Roselene ‘Pete’ Loree
July 7, 1936 – Nov. 11, 2025
Roselene “Pete” Marie Loree, 89, of Sweet Home, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, in Albany.
Pete was born on July 7, 1936, to parents Dode Deen and Lily Rose Herndon in Huttig, Arkansas. Her grandfather nicknamed her Pete, which stuck and was what she was known as all of her life.
She was a proud member of the Choctaw tribe, where many of her maternal relatives lived in the Five County area of the Choctaw in Oklahoma. She moved to northern Arizona in her early teen years and she and her mother settled in Sweet Home a couple of years later.
There she met Paul Loree and they married in 1955.
Paul served in the military, so they moved around quite a bit as they were assigned to new duty stations.
They had two boys, Keith and Ken Loree within two years of marriage, so Pete was busy taking care of her home and family. A decade later, they added a daughter, Paula Loree (Bottoroff) to the family.
Pete loved dancing and having fun with her friends. She was also extremely shy, until you got to know her. Pete was a very sweet person, but feisty and stubborn. She loved her family fiercely and was always there for friends and family when they asked for help.
Paul retired from the military after 23 years of service, and the family moved back to Sweet Home, which was an area that both Pete and Paul loved.
Most of Paul’s big family lived in the area, and Pete hosted big extended family gatherings all the time. Pete also worked in the local jewelry store for years, and knew many people in town.
Pete had a huge sweet tooth, which she passed along to her children. She was also generous, always making food for family events or her pinochle club, helping friends and family when needed, however they needed.
For example, Pete drove her friend Emmy everywhere when Emmy couldn’t drive any more and she would go out of her way to show her appreciation for even the smallest of help people gave to her.
Pete and Paul visited Arizona every year, once her daughter and her husband married and moved to the Phoenix area. They took advantage of the weather to pursue their love of golf and played often. She loved animals and was very happy around them. Pete would even bring their cat Rocky with them when they visited Arizona.
Pete is survived by her three children, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, many grand dogs and cats, friends of her children she adopted as family over the years and by her friends.
Pete was predeceased by Paul after 57 years of marriage.
She spent her last few years in Brookdale Assisted Care Home in Albany, Oregon, when her health took an unfortunate turn. She is now with her beloved Paul. May she rest in peace. Know that you are loved and missed.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Lewis Cemetery in Sweet Home.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.
Paid Obituary