Donna Darlelne (Fessler) Hopper

Donna “Darlene” Hopper, Mother, Mentor, Grandma, Inspiration, Friend, Beautiful, Hero, passed away December 11, 2018 at her home in Fossil, Oregon after her second battle with Breast Cancer.

Darlene was born May 7, 1933 at Parkrose, Oregon, to Marley & Mildred Fessler. They lived in Parkrose until 1950, when they moved to Fossil to start a family farm down Butte Creek. Darlene graduated from Wheeler High School in 1951.

She married her High School classmate Robert Dale Harrison in 1953. They had son Curtis Dale in August of 1954 and daughter Tamara Diane in June of 1959. They moved to Moro, Oregon where they lived until 1963. Darlene then moved back to Fossil.

In 1965 she was remarried to Raymond Hopper and daughter Shelly Rae was born in January 1966.

Darlene worked various jobs in the community; Fossil Mercantile, Kinzua Golf Course, cooking for the school and working as an OLCC agent at the Fossil Liquor Store for 25 years. Darlene was active in the community, volunteering at school functions, Booster Club, cooking in the Fair booth, Fossil Senior Mealsite, Fossil Library and a volunteer for 30+ years for the Fossil Museum.

Darlene adored her children and grandchildren and was their biggest fan and supporter in all of their extracurricular activities. Darlene was a caring and loving person who opened her home and cared for many children.

Darlene is survived by her sister Randa Liston of Fossil, daughter, Tamara Sherf and her husband Bud, children November and Demian Sluder of Vancouver, WA, Michelle and her husband Chad Weiker and their son Jared of Battleground, WA, daughter Shelly Hankins and her husband Jon, children Alicia Hankins of Fossil, Kylie Nichols and her husband Andy, their children Kelcee, Suzy, Kyle and Jaxson of Klamath Falls, OR, Macaulay Hankins and Beth Geis and son Stetson of Ferdinand, ID and Mercedes and her husband Damian Herrera and their children Sydnee and Finlee of Condon, Grandson Shad Harrison and his wife Treva, their children Johnny, Morgan and Bailey of Vale, OR and nephew’s Andy Greenfield and Dan Greenfield both of Fossil, Cleve Liston and Holly Liston of Arlington.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Sharon Greenfield and son Curtis Harrison.

A graveside service was held on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Fossil, Oregon.

The family suggests donation in her memory can be made to Relay for Life in care of the American Cancer Society, Great West Division Inc., PO Box 3366, Portland, OR 97208-3366, or the Fossil Museum, PO Box, 93, Fossil, Oregon 97830.

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