The list of classmates we've lost :

Elizabeth Brock

Birth:

Death:

Diane Buce

Birth: March 11, 1950

Death: December 14, 2020

Diane Buce 

Diane Marie Buce received her angel wings Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, passing from cancer at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital in Hood River, Ore. She was born March 11, 1950, in The Dalles, Ore., to Jack McKinley Buce Jr. and Georgia Grace Johnson Buce. She was the middle child of three siblings, including older brother Jack McKinley Buce III and her younger sister Susan Jeannette Buce.

She grew up in The Dalles on Lambert Street on the east end of town, with Johnson relatives living nearby. She graduated from The Dalles High School in 1968.

She moved to Eugene, Ore., in 1981, where she worked as a nurse’s aide at nursing homes. She moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 1986. She enjoyed camping trips with friends in the Everglades.

She moved back to Oregon in 1994 to help care for her father. She started work at Mid-Columbia Medical Center on May 31, 1994, as a housekeeper, retiring May 31, 2011, after 17 years.

She was very involved with family, often visiting elder relatives and her cousins. In addition to visiting with family, she enjoyed camping, and visits to the Johnson family cabin in Eastern Oregon.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister-in-law, Gloria Maria Petty Buce.

She is survived by her brother, Jack, of Shoreline, Wash.; sister Susan of The Dalles; niece Shanna Geigle (Barry) and great-nieces Emily, Evelyn and Isabella Geigle of Bend, Ore.; and nephew Scott Elwood (Becca) and great-nephews Kessel and Kadyn Elwood of The Dalles. In addition to family, she leaves behind many loving friends.

“Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know that they are always there.”

Grace Buckles

Birth: 22 Mar 1950 The Dalles, Oregon

Death 4 Apr 2002 The Dalles, Oregon

Obituary: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55561946

Joyce Chastain Teurck

Birth: 18 May 1950 Vancouver, Washington

Death: 18 Jun 2015 Ocean Park, Washington

Anthony “Tony' Benson Commander

Birth 16 Mar 1950  The Dalles, Oregon

Death: 20 Aug 2016 The Dalles, Oregon

Jehm Coombs

Birth:

Death:

Thomas Lynn Elliott

  Birth: December 8, 1949

  Death: October 4, 2019 The Dalles, Oregon

https://www.thedalleschronicle.com/tributes/obituaries/thomas-lynn-elliott/article_f301df96-eb86-11e9-9c50-574d62cd346d.html

Charles Verne Evans

Birth 10 Sept 1949 Hood River, Oregon

Death 28 Jul 2001 Bellingham, Washington

Michael Jay Fargher

Birth 23 Oct 1949  The Dalles, Oregon

Death 25 Dec 2018  Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Obituary  https://www.thedalleschronicle.com/obituaries/micahel-j-fargher/article_fb34fb7d-d3b2-55c8-b57e-f9c0373301df.html

Robert “Bob” Edward Forsi

Birth 9 Nov 1949 Brainerd, Minnesota

Death: 7 Mar 1991 Hood River, Oregon

Gary Clarence Gallagher

Birth 14 May 1949

Death: 21 May 2003 Wasco, Oregon

Buried in Gallaher Family Cemetery, The Dalles Oregon

Sam George

Death: January 10, 2020

At his home in Florence, Arizona.
 

Cheryl “Chere” Hammer Jones

Birth 1 Apr 1950 Jackson Minnesota

Death: 3 May 2014 Portland, Oregon

Obituary: https://obittree.com/obituary/us/oregon/hood-river/andersons-tribute-center/cheryl-jones/1862806/

Additonal article:  https://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/local/longtime-youth-advocate-chere-jones-dies/article_36c34432-9261-5ec5-9abd-63c203e7d5db.html

Judy Hicks West

Birth 

Death:August 21, 2021 in  Molalla, Oregon

Facebook message from Sonja Petersen-Talatzko:

"It is with deep sorrow I am letting you allknow that Judy Hicks West passed away on August 21st, 2021. A group of us had seen her and had lunch with her at Spooky's on the 14th and we were shocked to hear of her passing. I don't have all the details but she apparently had either a massive stroke or an aneurysm. The family will have a service at a later date. They will let us know when."

Several classmates commented on how much Judy contributed our our class events and what a good friend she was. 

As more details become available they will be posted.

Wilma Hicks Croissant

Birth: June 22, 1950 in Tacoma, Wash

Death: Oct. 24, 2020 in Portland, Oregon

Wilard Wayne Hinshaw 

Birth: 13 Oct 1948 McMinnville, Oregon

Death: 14 Jul 1993 Portland, Oregon

Joseph “Jody” Alan Hotka

Birth: 22 Aug 1950 The Dalles, Oregon

Death: 23 Jan 1996  Portland, Oregon

Valerie Ann Ingebo

Birth: 11 Apr 1950 Boxeman, Montana

Death: 14 Apr 2005  Troy, New York

Karen Renee Jolliffe

Birth January 6, 1950

Death: August 5, 2020

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic a memorial will be held at a later time.

Jeff Krier

Death: March 22, 2021

Jeffrey Cunningham Krier, age 70, resident of The Dalles, Oregon passed away March 22, 2021. Due to current gathering restrictions Memorial Services will be held at a later date, details will be posted on Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home website once they have been finalized.

Please also visit Jeff's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/people/Jeffrey-Krier/100009988423659

Sylvia Jean Kosse

Birth 27 Jun 1950

Death: 29 Mar 1974  Eugene Oregon

Lee Bradford Lacey

Birth: 8 Feb 1950 Longview, Washington

Death: 15 Feb 2009 Oregon

Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/lee-lacey-obituary?pid=124700341

Cindy Leland

Birth:

Death:

Thom Leslie

Birth:  26 June, 1950 

Death: 5 August, 1950 Salem,Oregon

Thomas “Thom” Richard Leslie, 70, of Salem, Oregon, passed peacefully Wednesday, August 5, 2020, after a 4 year battle with COPD and Congestive Heart Failure at the Salem Hospital in Salem.

Thom was born June 26, 1950 and was adopted at birth by Goldie and Frank Leslie of St. Joseph, Missouri.  At the age of 10, after the death of his mother, Thom went to live with his sister, Beverly and was raised with her 5 children in Oregon.  Beverly and Thom were 20 years apart in age.

Thom graduated from Hood River High School in 1968, in Hood River, Oregon.  He attended Portland State University, in Portland, Oregon, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in 1972 and a Master of Science in 1974, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity.

Thom began his teaching career in the Portland, Oregon area for a few years.  He then settled in the North Bend/Coos Bay area to complete 27 years of teaching at Sunnyhill and Hillcrest Elementary schools. Thom retired from teaching on June 2, 2002. Thom was well respected as an elementary teacher, winning the coveted Crystal Apple Award during his teaching career. Thom was very active, acting and singing in the productions put on by The Little Theater on the Bay.

Thom retired in Tucson, Arizona where he was an active member of the Reveille Men’s Chorus.  He returned to the Northwest in 2012, finally settling in Salem, Oregon to be closer to family. In July of 2020 Thom went to live with his niece Carol Pfaff and her husband Tom, of Independence, Oregon, where he was lovingly cared for until his death. Thom was able to make his own life choices and passed peacefully and with dignity with Carol by his side.

Thom was preceded in death by his sister, Beverly; niece, Sharon Duggan; great-nephew, Glenn Twidwell; his parents; his 2 older brothers and cat, Cisco.

Thom leaves behind 2 nieces; 2 nephews; 15 great-nieces and nephews; 23 great great-nieces and nephews; his Godson, Thomas Patrick; his dear friends, James Curran and Trent Killough; his many friends and cats Libra and Bella.

We remember Thom as a kind and gentle man, with a passion for teaching, singing, acting and the love of his cats. Thom was able to be an organ donor.

A special thank you to the Salem Hospital’s ICU unit and nurses Jessica and Hannah.

Thank you to all of Thom’s friends who were able to reach out and let him know you were thinking of him and sending love, before he passed.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Lee Merriss Curry

Born: Jan. 5, 1950

Death : Feb. 17,1999

Bruce Morgan 

Birth:

Death:

Tom Moser

Birth:

Death 2016 Portland, Oregon

Robert Newson

Birth: Aug 11, 1949

Death: Sept. 19, 2017

Residence: The Dalles, Ore

Alice Parsons

Birth:

Death:

Gloria Petty Bruce

Birth: 23 Jun 1950 Seattle, Washington

Death: 9 Sept 2011  Seattle, Washington

Obituary: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97397304

John Phipps

Birth:

Death:

Pete Rongerude

Birth: 27 May 1950 The Dalles Oregon

Death: 23 Jan 1980 Multnomah, Oregon

Marilyn Sampson

Birth:

Death:

Brian Sauncy

Birth: March 4, 1950

Death: January 18, 2021

Kathy Sexton Kosse

Birth: 25 Jul 1950

Death: 25 Dec 2008 Washington

Daniel Eugene Smith

Birth: 18 Oct 1950

Death: 21 July 2018 The Dalles

Obituary: https://oregon.funeral.com/2018/09/30/obituary-for-daniel-eugene-smith/

Lynn Patrick Smith

Birth: 22 Oct 1950 The Dalles, Oregon

Death: 24 Jul 2001 Oregon City, Oregon

John Charles Swick

Birth: 23 Feb 1950

Death: 25 Dec 1994 Clackamas, Oregon

Janice Lee Swift Gattis

Birth: 6 Feb 1951 Dumas, Texas

Death: 19 Apr 1997

John Michael "Mike" Todd

Birth: 1 Apr 1950

Death: 3 Apr 1991

Burial St Peters Cemetery The Dalles, Oregon

Nancy Usinger Kelly

Birth: 14 Jul 1950 The Dalles, Oregon

Death 14 Mar 2019 Hillsboro, Oregon

"On the evening of March 14, 2019, the world lost a glimmer of light. Nancy Beth Kelly (68), loving wife, mother and grammy passed quietly into the night surrounded by her loving family. Nancy was born in The Dalles, Ore., to Alexander and Irene (Schlitt) Usinger. She was an adventurous child and loved to explore the outdoors with her brother. They spent many summers at their boathouse on the Columbia River. When she was 15, Nancy attended a rec center dance and it was there she met the future love of her life, Brian Kelly. (Future because he asked her to dance and then didn't speak to her again for several months. He just stared at her in the school hallway. In his defense, he was shy and really liked her.) After high school she attended the University of Oregon with Brian and earned her degree in elementary education. She went on to teach at both Witch Hazel and Ladd Acres Elementary schools.
Nancy and Brian were married in 1973 after seven short years of dating. In 1981, her oldest daughter, Erica, was born. Nancy decided to transition her career into a stay at home mom, a career where she truly shined. Three years later, they welcomed the arrival of their youngest daughter, Rachel. Nancy cared for the girls, was a substitute teacher and did the billing for Brian's medical practice.
Nancy embodied all of the wonderful qualities people aspire to be: she was selfless, hard working, loving, beautiful, funny, patient and empathetic. To know Nancy was to love her. She had the gift of being able to talk to anyone and have them walk away feeling as if they were the most important person in her life. She touched everyone she met with her kindness, grace and true warmth. Nancy was an amazing mother and wife, but when her grandchildren came along she outdid herself. "Grammy" doted on her grandchildren, babysitting them whenever she could, taking them on adventures, doing crafts and always smothering them in treats. She was very proud of the time spent and relationships made with her grandchildren.
Nancy was always the heart of her family, but her two-year battle with cancer showed just how strong and brave she was. Everyday she was present after her diagnosis was a testament to her strength and will to be with her family just a little longer.
Her passing has left a hole in many hearts, both old and young. She was preceded in death by her mother and father. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Brian; brother, Scott (wife Chris); her daughters, Erica and Rachel; sons-in-law, Micah and John; and her five cherished grandchildren, Cody, Tyler, Ruby, Drew and Quincy.
. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oregon Humane Society.Please sign the online guest book at www.oregonlive.com/obits"

Brian Williams

Birth:

Death:

Jay Lynn Whitwell

Birth:   March 23, 1950

   Death:    May 22, 2020

Memorial Service: May 22, 2021

Rick Francis Yankee

Birth: 25 Dec. 1949

Death: June 2018, The Dalles, Oregon

Note: if you have additional  information on any of our classmates please contact DiAnne Fentress-Rowe, dfrowe@comcast.net, so we can add information to this page.