Clarabelle Plumb

Our beautiful mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, Clarabelle Florence Birkhead Plumb, 83, left her earthly body and joined her Lord in Heaven to enjoy eternal rest on December 5, 2014, at Cedar Hills Adult Residential Care in Yakima after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Clarabelle (Clara) was born on January 17, 1931 to Paul and Gladys Bolin Birkhead, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She moved with her family to Washington State in 1952, where she worked at a variety of jobs including picking fruit, at Del Monte in Toppenish, and Ross Packing in Selah. After her retirement in 1992, she returned to Poplar Bluff where she married George W. Plumb. There they enjoyed life together until his death on March 10, 2013, at which time she returned to Yakima to be nearer her children. Clarabelle was a talented artist and has many beautiful oil paintings to her credit, one of which is currently in the collection of the Presby Museum in Goldendale, WA. Clarabelle was preceded in death by husbands, R.K. Mallady, Willard Schademan, Lloyd White, and George W. Plumb. She was also preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Professor Kenneth Birkhead, of Clemson, NC, sisters Betty Atkins of Booneville, IN, Mari Paula Tudor of MO, her granddaughter, Kodie Lynn Hayes, of Wapato, WA, and her step-granddaughter Laura Beth Plumb of Poplar Bluff, MO. Clarabelle is survived by a brother, Robert Birkhead of Donaphan, Missouri, her sons, Robert Mallady of Toppenish, Jim Mallady of Yakima, and Morris (Karen) Schademan of Oregon City, Oregon. Her daughters, Debbie Mallady Edinger of Yakima, Becky Mallady Rowe of Toppenish, Janice (Max) Schademan Williams of Selah, Mary Lynn (Rick) White Hayes, of Selah, and Cari White of Ellensburg; Catherine (Don) White Siemens of Walla Walla; ten grandsons, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Mallady of Issaquah, Chris Cooper of Yakima, Richard (Amy) Hayes and William (Amanda) Hayes of Selah, WA, Jess (Fina) Rowe of Toppenish, WA, Cory and Kyle Schademan of Oregon City, Oregon, Tyson Wyatt of Harrah, and Weston and Noel Wyatt of Yakima; her great grandchildren; Owen, Trace and Cooper Hayes of Gleed, Andrew and Declan Mallady of Issaquah, and Madeline and Caleb Hayes of Selah, step-sons, John (Gay) Plumb and Ron (Carol) Plumb of MO, great grandchildren, Taylor and Lauren Plumb, of MO. Clara will be truly missed by all. Viewing will be on Thursday, December 11 from 1-4 pm and Friday from 12-1pm at Valley Hills Funeral Home (607 2nd Ave.) in Zillah with funeral services starting at 1 PM. Valley Hills Funeral Home in Zillah is in care of the arrangements. Online tributes can be left at www.valleyhillsfh.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clarabelle Plumb, please visit our flower store.