Anna Ruby Starkovich

Anna R. (Maras) Starkovich 6/23/1919 - 12/28/2017 Anna R. (Maras) Starkovich Anna was born in Tillamook, Oregon, on June 23, 1919. She was the seventh child in the family of eight of Paul and Mary Maras, Croatian immigrants who came to America in 1912. She died of natural causes on December 28, 2017, at the age of 98. As an infant, Anna caught the flu and was not expected to survive. However, she surprised her parents and has surprised people ever since with her stamina and good health. Her family moved to Willamette, near Oregon City, then briefly to Oakland, Oregon, and then to the Mt. Pleasant community in Oregon City where they started farming. Anna and her siblings attended Clairmont School. When she was a teenager, the family moved to the Logan area to a larger farm along the Clackamas River and it was there that the family farmed for many years. Through a family friend Anna met Paul Starkovich, also a Croatian immigrant and also the seventh child in his family. They were married in November, 1940, and soon after bought a farm in North Logan. Paul worked for logging companies in Oregon for 15 years until he was seriously injured. He then worked for United Grocers in Milwaukie for 20 years. Anna stayed at home, took care of their three children and spent many hours hoeing several acres of strawberries, milking cows, feeding chickens and cooking great meals. She loved baking and canning and did all of that, using a wood stove, for many years. She valued education and always encouraged her own children to love school and continue their education. When her youngest son, Steve, started school, Anna went to work with her sister, Antoinette, at the B.P. John Furniture Company on Macadam Avenue in Portland. She worked there for 10 years. In their retirement, Paul and Anna raised Christmas trees on their farm. It was a rewarding project for them and they enjoyed the people who came for their trees each year. Anna was a lifelong Democrat and was delighted to be able to vote for the first black President and the first woman running for President. Anytime you came to Paul and Anna's house, you were greeted and given a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and probably some of her delicious baked goods. She loved company and she loved being surrounded by her extended family as well as her caring neighbors. She will be deeply missed by all of us. Anna was preceded in death by her husband Paul, her infant brother Stipan, her sisters Helen, Antoinette, Mary, Jane and brother John. She is survived by her sister, Emilie Bomotti, her children Dr. Victor Starkovich (Detta Marvich), Veronica Smith (Gary), Dr. Steven Starkovich (Ruth Williams), 4 grandchildren Alex Starkovich, Caitlin Smith (Alex Brown), Sonja Shevelyov (Nicholas), Anton Smith (Emily) and 2 great-grandchildren Max and Elise Shevelyov. Anna loved all of her extended family, her sisterin-law Mary Maras and her many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. She always welcomed them to her home and looked forward to the yearly family picnic. We give special thanks to the people who helped Anna in her later years, enabling her to live on her beloved farm until she was 95. Her niece, Donna Fiddler and her neighbor, Jeanette Simpkins, were always available when Anna called. Those were special times for her. We also thank Don and Kathy Beck at RiverCrest Assisted Living in Oregon City, Ica Dobrescu at the Golden Gate Adult Care in Tigard for their kindness and patience in caring for Anna these last 3 years, and Ruth Williams for writing and sending pictures to her every week to keep her in touch with her Seattle family. At her request a private funeral and family gathering will be held for Anna on January 4, 2018. For those wishing to honor Anna with a charitable donation please consider St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Oregon Food Bank or the charity of your choice.

Anna Ruby Starkovich

June 23, 1919 - December 28, 2017