Christine Paige Loomis, 56, died Saturday, Oct. 9 after a brief battle with melanoma. She was surrounded by family and friends during her last days.
She was born in San Francisco on Oct. 13, 1953. She attended grade school in Pinole, high school in Fremont, and graduated high school her senior year at Livermore High School in 1971. Mrs. Loomis traveled extensively in her youth, residing in the greater Monterey area and living in Maui for a period while working for a variety of restaurants. She returned to the Bay Area after the birth of her son, Matthew. She began her college education at CSU Hayward and received her Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Education.
She worked for the Volunteer Center in San Francisco where she first learned about volunteer development and management. She relocated 15 years ago to Modesto and soon thereafter gained employment with the American Cancer Society. She worked as a Staff Assistant for the Modesto Field Office for two years, and was promoted to the position of Health Program Manager where she worked closely with cancer patients and their families in the community. She educated the public, youth and health professionals about prevention and early detection of cancer, and became an advocate legislatively for patient's rights and tobacco cessation efforts on the local, regional, statewide and national level.
She served as an advocate for cancer patients and their families over the last 13-and-a-half years as a staff member with the American Cancer Society, and ironically, she herself succumbed to advanced stage cancer.
During her tenure with the American Cancer Society, she met, fell in love, and married Loren Loomis in January 2004, making their home in Oakdale. She and her husband became the owners of Diamond L Ranch soon after their marriage. A few years ago, they purchased land in Jamestown where they intended to build their dream retirement home in the future. Their love of their animals - dogs, cats, cows, mules, and especially horses - kept their interest for future fellowship with friends and family and was a central focus of their life together.
In addition to her passion to help people, she was a compassionate friend to many. She had a kind spirit, was creative, she loved gardening at her home in Oakdale, and doing a variety of home improvement projects and activities that included caring for all of her animals.
She is survived by her husband, Loren Loomis of Oakdale; son, Matthew Churchill; stepsons, Loren Loomis, Jr., Christopher Loomis; mother, Beverly Churchill of River Pines; brothers, Dennis (Lynnette) Churchill of Arizona, Tom (Linda) Churchill of Washington, Rob (Tauni) Churchill of Elk Grove; sister, Marienne Witlow of Chocktaw, OK; brother- and sister-in-law, Don and Gay Loomis of Truckee; and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life gathering will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28 at the Loomis home in Oakdale with a reception immediately following.
Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1604 Ford Avenue #8, Modesto, CA 95350 in honor of cancer patients in the community.
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Oct. 20, 2010
She was born in San Francisco on Oct. 13, 1953. She attended grade school in Pinole, high school in Fremont, and graduated high school her senior year at Livermore High School in 1971. Mrs. Loomis traveled extensively in her youth, residing in the greater Monterey area and living in Maui for a period while working for a variety of restaurants. She returned to the Bay Area after the birth of her son, Matthew. She began her college education at CSU Hayward and received her Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Education.
She worked for the Volunteer Center in San Francisco where she first learned about volunteer development and management. She relocated 15 years ago to Modesto and soon thereafter gained employment with the American Cancer Society. She worked as a Staff Assistant for the Modesto Field Office for two years, and was promoted to the position of Health Program Manager where she worked closely with cancer patients and their families in the community. She educated the public, youth and health professionals about prevention and early detection of cancer, and became an advocate legislatively for patient's rights and tobacco cessation efforts on the local, regional, statewide and national level.
She served as an advocate for cancer patients and their families over the last 13-and-a-half years as a staff member with the American Cancer Society, and ironically, she herself succumbed to advanced stage cancer.
During her tenure with the American Cancer Society, she met, fell in love, and married Loren Loomis in January 2004, making their home in Oakdale. She and her husband became the owners of Diamond L Ranch soon after their marriage. A few years ago, they purchased land in Jamestown where they intended to build their dream retirement home in the future. Their love of their animals - dogs, cats, cows, mules, and especially horses - kept their interest for future fellowship with friends and family and was a central focus of their life together.
In addition to her passion to help people, she was a compassionate friend to many. She had a kind spirit, was creative, she loved gardening at her home in Oakdale, and doing a variety of home improvement projects and activities that included caring for all of her animals.
She is survived by her husband, Loren Loomis of Oakdale; son, Matthew Churchill; stepsons, Loren Loomis, Jr., Christopher Loomis; mother, Beverly Churchill of River Pines; brothers, Dennis (Lynnette) Churchill of Arizona, Tom (Linda) Churchill of Washington, Rob (Tauni) Churchill of Elk Grove; sister, Marienne Witlow of Chocktaw, OK; brother- and sister-in-law, Don and Gay Loomis of Truckee; and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life gathering will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28 at the Loomis home in Oakdale with a reception immediately following.
Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1604 Ford Avenue #8, Modesto, CA 95350 in honor of cancer patients in the community.
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Oct. 20, 2010
