Leta Rhaye (Humphreys) Kersey Obituary (1936 - 2018)

Kimberly - Leta Rhaye Kersey, 82, of Kimberly passed away Thursday, Mar. 1, 2018 at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. Ms. Kersey was born Jan. 8, 1936 in John Day. She was the second child born to Rhys, Jr. and Georgia (Moore) Humphreys. She attended schools in Dayville and Oregon City, graduating from Oregon City High School in 1953. On Jul. 6, 1954, she married Ronald Kersey in Milwaukie. There were three children born from this union. Ms. Kersey spent much of her life in the Central Oregon area where she worked for 30-plus years in the millwork industry. She retired from Ponderosa Mouldings in Redmond in 1999. An avid lover of horses and the outdoors, Ms. Kersey participated in many rodeos throughout the 1970s and 80s in the Central Oregon area, winning numerous awards as a barrel racer. She was a member of the Central Oregon Barrel Racing Association (COBRA) throughout her rodeo career. She also herded cattle for the Les Schwab Ranch outside of Prineville, and spent many summers helping herd the sheep from the Humphreys Sheep Ranch near Kimberly. For the last two years of her life, she lived on the Humphreys Ranch where she felt most at home and was happiest. Survivors include her children Coleen and Michael; sister, Greta Wright, and brother, Gale Humphreys; 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Dale Humphreys; and son, Ronald Kersey, Jr. A private Celebration of Life reception will be held at a date yet to be determined. Interment will follow at the Buckhorn Family Cemetery.