Group at First Presbyterian Church, where she was a member. She also participated in the Great Decisions Program at FPC. In addition, she enjoyed volunteering at Lincoln Elementary School, where one of her granddaughters was in kindergarten. When she wanted to be more active, Jeanne enjoyed hiking, yoga, cards and time with her family, especially reading with Sarah, Maddie, Laura and Talon. Jeanne was born to Olive (Daniels) and Melvin Leonard Strickland in Mobile, Ala. They preceded her in death. She in survived by her husband, Tim; two daughters, Cristy Coffey (Greg) of Clayton, Mo., and Amy Ridling (Mike) of Albany; and the spark of her life, her four grandchildren, Sarah, Maddie, Laura and Talon. She also is survived by her five siblings, Liz Alexander of Dallas, Texas, Pat Green (Mike) of Tampa, Fla., Nona McDowell (Dave) of Pineville, Mo., Naomi Lasswell of Tampa and Mike Strickland of Laurel, Miss. Jeanne was a graduate of Murphy High School in Mobile, Ala., and Bellarmine-Ursuline College in Louisville, Ky.; she received her Master’s of Library Science degree from the University of North Carolina — Greensboro. Since her days as a high school student during the integration of Murphy High and her time as worked social studies teacher, Jeanne was a concerned citizen of the world, striving for understanding and betterment between all peoples. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Presbyterian Education Board of Pakistan at Friends of PEB, P.O. Box 1311 St. Cloud, MN 56302, are encouraged. A celebration and thanksgiving service for the life of and love of Jeanne Roach will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at First Presbyterian Church.

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Jeanne Strickland Roach

May 18, 1948 - September 9, 2013