Elaine Elizabeth Himes

Elaine was born January 19, 1962 in Fresno, California to Raymond C. and Margaret E. Martin. She grew up in Kerman, California surrounded by a big, loving family and community. Elaine had such a sweet spirit growing up and therefore; always the favorite of everyone who knew her. She had wonderful relationships with friends and family because she genuinely cared about the welfare of others before herself. She was baptized into Christ as a young teen-ager and spent a lot of her time at youth rallies, Bible lectureships, mission trips to Mexico, and bible camp strengthening her relationship with the Lord.

She graduated from Kerman High School in 1980 and moved to Portland, Oregon to attend Columbia Christian College. CCC is where Elaine met and fell in love with Alan Himes. Elaine always loved looking at nature, but Alan introduced her to the more adventurous side of nature through 4-wheeling, cross country skiing, boating, and hiking. They married on October 11, 1986 and brought into the world two beautiful children, Ben and Nicole. She treasured her life as a wife and mother, and chose Homemaker as her profession. She loved to bake, sew, cross-stitch and make crafts for her family members.

Tragically, in 1997 Elaine was diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease that would rapidly take away the Elaine that everyone knew and loved. As hard as life became for her, she still enjoyed many moments in life by visiting with family, doing word find puzzles, looking at magazines, listening to music, watching tv and old movies, and her annual trip to Yosemite Bible Camp with her children and extended family & friends.

Thankfully, through the providential care of our Lord, wherever a beautiful soul has been… there is a trail of beautiful memories; Memories of her childhood and memories of when she was full of life and able to do everything she wanted. We rejoice that Elaine is now free of the restrictions of the body that kept her from being everything she wanted to be, and can now spend eternity in the presence of her Lord, whole and peaceful.

Elaine was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Carlos and Bertha Martin; her maternal grandparents, Thomas and Ann White, and her father-in-law Donald Himes. She is survived by her husband, Alan Himes; son, Benjamin Himes; daughter, Nicole Himes; father and mother, Raymond and Margaret Martin; mother-in-law, Una Himes, all of Portland, Oregon; sister & brother-in-law, Kim & Troy Olmsted of Kent, Washington; sister and brother-in-law, Mona & Bart Greene of Morgan, Utah; brother & sister-in-law Thomas & Heather Martin of Glendale, Arizona. She will also be truly missed by nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, and many friends.

There are no words to describe the family’s appreciation and thankfulness to Elaine’s caregiver, Roxana Tolan. She lovingly cared for and provided sacrificial service, not only to Elaine but the whole family. We are also deeply indebted to the Legacy Hopewell Hospice House for the care and service she received that made for a peaceful passage from this life to the next.

Everyone is welcome to attend a memorial celebration that will be held on April 14, 2012 at the Eastside church of Christ at 2:00 p.m. 9030 NE Glisan Street, Portland, OR 97220. Memorial gifts can be sent to Columbia Christian Schools.