Virginia McCammon

Virginia McCammon, a woman of quiet strength and boundless generosity, passed away on September 1st, 2025 in Philomath, Oregon, leaving behind a legacy of love, service, and creativity that touched countless lives. Born on August 8, 1937, in Heppner, Oregon, to Mary Irene (Nutten) Dykstra and Cloy Wellington Dykstra, Virginia grew up in a home filled with warmth and resilience, alongside her beloved sister, Mary Jean McCauley.

After graduating high school, Virginia pursued higher education with determination, earning her Bachelor of Arts from Central Oregon Community College—a testament to her lifelong love of learning. Her professional journey was as varied as it was dedicated: she managed an appliance repair store as a business owner, served as the Madras County Librarian, and worked as a secretary for the Department of Forestry. In every role, she brought precision, care, and a quiet dignity that earned the respect of colleagues and community alike.

On November 7, 1959, Virginia married the love of her life, Leonard Willard McCammon, in Madras, Oregon. Together they built a home rooted in compassion and commitment, raising two children, Patricia Gay Skaer and Gary Leonard McCammon. Their love extended beyond their immediate family, as Virginia and Leonard opened their hearts and home to foster children in Redmond and Newport, including Manuel Leon and Michael Browning. Her nurturing spirit and unwavering kindness made her a mother to many.

Virginia’s passions were as rich and varied as her life. She found joy in jigsaw puzzles, reading, crocheting, sewing, beading, coloring, and crafting of all kinds. She cherished time spent playing board games and card games with friends and family, where laughter and connection were always at the center. Her hands were rarely idle, and her creations—whether stitched, strung, or sewn—were expressions of love and care.

Those who knew Virginia will remember her as fiercely loving, quietly determined, and deeply attentive. She gave love freely, helped wherever she could, and made the world better simply by being in it. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the family she cherished, and the kindness she modeled every day.

Virginia is survived by her children, Patricia and Gary; her grandchildren, Kirsten Sue Fox, Haley Jo Baker, Kelly Skaer, Nathan Skaer, Adam Skaer, and Michelle Skaer; and the many children she fostered and loved as her own. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Leonard, her sister Mary Jean, and her special cousins Dale and Artice.

Her life was a quiet masterpiece of devotion, creativity, and grace. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.