Phyllis Ann Hoffman

IN LOVING MEMORY OF PHYLLIS ANN HOFFMAN (June 26, 1932 – April 24, 2026) Phyllis Ann Hoffman, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, sister, cherished family matriarch and friend to many, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2026 at the age of 93 while in hospice care at Stoneybrook Assisted Living in Corvallis, Oregon. She was born on June 26, 1932, in Banks, Oregon, to Joe and Marie Gamroth, the first of five children in a hardworking, close-knit family shaped by the challenges of the Great Depression. Phyllis spent her early childhood in the rural communities northwestern Oregon, where her parents built a new life through perseverance, ingenuity, and love. Her upbringing in small-town Oregon, from Banks to Salem and eventually Woodburn, formed the heart of whom she became - resilient, compassionate, curious, and deeply devoted to her family. A gifted student with a keen love of science, Phyllis graduated from Mt. Angel Academy in 1950 and earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Marylhurst College, completing one of the school’s most demanding scientific programs. She went on to earn her certification through the College of American Pathologists and began a long and meaningful career as a medical technologist, later becoming supervisor of microbiology at Eugene Hospital and Clinic. In 1957, Phyllis married Henry Leroy (“Roy”) Hoffman, and together they raised four children—Dave, Trisha, Mary, and Drew—through a full and often challenging life that took their family across Oregon. Phyllis approached motherhood with the confidence of someone who had already nurtured younger siblings; she was resourceful, steady, and endlessly proud of her children as they grew into adulthood. After her children were grown and her first career chapter came to a close, Phyllis embarked on an extraordinary new journey. In 1985 she accepted a position in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital, intending to stay for a year—yet she remained for nearly 15, embracing life abroad with courage, joy, and her trademark sense of adventure. From desert outings to friendships with colleagues from around the world, Phyllis became a global citizen whose stories could fill volumes—indeed, she filled one herself. Her years working overseas opened the door to world travel, and Phyllis seized every opportunity. She cruised the Nile, explored the Serengeti, kissed the edge of the world fulfilling a life dream of riding the Concorde at Mach 2, traversed Europe with her family, and made lifelong friendships along the way. She cherished every place, every culture, every new face - collecting memories the way others collect postcards. Upon returning to Oregon, Phyllis continued living and working in the Woodburn area, a community she loved, including many joyful years at her local bookstore—surrounded by her favorite companions: books, stories, and people eager to hear her recommendations. She also devoted herself to helping her own mother, Marie, in her later years, a gift returned with deep affection. Above all, Phyllis devoted her life to her family. She was the beloved older sister to Patrick, Lucia, Margi, and Mike, and proud mother of four, with seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Phyllis was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Marie Gamroth, two brothers, Pat and Mike, and nephew, Brian. She is survived by her two sisters, Lucia and Margi (Dale), and four children, Dave (Suzy), Trish (Joe), Mary (Joe), and Drew (Sarah), seven grandchildren, Megan (Jon), Tony (Porsche), Jordane (Brad), Cody, Timmy (Mackenzie), Lu, and Anna, and nine great grandchildren, Kam, Madelin, Easton, Owen, Callahan, Graham, Henry, Parker, and Luca. Phyllis will be remembered for her independence, her strength, her humor, her honesty, and her unwavering love. She leaves behind a legacy of resilience, curiosity, and generosity that lives on in her entire family, who remain forever grateful for the example she set. Service announcement will be made at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Phyllis Ann Hoffman to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice (https://samhealth.org/giving/) in Albany, Oregon.

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Phyllis Ann Hoffman

June 26, 1932 - April 24, 2026