Valeta Lyn McEachron

Published 1:01 am Saturday, May 3, 2014

February 14, 1961-April 10, 2014

Valeta McEachron died in Bend on the morning of April 10, 2014 , with her husband at her side, following a nearly two and a half year battle with sarcoma cancer. Valeta was born on Valentine’s Day in Everett, Washington, and her beautiful first name was the result of that birth date, reflecting a clever compromise between her parents, Gerald and Clara Bakeng. Valeta grew up in Everett graduating from Mariner High School. Following graduation she moved to the Methow Valley of Washington State to pursue her career as a dental assistant, work at which she excelled and loved. After many years east of the Cascades, she returned to the Seattle area to continue her career. In 2004 she met Brian McEachron and they were married on September 14, 2006, on the Hawaiian island of Kauai with his parents in attendance (it was his parents’ sixtieth wedding anniversary). With that marriage she gained two step-children, Scott and Betsy, whom she loved deeply and who loved her in return. Brian and Valeta moved to Bend in January 2007, into the home they had planned and built together.In addition to her husband, Brian, and her step-children, Scott and Lauren McEachron of Denver, Colorado, and Bryce and Betsy Anderson of Kirkland, Washington, she is survived by her father, Gerald and stepmother, Shirlee Bakeng of Clackamas, Oregon, her brothers, Gerald Jr. and Russell Bakeng of Colville, Washington. The cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles who will miss her deeply are too numerous to mention. Her mother, Clara predeceased her. Anyone who ever met Valeta would enthusiastically agree that she was an extraordinarily kind and gentle person who was a wonderful friend and a good Christian. She was also a very enthusiastic and talented tennis player and made many friends on the court. Her smile lit up any room she entered. Her sense of humor was second to none and her hand-made desserts were the best. She considered herself blessed to have the many fine friends that she did. They and her family were a source of much strength and love during her battle with cancer. She was bold, brave, and beautiful to the end.To celebrate Valeta’s extraordinary life, there will be an open house at the McEachron home, 1843 Northwest Wild Rye Circle in Bend, on Sunday, May 18 from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. All of her friends are invited to join us then. Funeral arrangements (cremation) were made through Autumn Funerals of Bend. There will not be a public burial service or other memorial service in Oregon. In lieu of flowers it is requested that donations in her memory be made to the American Cancer Society.