I was born in Bethesda, Maryland to James E. and Ella Elizabeth (Marcum)
Lippincott. Dad was a career officer in the U.S. Navy and each of us four kids were born
at different duty stations – Rose in Newport, Rhode Island; Linda in Yokosuka, Japan; and
brother Jim in San Pedro, California. My great grandparents were among the original
homesteaders in the Fort Rock area of Oregon in the late 1800’s; and Grandpa drove a
stagecoach between Shaniko and Prineville, along with Shaniko to The Dalles; and also to
Silver Lake – even though we weren’t “native Oregonians”, our hearts always belonged to
Oregon! After attending school up and down the Eastern Seaboard and West Coast, as
well as three years in Japan, I graduated from Canby High School after Dad retired from
the Navy and we moved to the family farm in Canby. What an amazing way to grow up –
from aircraft carriers to taking to living on the farm like a duck to water! After attending
Portland State University, I enjoyed a 30-year career as a legal secretary and legal
assistant.
Jim (Gallagher) and I were married in August of 1980. He was Fire Marshal for the
Sandy Fire Department. We built our home here in Sandy and have been here ever since.
The love of my life was diagnosed with terminal cancer in January of 2011 and “traveled
on ahead” as we say in my family, on St. Patrick’s Day of the same year (what a glorious
day for an Irishman to be “traveling”!). I was fortunate enough to be able to care for him
here at home, with the ongoing support of family, friends and hospice.
During our marriage we had a ball restoring a now 107-year old cabin at the
Oregon Coast; also restored a 1941 Lincoln Zephyr automobile, which I gifted to the
Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon, in Jim’s
memory. The cabin now goes to my brother, so he can continue the restoration – have fun
Bro! And keep those Fourth of July Family Gatherings at the Coast going – after 32 years,
they’re now a tradition!
Jim retired from the Sandy Fire Department and I retired shortly thereafter – then
our traveling years began – spending lots of time at “Fiddler’s Green” (our cabin); also,
England and Ireland; Alaska several times; the Washington, D.C. area; exploring Oregon;
attending many Coast Guard celebrations and reunions around the country. What fun.
I began quilting for real shortly after retirement – during my working career, I did
what I called “think quilts”, designing them in my head – much more fun to be working
with fabrics. Mom, both grandmothers, and generations of women in my family clear
back to the 1700’s were quilters (I was fortunate enough to see some made by my
ancestors in the 1700’s at museums in New Jersey while Jim and I were on many of our
family research trips – as our respective “Family Historians”).
Most of you who knew me, knew that I pretty much “flew under the radar” when it
came to the local, national and international awards won by many of my quilts. I did like
being in the background and keeping a low profile (wee bit of an understatement). Even
the family knew me as our family quilter. This seems like an appropriate time to let the cat
out of the bag, so to speak.
Mom and I began the “Village Kids” quilt project many years ago, making quilts for
the Sandy Fire Department and Chaplain’s Services here in Sandy to give to kids here in
the local community who’d had their lives turned upside down for some reason or
another. In the beginning, when we began making these bright, colorful gifts for the kids,
Mom said, “They’re will be no yukky quilts for kids in this community” – and there hasn’t
been. Thanks to the quilters of Q-FAC at the Sandy Historical Society Museum, and the
quilters of Sandy Baptist Church Women’s Mission Circle, this program continues (and
they don’t make “yukky” quilts either!) – bless you all! For the past several years, I’ve also
been making baby quilts for “Operation Diaper Bag” – a program through the Oregon
Veterans’ Hospital in Portland that provides a diaper bag chock full of gifts, including a
baby quilt, for the newborns of our Oregon Veterans. I was a member of the Oregon Trail
Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and our Chapter, as well as others
around the State hold an annual baby shower to restock “Operation Diaper Bag” with
baby clothes, supplies, etc. – how fun is that!
For several years, I taught quilting classes around the Pacific Northwest so that I
could share this gift I received from Mom and Grandma; putting more quilters in the
world. As quilters are, by definition, giving folks, most of my quilts were made and gifted
to family and friends. The ones I consider to be my “masterpieces” now belong to
Museums around the country – my favorites belong to the Sandy Historical Society
Museum. These have won international awards, traveled the country with museum
exhibits; appeared in national and international publications and quilting books; were
made as fundraisers and have been instrumental in helping kids through college with the
scholarships provided by the funds raised (my way of giving back to the community).
Along the way I became the quilter for the United States Coast Guard, designing
and making quilts for Coast Guard groups around the country in honor of husband Jim’s
time in the Coast Guard in his younger years. Bering Sea Patrol; USCG WINONA All
Crews Reunions (those quilts went home with one of Jim’s lucky shipmates); and a
special request from the Commandant’s office in Washington, D.C., to design and make a
quilt for the celebration of the Anniversary of the Northwest Passage – “Don’t that beat
all!” as my Grandmother used to say. Icing on the cake was receiving a phone call from
the U.S. Library of Congress’ Folk Life Center requesting to interview me on my quilting
for their oral interview project, so my quilting and that of my ancestors is now a
permanent part of the Library of Congress – holy cow!!!!! Mom and Grandma would be
so pleased – me – flat overwhelmed.
For those of you who don’t know, last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer;
sailed through the surgery. Radiation was a different story – turns out radiation doesn’t
like some folks and can sometimes cause an rather uncommon leukemia known as
“CMML” for which there is no cure. I was one of the 3 in 100,000 radiation didn’t care for.
Only 100,000 cases are diagnosed in this country annually – a bit on the rare side
(another one of those understatements). In any event, because of it I only had limited
use of my hands since last November – quilting was no longer something I could do.
Shoot, just think of all the quilts I could have made between diagnosis and “traveling on
ahead”. I was, however, able to complete one more quilting-related project. Hearing that
Chemawa Indian School in Salem (a boarding school for Native American high school
students from all around the country) has recently added quilting to their curriculum,
didn’t take me long to figure out the class would need proper quilting supplies and
sewing machines in order for them to put even more quilters in the world, who, in turn,
would pass this treasured American art form along to another generation, and so on, just
as the generations in my family have. Then I was off and running – with the help of a few
cherished friends, quilters and non-quilters alike; along with my brother and sister-in-law,
we were able to supply this classroom in hopes that this class be an incredible success.
Thank you all for helping me make this possible.
Thanks, too, to all of my friends, neighbors and family who have shared your
strength with me and kept me going through these last months – 5-star meals catered by
the neighbors and friends; visits to perk me up and keep me laughing; family and friends
who went on so many “medical adventures” with me, including those twice weekly
transfusions. Don’t know what on earth I’d have done without you – I am so blessed (the
biggest understatement of all). Love you all!
-Bonnie Lippincott Gallagher
Survived by my brother James E. Lippincott (Janie); sisters Rose M. Hill (Philip) and
Linda Lippincott Boardman (Tom); nephews Misha Popenuk (Katie), Nick Popenuk
(Holly), and Jeremy J. Hill; niece Natasha Popenuk.
Predeceased by my beloved husband James E. Gallagher, and my parents LCDR
James E. Lippincott and Ella E. “Betty” (Marcum) Lippincott.
Gathering immediately following at Sandy Historical Society Museum, 39345
Pioneer Blvd, Sandy, OR 97055
Donations to Sandy Historical Society Museum.