Risley

Katherine E. “Katie” Risley, a resident of Pendleton, passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2016, at Ashley Manor in Pendleton. She was 76 years old. No service will be held. Sign the online condolence book at www.burnsmortuary.com. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton handled arrangements.

She was born June 1, 1940, in Pasadena, California, to William Lawrence and Ethel Marie (Nickols) Powers, the youngest of four girls. She was raised in California until the family moved to Pendleton, Oregon. She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

On September 7, 1958, Katie married Forrest L. Baker in Pendleton, where they lived for thirty years, raising their four children. They later divorced. On January 27, 1990, she married Earl Risley in Lacey, Washington. They lived in Bovill, Idaho, for almost 15 years before returning to the Pendleton area.

Her hobbies included gardening, both water and oil painting, and singing in church. She loved to travel (the beach was her favorite), go to the Pendleton Round-Up and watch old movies. She loved animals and bird watching. Katie had Alzheimer’s for 16 years, but was still in good spirits and enjoyed visits with her family. Her outlook on life was acceptance and tolerance of anyone as long as what they were doing wasn’t hurting others.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Margaret “Peggy” Baker, husband Earl Risley and ex-husband Forrest L. Baker.

She is survived by her sisters Francie Richards of Santa Fe, N.M., and Carol Krieske of Sumpter, Ore.; her children Katherine Louise Baker Blair and husband Robert J. of Pendleton, Ore., Machelle Marie Baker Colligan and husband Denis of Walla Walla, Wash., Diana Lynn Baker Hall and husband Sterling of Hermiston, Ore., and Forrest Ray Baker and wife Kristi Wellington-Baker of Walla Walla, Wash.; grandchildren Benjamin Joseph Blair and wife Casidy of Hermiston, Ore., Kyle Alexander Blair of Pendleton, Ore., Jason Allen Carter and wife Jocelyn Shinae of Vancouver, Wash., Andy Allen Hall and girlfriend Frannie Fallon of Hermiston, Ore., Daniel James Hall and wife Danielle of Medford, Ore., Sterling Dean Hall of Hermiston, Ore., Garrett Hunter Hall of Hermiston, Ore., Annelyse Katrina Baker of Walla Walla, Wash., Anthony W. Wellington-Buttice and wife Kristina A. of Walla Walla, Wash., and Nicholas T. Wellington-Buttice of Walla Walla, Wash.; and great-grandchildren Beowulf Joseph Blair of Hermiston, Ore., Kai Sophia Marie Carter of Vancouver, Wash., and Brooklyn B. Katsel of Walla Walla, Wash.