LUELLA ELIZABETH BIXBY May 22, 1936 to November 17, 2008 Luella meant "lovely flower" to her mom, Ruth Dudley, who birthed her late in life. From Ruth's joy, Luella flowered into a beautiful woman and a powerful musician. As an actress, Luella performed and sang the lead roles for Wenatchee Music Theater in "Kiss Me Kate", "Guys and Dolls", "Oliver", and "Mame". In Kennewick, she performed in RLOC's "Side by Side by Sondheim" and Joyce Bean's dinner theater production of "Winter Chicken". Her mom beamed when teenage Luella rode her horse at rodeos with the Walla Walla Applettes Mounted Drill team. Through her life, Luella touched the lives of many people doing volunteer service with the Children's Orthopedic Hospital Guild in Wenatchee, serving on the Christian Church Disciples of Christ regional board, and as choir director for 19 years at Wenatchee's Central Christian Church and 12 years at Kennewick First Christian Church. In the 1960s, Luella served on the Executive Board of the Federation of Music, Wenatchee Music Theater, directed the YMCA Boys Choir, led Campfire Girls and Girl Scouts, the Toastmistress's Club, Miss Wenatchee Pageant, and the Junior Red Cross. In 1965, she was honored nationally for civic leadership and service by being named to the Who's Who list of Outstanding Young Women in America. Luella took pride in her accomplishments with Pasco-Kennewick Soroptimist Club. She served as president, district director. In creating Soroptimist 3 Rivers Club, Luella provided a community service outlet which she cherished, working with women for women. She became not only the Dame of the Club, but the Grand Poopah, too. Her charming personality radiated at district, regional and international conferences. For several years, Luella made beautiful cross stitch works for the club's annual auction and for her church fund raisers. A life-time member of the Christian Church, Luella served as its Treasurer-Bookkeeper. She led the scholarship committee which provided college-bound church members with a stipend each semester. Her church loved her as much as she loved the church. Whatever the need, Luella answered the call. She is survived by her husband, Peter S. Bixby, her sisters, Helen Kralman and Wilma Beaty Cox, her children, Gary and Greg Vaughn and daughter Beth Hanson; plus, her grandchildren, Stephanie, Lisa, and Patrick Vaughn and Kelly Evans and many nieces and nephews. Services will be through Mueller's Chapel of the Falls, 314 W. lst Avenue, Kennewick with viewing 5-8 PM, Thursday, November 20 and ll:30-12:30 PM, Friday, November 21. Internment Service will be at 1 PM at Riverview Heights Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 2 PM at First Christian Church, 19th and Olympia.