The New Era - All about Sweet Home since 1929

Chelsea Renee (Miller) McGarry, 35 of Sweet Home, died May 23, 2023, at Evergreen Hospice in Albany with her mother, father and grandmother by her side.

Chelsea passed after losing a short but courageous battle with a Glioblastoma brain tumor.

She was born Aug. 1, 1987, in Lebanon to Sheila (Markert) Keenon and Tracy Miller.

Chelsea lived a short time in Virginia, Georgia and California as a Navy brat before returning back to Oregon, where she attended Sweet Home schools.

In 2001 she moved to Eagle River, Alaska, where she attended and graduated from Chugiak High School in 2005.

While in high school, she was a member of both Treble and Concert Choir.

In 2004 Chelsea traveled with the choir to San Antonio, Texas, to participate in the Worldstrides Heritage Festival. The Concert Choir earned a gold rating, was named Outstanding Choir of the festival and received the highest score of any performance group.

Chelsea's hobbies included listening to music, watching movies, playing video games with her kiddos, photography, and dance.

She was a member of the SHJH dance team. She had a passion for all things food related including watching the food network, sharing and trying many new recipes.

Broccoli salad was her signature dish and always requested for our family gatherings.

She loved all things ghost- and haunting-related. One of her most desired but unaccomplished bucket list wishes was to stay overnight in a haunted house or hotel.

Professionally, Chelsea worked in various positions, including inventory control, in-home health care, teacher's aide, janitorial and the food service industry.

In 2019 she took a leap of faith, enrolling at LBCC in the Dental Assistant program, graduating in June of 2021. She was employed by Central Dental in Monmouth and later with Dr. Dennis Clark DDS until receiving her diagnosis.

Chelsea is survived by spouse Justin McGarry, son Abel Anderson, and stepdaughters Jazmin and Madysen McGarry, all of Sweet Home; mother and stepfather Sheila and Ken Keenon of Sweet Home; father and stepmother Tracy and Angela Miller of Albuquerque, N.M.; grandparents William and Judy Markert of Sweet Home, and Danny and Donna Miller of Plainview, Texas; brothers Chris (Amber) Barnes of Monroe, Matthew (Kristen) Barnes of Millersburg, and Thomas Gould of Albuquerque.

Chelsea additionally had two nieces, three nephews and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends.

In her last act of human kindness, Chelsea generously donated her brain to OHSU Cancer Research.

Chelsea spent her last month at Evergreen Hospice where she was treated with incredible tender loving care and patience from the entire staff.