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.
Chris Rachel Sumner, 75, a longtime resident of The Dalles, Oregon, died Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at her apartment in Sandy.
She was born March 27, 1951, in Casa Grande, Arizona, to Amelia Melendez and Margarito Rodriguez. She grew up in Phoenix and graduated from high school in 1969. After settling in The Dalles, she built a 31-year career with the State of Oregon, taking immense pride in her work with the Employment Department and the Department of Human Services, formerly Adult and Family Services.
Chris was active in the community and served on the boards of several organizations, including the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority and the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District. She also worked as a Spanish interpreter and regularly recorded Spanish-language public service announcements for local radio stations.
She married the late Robert Victor Sumner in July 1978 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Reno, Nevada. During their 35 years together, they raised two children, built a life in The Dalles, and enjoyed traveling whenever they could. In 2003, three months before her planned retirement, Chris suffered a severe brain aneurysm. After she was transported by LifeFlight to Portland, doctors said she was not expected to survive beyond 24 hours. Fiercely independent and doing things her own way, she defied medical expectations and returned home within two and a half months. Though life changed for her after that, she did her best to continue participating as fully as she could in the activities she enjoyed.
Survivors include her daughter, Sandra Remsburg of The Dalles; son, Robert of Arlington, Virginia; and three grandchildren, Sofia, Brandon, and Rachel. She was preceded in death by her husband, her mother, and her stepfather, Manuel Lyles.
At her request, no service will be held. She asked that those wishing to remember her treat themselves to a nice meal and offer a toast in her memory. Memorials may be made to a local animal rescue organization.
Columbia Gorge News, July 15, 2026
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