Gloria Attrell

Gloria Lee Attrell, beloved wife, mother, aunt and cousin, died June 13, 2025 in Sherwood, Oregon. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leonard, on May 2, 2025. Gloria will be greatly missed and fondly remembered, not only by family and friends, but also by the many people she and Leonard served in the community through Attrell’s Funeral Chapels in Newberg and Sherwood and Showcase of Flowers. Gloria was born September 23, 1931 at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, OR to Hermena (nee Fankhauser) and Harold Lundquist; the family lived in Condon. Her brother, Lynnwood, was born in 1934. After the loss of their father’s trucking line during the Depression, the family moved to West Chehalem, outside of Newberg. They lived across from Ewing Young School and began farming. Hermena’s parents already had orchards in the area. Gloria grew up on the farm which included a dairy, fruit and nut orchards and other crops. The family were active members of West Chehalem Community Church (later becoming West Chehalem Friends Church). Gloria went to Ewing Young Elementary School through 8th grade and then into Newberg for high school, graduating from Newberg Union High School in 1949. Although growing up on the farm, her primary interest was music. Her mother encouraged her developing her talent as a pianist by studying classical music with piano teachers in Newberg and Portland. Gloria was pianist for the high school choir in concerts and operettas but also gave her own recitals as well as teaching students privately. It was while playing for Gilbert & Sullivan operettas her junior year that she met Leonard Attrell, a first tenor soloist in the choir. They began dating and married the year after graduation on August 11, 1950 at Newberg Free Methodist Church. After graduation, Gloria took a secretarial/accounting course in Portland. Following their marriage, they moved to Portland where she began work for Borden Company in their business office. Gloria was on the leading edge of women working full-time outside the home while also running the household. Leonard had become an auto mechanic specializing in wheel alignment, brakes and frame straightening. She and Leonard moved from Portland to Coos Bay where their son, Ronald, was born in 1952. Gloria’s hands were full with their young baby. Leonard wanted to work more directly with people so began exploring going to college. The family moved to Salem in 1953 to support this while he continued his automotive work. She found good childcare in their neighbors, Blanche and Ken Seipp who, with their sons, became like family. Gloria then started working for Oregon Sate Tax Commission as a Comptometer Operator. She thoroughly enjoyed the challenges of figuring and computing taxes quickly and became a star employee for many years due to her rapid computation abilities. Leonard came to realize he wanted to become a funeral director to help people during their grief. Through much thought and prayer, they decided to support his career change by relying primarily on Gloria’s income. He became an intern at Howell- Edwards Funeral Chapel in Salem. In 1961 Gloria contacted her former employer, Borden Co., and was hired in their San Francisco office. The family moved to Daly City, California so Leonard could attend San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, graduating in 1962. They then moved to Medford for his work and back to Howell- Edwards, in Salem, in 1963. Gloria resumed her position at Oregon State Tax Commission. In 1964 they moved to Newberg because of an opportunity for Leonard to work at Mannenbach Funeral Home with hope of partnership. Gloria continued her work by daily commuting to Salem. In 1966 they bought out their partner, becoming Attrell’s Newberg Funeral Chapel and Attrell’s Sherwood Funeral Chapel. Gloria resigned from her job in Salem to become an active participant in the funeral chapels. She took on many roles but initially used her hair styling skills in preparing people’s loved ones’ bodies for viewing. Opportunity arose in 1968 for them to purchase Valley View Memorial Park & Mausoleum, Newberg, and Manson Florist (becoming Showcase by Manson and then Showcase of Flowers), the latter for land for a future new building. Gloria’s interest in floral design was helpful. Their son, Ron, became a funeral director working with them from 1974 for ten years. In 1976 they built the new funeral chapel and florist on Villa Road to better serve the community. Gloria was the driving force in bringing beauty into the buildings including its stained glass window, fountains, skylight and aquarium for kids coping with their grief. In 1979 Brown Funeral Home sold to them. Later, Gainer’s Florist joined Showcase of Flowers. Gloria and Leonard owned, operated and managed the businesses together. Gloria became responsible for the florist & gift store working with its manager, Human Resources giving attention to employees’ birthdays, anniversaries and organizing annual holiday appreciation parties, as well as continuing to work at the funeral chapels including the annual Tree of Remembrance for grieving families during the holidays. Gloria and Leonard retired in 2015. Gloria valued serving on the Board of Trustees of George Fox College (now University). She was an Active Trustee from 1989 to 2006 and Honorary Trustee from 2006 to her death. She was a strong supporter of her communities in many other ways: Longtime member of Newberg Community Hospital Auxiliary, serving first as a Pink Lady, also thrift shop volunteer, and two terms as president where she led the thrift shop’s move to a larger building increasing its capacity to support hospital equipment needs; Member and Past President of Newberg Business & Professional Women’s Club (BPW) and its Woman of the Year; Christian Women’s Clubs active member often inviting women to attend; City Club; she and Leonard were Newberg Chamber of Commerce Retailer of the Year and Newberg Rotary Couple of the Year in1988; volunteer in Newberg’s Berrian Festivals and Old Fashioned Days and Sherwood’s Robin Hood festival where she and Leonard were knighted in 2004 for community service. Both were members of Chambers of Commerce of Newberg, Sherwood and Tualatin, International Order of the Golden Rule (select funeral homes) receiving the Gold Service Award in 1990, OFDA, NFDA, FTD and Teleflora. Gloria and Leonard actively supported many local fundraising efforts including March of Dimes, George Fox University and Newberg Library Building Campaign. They were always a reliable source of fundraising for schools, community clubs and churches in Newberg, Sherwood, Dundee and St. Paul. They were active members of The Church of the Nazarene in Medford, Salem, Newberg and Portland First Church. She would host their Bible Study and Fellowship groups of First Church in their home. She worshipped through music and was often pianist for services, in the Newberg church for 15 years, but also worked with youth, usually with Leonard, in Sunday School classes and activities. They began this youth work at Seacliff Evangelical United Brethren Church in San Francisco. Gloria supported Leonard’s many overseas mission trips by staying home to manage the businesses and take care of their precious dogs and with ongoing support to missions. She did go with him on one of the trips to Africa. She and Leonard also sponsored and connected with numerous children in Africa so they could learn of Jesus, have improved medical care and quality of life. Gloria and Leonard would be the first to say that their 60 years of being in business and community service would have been impossible without the amazingly talented, caring and hardworking people that worked with them. This began with Karon Heineman who worked in the office from about 1967 until her retirement in 2005. The team included full time and part-time people in the office, managers, drivers, sextons, service workers, hair stylists, florists and more. Although it is not possible to list them all, they know who they are and the invaluable services they provided to members of our communities. Gloria is survived by their son, Ronald (Michael); sister-in-law, Louise; nieces, Donna and RuthAnn (Larry); grandnephews and grandnieces, Joshua, Sarah (Shaun), Cameron (Robbie), Anastasia (Andrew), Jassminne and Bethany Grace; great- grandnephews, Jason and Lewis; first cousins, Arlene Heller and Pat Hauschildt; beloved cousins and extended family; the Seipp families; and loved friends. She was preceded in death by her brother, Lynnwood. Memorial Service, August 11, 2025, 1 p.m. at Newberg Church of the Nazarene. A reception will follow. Private Inurnment, Valley View Memorial Park, Newberg. Donations may be made to George Fox University, Harvest Partners Jesus Film Project, Rotary Foundation Polio Eradication, or charity of your choice. Arrangements, Attrell’s Funeral Chapels.

Gloria Attrell

September 23, 1931 - June 13, 2025