Leanna De (Chick) Espey was born on June 16, 1942. In The Dalles, Ore., to Agnes and Bub Morris. She was joined by a little brother, Art Morris, in 1949. She grew up on a wheat ranch on Juniper Flat, before meeting her husband, Fred Ashley Jr., in high school.

Fred and Chick were married in 1959, shortly after she graduated. Soon their family was complete with the births of Freddy in 1962, Morris in 1965 and Chuck in 1967. Being a wife of a business owner and raising three active boys was her full-time job. The boys’ teachers described all three as “spit-shined” wherever they went. She had dinner on the table, clothes on the ironing board and keys in the ignition to shuttle the boys to sports practice, 4-H and ranch responsibilities.

In 1986, after her last child graduated, Chick moved to The Dalles to begin the second phase of her adult life. Her marriage to Fred was over and she began working at Albertsons. Sporting her seasonal earrings, she LOVED her job as checker. People describe standing in the longest line just to get to come through her check stand. She flirted with the babies and was happy to help raise all of the teenagers in town trying to slip through on fake ID and then happily refusing to sell them beer.

Meanwhile, she met her soulmate, David Espey, who opened up her world. They were married in 1988. Suddenly, they were in a whirlwind of travel, sports and adventures. They loved to travel to Mariners and Seahawks games, the Pro Bowl in Hawaii and every single game she could get to for every child she loved. Granddaughter Alyssa’s basketball and volleyball. Grandson Brandon’s football, then later going to his band gifs, dancing to her grandson’s vocals. She was a big fan of the demolition derby, especially when Fred and Brandon were dominating! She traveled to Virginia to watch her granddaughters in track, cheerleading, softball and marching band. She traveled to California to watch her great-nephews play. When Jennifer and Sheri joined the family, they brought a new batch of kiddos to support. She watched her neighbor kids in their sports, her grandchildren, step-grandchildren and even her great-grandchildren play. All the kids were Chick’s kids. She was the only spectator there in support of the umpire!

Probably the most notable thing about Chick was her jump in and help work ethic. (A trait she passed on to her sons!) At Gateway, her beloved church, she was always greeting people for the Christmas Fair, volunteering for Vacation Bible School, helping set up or tear down some event, pulling weeds or serving others in some capacity. She was the starter of the clapping in every worship song, and had a direct red phone to Heaven if you ever needed a prayer. Heaven is a little bit more crowded because of her witness here on earth.

Her friendships ran deep. Her groups of friends were lifelong, or brand new today. She was always up for a gathering, celebrating EVERYTHING with the help of her condo group.

Chick was preceded in death by her parents, Bub and Aggie Morris, her husband David, son Morris and her brother Art Morris. She is survived by her sons, Fred Ashley (Sheri), Chuck Ashley (Jennifer); granddaughter Alyssa Ashley (Erik); grandson Brandon (Tina); great-granddaughter Nicole; her daughters Lisa Puckett (Ted) and Julie Seto (Brian); son Michael Espey; granddaughters Camille and Laura Puckett; her niece Debbie Savercool (Jeff) and Ben and Sam Savercool; and nephew Cub (Becky) and his two children. She shared grandmotherly love for five step grandchildren and 12 step great-grandchildren. Chick would also want the Rubio and Johnson clans also mentioned as family.

Chick passed away on April 25, 2024, in her home, ushered to her 82nd birthday celebration with the King!

A celebration of life will be held on June 8 at 5 p.m. at Gateway Presbyterian Church, 1111 Dry Hollow Road, The Dalles. We will have a small gathering at Kelley Cemetery on Sunday at 10 a.m. in Maupin.