Posted: Monday, February 4, 2008 12:00 am
April 4, 1928 - Feb. 2, 2008
Ilene Louise Sargeant, 79, of Albany died Saturday at a local hospital.
Ilene was born in Yale, Iowa, to Elmer Edward and Florence May (Bartlett) Richey. When she was nine, the family moved to Eugene.
She attended Northwest Christian College in Monmouth for two years and then married Allen Edward Grover on March 30, 1951. Ilene and Allen had four daughters. They moved to Portland then Idaho Falls, Idaho. Allen died May 16, 1961, and Ilene moved her family to Salem.
On November 2, 1966, she married Donald Jack Sargeant. They lived in Lebanon until 1979, when they moved to Tangent and in 2007 to Albany. Ilene and Donald had twin sons.
Ilene taught reading at Standard Christian School in Albany for over 26 years. Teaching reading was her passion and she taught thousands of children, adults and immigrants to read English. She also authored some children's beginning reading books that are in circulation worldwide.
Survivors include her husband, Donald; children Louisa May Jaquith, Edna Marie Loudermilk, Anita Joy Sargeant, Valda Lynn Johnson, Nathan Irving Sargeant and Daniel Esper Sargeant; stepchildren Nancy Lee Baker, Douglas Jack Sargeant, Dale Henry Sargeant, Larry Jay Sargeant, Arvene Wretha Swarringim and Deniece Hazel McCune; 35 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; sister Lola Clifton; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Diane and Christine Grover.
Ilene was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, a granddaughter and brothers Howard, Homer and Esper.
A funeral service will be at 4 p.m. today at Apostolic Life Center, 230 Pine St. S.E., in Albany. Committal service will be Tuesday at Lebanon IOOF Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Standard Christian School, 230 Pine St. S.E., Albany, OR 97322.
AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements (www.aasum-