Thelma Irene (Brown) Roberts

Thelma Irene (Brown) Roberts died on August 19, 2026 in Salem, Oregon of cancer.

Born October 9, 1941 in Los Angeles to Kenneth and Mabel (Lonn) Brown, Thelma was the fifth of eight children. She spent her childhood in California and Washington before the family settled in Eugene. It was there that she spent her young adult years, attending South Eugene High School, serving in her church, working as a cook, and marrying John Roberts at Lighthouse Temple on December 22, 1966. Together they raised three girls, moving first to Detroit and then to Enterprise, Oregon where they would reside for 45 years. Thelma’s community involvement included singing and serving at church, being a Girl Scout leader, running an in-home daycare business, and sewing custom clothing. She was an avid gardener, a skilled quilter, a wonderful cook, and enjoyed a wide range of hobbies. She loved the outdoors and spent time gardening, hunting, camping, boating, and traveling to National Parks. In 2023, Thelma moved to Salem to begin the next chapter of her life.

Thelma is survived by her daughters: Paula Hancock (Travis) of Pendleton, OR, Laura Packard (Richard) of Bremerton, WA, and Jennifer Kelson (Stephen) of Beaverton, OR; her grandchildren: Trevor (Lindsee) and TJ Hancock, Andy and Anna Packard, Annika, Parker, Levi and Ethan Kelson and four great-grandchildren; and her siblings: Russell Brown (Betty) of Merlin, OR, Norman Brown of Eugene, OR, and Virginia Roberts (Dick) of Springfield, OR. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and by siblings Kenneth Brown, Melba (Brown) Sankey, Wilbur Brown, and Earl Brown.

Thelma will be laid to rest in Willamette National Cemetery. Arrangements are by Westside Cremation and Burial Service.

A memorial service will be held October 10, 2026 at Table Community Church in Hillsboro, Oregon at 12 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations made in honor of Thelma to Willamette Vital Health (www.wvh.org).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thelma Irene (Brown) Roberts, please visit our floral store.