Celebration of Life for Carolyn Sperry and Son Joshua on Saturday, April 17th — Columbia Community Connection News Mid-Columbia Region

A public Celebration of Life Ceremony for Joshua Sperry & Carolyn Mae Sperry is planned for Saturday, April 17th at Calvary Baptist Church of The Dalles.

Joshua’s service will be held at 11 a.m. A reception will follow. And Carolyn’s service will be held at 2 p.m.

The two celebrations were combined as the mother and son died within 11 months of each other and pandemic guidelines prevented larger public gatherings at the time of Joshua’s passing.

The following obituaries are courtesy of Anderson’s Tribute Center.

Carolyn Mae Sperry

Carolyn Mae Sperry of The Dalles, Oregon went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday March 14th, 2021. She passed away at home where she had been cared for by family.

She was born on May 3rd, 1946 in Phoenix Arizona to William Fredrick and Florence Marie Galbreath Fredrick. Several moves throughout Northern California landed the family in Cloverdale where her Father continued to Pastor. Carolyn, along with her brother and sisters, had a love for music. She loved to play the accordion, and played the saxophone in Jr. High and High School.

After graduating High School in 1964 Carolyn moved to San Francisco to attend Simpson Bible College where she would continue her love for music as a choralist in the chorale for the college. It was at Simpson that Carolyn would meet the love of her life, future husband Donald Jay Sperry in 1966. While going to school at Simpson, Carolyn worked as a Bookkeeper for an accounting firm in San Francisco.

Carolyn married Don on July 6th, 1968 in Santa Rosa. They began their life together while Don was stationed at Travis Airforce Base in Fairfield California. In 1971 she gave birth to her first son Joshua.In the summer of 1972 the family moved to Bellingham Washington where Don attended college and Carolyn worked for the state of Washington. In 1975 Carolyn gave birth to her second son Caleb. In 1976 they moved to The Dalles where Don began a new teaching job.

She raised her boys, served in her church Calvary Baptist and also worked in various jobs in the community where she developed life-long friendships. Carolyn enjoyed developing new friendships because of her love for people. She brought joy into every room she entered, and those who knew her were better for it.

Carolyn is survived by her husband, Donald Jay Sperry of The Dalles Oregon, son Caleb Jay Sperry and grandchildren Isabella and Grady Sperry all of Hood River Oregon, grandchildren Austin Laster, Leah, Bradley and Jacob Sperry all of Spanaway Washington. Sister Sherri Sellars of Minnesota, Brother William Fredrick Jr. of South Carolina, sisters Linda Mitchner and Twila Furze of California. She is predeceased by her son Joshua Marc Sperry who passed on April 25th 2020. Father William Fredrick who passed in 2002, and Mother Florence Marie Galbreath Fredrick who passed in 2017.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Hope Medical Clinic www.hopemedicalclinic.org or c/o Anderson's Tribute Center • Celilo Chapel 204 E. 4th Street, The Dalles, Oregon 97058..

A Private Committal Ceremony for Joshua Sperry & Carolyn Sperry at Willamette National Cemetery is planned for Friday, April 16th, 2021.

A public Celebration of Life Ceremony for Joshua Sperry & Carolyn Sperry is planned for Saturday, April 17th @ Calvary Baptist of The Dalles, Oregon.

Joshua’s service @ 11am

• reception gathering between services

Carolyn’s service @ 2pm

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • Celilo Chapel 204 E. 4th Street, The Dalles, Oregon 97058.

Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.

Joshua (Josh) Marc Sperry

Joshua (Josh) Marc Sperry of Spanaway, Washington passed away April 25th, 2020 at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington.

Josh was born on October 23, 1971 in Vallejo, CA. He moved with his parents Donald and Carolyn Sperry and brother Caleb to The Dalles Oregon in 1976 where his parents currently reside.

Raised on a farm on the outskirts of The Dalles, Josh grew up spending his time learning to work the farm. Josh was an athlete and he loved being outdoors. He spent much of his childhood hunting and fishing with family and friends. He was even known to capture a rattlesnake or two. An active member of their church at the time, Christian Missionary Alliance, Josh grew up with a strong faith that carried him through his life. He graduated with honors from The Dalles High School in 1990 where he also lettered in wrestling and football.

Josh worked with his good friend Sheldon Ayers the summer after high school on a farm east of The Dalles. At the end of that summer, he left The Dalles to go to college at Linfield in McMinnville, Oregon where he earned a BS in Science with a focus on Biology.

Josh joined the U.S. Army in July of 1995. He received training as a Diagnostic Imaging Technician. From there he was stationed in Germany with a short stint in Italy. He then returned to the U.S. and was stationed at Fort Hood inTexas. Shortly after the birth of his daughter Leah, he was transferred to Fort Sam Houston in Texas. While in Texas he received his commission as a Nuclear Medicine Science Officer. Once commissioned he received his first assignment in Honolulu Hawaii at Tripler Army Medical Center. After being stationed in Hawaii for three years he transferred to Fort Knox Kentucky where his two younger sons Bradley and Jacob were born. He then transferred to Joint Base Lewis - McChord in 2008 where he retired as Major in 2014.

Josh is survived by his children; Austin Nathaniel Laster age 24, Leah Renee Sperry age 21, William Bradley Sperry age 15, and Jacob Ryan Sperry age 14 all of Spanaway, Washington. Parents, Donald and Carolyn Sperry of The Dalles Oregon. Brother Caleb Sperry, Niece Bella Sperry and Nephew Grady Sperry all of Hood River Oregon.

A memorial service is being planned for a future date at Calvary Baptist Church in The Dalles. The family plans to select a date once the Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted and there is no limit on the number of people gathering together. They thank you for your patience, there will be an announcement made once the date has been selected.

Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to view additional information or leave a note of condolence for the family. In lieu of flowers, there will be a memorial fund set up with Camp Morrow (go to www.campmorrow.org and use the donate tab) to donate to the Cabin Fund in Joshua Sperry’s name. Checks may also be made payable to Camp Morrow with Joshua’s name on the memo line they can also be sent c/o Anderson’s Tribute Center Celilo Chapel (204 E 4th Street, The Dalles, Oregon, 97058).

The family of Joshua Sperry would like to say a special thank you to the incredible show of love, support and prayers they have received during this time. “Our community and church friends in The Dalles, Josh’s classmates from high school and college, coaches and teachers in The Dalles, military friends and coworkers in Tacoma, the Madigan hospital staff, the hospital staff at St. Joseph Medical Center CHI Franciscan, and Josh’s neighborhood family in Spanaway. Your continued love and care have been a beautiful example of the hands and feet of Jesus in our lives. We greatly appreciate you all.”

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • Celilo Chapel 204 E. 4th Street, The Dalles, Oregon 97058.

Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.