Argus Observer (Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon)
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Leah Sue Cheese Hopkins, 57, formerly of Payette, died May 10, 2008, in Newport, Ore., after a battle with liver cancer.
Leah was born June 9, 1950, at Ontario, Ore., to Glen and Eula (Killebrew) Cheese. She grew up in Payette, living with her mother, two younger brothers and maternal grandmother after the death of her father when she was just 5 years old.
She graduated from Payette High School with honors in 1968 and from the College of Idaho in 1972 with degrees in physical education and English.
She married Jeff Martin, whom she met in college, in 1972, but that marriage ended in divorce.
She married Greg Hopkins in 1979; they lived in Boise and Albany, Ore., before Leah moved back to Payette to care for her mother.
Leah had many jobs, including being a substitute teacher and a drama coach, but her real love was journalism and she was a reporter and editor of newspapers in Emmett, Reedsport, Ore., and Waldport, Ore. for the last eight years of her life. She is remembered for her strong work ethic, a thorough knowledge of all aspects of journalism and community involvement wherever she lived.
Leah is survived by her son, Andrew Hopkins, Portland; her daughter, Harmony Hopkins, Waldport; brothers Jan Cheese and Glen Cheese of Payette and several cousins including Francie Teel of Longview, Wash.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents. Leah loved the ocean and requested that her ashes be scattered in he Pacific Ocean near Waldport. Memorial services will be held at a later date in both Waldport/Newport and Payette.
