VANESSA POORBOY

Vanessa Jean Poorboy returned to the arms of her loving Savior on Monday, September 13, 2021, after a four year battle with cancer. In her final moments, Vanessa’s family gathered around her to pray over her, sing worship songs, and express how deeply she was loved – a fitting goodbye for a woman who was known for her steadfast faith, radiant joy, and heart for serving others.

Vanessa was born in Los Angeles, CA on February 19, 1957, the oldest of four children to parents Martha Eloise (Taylor) and Lloyd Brumage. Her family lived in San Dimas and Oxnard before settling in Camarillo.

In 1972, Vanessa met James Lee Poorboy while the two were on a Christmas carolling tour through hospitals around Ventura County. They married at First Baptist Church of Camarillo on November 26, 1976.

Family, ministry, and travel were Vanessa’s great passions in life. She and Jim had three daughters: Corban, Cristin, and Caylynn. Raising them was a great source of pride and joy for Vanessa. When the girls were young, she would make clothes for them. As they got older and had children of their own, Vanessa was by each one’s side through labor and delivery, and relished her duties as a grandma. Throughout her extended family, Vanessa often served as cheerleader and documentarian, working hard to both create, and capture, moments big and small.

Alongside her husband, she served in ministry at numerous churches across the country – in Kentucky, Idaho, and Alaska – and all throughout California. As Jim handled pastoral and administrative duties, Vanessa would often head up the music and women’s ministries. Her infectious laugh and gentle demeanor endeared her to everyone she met.

Vanessa leaves behind her husband of nearly 45 years, Jim; her mother Eloise; sister Jamie (husband Kevin) Cook; brothers Matthew Brumage (wife Erin) and Doug Brumage (wife Aimee); daughters Corban Torstenson (husband David), Cristin Harrell (husband John), and Caylynn McAllister (husband Logan); and seven grandchildren: Caleb, Jackson, Journey, Clementine, Alaina, Analeigh, and Archer.

She is reunited with her father Lloyd, and gets to meet her granddaughter Ruby Jean.