Loita Jeanne Colebank

Loita Jeanne Colebank 6/24/1933 - 3/20/2024 

Loita Jeanne was born June 24th 1933 in Boyds Washington to Frank and Pearl Walker, The 4th of 5 children, proceeded in death by her brothers Maurice, Jack, Gerald, and younger sister Sharon. She is survived by her children Molly, Kathleen, Lesley, Shannon, and Collin, grandchildren, Keenan, Sary, Emmy, Rasmus, Julian, Leah, Meghan, and Clara, and great grandchildren, Rune, Marley, Zen, Grayson, Everly, and Charlie. 

A child of the mountains nicknamed La-La, she loved to play run away with her dog Duke, build towns and bridges for her toy cars, hiking miles for play dates, and being welcomed home by the Banty rooster who would protect her when her brothers played too rough. 

Her first vocal performance was “Oh Little Town in Bethlehem” at age 4, began taking piano lessons at 5, and performed in choral groups, a trio, and a sextet through high school. Her earliest memories were filled with songs from the ’20’s and ’30’s and was profoundly effected by the music coming out of the second world war. 

As a devoted Jehovahs Witness from age 8, baptized at age 9, she dedicated her life to sharing her faith, taking special assignment in Tillamook, and 3 years in North Dakota, often seeking spiritual and professional advice to manage family and professional responsibility with the time dedicated to spiritual commitments. She remained active through the final hours of her death. 

She graduated salutatorian from Kettle Falls high school in 1951 and married multi-talented Oregon musician Dale Colebank. played bass for Dale and the Shepherds, and later joined the Old Time Fiddlers playing upright bass, self produced 2 records, Moments in Time and Country Melodies, selling hundreds of copies of each recouping all expenses and reproduction costs, and delivered live vocal performances that would transport you directly to the time and place, over the Cliffs of Dover to that Gold Mine in the Sky. Her favorite band was “the band in a hat’ which allowed her to support several acts at a time from the same stage with the cream of the crop in the room at the time. The gigs at Winchester Bay and Silver Lake were always on her mind. 

As a member of ADGA and owner of Circle R Alpines, Toggs, Lamanchas, and Oberhasli, her grade a goat dairy delivered top quality production from award winning premier registered livestock. Her focus on health led to meeting Charlotte Gerson, which inspired her to receive a bachelor of science in nutrition from Donsbach University, open a nutritional counseling business, receiving an associate degree in nursing from Clackamas Community College, and her RN from NYU Regents. OHSU would request her by name from the medical staffing agency. Her working medical knowledge and experience carried her through every cardiac visit as an equal working partner in the treatment of herself as the patient. As a member of the Stash Quilters Group, Project Linus participant, and passionate friend of the Aurora Historical Society, she created hundreds of quilts, passionately researching origins of those she found and completed for others. Shipping at her own expense, historical artifacts across the country to local historical societies gracious of her gifts. 

She was avid reader with a great appreciation for the descriptive writing of Zane Gray, and zero tolerance for mean people and arguing. 

Service is 11am Saturday May 4th at Canby Funeral Chapel