Phebe Elizabeth Mcmanama

Phebe McManama, 96, passed away May 9, 2024, of natural causes in her room at Pear Valley Assisted Living in Central Point. In her final days, Phebe was surrounded by family, friends, other residents, and care providers.
Phebe Elizabeth Hurd was born February 11, 1928, to parents E.C. Hurd and Mary (Byers) Hurd in Ashland, Oregon. She had three older half-brothers and one half-sister. Phebe spent her early childhood in Shale City. After losing her mother at a young age, Phebe went to live with her Uncle Paul and Aunt Jean. In her teens, Phebe lived with her brother, Frank Carson, and his wife Marie.
Phebe met her future husband, Ben McManama, while roller skating at the old armory building in Ashland. Before Ben shipped out to join WWII, Phebe promised to wait for him. Upon Ben's return from the Navy, and Phebe's graduation from Ashland High School in 1946, they married June 30 that year. Ben and Phebe were together for almost 63 years before Ben's passing in 2009.
Their family grew with the addition of daughter Theresa (1947) and son Randle (1952). Making their home in Central Point, the family enjoyed road trips, games, and gatherings with neighbors, friends and extended family. Ben and Phebe were active members of Medford Friends Church, spent time together gardening, camping, and in their younger years, square dancing.
Most of her married life Phebe was a home maker. She worked during fruit season at S.O.S. and holiday seasons at Pinnacle. Phebe was a talented crafter. She sewed everything, including hundreds of Barbie Doll outfits. She also enjoyed crocheting, knitting, and other needle crafts. You could also find Phebe in the kitchen cooking, baking from scratch, or canning fruit and jams.
Phebe was a member of several organizations including Ladies VFW Auxiliary, Home Extension, Women's Missionary Group and Red Hatters.
Phebe loved red lipstick, cats, chocolate, Saturday pinochle games with her gaggle of friends, playing bingo at Pear Valley, and liked being teased. She survived breast cancer twice. Phebe was steadfast, loyal and neighborly. Phebe loved and was loved.
Family was everything to Phebe. If you ever talked to her (and she was a talker), without a doubt you heard about her grandchildren. She was so proud of them and their accomplishments.
Phebe was predeceased by her parents, siblings, husband Ben, daughter-in-law Gail, special sister-in-law Marie Dolby, and many close friends. She is survived by daughter Theresa Ziemann (Allen), son Randy; grandchildren Paulie, Amanda (Mark), Ryan (Robyn), and Natalie (Lonny); great-grandchildren Lilly, Samantha, and Trevor; numerous nieces and nephews and their families; and her current cat companion Missy. Phebe also leaves behind the seven bonus Tappero grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for June 1, at 2:30 pm, at Medford Friends Church, 525 De Barr Avenue. Arrangements by Hillcrest Mortuary & Memorial Park Cemetery. Please share a memory of Phebe in the on-line memorial book ( www.hillcrestmortuary.com/obituaries/Phebe-Mcmanama ). No flowers please. Donations in Phebe's memory can be sent to C.A.T.S - Medford or your favorite charitable organization. For information, please contact Phebe's daughter, Theresa Ziemann. The family would like to thank the staff at Pear Valley for the care and companionship provided over the past 5 years, and also Signature Hospice for their compassionate services in Phebe's final days.