Obituary: Nancy Lewis Moller

Grant High School was the springboard for her success at the University of Oregon, where she majored in journalism and history. While there she met Bob Moller and they married before he shipped out to serve in the South Pacific. At home in Oregon, Victory Gardens abounded, but for Nancy a pilot’s license would be needed to help transport planes needed for combat. She trained to be a pilot but was never called up to serve.

After the war Nancy and Bob returned and settled in Hood River in 1946 for the rigorous activity of the family orchard growing apples, pears, and cherries. It was Elmer Moller (from Brooklyn, New York) who created the orchard in 1906. His wife Frances taught high school for many years in Hood River. Bob and Nancy started their new family: Christy ’47, Heidi ‘48, and Robbie ‘50 were born. And they were thrilled with Lucky’s arrival in 1959.

Family life changed dramatically when Bob was stricken by polio which left him paraplegic. At that time, the phrase “handicap access” did not exist in Hood River. Their house was adapted for his wheelchair, and she encouraged Bob to establish himself in a new career selling Western Farm Bureau Insurance. And the orchard continued to thrive with Nancy helping Bob manage the operations.

Even with the demands of the orchard, Bob’s new career, and raising three children, Nancy engaged in local activities. She was consulted on the design for Hood River’s first community swimming pool. Then she and her friends organized the Red Cross Swimming lessons. Hundreds of children became competent swimmers. And yes, she coached the swimming team. Local children also learned to play golf with her enthusiastic instructions.

She presided over several parent teacher groups during her children’s school days, raised funds to enhance the schools, always enrolled her daughters in at least two 4-H clubs that developed practical and organizational competence. Lucky was happy to stick with the horse 4-H clubs for years.

At age 48, she became a high school teacher. In this role, she was a model for young people to emulate. Hosting government representatives and speakers with diverse perspectives to speak to her history class which challenged students to examine different philosophies of governing. In the ‘70s, Nancy co-developed a course at HRVHS called “environmental studies” long before the term climate change or global warming” was getting any news coverage. Long a member of the Japanese American Citizens League, Nancy created a course to increase awareness of Japanese culture for high school students by inviting Nisei members of the community to teach the tea ceremony, the art of flower arranging, haiku writing, and Japanese martial arts. As important, students recorded stories about life in the internment camps, where Japanese families lived for years during the war, and about their return to Hood River.

Her interests in international relations led her to co-advise the high school International Relations League which participated in the annual Model United Nations. The high school also participated with 3,000 other students in a Model Political Convention from 1972-1988.

When Oregon pioneered its Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) in the 1970s, it was a paradigm for the establishment of similar action throughout the nation. Nancy served on the state-mandated Citizens Involvement Action Committee. Her conservation efforts expanded to include active membership in 1000 Friends of Oregon and Board of Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

These activities that shaped the economic and environmental fabric of the state were in addition to her community initiatives. She served as president for two years and board member for 18 years of the Hood River Valley Residents Committee — now Thrive Hood River. It has been dedicated since 1977 to preserving agriculture, forest land, and the livability of the county for all residents. Her clear journalistic style was memorable as the author of the monthly newsletter for 15 years.

After retiring from teaching, she said, “One should never really retire.” True to her word, she co-founded a bottled water company, H2Oregon, headquartered in a repurposed building in downtown Hood River. After years of working the “production line,” it was sold having developed a successful regional market and still selling well.

To Nancy, a livable community needed a park. The County Parks Committee benefited from her vision as chairperson for six of the nine years she served. She was a founding member of Oak Grove Park that works in collaboration with the County Parks Department to maintain and improve the popular park. The land is a legacy of Oak Grove School which was the epicenter of the community.

She served on the Hood River County Charter Review Committee for 15 years (1982-1997). Elected to the Port Commission and serving as the first woman president in the 1990s, Nancy championed the creation of a multi-purpose park and recreation area as part of the port development along the Columbia River.

She shepherded the hiring of the architectural firm that designed the Portland waterfront to create a similar plan for the port property along the Columbia River, incorporating community access to the river and the addition of an interactive public park in addition to business development. The economic boom from windsurfing forever altered Hood River as an unparalleled recreation area.

Nancy was also deeply interested in international issues. The U.S. Department of State and World Affairs Council of Oregon relied on her to organize meetings in Hood River for emerging leaders from across the globe. The department presented her with the Gold Star award, the highest symbol of recognition for her 20 years of service. She knew the people and the issues that engaged the international visitors. Or as she once noted “highlighting how the economics of agriculture, recreation, and natural resources can work together.”

She stepped down from Columbia Area Transit Board, Hood River’s public transit option, in her mid-90s. An avid reader, enthusiastic fan of University of Oregon sports, card playing maven, always with an idea about improving life for people in the county and was always curious about what the grandkids were up to.

She remained a strong advocate for Oak Grove Park, a place dedicated towards a common goal of beauty and peace where families can enjoy a playground, tennis and picnic for generations to come.

Survived by: Christy Van Horn, Heidi Kimmel, Robbie Moller, Lucky Moller. Grandmother to Evan and Ross Van Horn — Christy and Carl Van Horn; Katie Jacobsen and Peter Moller — Lucky Moller; Heidi Moller and Mark Kimmel; Robbie Moller and John Lutz.

The date for a celebration of life will be announced in the coming weeks.

Donations welcomed:

Thrive Hood River — Make checks out to Thrive Hood River, send to Thrive Hood River, P.O. Box 1544, Hood River, OR 97031 (a tax-deductible non-profit).

Oak Grove Park — Make checks out to Hood River County. The check memo line should indicate “Playground equipment for Oak Grove Park.” (A tax-deductible contribution) Send to Hood River County, Attention Sheri Patterson, 601 State St., Hood River, OR 97031.

Columbia Gorge News, May 13, 2026