Verna "Dee" Delores Mizer

Verna “Dee” Delores Mizer passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 20, 2023, at the age of 87. She was born February 8, 1936, to Evelyn Kelty Riehl and Samuel Riehl in Milton Freewater, Oregon.

She spent seven years at Milton Freewater, then moved to Prineville at that early age with her mother and sister, Barbara, where she attended school and graduated from Crook County High School in 1954. During high school, she met and fell in love with Duane Mizer, and they were married on October 23, 1954, in Vancouver, Washington.

She and Duane had two children, Peggy in 1956 and Mike in 1959. Duane worked for GW Burnett, who owned Burnett Box Factory and she worked for JC Penny’s. After several years, Dee and Duane purchased the factory, where they worked together for 18 years. During that time, they also had a ranch, with cattle and horses at Marks Creek in the Ochocos. It was actually supposed to be a summer home but soon became their permanent residence, as they loved the mountain life.

Dee loved antiques, and they opened a store in Sisters called Timeless Treasures. It became a wonderful place for Dee and daughter, Peg, to be together on weekends. They both loved to go antiquing for the store and, of course, themselves.

Dee belonged to several clubs and organizations including Prineville Soroptimists, Bowman Museum and Ladies Elks, to name a few. She was chaperone to the Crooked River Roundup Court for several years and a Campfire and Bluebird leader in the 1960s and 1970s. Her favorite place to travel was the Oregon Coast and went every year with her family.

She is survived by her daughter, Peg Petersen and her husband, Jim; granddaughters, Holly Moran (Kevin) and Libby Massey (Vince); great-grandchildren, Kassidy, Lane and Harper; niece Kathy Curry (Dave); nephew, Terry Coonse (Dalan); numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; and best friend, Ethel Smith.

She is preceded in death by her mother and father; sister, Barbara Coonse; her husband, Duane; and her son, Mike.

She will be greatly missed by all. Memorial contributions can be made to American Heart Association or Bowman Museum. A private interment was held.

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