Lois Hinkley

Jean, Mom, Granny or Granny Jean as so many called her was born on 03/10/1947, in Klamath Falls, OR, to Mildred Lois Simmons and Fred Henry Sternberg. She passed away at home where she wanted to be on 03/10/2026, with people she loved around her.

Jean grew up in Vale OR, where she would milk the cows before she would go to school…she loved talking about these times.

Jean met Don Hinkley in a pink Studerbaker, they married on 02/25/1964 in Payette Idaho.

Jean and Don moved to Idanha OR where they lived with Pearl and Melvin Derrick, until they could get on their feet. They then moved to Savages Cabins. This is where they started their family. A daughter Lyndia Joy was born. Jean often told folks when she was born, we didn’t have a crib she slept in a drawer. Yep, a dresser drawer was her crib, she jokingly said if she got to fussy she could just close the drawer.

A son Don Hinkley Jr joined the family a year later.

The family moved to Idaho where Jean worked at OreIda until the family moved back to Idanha in 1976.

Jean worked at many different places doing many different jobs from pumping gas at the gas station in Idanha to waitressing at Marion Forks. She tagged fish at the fish hatchery at Marion Forks; the only thing she didn’t like was how cold her hands would get doing it. She worked at Rivers Run and then with her daughter, granddaughter and husband at Detroit Market until the fires of 2020.

Jean enjoyed her family and spending time with them, hunting, fishing, camping and going to the beach. She also enjoyed her trips spending time with her brother Tom, wife Dora and their family. Jean enjoyed when Jared would bring her fish after she couldn’t go any longer.

Jean is preceded in death by the love of her life Don Hinkley, parents Fred Sternberg, Mildred Troy, a brother George Sternberg.

She is survived by her daughter Lyndia (Terry) Basl of Stayton, son Don Hinkley Jr of Salem. Brother Ray (Maureen) Sternberg, Brother Tom (Dora) Morcom of Vale OR, sister Shirley (Ron) Koetz of Alsea, sister Susan Goddard of Hawthorne NV.

Grandkids Nick Rickard, Alys Ammon, Tony Ammon, Christina & Boe Don Hinkley, Nick Basl. 5 great grandkids Mason, Hollis and

Lillian Rickard, Brittany and Brennen Basl. Plus, many others that she loved and called kids or grandkids and family. Those that called her Granny Jean or Granny and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Amber Rocco, Tammy Albert’s and Gary Dees for all the love, support and time they gave to Mom during her final time with us. She loved you all so much.

And a heartfelt thank you to Willamette Vital Health and her care team for their compassion and gentleness they gave her.