Betty Rose Parmele, 73, died from cancer on Dec. 13, 2008, at Rocking D Adult Foster Home in Hermiston.

She was born on Sept. 25, 1935, in Crane, to Francis “Buck” and Ruby Parmele. Her father worked for Paul and Ruth Stewart of the White Horse Ranch.

Her family later moved back to Taft, near Lincoln City, because her mom was home sick.

In the fall of 1937, Parmele’s parents bought a small ranch on Silver Creek, in the Riley area. She attended the Suntex Grade School for eight years.

In 1952, she married Conley E. Gibson of Burns. They had three children. At one time she and her husband ran a taxi service in the Burns area. Because her husband was a jockey, Parmele moved a lot to follow the racing circuit across Oregon and Idaho.

On March 2, 1963, Parmele graduated with 13 others from the Practical Nurses of Walla Walla Vocational School, in Washington. She worked many years in the state hospital in Pendleton, and continued when it changed to the Oregon State Prison Hospital.

She was divorced in 1963, and then married Ernie Ribail on Feb. 16, 1965. Following her husband’s work for Pacific Power, she lived in Sandpoint, Idaho, for several years before returning to Hermiston. Parmele operated a taxi service while living in Sandpoint. She was divorced in 1994.

Parmele is survived by her children, Steven Ribail, of Elgin, Kelly Ribail and wife, Marcia, of Ponderay, Idaho, and Crystal Cawile and husband, Sid of Yucaipa, Calif.; twin brother, Benny Parmele of Estacada; sisters, Clara Cannon and husband, Dean of Bend and Bernice McGee of Burns; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Swede Rosling of Murrieta, Calif.; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Ramona F. Rosling; brother-in-law, George McGee; nephew, William Gene Parmele; and several aunts and uncles.

Disposition was by private cremation. A family service and burial of the remains will be held in Burns in May. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston was in charge of arrangements.