Jeanne Cummings died peacefully of natural causes in Eugene on March 7, 2013. She was 90.
Jeanne was born in Los Angeles in 1922. Her parents, Walter and Grace Lumbleau, founded Lumbleau Real Estate School in 1937. Jeanne joined the Navy WAVES in 1942. In 1944 she married Edward Cummings and soon moved to be with him in Philadelphia where he was attending medical school during WWII. They moved back to LA where Ed began his medical practice. Ed was back as a flight surgeon during the Korean War stationed at Nellis AFB in Nevada.
After the war Ed had changed his specialty and after completing a residency at UCLA, he moved the family to Ventura where they settled into the community. During these years Jeanne and Ed had five children: Peter, Bob, Bill, Teresa and Susan. Jeanne was active in her church, social organizations and her childrens' schools. She was always her kid's loudest cheerleader, and their strongest advocate.
Ed died suddenly in 1973. Jeanne's mother moved to Ventura and they lived together in a duplex until 1991. During these years Jeanne loved spending time with her young grandsons. Jeanne received a degree from Ventura Community College. She had a gift for public speaking and with her deep faith became one of the first women to become a lector for her parish masses. She combined her interests in psychology and nutrition with her public speaking talents and gave talks in her community on dieting and behavioral modification.
Two of her sons and all of her grandsons migrated to Oregon, so in 1991 she moved to Eugene where she soon built a house and life for herself. But her happiness in Eugene and usual good spirits were saddened when her oldest son, Peter, 45, was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer, which soon took his life.
When daughter Teresa delivered twin girls Jeanne moved to Santa Barbara to be near them. Always smiling, finding something to delight, she adored her granddaughters, Tes and Skye Hart. In 2004, when the Harts also decided to move to Oregon, Jeanne was happy to follow them.
She lived in Eugene for the rest of her life, enjoying her family, friends, church, gardening, taking classes and sharing her enthusiasm for life. Jeanne tried many things but she did Chinese Brush painting regularly for years, often gifting her family and friends with original cards.
Jeanne is survived by two sons: Bob and Bill (Patricia), both of Eugene; two daughters: Teresa Hart (Terry) of Grants Pass, and Susan Cummings (Tommy Lane) of Eugene; and daughter-in-law, Nancy Cummings, and six grandchildren: Tes and Skye Hart of Grants Pass; Andrew Cummings of Corvallis; Alex Cummings, Ian Cummings and Edward Cummings (Sally); all based in Eugene. Her oldest son Peter died in 1992, and both of her brothers pre-deceased her.
An informal memorial gathering will be held at the Campbell Senior Center, 155 High Street, Eugene, Oregon 97401 on Sunday, May 5, 2013 from 12:30 to 3:00. All are welcome. Jeanne's ashes have been interred at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
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