Lorene Marie Arbuckle

Lorene (Pfeifer) Arbuckle, aged 94, passed away at Swedish Hospital in Edmonds, WA on June 8th, 2025, surrounded by her family. Lorene was born in Marlin, Washington, and grew up on her family's wheat and cattle farm with 11 siblings. She shared many memories of farm life. She graduated from Marlin High School in 1949 and then attended Kinman Business College in Spokane. After college, she married Robert Arbuckle in 1953. They settled in Ephrata, where she worked as a secretary at Darigold until their son Rob was born. Two years later, they welcomed a daughter, Robin. She worked at the Ephrata School District as a secretary at Columbia Ridge Elementary for over 25 years. During her tenure, she formed numerous friendships. A big part of her job involved interacting with the children, about whom she often had amusing anecdotes and jokingly mentioned writing a book about them. Lorene and Bob were engaged in their children’s activities during their time in school. They were members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, where they formed long-term friendships. Lorene also participated in social groups over the years, including the Buzzin’ Dozen and the Red Hat Society of Ephrata. Upon retirement, they traveled, maintained their home, and enjoyed spoiling their two granddaughters. Following Bob's passing in 2021, Lorene remained in their residence, regularly attended church, and maintained an active lifestyle. We extend our sincere gratitude to her friends and family for assisting her. Lorene also greatly appreciated the visits from her granddaughters. Lorene relocated to Quail Park, an assisted living facility in Lynnwood, Washington, to be nearer to her family. She appreciated the staff at Quail Park, particularly her caregiver, Winsome. Lorene was referred to as "Mama" by some of the staff. She formed friendships and participated in many activities. She was known for her kindness and willingness to assist others. She had a notable sense of humor and often made remarks about various situations or stories. Her granddaughters gave her the nickname “sassy pants”. She was predeceased by her husband, Bob; her parents, Phillip and Annette Pfeifer; and her eleven siblings. She is survived by her son, Rob (Chris); her daughter, Robin; and her granddaughters, Taylor Shine (John) and Morgan Johnson (DJ). The family expresses their gratitude to the Quail Park Community for their care, and to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church for their love and support. A memorial service will be held in Ephrata and details will be announced later.

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Lorene Marie Arbuckle

February 3, 1931 - June 8, 2025