Betty Jo Huffman

Betty Jo Huffman (née Graham), born January 10, 1946, in the rural town of Nyssa, Oregon, to Frank and Olive Graham, passed away at the age of 78 on April 28, 2024, in Happy Valley, Oregon. She leaves behind a legacy of love, dedication, and creativity that will be cherished by all who knew her.

Betty’s life was one of movement and growth, with her early years spent on her family’s homestead alongside her siblings. It was here in Nyssa where she met Forrest Huffman, the man who would become her first husband and the father of her three children: Bryan, Scott, and Rhonda. The Huffman family journeyed together from Nyssa to Klamath Falls, to Pendleton, to La Grande, to Baker City, and eventually settled in Portland in the 1970s.

With a commitment to lifelong learning, Betty furthered her education at Clackamas Community College and achieved a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Portland State University. Her professional life was a testament to her skill and work ethic, with distinguished roles in bookkeeping for Ross Hollywood Chapel, and later in auditing and accounting for Omark, Kindercare, CH2M Hill, finally retiring from Farmers Insurance in 2012.

A master seamstress, Betty began sewing on a treadle machine at the tender age of 5 and went on to craft everything from her children's clothing to wedding dresses, suits, and Rainbow Girls' gowns. Her talents culminated in the art of quilting, where she gifted her family and friends with her exquisite and intricate designs. Music, particularly folk music, was another joy in her life, providing the soundtrack to her creative endeavors.

Betty's service to others was exemplified through her involvement with the Eastern Star, where she devotedly served as a mother advisor of Rainbow and was honored as a worthy matron for two years. Those who knew Betty were touched by her fierce, loving nature, her bravery, and her generosity of spirit.

In 2007 she happened to meet the last love of her life, James Dorman. They met at a Jack in the Box in Pendleton Oregon, where Betty wrote her number on a napkin and gave it to James. They lived the last 16 years with a strong partnership enjoying their time together.

Betty is survived by her partner of 16 years, James Dorman; her children Bryan Huffman (Shannon), Scott Huffman (Mayumi), and Rhonda Coca (Paul); her grandchildren Brianna Duren, Gabrielle Crumley, Madeline Huffman, Delaney Dewolfe, Cassidy Huffman, Isabella Huffman, Jacob Coca and Loki Coca; great-grandchildren Yumi Dewolfe & Zakai Dewolfe; and her brothers John and James Graham. She is preceded in death by her siblings Geneva, Eugene, and Rose.

The family invites those who knew Betty to a gathering at Lents Lodge to honor her memory. Private interment will be in Owyhee Cemetery in Nyssa, Oregon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Eastern Star Dorothy M. Dewing Scholarship, Grand Chapter of Oregon, PO Box 55217, Portland, OR 97238, in Betty Jo Huffman's name.

As the final stitch in her rich tapestry of life, Betty Jo Huffman's memory will be woven into the hearts of her family, friends, and all those she inspired.