Kelty

Gilbert, Arizona

November 20, 1924 — January 6, 2020

Gloria was born in Goldendale, Wash., to John Raymond and Florence Henselee Swanson. She died in Gilbert, Arizona, at the age of 95.

She came to Pendleton, Oregon when she was 2 years old and was raised and educated in Pendleton, graduating from Pendleton High School in the Class of 1942.

During WWII she worked for Associated Press in the old Oregon Journal building in Portland, Oregon. In 1951, Gloria married Gordon Kelty of Walla Walla, Washington.

She is survived by her two children: Susan Ellen and husband Paul Meiners, and Gordon Mitchell “Mitch” Kelty and wife Trish; grandchildren Matt Meiners, Afton Magstadt, Ryan Kelty, Silas Kelty and Spencer Kelty; 13 great-grandchildren; two brothers, John Swanson of Irrigon and Hubert Swanson of Pendleton; brother-in-law Ed Dorherty of Milton-Freewater; and many nieces and nephews. Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon, her parents, five brothers: Robert, Wayne, Jim, Dean and Gerald, and sister Nancy Dorherty.

Gloria’s favorite thing to do was to spend time with her two children and family. Many hours were spent playing cards with her grandsons. When her children were growing up she was a 4-H leader and a Cub Scout leader. Her hobbies were “sports.” She was a life-long Pendleton Round-Up fan and a Blazer basketball fan. She played golf and Duplicate Bridge. She loved to study antiques and was an avid antique collector and appraiser, having had an antique shop in Pendleton.

She was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Pendleton and also attended Valley Christian Church in Milton-Freewater with her son, and while living in Athena, attended Athena Baptist Church with good friend, Mary Wallan. Gloria was proud to be a member of the Class of ‘42 with all her class friends. She was also a member of the Umatilla County Historical Society and the Frazier Museum in Milton-Freewater. She served on the boards of both of these organizations. She was a volunteer and member of the Pendleton Round-Up Hall of Fame. She was a member of the Walla Walla Lady Elks and the American Contract Bridge League (Duplicate) and past member of the Walla Walla Country Club and Pendleton Country Club.

Known to most as “GoGo,” she was a friend to everyone she met. She will be dearly missed but is now in the arms of Jesus.