photoGlenda Carmony

Glenda Sheets Carmony died Nov. 9, 2016 from bladder cancer. Glenda Marie was born in Enterprise on May 20, 1940 to Shirley (Bill) Sheets and Edna Whitmore Sheets.

The great-granddaughter of Wallowa County pioneers, Glenda attended grades 1-12 in the Enterprise school system. She graduated with the Enterprise High School class of 1958. A happy teenager, Glenda was a member of the Girls Athletic Association (president her senior year) and on student council. She excelled in baseball and volleyball. Music was also a large part of her life; she played clarinet for the school and county bands. Her musical activities included singing in the EHS Mixed Chorus, Quartet and Quintet as well as at the Enterprise Christian Church. Other activities included French Club, annual staff and three class plays.

After graduation, Glenda moved to Portland to attend Behnke-Walker Business School, where she was an outstanding typist. Employed in Industrial Portland as a secretary, she met and married Kenneth Ira Carmony, a firefighter. They were married for 37 years until Ken’s death on Nov. 2, 2001. Ken and Glenda had two sons: Scott Allen Carmony and Todd Michael Carmony.

Glenda worked as a secretary for 45 years. After the boys were born, Glenda worked as a school secretary. Glenda’s positive attitude and rapport with students and staff made her a popular with all she met. She retired from Gordon Russell Elementary in the Gresham School District in 2005.

Glenda lived in Portland almost 50 years before she moved to Baker City.

In 2009, Glenda moved back to Wallowa County to take care of her mother and father. In the last seven years, Glenda renewed old friendships and made many new friends through her various volunteer jobs. Glenda was a supporter of Community Connection, where she served on the board. She was a member of the Enterprise Christian Church, the Wallowa County Hospital Auxiliary and the Red Hat Society. Her hobbies were reading (a voracious and lifelong reader), cooking (loved trying new recipes), watching Netflix and collecting cats.

Glenda made many trips to Fruitland, Boise, Caldwell and Baker City after her cancer was diagnosed in 2010. Friends who accompanied her on these visits remember the journeys as upbeat with much talk and laughter. She was bonded to her surgeon, doctors, nurses and caregivers. In fact, when people talk of Glenda they cite her infectious laughter, chuckle and ability to make friends. Friends speak of her as “happy-go-lucky;” “a person whose glass was always at least half full.”

Besides her many friends, Glenda is survived by her sons and their wives and their children and spouses: Scott (Kerri) Carmony and Kaleb and Dylainee from Salem; Todd (Becki) Carmony and Michelle Carmony Cutter (Robert); and twins Debra Carmony Gallagher (Kyle) and Rachelle Carmony Dillon from Portland. She also leaves behind several cousins.

She was proud of her son, Scott, who is a fire chief for the Salem Fire District. Grandson Kaleb is enrolled at Chemeketa to become the third generation of Carmony firefighters. Granddaughter Michelle earned her master’s degree in teaching math and is now teaching in Portland.

Glenda loved animals, especially cats. She worried about leaving her current cats: Cuddles, Harley and Patches. Her favorite color was purple; her favorite flowers were sunflowers.

Glenda will be cremated. Bollman Funeral Home is handling arrangements. The memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21 at the new Enterprise Christian Church. Immediately after there will be a potluck dinner at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wallowa County Community Connection.