05/03/2026
Janie Morrissey Obituary
We
Are as
Two trees
Which,
Having supported
Each other
Against
The ripping
Winter winds,
Which,
After ages
Of holding together,
Suddenly
Are un-lashed-
Freed.
Freed to bend...
Blow in the wind...
Grow separately...
Freed to weather
Other storms...
But ALWAYS
To bear the marks.....Of bindings...
Upon their souls... *written by Mike Morrisey
Born on July 1, 1951, to Reva and Robert Scarbrough in Union County, Oregon, Janie began her life in the small community of Pondosa, where her father worked as a mechanic at the local sawmill. Those early years in a closeknit town shaped her quiet strength and her deep appreciation for simple, steadfast living.
She spent most of her life in Baker County and graduated from Baker High School in 1969. Through her years waitressing in local restaurants – including the beloved Grizzly Bear pizza parlor – she formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. People were naturally drawn to her warmth, her humility, and the way she made everyone feel seen.
Janie married the love of her life, Mike Morrissey, at his family’s ranch in 1977, beginning a partnership rooted in devotion, hard work, and shared purpose. Janie was an artist, and before finding her calling in early childhood education, she worked at the Idea Shoppe arts and crafts store – a job she loved and one that allowed her creativity to shine.
She later joined Eastern Oregon Head Start, where she built a 29year career serving children and their families. From her first days as a cook to her years as a head teacher, Janie poured her heart into her work. She served innumerable families over the years and was determined to share every opportunity with the families she worked with. Her advocacy work through Head Start carried her as far as Washington, D.C. Many former students and families stayed connected with her for decades – a testament to the countless lives she touched. In 1989, she and Mike purchased the current family ranch, where they raised their three children – Justin, Cassie, and Colin. Together, they spent 38 years improving the property so that the ranch became not just a home, but a reflection of
Janie’s spirit: welcoming, beautiful, and tended with care. Over time, they created a gathering place and venue where friends old and new could celebrate life’s milestones, including at their annual festival, “Karmic Relief,” which began as a celebration of Janie’s birthday.
After retiring, Janie continued to give generously of her time, volunteering for charitable and artsfocused events throughout eastern Oregon. She remained a quiet leader in her community, offering support not through grand gestures, but through steady presence and unwavering kindness. She found her greatest joy in her family, her beloved pets, the flowers she nurtured with patient hands, and cruises with Mike in her 1969 Oldsmobile 442 convertible. Evenings at the ranch were often spent – a daily ritual that spoke to the deep, enduring love they shared.
Janie’s life was one of gentle influence and quiet strength. She led not by seeking attention, but by offering compassion, loyalty, and a steady hand. Her legacy lives on in the people she guided, the children she championed, and the family she loved beyond measure.
Janie Ren Scarbrough Morrissey passed away on January 30, 2026, at 7:54 a.m. in Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, due to respiratory failure.
Janie is preceded in death by her beloved father, Robert Scarbrough.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Morrissey; her sons, Justin Myers (Theresa Ball) and Colin Morrissey; her daughter, Cassie Morrissey (Nick Taylor); and her grandchildren Codi Myers, Arcadia Bair, Elisheva Steele, Caedon Steele, Jadzia Steele, Jacoby Morrissey, Kyson Morrissey, Tatyana Limb, Trey Taylor, Bradley Taylor, Tevya Taylor, Nina Turner, Kendra Littlefield, and Denton Cox. Janie also leaves behind her mother, Reva Young; her brother, Gaylon Scarbrough; and multiple greatgrandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held on the day of the annual Karmic Relief festival at the family’s ranch (The Dead Ox Ranch), 27247 in Keating, Oregon, at 10:00 a.m. on July 4th, 2026. Music and jubilation to follow. For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Janie, the family suggests the Hilary Bonn Benevolent Fund through
Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Online condolences may be shared at www.pinevalleyfuneralhome.com.
