She was born Aug. 4, 1927 to Wesley and Vera Townsend in Elgin, a small logging town in the Blue Mountains, the fifth child in a family of seven children. She and her sister actually DID ride their horse from their farm to a little one room school house until they moved to the Columbia District in Hermiston in the fall of 1940. She met a neighbor, Donald DeMoss, who became the love of her life. They eloped and were married in Pasco, Wash., on Jan. 1, 1944 after Don received a special discharge from the Navy to resume farming. They were happily married 58 ½ years until he passed in July 2002. The DeMosses were the biggest turkey farmers in Eastern Oregon for 43 years. Wanda was an active partner in the business, in charge of the baby “poults” that came directly from the hatchery. They were raising 125,000 turkeys a year when they retired.
Wanda was a 75-year member of the First Christian Church and taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and served as deaconess. She was a school “room mother” for all three children, Cub Scout assistant leader, 4-H Horse Club assistant leader, Rodeo Court chaperone, AFS Board Member and host mother to Idros bin Idris, from Malaysia and Morten Tanem from Steinkjer, Norway who became her “adopted” son. She also volunteered as a reading tutor at Sunset Elementary School in her later years. Wanda loved elk and deer hunting, fishing and exploring in the mountains. She loved her garden and her 8 foot tall rosebushes. She sewed and loved hosting large family dinners. As a loving daughter, she helped care for her parents in their later years. She was a lifelong rodeo fan and attended the Pendleton Round-Up for 73 years. She especially loved playing with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had boundless energy and the true pioneer spirit and unwavering faith in God.
She is survived by her son, Gary DeMoss of Hermiston; daughters Treva (Kurt) Weaver of Bend, and Trisha (Chuck) Glass of Hermiston; sister and best friend, Jewell Faulstich of Hermiston; brothers, Malcolm Townsend of Baker City, and Adrian (Mary Bett) Townsend of Pullman, Wash.; granddaughters, Marcey (Steve) Wornell of Hermiston, and Kecia Weaver of Bend; grandsons, Kyle (Heidi) Weaver of Bend, and Eric (Jaimi) Glass of Albany; and seven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the nurses of Vange John Memorial Hospice and Dr. “D.” for their compassion and the excellent care given. In lieu of flowers, donations to Vange John Memorial Hospice, 645 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston, OR 97838 or Retinitus Pigmentosa Foundation would be appreciated
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 at 2 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston.
Private family burial will be at the Hermiston Cemetery.
Please sign the condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
