Dorothy I. “Dot” Hensley went to heaven on Sept. 26, 2021 at her home in Hermiston surrounded by her beloved husband, Richard “Dick” Hensley and family at the age of 78.
She was born on May 31, 1943 in Pendleton to Ray and Irene Waas.
Dot graduated from Hermiston High School and Pacific Lutheran University. She married the love of her life, Dick, on Dec. 27, 1964. She and Dick had many adventures throughout their marriage. Four months after they married, Dick went to Vietnam while Dot finished university. Dick completed his tour in Vietnam, then they moved to Germany, where they lived and had their two oldest children. Dick was then deployed to Korea and Dot stayed home being an Army wife. They then were stationed in the Pacific Northwest where they had their two youngest children, and Dick retired. In 1981, they moved back to their hometown of Hermiston. Once her children were old enough to be in school, she went back to teaching in Hermiston, where she retired in 2005 from West Park Elementary.
Dot loved being a wife and mother, but she most of all loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Faith and family were most important to her. They loved traveling, doing different activities, camping, sightseeing, going to the coast, and most of all going to the Minam River, where Dick would fish and she would read. Dot was a member of Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church. Dick and Dot spent many years doing Rendezvous re-enactments throughout the Pacific Northwest. Dot was an active member of the Hermiston Elks Lodge, where she and Dick traveled all over the United States.
She is survived by her husband, Dick Hensley; children, Donna and Mike Irons, Ray and Astrid Hensley, Kathleen and Danny Madore, and Shawn and Michelle Hensley; her grandchildren, Sam and Stephanie Irons, Zachary Irons, Tony Hensley, and Micah, Chloe, Isaac and Calla Madore; great granddaughter,
Peyton Irons; a brother, Jack Waas; and multiple extended loving family members and friends.
Dot was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Irene Waas.
A celebration of life service following state guidelines will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Faith Presbyterian Church, 1005 S.E. Ninth St., Hermiston.
Please share memories of Dot with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
