Ora Brumbelow, beloved “Little Gramma,” died on Aug. 19. She was 97.

She was born in DeLeon, Texas on July 22, 1911, to Eugene Gillock and Josie Bloyd. She had two siblings, Clifton Gillock and Odette Bell. She was rasied in DeLeon and lived there until 1943.

She married Carl Duke, a childhood friend, on Dec. 5, 1927, at the age of 16. She and Carl had one child, Josie Janelle, born on Feb. 23, 1931.

Ora and Carl lived and worked on the family farm in DeLeon until 1943, when they moved to Inglewood, Calif., in search of better jobs. They raised Janelle in California and eventually returned to Texas to live in Ft. Worth, where Ora worked at Mecham’s department store in the women’s fine gloves and hoserie department. Carl died in1968.

In 1969, Ora moved to Salem, Ore., to marry Aulton “Tex” Brumbelow, a longtime friend from DeLeon. They lived in Salem until Tex’s death in 1990.

In 1992, Ora moved to Clearbrook Inn in Silverdale, to be closer to family. She lived in the loving atmosphere of Clearbrook Inn for 16 years and had recently moved to Martha & Mary, where she was carefully cared for until her death.

Ora enjoyed reading and learning from her Bible and was always interested in the changing world. She was known for her sense of humor and wit, her tenacious will to live, her southern drawl. She always spirited, always a fighter and always loving.

Ora was preceded in death by husbands Carl and Tex; her daughter, Janelle; her sister, Odette; and her brother, Clitfon.

She is survived by grandchildren Cheryl (Dan) Beach of Kilgore, Texas; Mark (Mary Ann) Peake of El Paso, Texas; Elizabeth (Chris) Willits of Bainbridge Island; Paul (Shana) Peake of Oswego, Ill.; and Rebekah (Eric) Bardakos of Santa Barbara, Calif..

She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, Camery Pollard, Caren Beach, Natalie and Grace Willits, Emma, Bryce and Nathan Peake, and Frankin and Ryan Peake; and two great-great grandchildren, Emily and Canon Pollard.

A private family service will take place on Sept. 20. Internment will take place at Restlawn Cemetary in Salem, Ore.

An online guest book is at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.