Obituary of Ethel Plummer

We lost our beloved wife, mother, and tutu (grandmother) on August 27, 2014 after a long battle with cancer. Lani was the 10th child of Georgiana Piliwale and Valentino Ugalde born in North Hilo, Hawaii. She graduated from Laupahoehoe High School in 1964 and went on to attend community college in Honolulu, Hawaii. Lani was known for her singing and sang in a band to pay for her college classes. She met and married the love of her life, John Plummer Jr., in 1968 while he was stationed in Pearl Harbor during the Vietnam War. Lani then moved to Oregon in 1968 to live with her in-laws and to make a life for her new family. Lani and her sister-in-law, Yvonne, shared many laughs and companionship while the Plummer brothers were in the military. Lani took great pride in her work, and was known for her hard work ethic and her attention to detail in her jobs. She worked as an HR/payroll supervisor at McDonald Wholesale Company for 35 years before retiring in 2011. Lani was also known for her love of her family. As Lani was a private person, few knew that she had helped out her family in Hawaii over the years and invited her niece and nephews from Hawaii to live with her family in Oregon, without expectation of anything in return. She loved making food for family and waiting on her grandchildren. She brought joy and laughter to others, and would offer hugs or a kiss freely. Lani also loved animals. Over the years, she adopted and took in several animals and our family got used to seeing a new cat or dog in her home. Her dogs were her constant companions and she cared for them deeply. She is survived by her husband, John Plummer Jr., her son, Valentino Plummer and his wife Michele, her daughter, Carol Milani Smith and her husband Guy, and her son Ian Plummer. Lani also loved her grandchildren, Valentino (PJ), Nikita, Aidan, Kainoa, and Cierra. Lani’s surviving siblings, Alice (Eguchi), Mildred (Arakaki), Joe, Malo, Eddie, Tina (McDonald), Taka (Wellborn) and Arthur live across the country. Her brother-in-law, Bill and his wife, Lydia were close family. At Lani’s request, there will be no services. Ulu a'e ke welina a kealoha (The growth of the spirit is the essence of love”) A hui hou kakou Tutu. (“Until we meet again grandmother”)