Lillian Lucille Black, beloved sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away peacefully early Sunday morning, April 30, 2017 at the Salem Hospital. She was 84 years old.

Lillian was born on June 10, 1932 to Irving and Lydia Case of Salem, Oregon. Born into a large family, she was the 9th of 12 children.

She met her husband, Vernon Black of Dahlonega, Georgia, while working as a waitress at a restaurant in Salem. He gave her a three-cent tip, and they were together ever since. They wed three days after her 18th birthday on June 13, 1950, and had four children together; Patricia, Glenn, Garry, and Dennis.

Lillian will always be remembered by her loved ones as a positive, caring, and energetic person. A life-long Oregon resident, Lillian loved the state’s natural beauty. She greatly enjoyed drives with her family to various destinations around the state, stopping at fabric stores along the way. A true Oregonian, she enjoyed rhododendrons in bloom, visiting lighthouses on the coast, and watching the ocean waves roll onto the shore - no matter the weather.

Upon her retirement from Sumco in 2003, at the age of 71, she enrolled at Chemeketa Community College and completed a two-year program in Early Childhood Education, getting all A’s in the process.

She was also an incredibly talented seamstress, quilter, and crafter. One of her greatest joys in life was to spend her free time quilting and sharing her creativity and love of sewing with family and friends.

Lillian was a devout woman of faith and a member of Emmanuel Bible Church in Salem. She looked forward to Sunday morning worship services each week and even taught Sunday school classes off and on for many years.

Lillian is survived by her children Patricia (Jim) Eick of Benton City, Washington, Glenn Black of Salem, and Garry (Mariel) Black of Turner; her grandchildren Josh (Marissa) Eick of San Tan Valley, Arizona, and Heather (Cole) Hafner of Beaverton; her great-grandchildren Kaitlyn Eick, Colin Eick, and Max Hafner; her sisters Dottie (Al) Graves of Crescent City, California and Beverly (Del) Craft of Gold Beach; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Her husband Vernon, and her youngest son Dennis, precedes her in death.

Memorial services will be held on her 85th birthday, Saturday, June 10 at Restlawn Memorial Gardens at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society.