Lucille Ruth (Bryant, Needham) Reagan

Lucille Ruth (Bryant, Needham) Reagan joined her Savior Jesus Christ on May 27, she was 95. She was born June 22, 1921, in Sheldon, to Clarence Leroy Bryant and Mabell Ruth (Harris) Bryant. After graduation from Sheldon High School as a member of a class of 12 students, Lucille moved with her family to Eugene, Oregon, where she earned a degree in Business Education (‘45) and an MBA (‘48) from the University of Oregon.

Lucille was predeceased by her husband, Howard F. Needham, whom she married in 1948; her husband, William L. Reagan, whom she married in 1976; and her siblings, Elizabeth Harriet Craw, Virginia Lee Cowen, Theodore Marion Bryant and Charles Leland Bryant. She is survived by her children, Gregory (Patsy) Needham and Bradford (Linda) Needham; her stepchildren, William (Sally) Reagan and Linda (Ed) Mattson; five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Lucille was a member of the First Baptist Church and was a charter member of Emerald Baptist Church, both in Eugene, Ore. After moving to Salem in 1971, she and Howard joined Calvary Baptist Church. While at Emerald Baptist she taught the two’s and three’s age group for 23 years. She was active in women’s ministries in the American Baptist Church for many years including at least one term as president of American Baptist Women of Oregon.

Before retiring in the mid-1980s, Lucille taught business education, typing and shorthand at Mt. Vernon Junior College in Washington, the University of Oregon and at Chemeketa Community College in Salem. She particularly enjoyed advising and getting to know her students. Lucille was a long-time member of the American Association of University Women.

After retirement, she enjoyed visiting elder hostels, quilting, sewing and traveling the world with her husband, Bill. She will be remembered as a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. She will be missed by all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 3, at Calvary Baptist Church in Salem. Private interment will take place at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens, Eugene.

Memorial gifts should be directed to Calvary Baptist Church mission program or Oregon Health and Science University, Department of Ophthalmology.