Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Dorothy Margaret DePriest, 95, died at her home in The Dalles, Ore., peacefully on Monday, July 9, 2018.
Dorothy was a lifelong resident of Wasco County, born May 31, 1923, in Dufur, Ore. Her parents were Harry and Sula (Fargher) Whitten. She was raised on her father’s farm south of Dufur in the community of Kingsley. She attended elementary school at the nearby Ireland school, and graduated as valedictorian of her Dufur High School class of 1941.
On Nov. 3, 1943, she married Bob DePriest in Watsonville, Calif. Bob was serving in the Navy at the time.
Dorothy was an accomplished musician, playing piano and organ at the Dufur Christian Church for more than 60 years. She also taught piano lessons, starting many Dufur youngsters on their musical journey.
Dorothy was a lifelong member of the Dufur Christian Church, and also a member of the Dufur Historical Society, the American Legion Auxiliary and Wasco County Pioneers. She was named Pioneer of the Year in 2003. A special joy was volunteering at the Dufur School helping kids learn to read.
Besides an avid interest in all things to do with her children and grandchildren, Dorothy also loved to paint, sew, visit with friends and travel. Combining those interests led to some of her favorite paintings of places she visited in Ireland and the Isle of Man.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband in 1997. She has three surviving daughters and three surviving sons. They are: Jane Wilson and her husband Dave, John DePriest and his wife Caroll, Kay Stienhilber and her husband Tim, Ken DePriest and his wife Nancy, Paul DePriest and his wife Casey and Penni Meislahn and her husband Todd. Grandchildren are: Kimberly, Brett, Colleen, Cory, Krieg, Benjamin, Mathew, Lauren, Sean, Eric, Peter, Kyle, Erica, Hannah, Conner and Emma, as well as ten great-grandchildren. Dorothy is also survived by her sister, Kay Jones ,and her husband, Don.
Services for Dorothy will be held at the Dufur Christian Church on Saturday, July 14, at 11 a.m., Pastor Tim Fain to officiate, with a brunch reception immediately after. Private interment for the family will follow.
Memorials in Dorothy’s name are suggested to be the Jerri Walker-DePriest Memorial Scholarship Fund or the Dufur Christian Church Camp Fund.
To plant a tree in memory of Dorothy DePriest as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
