Myrla Elaine Cox of Irrigon passed away in Richland, Wash. on Oct. 3, 2021 at the age of 82.
She was born on Feb. 2, 1939 in Selma, Calif. to Chester and Mardette Williams Kleinhammer.
Myrla grew up in Fresno County, Calif., attending school in Fowler, Calif. She graduated from Fowler High School in the late 1950s. She then joined the Air Force, where she served for a short time. After her honorable discharge she returned to Fresno County, where she resided for several years. She moved to Western Washington for a couple of years before settling in Eastern Oregon in 1968. She had been a resident of the Irrigon community for many years.
Myrla loved raising her Irish wolf hounds. She enjoyed horses, crocheting and working on ancestry.
Myrla married Arlie B. Tompkins in the late 1950s and from this union, four children were born: Arlie, Adam, Allen and Dawn. The couple later divorced. She married John C. Cox in 1965. The couple divorced many years later.
She is survived by three sons, Arlie and wife Diana Tompkins, Adam and wife Jana Tompkins, and Allen Tompkins; daughter, Dawn and husband Mike Samson; eight grandchildren and several great grandchildren; and brother, Keith Kleinhammer.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Danny Kleinhammer.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later time.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
