Susan Kay Ray Jewell, 55, of John Day, died Nov. 18, 2008 at Blue Mountain Hospital after a battle with cancer. A celebration of life will be held on the Oregon Coast in 2009.

Ms. Jewell was born Oct. 3, 1952 in Akron, Ohio, to Dale and June (Geffken) Jewell.

She grew up in Hacienda Heights, Calif., later moved to Montana, before finally settling in Oregon. She moved to John Day from Portland in 2007. She worked as a clerk at Len’s Drug store, at the Fred Meyer Distribution Center in Clackamas for several years and then at Fred Meyer Department Store for another eight years.

She loved the outdoors, fishing, camping, gardening and most especially, the beach. She was very family-oriented and a very giving person. She grew wonderful gardens, and loved to can foods, make jerky and dried foods. She also enjoyed doing macramé and was a very good cook.

Survivors include her fiance, James Flannigan of John Day; mother and step-father, June and Ted Evans of Banner, Wyo.; son, Justin McGuire of Portland; daughters, Shawna Rodriguez of John Day, Ashley Ray of Portland, and Whitney Jewell of John Day; sisters, Rose (David) Gray of Prairie City, Vicki Bothmann of La Habra, Calif., Carol (Kenny) Willingham of June Lake, Calif., and Sally Alamond of Madera, Calif.; brother, Dale Jewell of Troy, Ontario, Canada; and grandchildren, Crystal, Dale, Sarina, Seth and one on the way.

She was preceded in death by her father, Dale Jewell; sister, Patricia Paquette; and brother, James Jewell.

Memorial contributions and arrangements are being handled through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.