Elaine Reece

Elaine Margaret Simpson was born on March 8, 1929, in Madison, WI, to Curits Simpson and Marion (Jackson) Simpson.

Elaine graduated from high school in Mineral Point, WI and then attended Milwaukee State Teachers College (now University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). There she met Patrick Conery, her future husband. They were married in 1950 and had five children: John (1952), Candida (1953), Lawrence (1954), Theresa (1956), and Robert (1968).

Elaine and Pat moved to Tacoma, WA, shortly after they were married, where Pat was stationed at Fort Lewis during the Korean War. The move forced Elaine to withdraw from college a few credits shy of her bachelors degree. The year Teri started first grade Elaine enrolled at San Fernando Valley State College. California didn't recognize all of her credits, so it took her a year and a half, but she finally earned her B.A. degree and teaching credential. She was a high school English teacher (and full-time parent) in Burbank for the next 26 years, retiring in 1989.

A lifelong learner, Elaine caught the computer bug in the 1980s. Elaine found a way to use her new computer skills at work. She lobbied the school district to buy computers to use in the schools, and was successful in obtaining grants to help fund the computer labs. After she "retired" Elaine kept working with computers. She helped business executives produce slides for presentations, wrote for and edited a movie industry magazine, and published several articles on using computers in the classroom.

Elaine and Pat divorced in 1983. Elaine married Donald Reece in 1990. She and Don traveled widely, alternating between luxury cruises and camping trips. Don died in 2004. Elaine stayed in Burbank, where she helped daughter Candy in her struggle with breast cancer. Candy passed away in 2005.

Elaine moved to Eugene in 2007. She first lived at Sheldon Oaks, an independent living facilty. Her mental and physical health rebounded in no time, and soon she was organizing the library and teaching creative writing classes for other residents.

Elaine met Delbert Long, and they soon became lifelong friends and partners. Elaine bought a house in the Goodpasture Island neighborhood, where she and Del lived happily for 12 years. Elaine was "adopted" by Del's son Ric, daugher-in-law Phyllis, and the rest of their extended family.

Del passed away at the age of 97 in 2023. Elaine stayed in her Goodpasture neighborhood home for another two years before deciding it was time to move to an assisted living facility.

Elaine died at Sacred Heart (Riverbend) on June 8, 2025. She was 96 years old. In her last days in hospice she still had her sharp sense of humor. She was surrounded by family and loved ones, including her immediate family and the Long family. She is survived by sons John (Leslie), Larry (Melia), and Rob, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Daughter Candy died in 2005 and daughter Teri died in 2023.

Her funeral mass will be held at St. Paul Catholic Church in Eugene on June 18. In lieu of flowers her family requests donations be made in her name to the American Cancer Society.