Obituary - Cheryl Janice Conner

Cheryl Janice Conner, born February 25, 1949, to Gilbert Cecil and Virginia Wilkinson Conner in Pendleton, Oregon, passed away at her home in Pendleton June 13, 2023, in the company of loved ones.

As a 5-year old, Cheryl and her cousin Merrilyn Williams were pictured with a local tribal contingent greeting President Dwight Eisenhower when he visited the region to dedicate McNary Dam.

Cheryl graduated from Pendleton High School after attending schools in Salem and briefly in Madras, Oregon. She lettered in tennis, was an enthusiastic competitor in softball and a life-long fan of rodeo.

After completing Airlines Training School in Denver, Colorado, she married Pete LaMere of Rocky Boy, Montana. They divorced in 1979 and she then attended Chemeketa Community College in Salem.

She worked at Kahneeta Resort in hospitality and at the tribal court of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. She was employed at the Statesman Journal, Boone's Treasury, and Los Compadres, simultaneously, and subsequently at the Cleanery and Pacific Knott Communications. Later, she was an in-home care giver for both of her parents in Madras.

Cheryl is survived by her daughter Dyan LaMere and sons Jason LaMere and Lucas Conner, all of Pendleton; grandchildren Cole and Preston Watson, Ty and Peyton LaMere, Wyatt Conner, Kiesha, Ella, and Wacey LaMere; greatgrandchildren Caius and Cohen Watson, Macaylee LaMere, Tavius Farrow and Xic'iyu LaMere; sisters Jody Conner Bear of Imnaha, Elaine Miller, Madras, Carla Green, Warm Springs, Kit, Carol and Kris Conner, Pendleton, brother TC Conner, Ukiah.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings John, James, Matt, and Verna Conner, and dogs Jackie, Crystal, and Max.

After cremation, a celebration of life will be conducted at Burns Mortuary of Pendleton Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Family and friends are invited to lunch following at the Roy Raley Room at the Pendleton Round-Up grounds at noon. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements.