Rovalle E. Reiber

Rovalle Elaine Irion Reiber was born in Marshfield, Oregon on December 16, 1934 to Anna Gorbutt Irion and Ira Irion. She died peacefully on January 9, 2026 in North Bend, Oregon at the age of 91. Memorial Services are planned for March 21st, 2026 at the Heritage hall at Marshfield High School at noon. 

Rovalle had a challenging childhood, her parents divorced when she was two and her mother died when she was eleven. Rovalle moved in with her mom’s best friend Alma George and her family. Despite those difficulties she made the best with her new sister Shirley, and new parents Alma and Roy. She continued her education in Coos Bay and in high school met Dale Reiber. They married during Rovalle’s senior year, and Dale was drafted into the army immediately after. Rovalle finished high school and graduated from Marshfield in June of 1953. 

In December 1953 she welcomed her first child while Dale was stationed in the Army in Germany. When baby Larry was 4 months old, Rovalle with infant in arms made the trip alone all the way to Permasens, Germany to have him meet his dad. Back then this actually made the front page of the local newspaper, The Coos Bay Times. They spent 14 months together there until Dale was discharged. This was often one of Rovalle’s most memorable stories of her life. 

Rovalle had two more children in the 1950’s and by then she and Dale bought a home and settled back down in Coos Bay while Dale began a career in teaching and coaching for Coos Bay Schools. Rovalle went to work for the Coos Bay Schools in the mid 1960’s starting as a secretary at Englewood School. Later she transferred to the high school and finished her career as the athletic secretary at Marshfield High School. This was the highlight of her career. She often recalled the excitement of the year Marshfield High School won the football state championship in 1992. She met so many folks in the community and she shared the excitement of Marshfield sports with them.

 Rovalle retired in 1994 and that year Rovalle and Dale bought an RV and traveled and camped. They would spend several weeks in the spring camping at Quosatana Campground on the Rogue River joining friends and Dale’s brothers while Dale fished. It was like a second home to them for many years. Other travels included camping in the desert of Eastern Oregon and trips to Mexico, Texas, Alaska, Arizona and Nebraska. 

In 2003 they celebrated their 50th anniversary with a grand party in Charleston with lots of long time friends, and with Cliff Lance cooking oysters the way Dale would fix them. Dale and Rovalle were married 66 years before he passed in 2019. One close friend wrote and said “no one can say Rovalle without saying Dale and Rovalle”. 

Erica, one of Rovalle’s granddaughters googled on an app that gave statistics about names and how many times they were used in the US. Rovalle was the one and only “Rovalle”. She was very unique indeed. 

Even as Rovalle slowed down she followed Marshfield sports through the newspaper and paid attention to the successes of the football, basketball volleyball and wrestling teams. This was always of interest to her. 

Rovalle had other interests and hobbies. She knitted all her children Christmas stockings and later on for all her grandchildren and their spouses and for the 7 great grandchildren. She canned tuna and other fish (that Dale caught). And she canned vegetables from their garden and each year she would pick berries, though she complained that she didn’t like to, then she would make delicious pies for her family. She always had a homemade pie in the freezer to pull out when people visited. 

She was fortunate to live a long enough life to attend all the baby showers for her great grandchildren.

Special thank you to Janice, Vestel, Sara and Randi at Loving Care Adult Foster Home, for the wonderful care they gave her until the end of her life. 

Rovalle is survived by her children Larry (Sandy), Dale Ann, Marlin, her grandchildren Erica Goodyear (Scott), Katy Shelton (Benjamin), Jessie Reiber (Jimmy Hill Jr.) Isa Wolfe (Robert), Joseph Reiber (Dillon Wells), and her seven great grandchildren, Gavin, Max, Scarlett, Olivia, Edith, Henry and JamiLynn. Also one sister Shirley Justice, newphews Mark Yeiter, Steve Yeiter and Terry Sandstrom and lots of Reiber nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, 2nd mom and dad Alma and Roy George and husband Dale Reiber.

Arrangements are under the direction of Coos Bay Chapel 685 Anderson Ave. 541-267-3131. www.coosbayareafunerals.com 

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