Kay Joan Bledsoe of Hermiston passed away on Sept. 6, 2025 at Good Shepherd in Hermiston at the age of 83 with her family and her beloved dog, Pip, by her side.
She was born on March 7, 1942 in Hood River to Lyle and Margery Lunsford Applegate.
Kay’s early childhood was spent in Hood River, where her parents owned and operated a portrait studio that they named Kay’s Studio after her. Eventually her father took a job with the railroad and the family moved to Stanfield when Kay was in the fifth grade. Kay graduated from Stanfield High School and from beauty school and worked at salons around town including the Busy Bee. Kay married Burton Peck in May 1968 and they had two boys, Troy and Heath. The couple later divorced and Kay married Gary Bledsoe in June 1979, and they were together until his death in 2012.
For several years, Kay did hair once a week at the Good Samaritan. During the summer her boys would help by wheeling the ladies down for their appointments. Over the years she worked at several local businesses including PGG, Hermiston Drug and Ace Hardware. She cultivated life-long friendships at every place she worked.
Kay enjoyed painting and gardening, especially her flowers. She also enjoyed dogs. She never went very long without having one in her life.
Kay and her husband Gary loved the ocean and took many trips to the Oregon coast. Her love of the ocean was seen in her many seascape paintings.
She is survived by her sons, Troy (Gennie) and Heath (Jennifer) of Hermiston, as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Burns Mortuary Chapel, Hermiston.
Please share memories of Kay with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
