Iris Claire Stacy

Surrounded by her family at her home in Bend, Oregon, Iris Claire Stacy entered the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 21, 2023. Exactly 93 years earlier, on December 21, 1930, she was born to Mervin Sampels and Lena Dugger Sampels at a maternity home in Bend.
Iris was the second of four siblings who had fond memories of growing up in Brooks Scanlon logging camps outside town. She was a tomboy, and known to be spunky, energetic, and fun. (These qualities would remain throughout her life!) After Mervin finished building a home for his family on the land where the DMV currently stands, they moved to what was then the outskirts of town. Just after Iris's junior year at Bend High School, the family moved to Springfield. According to friends, the "new girl" took Springfield High by storm, due to her vivacious and friendly personality. One of the boys who took notice was Scott Stacy. They became friends when he was cast as her little brother in a school play, then became closer friends when his older brother, Floyd, married her sister, Lois. After Scott joined the Navy in June 1950, they began writing to each other and had their first date on New Year's Eve when he came home on leave. His next leave was in February, which meant a second date, and it ended with a proposal. On April 21, 1951, a young sailor and his bride were married at the chapel on Treasure Island. Against all odds, their love story continued for over 73 years!
Scott and Iris began their married life during the Korean War, with sea duty and then shore duty, living in an apartment that had no kitchen sink and a navy-provided Quonset hut which was infested with fleas, but that just meant more memories and more laughter over the years. After the war, they returned to Springfield briefly but ended up moving with their two young children, Susan, and Phillip to San Jose, California where Scott became an electrical engineer at IBM. While in San Jose, their son Thad was born. From there they enjoyed an adventurous life, moving to a variety of states, along with a few especially fun years in Germany. Iris thoroughly enjoyed landing in each new community, where she would find a home and make it cozy, meet new friends, and volunteer at church.
Iris excelled at anything she attempted. Each day the family sat down to a huge breakfast, kids went to school with sack lunches that overflowed, and evening meant a delicious dinner and more family time. Her old-fashioned fudge, hand-dipped chocolates, and cinnamon rolls were legendary. She sewed, knitted, made stained glass windows, refinished furniture, quilted, made beautiful jewelry... her hands were never still. Her home was organized and spotless, comfortable, and always welcoming. She chose to be a stay-at-home mom when her kids were young, but later became a busy real estate agent, and then an administrative assistant at IBM. Most importantly, throughout it all, her family was her focus, and Scott and the kids always knew they were loved. Fiercely! After they took early retirement, Iris and Scott chose to move back to Bend to be near their grandchildren, whose lives they poured into generously from the day each one was born. Iris was so proud to be known as Granny or Gran by her grandkids and their friends. When the great-grandchildren arrived, she couldn't get enough of them. Cuddling them on her lap or hearing them shout "Granny!" and run to her with a hug, brought her biggest smiles. They adored her.
Iris leaves a legacy for her family: a strong faith in her Lord which did not waver. In addition to kneeling before Jesus, she was especially anxious to be reunited with her son, Phillip Lynn Stacy, who preceded her in death in 1957, her brother, Delton Sampels; sister, Lois Stacy; and her parents, Mervin and Lena Sampels. She is survived and missed tremendously by her husband, Phillip Scott Stacy; brother, Merlyn Sampels (Anita); daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Paul Johnson; son, Thad; grandchildren, Stacy (Josh) Lucas, Phillip Johnson, Claire (Josiah) Dawley; and great-grandchildren Chase and Kate Lucas, and Norah, Judah, and Landon Dawley.
A gathering will be held on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 4 pm, at the Bridges Clubhouse. Donations may be made to the Pregnancy Resource Center of Bend.