Death Notice: Anthony Richard Neal, 52, Dufur

Anthony Richard Neal age 52, a resident of Dufur, OR, passed away May 19, 2024. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Robert Lee Roberts, 90, The Dalles

Robert Lee Roberts, age 90, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away May 16, 2024.

Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Obituary: Jean Anne (Hanel) Casey, 79, Hood River

Jean Anne (Hanel) Casey, 79 years old, passed away on May 16, 2024, at home with her husband, Carl, of nearly 40 years. He had been her caregiver for the last three years and she was the love of his life.

Along with her identical twin Janet, Jean was born to L. Sterling and Kathleen Hanel in Hood River, Oregon on March 14, 1945.

The Hanel family lived in the Mt. Hood area during the kids’ childhood years. The girls, along with their older brothers Robert and Bill, would walk to the Mt. Hood grade school.

Jean and Janet graduated from Wy‘East High School in the class of ‘63.

Jean met this young man in high school she would eventually marry, Fritz Swyers. They were living on Eastside Road when Fritz joined the Navy. It was during this time she gave birth to their first child, John Allen Swyers in 1965.  A couple years later they moved to the Bremerton, Washington area to be closer to the Navy Base. Ronald Troy, their second son, was born in 1970.

After their marriage ended, Jean and the boys moved to Wyandotte, Oklahoma to be nearer to her sister Janet. Jean raised her boys and waited for about 2 years before deciding to move back to the Hood River area.

After returning to Hood River, Jean married Tom Wilson of Parkdale, and they soon had a daughter Azur Dee in 1978. Tom tried orcharding in the Parkdale area before their marriage ended.

For several years Jean worked for her father at the Hanel Lumber Company upper mill.

It was while working at Hanel Lumber that Jean met and eventually married her current husband, Carl Casey. Both Jean and Carl were avid bowlers at Orchard Lanes in Hood River. Both of them usually bowled several leagues. Until Jean retired from bowling with a knee problem, she carried one of the highest female averages in the house.

Well, one Saturday night in 1984 Carl was getting ready to bowl Moonlight Monte Carlo with friends when Jean came in and asked the proprietor if she could bowl on the same lanes as Carl so she could meet him. Carl ended up asking Jean out and June 6, 1984, began the nearly 40-year love affair, as they did the hard work of blending two families into one. Carl and Jean married on June 28, 1985

, and purchased their home on Hays Drive where they live to the present.

After the sale of Hanel Lumber, the family moved the road crew business down to the Neal Creek mill location where Jean worked as office manager-secretary of Hanel Development Group for approximately 19 years until the decision was made to close the business.

Jean enjoyed visiting grandchildren as often as she could. She and Carl would travel to Southern California, Arizona, and New York City to see their grandchildren. Shortly after Jean retired, her daughter Azur, (along with husband Garcia) moved back to Oregon to raise their two children. Grandma Jean was so delighted she traveled nearly weekly to spend time with her daughter’s kids. After Azur had her third child, Giovanna, Grandma Jean was eager to spend as much time as possible in Portland. Second to seeing grandkids, Jean loved her Starbucks Frappuccino’s. She also enjoyed loving on and playing with puppies, and eating BBQ Pork and lately, Sweet and Sour Chicken at Grace Su’s China Gorge, where she lived for the hugs, she would give to Grace and the entire staff. Jean REALLY loved giving hugs to nearly everyone she met. It was her passion and calling.

Unfortunately, in May of 2021, Jean suffered a major heart attack that caused significant damage to her heart and caused increasing memory loss. Carl became her caregiver, chauffeuring her between doctor visits, rehab, and visitations with grandchildren, until her heart gave way, and she left our earthly home for her new home in Heaven with her Lord, Jesus.

Jean was preceded in death by both parents, as well as her brothers, Robert, and Bill. She is survived by her Husband Carl, son John Swyers and wife Linda of Damascus, OR; son Ronald (Ronnie) Swyers and wife Tammie of Tigard; daughter Azur Scott and husband Garcia of Portland; daughter Karaynn Franko and husband Dave of San Tan Valley, AZ; and daughter Katherine (Kat) Huerta and husband Miguel of The Dalles. She leaves behind 11 grandchildren: Alex and husband Brandon, Kylie, Dietrich, Aria, Giovanna, Grace, James, Alice, Jackson, Abigail, and Michael; Jenni Wessels and husband Dean, Jefferey Pyles and wife Lori, Kristina Wood and husband Brian; great-grandchildren Megan, Austin, Gabriel, Aimee, Brady, Addison, and Alex. and many other extended family members.

Our hearts are broken that you have left us, and we miss you so much Yet we also know you now reside with Jesus along with family and friends who live there. Rest in Peace till we meet once more!! We Will Always Love You!

Services to celebrate Jean’s life and mourn her passing are planned for 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 24th, 2024 at Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.  A reception will follow Jean’s service then graveside committal at Idlewilde Cemetery of Hood River, Oregon.

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

Death Notice: Jim Howard, Underwood Wash.

Jim Howard of Underwood, Wash., passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, May 16th, 2024.

A viewing will be held on May 21st at Gardners Funeral Home at 156 NE Church Ave., White Salmon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A Celebration of Life will follow on May 22 at the Elk’s Lodge in White Salmon, Wash.
For more information, please contact Terrah Howard (360) 710-4033

Death Notice: John Larry Hutchison, 74, The Dalles

John Larry Hutchison, age 74, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away May 14, 2024.

Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: John J. Meracle, 82, The Dalles

John J. Meracle, age 82, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away May 13, 2024. A Graveside Service will be held in Bend, OR in the near future.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home are in care of his arrangements.  

Death Notice: Doris Irene Hammer, 96, The Dalles

Doris Irene Hammer, age 96, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away May 12, 2024.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home are in care of her arrangements.

Obituary: Sally Zuck McBain, The Dalles

Sally Zuck McBain

Sally Zuck McBain

Nov.10, 1947 - April 28, 2024

Sally Zuck McBain Passed away peacefully on April 28, 2024, at The Dalles Health and Rehab Center in The Dalles, OR where she had been in Comfort Care since early January following a stroke just prior to Christmas.

Sally was born on November 10, 1947, in Erie, PA to Clark and Aleta Zuck. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth A. McBain of The Dalles, two sons, Matthew Jones and his wife Denise of Barcelona, Spain and Timothy Jones of Seattle, WA with two grandchildren Nordika and Vienna Jones, and their mother Christine Choiniere, and siblings Martin Zuck and Todd Zuck of Fairview, PA and Christine Jacobsen of San Antonio, TX. She also leaves her cherished dog Mitzi.

Following high school graduation in Erie, Sally attended three years at Mount Union College in Alliance, OH where she met and married William Jones. While he attended Case Western Reserve Medical School in Cleveland, Sally obtained her BA degree in Sociology at Cleveland State University. Following William’s internship at the University of Virginia Medical School, the couple moved to Zuni, NM for William’s two-year stint with the Public Health Service on the Zuni Reservation. It was there that Sally developed a deep affection for the Southwest and Native American culture.

Following her divorce, Sally pursued extensive Masters level coursework in Gerontology at the University of Oregon in Eugene. She then began a 25-year career in Senior Services including Counselor at a senior service program in Ontario, OR, co-owner with her then-husband Michael Sirrine, of MLE In-Home Services in La Grande, OR, nine years as Executive Director of the Areay Agency on Aging in The Dalles and founding Director of the Wyoming Gerontological Association in Casper, WY. During her years in Oregon, Sally wrote a bi-monthly column for several local newspapers and hosted weekly radio programs.

Sally and Ken were married on December 28, 1993, in The Dalles. The couple moved to Carson City, NV in 1995 and then Casper in 2001 where Sally worked with the American Cancer Society along with the WGA. Both Ken and Sally retired in 2004 and relocated to Madoc in Ontario, Canada where most of Ken’s family lived. They returned to Erie, PA in late 2009 to help care for Sally’s parents. Following their passing, they returned to The Dalles in 2010.

Sally always considered the Columbia River Gorge her home.

Sally was a lifetime artist (watercolors), photographer and writer. She blogged about aging for several years and published a most unique book - Soul Portrait - Improving Quality of Life by Making Aging Personal, published by Dog-Ear Publishing in 2012. Along with her book, she has more than 200 poems copyrighted with the Library of Congress.

There will be no memorial services with cremation provided by Bateman Carroll Funeral Home in Gresham, OR. Her husband and sons will disperse her ashes at an undisclosed location. If anyone wishes to donate in her memory, her favorite organizations were The Audobon Society and Nature Conservancy.

Death Notice: Curtis Lyle Watson, 67, The Dalles

Curtis Lyle Watson, age 67, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away May 10, 2024.

Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: John Aaron Warkentin, 70, Maupin

John Aaron Warkentin, age 70, a resident of Maupin, OR, passed away May 12, 2024.

Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Neil Eugene Donegan Jr., 54, The Dalles

Neil Eugene Donegan Jr., age 54, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on May 9, 2024.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of his arrangements.

Death Notice: R. “Bernie” Krager, 89, White Salmon

R. “Bernie” Krager passed away on May 10th, 2024, at home in White Salmon, Washington.  Bernie was born June 8th, 1934 in Twin Falls, Idaho, he was 89 years of age at the time of passing.  

Services are pending with arrangements under the direction of Gardner Funeral Home in White Salmon, Washington.  Visit www.gardnerFH.com to share a story or leave a note for family.      

Obituary: Leanna De (Chick) Espey

Leanna De (Chick) Espey

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.

Death Notices: John Raymond McNeil, 82, Mosier; Gordon Wayne LaFaver, 74, Garrison, MT

John Raymond McNeil, age 82, a resident of Mosier, OR, passed away on May 3, 2024. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Gordon Wayne LaFaver, age 74, a resident of Garrison, MT, passed away on May 3, 2024. Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Obituary: Derrel Eugene Montgomery, 76, Glenwood

Derrel Eugene Montgomery passed away peacefully on April 22, 2024, with his wife and children by his side. He was 76 years old.

Derrel was born in Sunnyside, WA on July 26, 1947, to Orval and Wilma Montgomery, they lived in Prosser, WA. He had two sisters, Shirley and Karen. Their family moved from Prosser to Glenwood in 1952 where he spent the rest of his life.

He graduated from Glenwood High School in 1965. After graduating from high school, he married Carole Steinbach in 1967, they had four children.

In 1987, Derrel met Marlene Odegaard, they later married in 1992. Derrel and Marlene enjoyed spending time with their grandkids and trips to the coast.

Derrel worked in construction most of his adult life. He worked many years for James Dean Construction and retired in 2010. He coached Babe Ruth back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he also coached High School Girls’ Basketball for 4 years.

Derrel loved his family, his dogs, and all sports. He spent many years following his kids and grandkids watching whatever sport they may be involved in until he was no longer able. He could usually be heard in the stands at basketball games yelling with his longtime friend Tom. He also enjoyed hunting with his dad and later in life, his boys. 

After Derrel retired, he enjoyed driving around the Glenwood Valley with his dog Axle. He made many stops to visit with family & friends. He thoroughly enjoyed having such great friends throughout his life.

He is survived by his wife, Marlene of Glenwood, his children; Aaron & Jenny Montgomery, Glenwood, Clint & Samantha Montgomery, Wasco, Lisa & Frank Randall, Centerville, and Shara & James Bartek, Glenwood. Also, his stepchildren Darren & Elizabeth Jones and Darrick Jones, Glenwood, his sisters Shirley Clift, The Dalles, Karen & Richard Hansen, Glenwood, 13 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many friends. He was preceded in death by both his parents.

There will be a Celebration of Life on June 1, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the Glenwood School, a dinner will follow. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Gardner Funeral Home • 156 NE Church Ave, White Salmon, Washington (509) 493-1323. Please visit www.GardnerFH.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.

Death Notice: Duane E Knight, 83, The Dalles

Duane E Knight, age 83, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away May 5, 2024.

Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Christopher William Wallace, 39, The Dalles

Christopher William Wallace, age 39, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away May 3, 2024.

Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Richard Edwin Hunt, 61, Dufur

Richard Edwin Hunt, age 61, a resident of Dufur, OR, passed away on April 30,2024.

Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Victor Pavlenko “Vic”, 79, Hood River

Victor Pavlenko “Vic” passed away April 15th, 2024 at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital in Hood River, Oregon. Vic was born July 9, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois and was 79 years of age at the time of passing.   

A celebration of Vic’s life will be held on Saturday, May 11 at 3 PM at Riverside Community Church, 317 State Street, Hood River, OR 97031.

Services are pending with arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.  Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.

Death Notice: Patricia Lou Bennett “Patty”, 94, Hood River

Patricia Lou Bennett “Patty” formerly of Richland, Washington passed away on April 18th, 2024 in Hood River, Oregon. Patty was born on August 2nd, 1929, and was 94 years of age at the time of passing.  Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.  Family encourages memorials to be made in Patty’s name to; Guide Dogs for the blind (donate.guidedogs.com). 

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