Fredda Lou Gorham

Fredda Gorham of Vancouver, WA, passed away Dec. 15, 2018. She was born Aug. 7, 1937, in Durant, OK to Fred and Lorna Cain. She grew up in Chickasha, OK, attending school and one year at Oklahoma College for Women, aspiring for a glamorous (she thought) job of secretary, which she did realize when she worked at a funeral home for two years and later for the Oklahoma Welfare Department. in 1959, Fredda was reunited with her father whom she had not seen for many years, along with his second wife, Rachel. Rachel had seven children, one of whom was a handsome young man named John Gorham who really caught Fredda's eye. They fell in love and in 1960 she and John were married in Ardmore, OK. They lived in Dallas, Texas for a while and Fredda was secretary to three Bank presidents at Republic National Bank, so it seemed the secretary vocation was moving up, until she became pregnant and the bank forced her to quit. When John's work as a painter dwindled, they moved to Whitesboro, Texas to live with their parents. Their first child, Donna Sue was born in 1961. John started to work for Singer Company and Fredda worked at a finance company, but then quit to stay home and care for Donna. In 1963, John decided the family would head West for greener pastures in California, where he became a Singer Manager and started what would be a long career in the manufactured home business with Fredda as his bookkeeper. In the meantime their second daughter, Julie Rochelle, was born. They were in the manufactured home business from San Diego to Portland to Vancouver to Hermiston, OR and Irrigon, OR. Fredda spent her younger years, when the children were young, in activities with them and always said these two girls were the joy of her life. After they were grown, John and Fredda moved to Eastern Oregon and only saw the girls periodically. Fredda learned to hunt with John and enjoy the outdoors. She played pinochle and other cards and loved to work puzzles. When John became ill, they moved to Vancouver to be nearer their daughters and her grandson Jordan. She had a great love for her family, but the greatest love of her heart was the Lord. Fredda always felt God wanted her to help others and she would like to be remembered as one who put others above yourself. On the selfish level she always wanted to make people laugh and it disappointed her if people didn't think she was funny, so she would probably like people to remember funny things she had done. Fredda was preceded in death by her loving husband, John in 2009. She is survived by her two daughters, Donna Schorr and Julie Gorham, both of Vancouver; grandson, Jordan Hubbard of Vancouver; brothers, Ray Cain of Justin, TX and Larry Cain of Chickasha, OK; and sister, Mary Ann Ryans of Cement, OK. A Celebration of Life will be held at East Park Church, 15815 NE 18th St., Vancouver, 4p.m.-6p.m. Please RSVP to Cathy Bergen (360) 607-8980. Bring your favorite Fredda story to share. Flowers may be delivered to Evergreen Memorial Gardens, 1101 NE 112th Ave., Vancouver, Sat., Jan.5, 2019, 12p.m.-2p.m., where a private family funeral will be held.

Fredda Lou Gorham

August 7, 1937 - December 15, 2018