Laura May Ihander Reith

Laura May Ihander was born on Jan. 20, 1920, to Mary Hilda and Louis Paul Ihander, the third of six children. She graduated from Astoria High School in 1938, and remained a resident of Astoria her entire life.

Laura married Floyd Reith Jr. on Oct. 11, 1941, and they were the parents of three children, Patricia, Jeanyse and Arthur.

In her younger years, Laura worked as a licensed practical nurse, a clerk for the maritime administration and for Ed Luoma, CPA. After her children finished their education, Laura realized her dream of becoming a registered nurse, attending Clatsop College and the University of Oregon School of Nursing (now Oregon Health & Science University).

She worked in the intensive care unit at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria after graduation in 1976, eventually becoming night supervisor, a position she held until her retirement in 1995. During these years, she and Floyd enjoyed winters in Yuma, Arizona, where Laura worked as a nurse at Yuma Regional Medical Center and for Hospice of Yuma, ultimately volunteering for both.

Laura was an active member of Anchors and the American Legion Auxiliary; she was a scout leader, and in later years enjoyed playing duplicate bridge both in Astoria and Yuma. She also volunteered as a camp nurse at Camp Magruder for five years. A longtime member of Astoria’s First Presbyterian Church, built by her grandfather Eric Gustafson, Laura served as a deacon and volunteered for the food bank.

Laura died on Dec. 25, 2018. She is survived by her children, Patricia Krumm (Charles Rogers), Jeanyse Snow and Arthur (Art) Reith (Randy); numerous grandchildren, great- and great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and her brother-in-law, Melvin Graeber, and sister-in-law, Janice Ihander.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd; her parents and siblings, Louise (Paetow), Florence (Colby), Carol (Graeber), Albin (Abby) Ihander and Frederick Ihander; and sons-in-law, Donald Krumm and Harold “Hal” Snow.

Laura had many friends at Clatsop Retirement Village, where she resided for six years prior to her final illness. The family appreciates the staff at CRV, Columbia Memorial Hospital, Clatsop Care Center and Radiant Care Adult Foster Homes in Warrenton.

Memorial services will be held Jan. 19, 2019, at 1 p.m. at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary, 1165 Franklin Ave., Astoria, Oregon.