Alice May (Nelson) Bishop, 95, of Bend died on Aug. 2 of natural causes.

She was born on Aug. 25, 1914, to Willard Ernest, Sr., and Stella M. (Larkin) Nelson, in Bend.

Her parents were homesteaders on the north side of the Bear Creek Buttes, northwest of Brothers. They left the homestead on July 4, 1916, for Eastern Washington by covered wagon. They returned to Bend in June 1919, and her father went to work for Brooks-Scanlon, Inc., as a stationary engineer,  where he ran the McGifford Loader for 25 years.

Bishop attended Bend public schools, beginning her first five grades in a schoolhouse in a boxcar in Brooks-Scanlon logging camps near Lava Butte.  She attended grades 6-8 at Carroll Acres School. She graduated from Bend High School on May 19, 1933.

She married Leo A. Bishop at her parent’s home in Carroll Acres on June 1, 1935.

Bishop joined the First Presbyterian Church of Bend on March 22, 1940, where she taught Sunday school for six years. She was an ordained elder, deacon and a camp counselor. She was also the treasurer of the church memorial fund for 18 years and the church historian for many years.

Bishop was active in 4-H as a member and later as a leader. She was also a den mother to Cub Scouts. Bishop was a member of the Thursday Book Club and read hundreds of books, mostly historical fiction and non-fiction.

She joined the Pine Forest Grange at age 14 and was still a member. She also belonged to the county, state and national granges.

Bishop was a member of the Deschutes Historical Society and the Deschutes Pioneer Association. She served as their Queen in 2005. She was a great-granddaughter of Oregon Pioneers of 1852, who came from Iowa via the Oregon Trail and the Barlow Road to Oregon City, arriving in September of that year.

Bishop and her husband were charter members of the Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Foundation for scholarships. She also served on the election board for many years.

She worked for Glenn Ratcliff Insurance Agency, and for St. Charles Medical Center for a combined eight years. In her many other years she was a homemaker.

Bishop is survived by sons, Jerry Bishop of Springfield, Don Bishop of Midland, Texas, and Jim Bishop of Burns, along with their wives; seven grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren; brother, Willard E. Nelson, Jr.; and three nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sisters, one niece and one great-great grandson.
A private family graveside service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 14, at Pilot Butte Cemetery in Bend,  beside the grave of her husband, Leo A. Bishop, to be followed by a public memorial service at First Presbyterian Church, 230 NE 9th St., Bend, at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bishop’s name may be given to First Presbyterian Church of Bend Foundation; COCC College Foundation for Scholarships; or Volunteers for Medicine, Clinic of the Cascades.
Niswonger Reynolds is in charge of arrangements.