Roberta Jean Vann

A Life Colorfully Lived

Roberta Jean Vann, lovingly known as Berta, was born on January 16, 1949, in Fresno, California, to Robert and Alma Vann. She passed away on October 2, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon, following a sudden illness, at the age of 77.

Berta was a woman full of life, personality, and heart. She loved all things colorful and beautiful, enjoyed music and a good celebration, and had an adventurous spirit that was unmistakably her own.

A graduate of high school in Fresno, Berta embraced a life filled with a little bit of everything. In her younger years, she enjoyed motorcycle racing, snow skiing, water skiing, and tennis. She loved sports, welcomed adventure, and wasn’t one to shy away from trying something new.

Throughout her life, Berta wore many hats. She spent years as the owner of a 60-acre vineyard, growing grapes that would eventually become raisins. She worked as a commercial bus driver, transporting elementary school children, travelers on tour buses, and students of a Christian college. After moving to Crescent City, she worked at Rite Aid as a Cashier and Sales Clerk. She also generously gave her time volunteering at the Crescent City Pregnancy Care Center for several years. Her experiences were as varied and interesting as she was.

Her Christianity was an important part of who she was, guiding her values, and the way she cared for others. In her later years especially, she found immeasurable joy and purpose in giving back, participating in church activities, and being an active part of her church family. Her faith was something she carried with her throughout her life, expressed not only through her beliefs, but through her kindness, generosity, and willingness to serve others.

In the final chapter of her life, Berta became a cherished member of the Sea View Retirement Home community in Brookings, Oregon. Never one to sit on the sidelines, she took on the unofficial role of Morning Greeter, opening the blinds, watering the plants, and helping welcome everyone into the day. She enjoyed arts and crafts, outings, field trips, music, parties, and a good game of bingo—especially when she came away with a prize!

More importantly, she looked out for the people around her. She was quick to lend a hand or offer comfort when a fellow resident wasn’t feeling their best. Her beautiful smile, laughter, and genuine kindness were appreciated by residents and staff alike. Berta had a way of bringing a little more light into the lives of everyone around her.

A Love That Spanned Generations

Family was incredibly important to Berta. As a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and great-aunt, she treasured the relationships that connected her to those she loved. Each held a special place in her heart, and the love she shared with her family remained an important part of who she was throughout her life.

Berta shared a particularly special bond with her sister Janet. As the years passed, their lives changed and circumstances brought physical distance between them, but Pelican Bay Church and its wonderful community helped keep them connected. Affectionately known as “The Sisters,” they shared a love of their church family, including the fellowship and friendships formed through church gatherings and potlucks. That community became a meaningful and lasting thread in their lives, reminding them that distance doesn’t have to diminish the bonds we share.

That same closeness extended across generations. Berta’s nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and even great-great-nieces and nephews never felt like distant relatives. She was simply Aunt Berta—someone they knew, loved, laughed with, and felt genuinely connected to, regardless of the years between them.

She had a natural charisma that drew people to her, but it was her warmth, kindness, laughter, and genuine interest in others that made those relationships so special. Whether you knew her as a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, or friend, Berta had a way of making you feel that you mattered.

Her life was full of experiences, but perhaps what mattered most was never what she did or where she went. It was the people she loved, the friendships she nurtured, and the memories she created along the way.

A Family Legacy

Berta was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Alma Vann; her brother, Warden “Dub” Vann; and her sister, Carol Neuman.

She is survived by her daughter, Jeana Rogers, and grandson, DJ Rogers, both of Fresno, California; her older sister, Janet Jordan of Crescent City, California; and her twin brother, Robert “Bob” Vann of Arizona.

Berta also leaves behind a large and loving extended family, including her nieces and nephews Patricia Cooke (Wayne), Patrick Pearson (Alyce), Sara Vann Drake (Kyle), Simon Vann, Cheryl Spencer (Dave), Vicki Dobbs, Sonny Neuman, Dawn Keetan (Jim), Michael Vann, and Cindy Harker.

Among the generations who lovingly knew her as Aunt Berta are numerous great nieces and nephews including: Kasie Wimmer, Alex Pearson (Mikayla), Joshua Hurley (Josie), Matthew Hurley (Yolanda), Adam Hurley, Sarah Ochoa (Ben), Tony Patton, Michael Weldy, Charlie Dobbs, and Mikie Pearson.

Her family legacy continues through the youngest generation of great-great nieces and nephews including Cecilia, Jordan and Jenna, Harper and Sadie, Jacob and Parker, Savannah, Carter, Kyler, Abigail, Aiden, Landon.

She also leaves behind many other extended family members, cherished friends, and the communities whose lives were made brighter by knowing her.

A Celebration of Berta’s Life

A memorial service honoring Berta will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 1:00 PM, at Pelican Bay Church, 160 Blueberry Lane, Crescent City, California.

Immediately following the service, family and friends are invited to gather in the church annex for a Celebration of Life. Together, we’ll share memories, enjoy one another’s company and some refreshments, and celebrate the beautiful life she lived.

Berta loved all things bright, colorful, and beautiful, and we would love for her celebration to reflect that. In her honor, we warmly encourage guests to leave the traditional black attire at home and instead wear something colorful, cheerful, or simply something that makes them smile. We hope to fill the room with the same warmth and color that Berta brought into our lives.

There is something especially meaningful about gathering to honor Berta within the very church community that helped keep her connected to the people she loved.

Berta will be deeply missed, but the love she shared, the laughter she brought, and the memories she gave us will remain part of our family for generations to come.