Rosella Strawn passed away on May 24, 2018 at the age of 97 in Vancouver, WA. She was born near Effingham, KS on June 22, 1920 in the family home to Martin Kelly and Margaret Conrad Kelly.

After earning her teaching certificate, Rosella taught in the one-room school built on the corner of her family's farm and that she attended in grade school.
In 1944, she headed West to live in Vancouver where her brother Charles was stationed at Fort Vancouver. She met three other young gals - Mary Harrington, Alvina Lorentz and Sylvia Deal. Their close friendship and their fun times together were key to her decision to remain in Vancouver rather than return to Kansas.

After World War II ended, Raymond Strawn returned from duty in Europe and was discharged from the Army. He knew that if he wanted to marry Rosella he was going to have to move to Vancouver. Rosella and Raymond married on August 30, 1946 at St. James Catholic Church in Vancouver. They were married 65 years before Raymond's death in 2012.

They continued living in Washington and Oregon for the remainder of their lives with most of those years being in Tillamook, OR where she very much enjoyed many friends and volunteering with their church. Rosella and Raymond returned to Vancouver in 2003.

Rosella is survived by daughter, Rae Anne Sheets (Dana); sons, Chris Strawn (Signe) and Ron Strawn; grandchildren, Brent Sheets (Jenni), Kristin Jondahl (Nick), Chad Strawn (Adonia) and Cory Strawn (Traci); great-grandchildren, Alex, Garrett, Madden, Emily, Katherine, Sadie, Bradley, Brady and Sawyer; and many, many nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Genevieve; and her brothers, Paul, Bernard and Charles.

The family is especially thankful to the people of Glenwood Memory Care for providing such good care and friendship to Mom for the last two years.

A Memorial Service will be held at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, June 9, 2018, 3:00 p.m. Her final resting place will be at Willamette National Cemetery with Raymond.

Contributions can be made in Rosella's name to St. Joseph Parish, 6600 Highland Dr., Vancouver, WA 98661.

Please sign her guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.