Vesta Gertrude Huffman

Vesta Gertrude Moyer Miller Huffman passed away with her children at her side, May 24, 2009 and went to join her beloved husband, Willie, in Heaven. Vesta was born Feb. 3, 1918 in Santana, Kans., to Walter and Gertrude Miller. During her early childhood her family packed their belongings into her father's Model T Ford and headed out west. They traveled from Kansas, living briefly in various towns in New Mexico, Arizona and Montana, before finally settling in Sam's Valley, Ore. Vesta graduated salutatorian from Sam's Valley High School in 1936. On April 14, 1940, Vesta married the love of her life, Wilfred "Willie" Scott Huffman in Medford where they spent 61 years of marriage together. Vesta and Willie had three children, Kay, Bill and Jackie. For many years Vesta worked seasonally at S.O.S. as a pear packer, eventually becoming the "packing boss". She also taught many students to pack pears throughout her years. Together she and Willie owned Huffman Truck and Trailer Repair and Huffman's New and Used. She also held many different volunteer jobs including working on the election boards, Girl Scouts and later in life working with the SMART program at Oak Grove Elementary School, which all three of her children had attended. Vesta was very active in the Medford Moose Lodge, serving as many different officers including Senior Regent and earning her friendship degree. Vesta loved camping, reading, writing, traveling, gardening, working cross-word puzzles and spending time with her family. Vesta lived in the same house for 57 years until the age of 90, at which time she moved in with her daughter, Jackie, in Central Point. Vesta is survived by two great-great-grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; seven grandchildren, two children, Bill Huffman (Janette), of Coos Bay, Ore. and Jackie Kakalow (Art), of Central Point, Ore.; son-in-law, George "Boots" Somics, of Grants Pass, Ore.; one brother, Arling "Buck" Miller (Louise), of Eugene, Ore.; brother-in-law, Jerry Huffman (Donna), of Hillsboro; two sister-in-laws, Esther Higgins, of Florida, and Betty Miller, of Arizona; and numerous nieces and nephews. Vesta was preceded in death by her husband, Willie; daughter, Kay Somics; four sisters, Charlottie Hall, Pearl Colvin, Dessie Lou and Faith Miller; brother, Walter "Duke" Miller Jr.; and her parents, Walter and Gertrude.
Services will be held Saturday May 30, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. Memory Gardens in Medford, OR.