Priscilla Yonge Riordan Lamore
Priscilla Lamore, 91, peacefully slipped away from us and this life at home Saturday morning 9/30/2017 in Roseville, CA after a months long decline in health. She is survived by her children Ann Riordan of Tahoe City, CA; Lt Col Mary J. Quinn, USAF, Alexandria, VA; Mike Riordan, Salt Lake City, UT; Malcolm Riordan, Morro Bay, CA and Bill Riordan of Sierra Vista, AZ. Priscilla is also survived by her step-children of Marshall F Lamore who pre-deceased her: Tom Lamore of Ashland, Oregon; John Lamore of Altadena, CA; Karen Wing of Paradise, CA and Marshall F. Lamore Jr. of Allen, TX.
Born Priscilla Yonge and raised in Pensacola, Florida she was the youngest and last to survive of the 5 daughters of Malcolm and Margaret Yonge. Along with her sisters she grew up with many nieces, nephews and cousins including Lucy Wade of Pensacola; Jack Watson of Pensacola; Yonge Watson of Shalimar, Florida, Belle Minge Bishop of Perry, Florida; Joan Guarino of Corolla, NC and ‘brother’ Tommy Watson of Jacksonville, FL. After attending and graduating from Notre Dame College in Baltimore, Maryland, Priscilla returned to Pensacola, meeting and in 1947 marrying Lt William F. J. Riordan, USN, who pre-deceased her in 1989.
Priscilla lived in Santa Barbara, CA from 1959 to 1993. After raising her family Priscilla attended the local Westmont College to earn her teaching credentials, serving in that field at Marymount School, Guadalupe School, St. Vincent’s School and the Cottage Hospital Child Care Center before moving back to Pensacola in 1993.
In both Santa Barbara and Pensacola, Priscilla was steadily active with her heartfelt causes in politics, human rights, women’s rights, peace movements and various church community activities. In everyday life Priscilla treated everyone with equal respect, be they the working person or the mayor.
Priscilla will always be remembered as loving, fun and gracious. She had a way of making everyone feel special. Priscilla touched so many different people while pursuing her passions for politics and education for all.Upon her return to Pensacola she joined the Unitarian Universalist Church where she loved the combination of community, spirituality and activism. Her many efforts earned her a Clara Barton Sisterhood award in 2015.
No one will be surprised that up to even her last days Priscilla steadfastly maintained her trademark grace and dignity, her strong beliefs andherdeep, understated sense of humor.Everything Priscilla was will live on in the effects she had in life and within those who knew her.
Priscilla wished to forgo any formal ceremony, opting for cremation with her ashes spread in the ocean, “I don’t care which one!” Still, all will be heartened in their private remembrances of Priscilla. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the League of Women Voters.