Elvena (Para) Tam

July 24, 1917 – January 15, 2020

Elvena Tam was born to John and Catherine Para in Othello, Washington on July 24, 1917. She had two brothers and three sisters who have predeceased her.

After high school, she moved to Spokane and graduated from Morris Beauty School. She met and married Jack Tam in 1942. Judy was born in 1944 and Janet in 1947. They moved to Reardan, Washington in 1947 where Jack worked for the Reardan Grain Growers and Elvena was a homemaker. They raised their daughters there until 1962 when they moved to Othello. She continued her favorite hobby of playing bridge twice a week, took up golf, assisted in caring for aging parents, entertained neighborhood children and babysat nieces and nephews. They eventually bought a motor home and spent nine winters in San Diego. In 1984 they moved to Cascade Mobile Park in Spokane.

Jack died and went to heaven in 2005. She moved to Royal Oak Retirement Community in Medford, Oregon in 2006 to be near Janet and her husband. Flo Garner became her caregiver and friend. Flo opened an adult family home and Elvena was her first resident. Elvena continued in Flo’s loving care until her going to heaven to be with the Lord Jesus on Jan. 15, 2020, at the age of 102.

A memorial will be held in Othello in June. Details to be announced later.