Alcie Steinborn

On the evening of February 11, 2019, Alcie Rae Steinborn finished her earthly journey and headed to her mansion in the sky. Alcie was born December 19, 1937, to Roscoe Ray and Hazel Pearl Burford Hartley on a snowy day in their home on Antles Lane in Cove, Oregon. Born a “blue baby”, her older sisters Pearl and Dona had to spank her a few times to make her breathe; those sisters never let her forget that. Mom loved school and had a perfect attendance all 12 years. She was a cheerleader and active in drama. Soon after graduation, she married her high school sweet heart, Gailon Davis, and gave birth to their two daughters. In 1960, Mom moved to Yakima and later married John Steinborn and had their two sons. Alcie’s first career was as an IBM specialist working with a computer as big as a house; that was not her calling and she soon returned to school to become a nurse. Nursing was the profession she truly loved and her presence enhanced that vocation. She worked over 30 years at Toppenish Memorial Hospital and she lovingly cared for her patients and their families. Alcie was a member of the United Methodist Church in Toppenish, creating many cherished and long-term friendships. Many of those friends gathered together as members of the Red Hatters, the Zillah Garden Club and the Gonightly Book Club. After 46 years as a Zillah resident, she moved to Mobile Manor in Yakima, and (true to her nature) formed many more friendships. Mom loved adventure, taking multiple trips with friends to Hawaii and Alaska as well as an East coast fall leaves railroad tour. In 2008 Mom joined her two daughters and granddaughter Nichole, on a trip of a lifetime to Italy. It was a fun filled 12-day trip, with Nichole’s best friend Stephanie Mapes Miller as their tour guide; destinations included the Italian Alps, Verona, Venice and Rome. In the Alps, they had to wait out a hurricane that unexpectedly came directly in front of the lodge where they were eating; they stood and watched as it stormed across the lake. Of all the places Mom visited, her very favorite was the beach. Any beach made her happy. Her cohorts in her many adventures were anyone that would go along with her. From sister Dona, nieces Velma and Cindy, to friends Connie, Jackie, Bernie, Arlene, Pam, her dear best friend from school, Barbara Berry McDougall, and sometimes even Mom’s children! Mom also always looked forward to lunches with Lori Murray and Gail Goode. Yearly reunions with her children and family were at Sam and Cindy’s pool. In fact, she would house sit for them and would have her friend Connie come swim with her. The running joke was that Sam and Cindy had to leave more often so she could house sit and swim. The other yearly reunion Mom never missed was with The Cunningham Clan. Besides enjoying her nieces, nephews and their families, her favorite time at the reunion was the family auction. There were many bidding wars between Mom and her nephew Wes. She sure could make him bid high, getting wild and frantic! She could give anyone a run for their money. She loved Elvis, flowers and gardening. Mom received “Yard of the Month” several times from the Zillah Garden Club, and later she joined the Garden Club. “Elvis” even showed up at her 80th birthday party. Mom was our own cheerleader; she championed each of us in our endeavors, and taught us her strong work ethic. She truly was one of a kind and we are so fortunate to have had this loving, disciplined and hilariously funny woman as our mother, grand and great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Her cherished name was “Grandma Zillah” given to her by her oldest granddaughter when Nichole was very young and trying to decipher where and whom each of her 10 grandparents were. Mom’s last big outing was the Central Washington State Fair last September. She made sure to enjoy all the art exhibits, watching her great- grandchildren explore the petting zoo, and of course all the fair food. Her chauffer of the day, son-in-law Gregg Charcas, made sure she had a day to remember; they even got matching face paint. Christmas will never be the same without Grandma Zillah. She spent so much energy and effort to make the family Christmas celebration full of warmth and love. Alcie’s table always expanded to make room for loved ones, new and old. Dear friend David Allen was invited and always a welcome addition to family events and on Wednesdays, Mom’s neighbor Patty would take her to lunch at the “bar”. Alcie is preceded in death by parents Ray and Hazel, sisters Pearl, Georgia, Cleah and Dona, ex-husband Gailon, husband John, and nephews Duane and Dennis. She leaves behind daughter Terry Davis and grandchildren Nichole Hixon, Tommy Dekker (partner Gregg Charcas) and Cory Hixon (Amie Onica-Hixon); daughter Tammy Hileman (John) and grandchildren Jennifer Ritchie and Danny Dregger; son Samuel Steinborn (Cindy) and grandson Ryker; son Troy Steinborn (Jes) and granddaughter Carissa Layton; and eight great grandchildren: Kyler and Ashton Ritchie; Bella and Quinn Dekker, JJ Hixon-Stuart and Mya, Elizabeth and Madeline Hixon. Alcie also left behind hundreds of nieces and nephews who she loved like her own. Viewing will be 9am-11am, Saturday, February 23, 2019 at the Zillah Civic Center with a Funeral Service starting at 11am and a reception following the burial. Burial will follow the service at the Zillah Cemetery. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alcie Steinborn, please visit our flower store.