RECORDS
A4 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAy, DECEMbER 11, 2019
OBITUARIES
Robert Clarence Reid
Kathryn Marion Johnson (Camerotas, Custer, Cooper, McKinney)
Irrigon
Milton-Freewater
August 14, 1924 — December 3, 2019
December 24, 1928 — November 29, 2019
Robert Clarence Reid, sawing logs and his time
95, of Irrigon, Oregon, died crafting hope chests, bird
Tuesday, December 3, 2019, houses, jewelry boxes, and
in Hermiston with family other knickknacks, and
by his side. He was born on sharing them with family,
August 14, 1924, in Heppner friends and other crafters.
to parents Clarence
Robert also loved
and Viola Reid.
music and spend-
Robert
was
ing time with his
raised in multiple
family.
Eastern
Oregon
He is sur-
vived by his chil-
communities and
dren
Loraine
attended school in
Wilson (Floyd),
John Day. His first
Raymond Reid
child was born in
(Deena),
Janie
1944 and shortly
Reid
Kepler
(Dar-
after,
Robert
ryl),
Judy
enlisted in the U.S.
Walston (Michael
Army where he
Bothom), Debbie
was a committed
Bloom (Bill) and
WWII soldier. He
son-in-law Steve
proudly served on
Okinawa and in Korea and Conlee.
He is preceded in death by
was honorably discharged
as a sergeant in 1946 and his parents, his wife Hazel,
received a letter from Pres- siblings James Reid, Russell
ident Roosevelt for his ser- Reid, Lola Houtchin, Clara
vice in Korea.
Whitney and Mary John-
Robert moved back to son, and children Roberta
John Day, then Spray and Conlee, Melba Mitchell and
on to Kinzua where he Neil Methias. Robert had 26
worked for the local saw- grandchildren, 58 great-, 28
mills for several years. He great-great-, and nine great-
then moved to Hermiston great-great-grandchildren,
and worked at C & B Feed- and numerous nieces and
lot. In 1979, he moved to nephews.
Heppner and married Hazel
The family would like to
Spivey. Robert worked at thank Good Shepherd Hos-
ODOT until his retirement. pital for their tender lov-
He remained in Heppner for ing care. For those wishing
30 years before settling in to make a donation in honor
of Robert, they can be made
Irrigon.
Robert always kept busy. to the “Wounded Warriors
He spent many days hunting Project,” P.O. Box 758517,
and camping when he was Topeka, KS 66675-8517.
younger, and his love for
A Celebration of Life was
fishing continued through- held on Sunday, December 8
out his adventurous life. He at 2 p.m. at the Harkenrider
also enjoyed working with Senior Center, 255 N.E. Sec-
leather and raising animals, ond St., Hermiston, Oregon.
Arrangements by Swee-
especially his sheep. Rob-
ert’s greatest love, his wood- ney Mortuary of Heppner.
working, started early in You may sign the online
life. He built himself two condolence book at swee-
homes, but he most loved neymortuary.com.
Leo C. ‘Lee’ Geissel Jr.
Umatilla
January 8, 1944 — November 29, 2019
Leo C. ‘Lee’ Geissel Jr.
passed away on Novem-
ber 29, 2019, at his home in
Umatilla surrounded by his
loving family
at the age of 75.
Lee
was
born
Janu-
ary 8, 1944, in
Tacoma, Wash-
ington, to Leo
C. Geissel Sr.
and Betty Gra-
ham
Geis-
sel. The fam-
Geissel
ily lived in Gig
Harbor, Wash-
ington, where
he
attended
school through
the seventh grade. They
moved briefly to Richland,
Washington, and later to
Milton-Freewater where he
attended high school and
graduated from McLough-
lin (Mac-Hi) in 1962.
Lee enlisted in the Army
in May of 1962. He was
a field maintenance tank
mechanic and served in
Germany for two years.
After completing his
tour of duty, he moved back
to Milton-Freewater and
went to work for the United
States Postal Service as a
city letter carrier, and was
later appointed to postmas-
ter in Athena, Oregon. In
1982 Lee was promoted
to postmaster in Umatilla,
Oregon. He retired from
that position in January of
1999 after a 36-year career.
He married his wife and
soul mate, Ellen, on Octo-
ber 10, 1992.
Lee always loved to
travel. Following his retire-
ment, he set out with the
goal of visiting all 50 states,
which he completed, with
the exception of Alaska.
He loved the history of the
open road and he and his
wife traveled old Route
66 through California and
Arizona. He also loved
NASCAR and attended
races as often as possi-
ble. He loved clas-
sic cars and owned
and showed several
over the years. Other
interests
included
hunting,
fishing,
rooting for the Ore-
gon Ducks, and also
hunting mushrooms
with his family.
Lee has left a leg-
acy of love, and a
huge void in the life
of his loved ones.
He was preceded
in death by his par-
ents, Leo and Betty Geis-
sel. He is survived by his
wife Ellen; son Chuck
(Donna) Geissel of Mil-
ton-Freewater, son Ken
(Dena) Geissel of Herm-
iston, and daughter Heidi
Geissel, also of Hermis-
ton; stepdaughters Jaimie
(Arcadius) St. Laurent of
Eatonville,
Washington,
Mystie (Jeremy) Grover
of Prineville, and Allison
(John) Spurlock, also of
Prineville; seven grandchil-
dren; 10 stepgrandchildren;
two great-grandchildren,
and seven stepgreat-grand-
children; sister Suzie (Ron)
Sams, brother Glen (Cheryl)
Geissel, and sister Gretchen
(Greg) Baker, all of Walla
Walla, Washington.
A memorial service was
held on Monday, December
9, 2019, at 1 p.m. at Mun-
selle-Rhodes Funeral Home,
902 S. Main, Milton-Free-
water, OR 97862.
We wish to express our
deepest gratitude to Vange
John Memorial Hospice.
Their care and support was
deeply appreciated.
To leave a online condo-
lence, visit www.munseller-
hodes.com.
OBITUARY POLICY
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541-276-8314, placed via the funeral home or in person at the Hermiston Herald or East
Oregonian offices. For more information, call 541-966-0818 or 1-800-522-0255, x221.
Kathryn (“Kay”) was to New Iberia, Louisiana,
born to Milbra High- where he trained jet pilots
tower Johnson and Her- and Kay joined the other
bert Cephus Johnson in Navy wives and families
Vernon, Florida. Her older entertaining themselves and
brother, Herbert C. John- the naval community with
son Jr. (“Coot”),
plays and music.
and she were for-
The family lived
tunate to have
on a small part (6
hard-working,
acres) of a large
enterprising par-
Southern plan-
tation and had
ents and grand-
parents.
They
lots of dogs, cats,
chickens, ducks,
lived next door to
and two ponies
their grandmother
Johnson
that were an abso-
for a time, and
lute dream come
Kay had access to
true for daughter
a piano and piano
Kittee.
lessons, which her
From
there
mother and father
the family moved
both
strongly
to Carlisle Bar-
supported. “Kay
racks, Pennsyl-
Piano” was an
vania,
where
incredibly gifted,
Jack attended the
well-rounded pia-
nist and singer.
Army War Col-
lege and was
She played pas-
commissioned
sionately
until
a commander in
right up to her
the Navy upon
death. Her love of
his graduation.
piano shaped her
As always, Kay
life and her world.
was the center
Kay was very
of any musical
glamorous
and
undertakings at
a natural enter-
tainer. She played piano school or among the mil-
and organ (and several itary community, which
other instruments, includ- included Army and Navy.
ing ukulele and accordion
The family then returned
as well), sang in churches, back to the same house
choirs, plays, “senior fol- in San Diego, California,
lies” groups, even the San where the children resumed
Diego Chorale Club, and their earlier friendships.
many restaurants and night- The Beatles hit the main-
clubs. She met at least two stream, and Kay appreci-
of her husbands while play- ated the musicianship of
them and numerous other
ing in nightclubs.
Her first husband was rock bands. She added the
Sam Camerotas, a man of music of the Sixties to her
Greek heritage whose fam- classical, jazz, Broadway,
ily had various business and nightclub repertoire.
enterprises in the South, During his cruises, Jack had
including a restaurant. That made numerous reel-to-reel
marriage was brief and did tape recordings of dozens
not produce any children.
of record albums of every
Kay
next
married kind. These were played
Prentice Jackson Custer for years and years in the
(“Jack”), a very handsome Custer home, giving some
career Navy pilot whom she of the children a very large
met in Pensacola. Jack was library of songs and lyrics
raising his young daughter, for the rest of their lives.
Pennee, only 2 years old,
Finally, saving the best
when they met. Jack had for last, the family moved to
served as an aviator/navi- what would be Jack’s final
gator in World War II. Kay duty station: Hawaii. Kay
fell in love with both Jack had always been a gifted
and his adorable daughter, seamstress and knitter, and
and they wed in 1950. Son in Hawaii she indulged
Prentice Jackson Custer Jr. her love of the very color-
followed in 1951, daugh- ful local fashions by mak-
ter Kittee Custer in 1952, ing dozens and dozens of
son Michael Steven Custer aloha shirts, muumuus, gor-
in 1954, and son Allen geous flowered dresses, and
Rockford Custer in 1957! “jams,” a style of low-slung
The five children traveled shorts worn by everyone
around the country with who loved the Islands. The
their mother and father, fol- entire family was a walking
lowing Jack to duty sta- garden of flowered shirts
tions in the southeast in and clothing.
early days. Jack was then
After Jack retired from
assigned to duty at Coro- the Navy, he and Kay
nado, California, near San divorced. Kay immedi-
ately applied her substantial
Diego.
From Southern Califor- musical talents to numer-
nia Jack was transferred ous positions, playing piano
Kathleen Joyce Trott
and singing all over Oahu.
She played at Shakey’s
Pizza in Kaneohe, which
happened to be next door
to Honey’s Lounge, owned
by the mother of the very
famous entertainer Don Ho
and where Don got his start.
Kay also played and sang at
Pinky’s Broiler, a local mid-
size restaurant just outside
the Kaneohe Marine Corps
Air Station. The Marine
base provided a captive
audience for the glamorous
torch singer. The food and
drinks were good, the enter-
tainment was fabulous, and
Kay was getting a lot of
good press. She was soon
hired to work in a few large
hotels with piano bars in
Waikiki, including the Ilikai
Hotel’s Grotto Lounge, and
was invited to guest play at
other piano bars when she
visited them. With her sew-
ing talent as well, she made
striking outfits for her gigs
in Waikiki, and she enjoyed
this very much.
While working at Pin-
ky’s Broiler, Kay had met
Joe Cooper. He was in the
Air Force, about to retire
and planning to work in
Iran during the oil boom
there. When Joe left, Kay
sold her home in Hawaii
to move back to Pensac-
ola, where her parents were
aging, so she could spend
much more time with them.
After she arrived and settled
there, she and Joe divorced.
Kay stayed in Pensacola
40 more years, taking care
of her parents until their
deaths, playing piano, and
working for Baroco Electric
Construction as a secretary.
She met and married Les-
ter (“Buddy”) McKinney,
whom she had met through
an office friend. Unfortu-
nately, Buddy had a chronic
illness, and after several
years they divorced. Along
with her office job, Kay
continued with her music in
church and playing for two
“senior follies” entertain-
ment groups right up until
she became incapacitated
at 89.
Kay’s son Mike had
moved his family to Pensac-
ola when he learned he had
cancer. Mike survived can-
cer for several years, long
enough to raise his chil-
dren and settle his family
in a lovely home near Kay.
As Kay aged into her 80s
(still working two music
jobs and caring for her large
house and rambling yard),
she developed very close
and loving relationships
with Mike’s widow Stacy
and all six of Mike’s chil-
dren from two marriages.
Kay suddenly took ill in
early 2018. Son Jack imme-
diately flew to her side from
Kauai, and grandsons Jason,
Mike, and Nick helped take
care of her in her home in
Pensacola while she was
so sick. Kay survived but
did not completely recover.
At 89, after a brief hospital
stay with a high fever, she
was no longer able to live
independently. Her kids and
grandkids helped her move
into a lovely assisted liv-
ing facility, Homestead Vil-
lage, near Pensacola, where
she had two pianos to play!
And play she did. She hap-
pily found her own brother,
Coot Johnson, living in
the same facility with his
wife, and they had many
happy months together at
Homestead.
A year later, Kay’s
daughter, Kittee, found a
gorgeous assisted living
facility in her tiny town of
Milton-Freewater, Oregon,
just minutes from Kittee’s
office and horse ranch. The
entire family assisted with
the planning and execution
of Kay’s move to Oregon. In
May 2019 Kay moved into
her new home and abso-
lutely loved it there. Again
she had two pianos to play!
She went home with Kittee
on weekends to stay at the
ranch and watch the horses
and other critters. She just
absolutely loved her home
and her visits to the ranch.
In October 2019 Kay
suddenly began complain-
ing of pain in her right
shoulder. In just a few short
weeks the pain became
excruciating, and the fam-
ily learned that Kay’s can-
cer of decades ago had
returned and spread so
far and fast that there was
nothing that could be done.
She immediately started
on hospice care to amelio-
rate the pain. Kay passed
peacefully on November
29, 2019.
Kay is survived by
daughters Pennee (now
Kuon Hunt, husband Dale)
and Kittee, and son Jack
(wife Maiko); grandchil-
dren Wendi Kuon, Ko’ae
Hart (Kuon’s children);
Kate Chastain, Rey Allen
(Kittee’s children), Lehua,
Kelly, and Karla Custer
(Jack’s children); Stacy
Custer, widow of Mike, and
their children Jason, Dawn,
Adam, Nicholas, and Jack
Custer; Michael Custer
Jr. (son of Sheri and Mike
Custer); and Kay’s brother,
Coot Johnson, and his beau-
tiful daughters Tani, Stacee,
and Christy. She was prede-
ceased by sons Michael and
Rocky Custer and by her
parents.
She will be buried next
to her beloved youngest
son, Rocky, in Pensacola, in
the spring of 2020.
Don Eldon Walker
Umatilla
Hermiston
May 27, 1953 — November 29, 2019
June 7, 1950 — December 3, 2019
Kathleen Joyce Trott
of Umatilla was born
May 27, 1953, in Asto-
ria, Oregon, the daughter
of Gregg and Lura (Rob-
son) Trott. She passed
away in Umatilla on Fri-
day, November
29, 2019, at the
age of 66.
Kathleen
graduated from
Lewis and Clark
High School in
Spokane in 1971.
She lived in the
communities of
Tacoma, Wash.,
Tucson,
Ariz.,
and Spokane, Wash.,
before moving to Uma-
tilla, Ore., 20 years ago.
She worked in retail
management for over
20 years. The last 12
years she worked as a
records clerk at the Uma-
tilla Chemical Depot for
Washington Group Inter-
national, being one of the
final staff to leave the
chemical demilitariza-
tion project at the proj-
ect’s completion.
Kathleen enjoyed gar-
dening, growing flowers,
photography and mak-
ing jewelry. Her pet cats,
all five of them, were her
children.
She was preceded
in death by her father,
Gregg Trott, and a
brother, Richard Trott.
She is survived by
her mother, Lura Trott;
brother David
and
wife
Sheila Trott;
and extended
f a m i l y
members.
A memo-
rial gather-
ing will be
announced at
Trott
a later time.
The fam-
ily would like to thank
the doctors and wonder-
ful nurses at the Tri-Cit-
ies Cancer Center, the
staff of Vange John
Memorial Hospice, Dr.
Mark Donnelly of Good
Shepherd Medical Cen-
ter Emergency Depart-
ment, the staff of Good
Shepherd Personal Home
Care, and John and Ken
of Burns Mortuary.
Arrangements
by
Burns
Mortuary
of
Hermiston. To leave an
online condolence for the
family please go to www.
burnsmortuaryhermis-
ton.com.
Don Eldon Walker of on home improvement proj-
Hermiston was born June ects. He enjoyed going fish-
7, 1950, in Okarche, Okla- ing and was a member of the
homa, the son of William and V.F.W. Desert Post #4750 in
Stella (Fry) Walker. He passed Hermiston.
away in Hermis-
He was pre-
ton on December
ceded in death by
3, 2019, at the age
his parents; broth-
of 69.
ers Bob and Billy;
He
attended
and sisters Maxine,
school and grad-
Edith and Wynema.
uated from high
He is survived
school in Walla
by his wife of 42
Walla, Wash., in
years, Christine;
1968. After high
Walker
sons Jodey and
school, he served
wife Cynthia Bal-
as a jet mechanic
lard, and Thomas
in the Air Force for
and wife Katrina
four years during
Walker; daughters
the Vietnam War.
Stella and husband
After his honorable discharge, Kirt Hickey, and Melinda and
he lived in Redding, Calif., husband David West; broth-
where he attended two years ers Jack Walker and Thomas
of college.
Walker; 13 grandchildren; and
Don married Christine many nieces, nephews and
Ballard on May 26, 1977, in extended family members.
Walla Walla, Wash. The cou-
Viewing will be Friday,
ple lived in Walla Walla and December 13 from 4-7 p.m. at
Touchet, Wash., before mov- Burns Mortuary. A funeral ser-
ing to Hermiston in 1991.
vice will be held at 4 p.m. Sat-
He worked as an electri- urday, December 14, 2019, at
cian for KIE Electrical Sup- Burns Mortuary chapel, 685
ply and Crescent Electric for W. Hermiston Ave., Hermis-
many years. He then worked ton, OR 97838.
as a diesel electrician for
Arrangements by Burns
Union Pacific Railroad Hin- Mortuary of Hermiston. To
kle Yard for 22 years, retiring leave an online condolence,
in 2017.
please go to www.burnsmor-
Don was always working tuaryhermiston.com.