Garnet Shank

Garnet Lucile Shank was born on January 19, 1938, to Jean and Fannie Humbert in Cassoday Kansas. She joined two brothers and a sister. She gained three more sisters before her family moved to Bend, Oregon when she was in the eighth grade. Garnet graduated from Bend Senior High school in 1957.

She married Jerry Shank on October 5, 1957, while visiting him at the Great Lakes where he was serving in the United States Navy. After Jerry was discharged from the Navy they returned to Bend.

On December 4, 1958, she had her first child, a daughter Tammy. Her son Jeff was born April 25, 1960.

She was a stay-at-home mom and homemaker while her kids were in school.

She and Jerry moved several times for his logging career and after moving to John Day, Oregon, Garnet knew she was home.

She loved gardening and keeping a nice yard. She enjoyed having coffee and breakfast out with family and friends. She liked walking to town and meeting new people. Her greatest love was spending time with her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. She was lovingly known as "Grammy". Garnet was her happiest when she was watching their sports.

Garnet attended the John Day Church of the Nazarene. She volunteered for several years for the Red Cross helping with their Blood Drives and she worked for Senior Services helping the elderly with cleaning and shopping.

Garnet passed away at her home in John Day on August 1, 2024, following a three-year battle with Lung Cancer.

Garnet is survived by her daughter Tammy Bremner of Canyon City, son Jeff Shank of Heppner, two sisters Norma Dobbels of Little Elm Texas and Emma Roseberry of Bend, her grandchildren Samantha Phillips (Ben) of Nampa, Idaho, Jerry Shank (Joyce) of Sutherlin, Oregon, Shanley Cobb (Bob) of John Day, Stephanie Dickenson of Walla Walla Washington, Josh Shank (Brittany) of Dorena, Oregon, Sheena Shank (Peter) of Heppner, and Derek Shank of Pendleton along with 21 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren and several special nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jerry, her father and mother, Jean and Fannie Humbert, brothers Dale Wright, and James Stirewalt, and two sisters Terry Garribay and Connie Roberts.

A celebration of Garnet's life will be held on October 12, 2024, at 11:00 am at the John Day Church of the Nazarene.

Memorial contributions in her honor can be made to Blue Mountain Home Health and Hospice and Grant County Little League through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.