OBITUARY

Sally Jane Ogden

December 7, 1942–December 27, 2020

Sally Jane Ogden, age 78 years, passed away December 27, 2020, in Granite Falls, Wash., after a battle with cancer.

Sally was born December 7, 1942, in Spokane, Wash., to Otto and Mary (Dixon) Fitzgerald.

She attended school in Pomeroy. She was a drummer in the band and a member of Job's Daughters.

She graduated from high school in 1961 and attended WSU. She met Gary at a Grange dance when in high school and they married on July 1, 1962. Early in their marriage, they began a family, with Sally raising the growing family at home as Gary's teaching jobs took them to Grenada, Colorado, and then back to Washington state where they lived in White Salmon, Benton City, Waitsburg, and settling in Walla Walla in 1972, to raise their family.

While her children were young, she devoted herself to all kinds of activities focused on them: she was a Blue Bird and Girl Scout leader, a Sunday school teacher and involved with the school as an aide. As her kids developed interests in sports, she was instrumental in making sure they were supported; Lori as a baton twirler–how many outfits did she sew for that? Dee Anne and her gymnastics–how many hours did she dedicate to volunteering to help that gymnastics program succeed? And Jimmy and his antics–how many trips did she take to the emergency room? Her generosity in being a supportive mom seemed endless and when grandchildren came, she doubled the efforts sewing beautiful quilts for everyone that are treasured heirlooms.

As the kids grew older, she decided to go back to college and fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. She graduated from Walla Walla Community College, received her Registered Nursing degree in 1984 then worked for the Odd Fellows Home until she retired.

She and Gary moved to Dayton in 2000 where Sally enjoyed volunteering in the community. She devoted time to the Dayton Depot and Boldman House, was active in the United Brethren Church, made new friends in Dayton and renewed friendships from her youth, enjoying weekly coffee dates with the girls.

Sally is preceded in death by her husband Gary, sister Judy and parents Otto and Mary Fitzgerald.

She is survived by her daughters Lori and her husband Rick from Granite Falls, Dee Anne and her husband Mark from Wrangell, Ark.; son Jimmy and his wife Stephanie here in Dayton and her beloved grandchildren Kelsey, Daniel, Kacie, Erin, Sam, Emmie Sue, and Seth, and great grandchildren Charlie Anne and Hank along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Sally's name to the Columbia or Garfield County Food Bank.