Dorothy “Dot” Irene Hensley (Waas), 78, of Hermiston Oregon, went to heaven on September 26, 2021 at home surrounded by her beloved husband Richard “Dick” Hensley and family.
Dot was born in Pendleton, Oregon to Ray and Irene Waas. She graduated from Hermiston High School in 1961 and Pacific Lutheran University with her Elementary Education Degree in 1965.
On December 27, 1964 Dot married the love of her life. She and Dick had many adventures throughout their nearly 57 years together. Four months after their wedding, Dick was deployed to Vietnam while Dot finished her degree. After Dick’s return from Vietnam, they moved to his next duty station in Germany where they were blessed with their first two children. When they returned to the United States, Dot stayed home to be an Army wife and new mom while Dick was sent on yet another deployment to Korea for a year. Over the next 15 years they were stationed around the Pacific Northwest. During this time they were blessed with their two youngest children. until Dick retired. In 1981, they moved back to their hometown of Hermiston. Once her youngest child was old enough to be in school, she started teaching in Hermiston at West Park Elementary until her retirement in 2005.
Dot loved being a wife and mother, but reveled in being a Nana and most recently becoming a Great-Grandma. Faith and family is what was most important to her, she and Dick were members of Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church where she enjoyed teaching Sunday school.
She and Dick loved traveling. They spent many years doing Rendezvous reenactments in their Teepee around the PNW. They enjoyed camping in the Mountains especially at the Minam River or staying at a hotel on the Ocean. They traveled across the United Stated while being active Hermiston Elk’s members occasionally catching up with old friends from their time in the service, sightseeing and appreciating Gods creations.
She is survived by her husband Dick Hensley, children Donna and Mike Irons, Ray and Astrid Hensley, Kathleen and Danny Madore, Shawn and Michelle Hensley; Her grandchildren Sam and Stephanie Irons, Zachary Irons, Tony Hensley, Micah, Chloé, Isaac, and Calla Madore, great granddaughter Peyton Irons, a brother Jack Waas, and multiple extended loving family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Irene Waas.
A celebration of life service will be held on Wednesday October 6, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. at Faith Presbyterian Church, 1005 SE 9th St., Hermiston, Oregon.
Please share memories of Dot with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon is in care of arrangements.
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