Rachel “Carleen” Hottendorf of Hermiston died on Feb. 15, 2020 in Hermiston at the age of 87.
She was born on Oct. 29, 1932 in Ware County, Ga. to Willie and Susie White Rowell.
Carleen was raised and attended school in Georgia. She moved to Baker City in 1952. Carleen was united in marriage to Dick Truscott on May 23, 1953 in Pendleton at the First Christian Church. They settled on the ranch on Auburn Road, Baker City, where they lived throughout their entire marriage. Dick had a heart attack while deer hunting in the Lookout Mountain-Durkee area and passed away on Oct. 1, 1977. Carleen stayed at the ranch until October 1979, when she moved to Pendleton. She had a job working at Hatfield’s in Pendleton. On June 7, 1980, Carleen married Leonard Hottendorf in Baker City. They lived at the feed lot in Hermiston where Leonard worked before moving to Baker City for a short time. They returned to Hermiston in 1981 and Carleen went to work for Lamb Weston in 1984. Leonard joined her at Lamb Weston later that year. She worked there for 15 years, retiring in 1997. Her husband Leonard passed away on Feb. 13, 2003.
After retiring, Carleen volunteered for the Hermiston Senior Center, Stanfield Senior Center, Umatilla County Fair Board, and the SMART Reading program in Stanfield. She enjoyed cooking, baking, fishing, helping and caring for others, playing cards, and most of all she cherished time with her family. Carleen was a member of the Stanfield Baptist Church. She is survived by her son, Rusty Truscott, Baker City; daughters, Gail Hersey, Florida and Lynn VanDorn, Pendleton; son-in-law, Larry Koeller, Pendleton; sisters, Doris Bryant, Hermiston and Carol Spell, Georgia; 11 grandchildren; and numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Carleen was preceded in death by her parents; late husbands, Richard “Dick” Truscott (married 1953-1977) and Leonard Hottendorf (married 1980-2003); son, Randy Truscott; daughter, Susan Koeller; brothers, Carl Rowell, Vernon (Olis) Hersey, and Willie (Iona) Hersey; and daughter-in-law, Eva Truscott.
A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 at 1 p.m. at Burns Mortuary Chapel, Hermiston. Burial will be at a later date at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Baker.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in memory of Carleen to Hermiston Senior Center, Umatilla County Fair or the American Cancer Society, in care of Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, P.O. Box 289, Hermiston, Ore., 97838.
Please share memories of Carleen with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
