Christy Cheyne

Christy Ann Cheyne, 55, of Hood River, suffered a stroke and passed away surrounded by her family and friends on June 17, 2023, in Portland, Oregon. She was born on September 13, 1967, to Larry and Sandra (Blatter) Cheyne in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Christy’s passion for wildlife and forests was woven into her daily life and 35-year career with the Forest Service as a Wildlife Biologist (Klamath National Forest), District Ranger (Malheur National Forest), and Deputy Area Manager (Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area). During that time, she committed her professional life to ecological restoration, social diversity, integrating people and natural resources, and quality management of public lands, including her studying the northern spotted owl, and restoring dry forest ecosystems and wildlife habitat. While a single parent and working full time for the Forest Service as a wildlife biologist, Christy returned to college to complete her bachelor’s degree at Southern Oregon University. She was a model for many young women working in the field, and mentoring her employees and all those she supervised was very important to her. Christy received the Forest Service National Law Enforcement and Investigation Outstanding Line Support Award in April of 2017 for her efforts to keep employees safe during the Malheur occupation.

Christy loved to go hiking and head off on adventures. At home, she gardened and often transplanted flowers and perennials into her new gardens as she moved around Oregon. Christy loved animals and filled her house with cats, dogs, and other critters that were rescues, strays, or adopted from friends and family.

More than anything, Christy adored her children, Leslie and Brendan, and loved playing with and babysitting for her granddaughter Alyce. Even as she pursued promotions and new positions with the Forest Service, she told her children she would always be within a day’s drive so she could visit them regularly.

Christy is survived by: her children, Leslie Taylor and Robert Gasser of Ukiah, and Brendan Woodbridge of Seal Rock; her granddaughter Alyce Gasser; her parents; her brother and sister–in-law Larry and Diane Cheyne of Salem, her partner Mark Penninger of Baker City, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her brother, Scott Cheyne; her paternal grandparents Lawrence and Bessie (Babcock) Cheyne; and her maternal grandparents Robert and Alyce (Backstrom) Blatter.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you support her celebration of life events.