Arlis Rosamond Fulgham

April 19, 1938 – May 06, 2024

Arlis Rosamond Fulgham, 86, of Longview, Washington passed away on May 6, 2024 of pancreatic cancer. She was born April 19, 1938 in Heppner, Oregon to Fred and Jessie (Dart) Fulgham.  Arlis and her family moved to Grandview, Washington when she was 6 months old.

Growing up, Arlis worked on her parents’ farm picking fruit and driving tractor. She worked in local packing houses during cherry season and at the Libby’s frozen food plant during corn harvest. She also clerked at her parents’ grocery store at the corner of Euclid and W 5th Street. Arlis graduated from Grandview High School with the class of 1956.

Arlis attended Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho, graduating in 1960 with a degree in home economics education. Upon graduation, she accepted a teaching position in Longview, Washington as a middle school home economics teacher where she taught until her retirement in 1990. She was involved with the design of Cascade Middle School’s home economics department when the school was built in the early 1960s. In 1980, her school was disrupted for a week when Mount St Helens erupted. During that time, President Jimmy Carter came to visit the Red Cross shelter that had been set up in the school gymnasium.

Arlis was a talented and award-winning watercolorist, and a longtime member of the Columbian Artists Association. She was also skilled at matting and framing her own artwork and was an accomplished seamstress. Arlis made gallons of caramel corn for family and friends around the holidays, even enlisting her in-home caregivers to help during her last Christmas at home. Arlis was a lifelong member of the Church of the Nazarene where she tirelessly volunteered her talents, including cooking at summer camps for kids and sewing beautiful banners for the church sanctuary. For many years, Arlis spent her summers in Granger, Washington helping her elderly parents care for their sprawling vegetable garden. She earned her master’s degree in education from Central Washington State College during those summers. Arlis’s love of gardening continued throughout her life.

Arlis was a beloved daughter, sister, and auntie. Being nearly 21 years younger than her oldest sibling gave her a special place in the family. She had a beach house in Long Beach, Washington for many years and enjoyed entertaining family and friends. She loved to play games. She was fun, sassy, clever, and generous.

Arlis Fulgham is survived by eight of her 13 nieces and nephews — Fred Golladay, Don Golladay, Verna Golladay, Carol Hushman, Katie Rossbach, Julie McNerney, Dale Fulgham and Larry Fulgham. She had 20 great nieces and nephews, 25 great, great nieces and nephews, 12 great, great, great nieces and nephews, and a number of step-greats. She is also survived by two goddaughters, Kim Singleton and Alyssa Gunn. Arlis was preceded in death by her parents, infant sister Averill Fulgham, sister Alberta Graves, sister Lourene Golladay, brother Russell Fulgham, and brother Edmond Fulgham. Her longtime companion, Leonard Nesary, passed away in 2017.

Memorial contributions may be made to Community House on Broadway, a homeless shelter in Longview.

A private Celebration of Life will be held in July. Arlis’s ashes will be buried at the Grandview Cemetery in Washington at her parents’ gravesite. Those wishing to sign Arlis’s online memorial book may do so at Omega Funeral and Cremation Services website omegaservices.com.