Jan. 2, 1933 — Feb. 28, 2024
Flora Belle (Merwin) Wallis, age 91 years, passed Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at her home in Ashland.
She was born Jan. 2, 1933 in Haynes, North Dakota, to parents Francis Henry & Merel Evelyn (Gillespie) Merwin. She was the 12th of 16 children. At age 11, she moved to Ashland with her father and many siblings.
In August 1950 she married Robert Lee Wallis. In September 1951, Flora, Bob and new-born baby, Bob, moved 20 miles east to live behind Pinehurst School, where Bob was the teacher and custodian and Flora was the cook. They lived there for the next 16 years and had three more children: Vicci, Stephen and Tina.
In 1967 the family moved back to Ashland and Flora began her career as a retail clerk. She was a checker at Meister’s Buy Rite until 1983.
After Bob’s retirement in 1983 they traveled to all 50 states and several countries, later becoming snowbirds, wintering in Mesa, Arizona, at Greenfield Village.
Flora loved her friends, playing cards, mahjong and shuffle board. She enjoyed shopping, gardening and entertaining.
Their loving marriage lasted until Bob’s death in 2020.
She is survived by two children: son Robert “Butch” (Lynn) Wallis, Ashland, and daughter Vicci (Steve) Craft, Silverton; four grandchildren: Jason (Tanya) Wallis, Travis (Katharina) Wallis, Jenn (Ryan) Thread, and Jeff Craft; seven great-grandchildren: Evan, Ethan, Everett, Camden, Morgan, Adelyn and Lillian; and sisters Kae and Betty. Her parents and son Stephen and daughter Tina preceded her in death.
Flora’s life was very centered around her husband, Bob, and her friends. She had many happy times, a great marriage, a loving family and a good, long life.
Memorial contributions may be made to the PEO Foundation — Tina Wallis Scholarship Fund and sent to Loma Dies, 762 Fernwood Drive, Medford OR 97504.
A family memorial will be held in June. Arrangements were in care of Litwiller-Simonsen, Ashland.
She will be laid to rest with Robert in Scenic Hills cemetery, Ashland.
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