Obituary: Marva Jo Deal, 84, Hood River

Oct 1

Written By Columbia Community Connection

Marva Jo Deal, 84, passed away peacefully on September 24, 2026, at Hawk’s Ridge Assisted Living in Hood River, Oregon. She was born on July 16, 1942, in Salina, Kansas, to Howard Leslie Mortimer and Vera Lowine (Isaacson) Mortimer. Marva Jo was the oldest of three sisters.

Marva Jo graduated from Salina High School in 1960. After high school, she began working as an administrative assistant for the Kansas State Highway Commission, where she met Clifton Eugene Deal, a civil engineer. The two were married on October 27, 1963, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Salina, Kansas.

Marva Jo and Clifton began their married life in Salina, where their two children, Ward and Heather, were born. Clifton’s work took the family to Frankfurt, Kansas, and Lincoln, Nebraska, for short periods before they returned to Salina. In 1982, the family moved to Gresham, Oregon, where Marva Jo and Clifton lived for many years. In October 2025, Marva Jo moved to Hawk’s Ridge Assisted Living in Hood River, where she spent her final year.

Throughout her life, Marva Jo enjoyed learning and continued her education at Mt. Hood Community College, earning an Associate of Arts degree in June 1991. Marva Jo worked in several fields throughout her life, including medical records for a medical office and as an assistant at a law firm in Salina. She was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who found great joy in spending time with the people she loved.

She and Clifton were also world travelers, collecting wonderful memories, stories, and gifts along the way. Marva Jo especially cherished her friendships. One treasured reminder of a friendship lasting more than 40 years was a bracelet given to her dear friend Barb Topham, engraved with the words, “A true friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart.”

Marva Jo had many interests and enjoyed bowling, sewing, gardening, music, and singing in church choirs. She loved spending time with family and friends and was known for her beautiful smile and loving nature.

Her faith and service to others were important parts of her life. Marva Jo was active at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Salina and later at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gresham. Over the years, she served as a Girl Scout leader, PTA president, treasurer for Church Women United, and was a member of the Beta Epsilon Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha International and the League of Women Voters. She also enjoyed being part of her church choirs.

Marva Jo is survived by her husband, Clifton Eugene Deal, of Hood River; her son, Ward Deal, and his wife, Donna, of Nampa, Idaho; and her daughter, Heather Deal-Wellenstein, and her husband, Robert, of Hood River, Oregon. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Danielle Derig, Devin Deal, Conor Deal, Erika Wellenstein, and Sebastian Wellenstein, and her beloved “grand puppy,” Rosie, a Boston Terrier whom Marva Jo lovingly nicknamed “Rosie Posie.” She was preceded in death by her sisters, Joyce Hill Poague and Donna Lee Johnson.

Marva Jo was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Her warm smile, generous spirit, love of family, and ability to make lasting friendships will remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

A Celebration of Life for Marva Jo will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gresham, Oregon. The date and time will be announced; Pastor Aimee Bruno will officiate, with a reception to follow. A private visitation for immediate family will be held on September 30, 2026