In Passing – December 2025

Phyllis Lee (Nelson) Stacklie

Phyllis Lee Stacklie took her final walk and went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Nov. 5, 2025. She was born on March 20, 1926, in Ravenna, Neb., and was the oldest of two children predeceased by her husband Robert L. Stacklie and brother Robert D. Nelson. She was raised in Grand Island, Neb., and moved to Longview, Wash., graduating from R.A. Long High School in Longview.

She married the love of her life and high school sweetheart Lt. Robert L. Stacklie on New Year’s Day 1946 in Vancouver, Wash. She was the consummate officer’s wife and supported her husband’s Air Force career throughout their married life.

She maintained a strong Lutheran faith and a committed religious life that guided her decisions and daily life. She was a devoted spouse and felt raising her children was the most important role she played in her marriage.

She was a talented and very creative artist utilizing many different media from ceramics to painting with oils and watercolors, always pursuing new techniques and approaches. She never saw a paintbrush she did not like! While in Syracuse she was certified as an instructor to teach in ceramic and porcelain media. She later taught ceramics at the Arts and Craft Center at the Air Force Academy.

Phyllis loved her golf and played at every opportunity. She especially loved playing with her friends at PebbleCreek after retirement. The highlight of her golfing career was the time she achieved a hole–in–one during a tournament in Colorado Springs.

To say that Phyllis was the life of the party at any gathering she attended would be an understatement. Her outgoing personality and social grace was always an inspiration to others. She enjoyed a long and fulfilling life full of excitement, motor home travel, and additional overseas trips along with the joy of being surrounded by her loving family. She will be missed beyond measure by her extended family, which includes children: son and daughter-in-law Robert and Patty Stacklie, daughter and son-in-law Cynthia and Bruce Richards, son and daughter-in-law Tim and Karen Stacklie. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, 15 great–grandchildren, nine great–great–grandchildren, and multiple nieces and nephews.

Services will be scheduled at a future date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Litchfield Park, Ariz., or charity of your choice.

Kathy Burke

Kathy Burke, 75, passed away peacefully in hospice surrounded by her family on July 22, 2025, after a short battle with cancer. Kathy is survived by her husband of 53 years, Mike, and what she described as her greatest accomplishments, her children Bryan and Kelly, her daughter-in-law Miquela, son-in-law Mark, and two grandchildren, Ella and Eli, who she would do anything for.

Kathy grew up in Southern California and moved to Oregon to attend the University of Oregon where she met Mike, and they became U of O graduates and lifelong Duck fans. Together they raised their kids in Oregon before retiring to PebbleCreek in 2008. Kathy dedicated her time to her children and supported them in all that they did. Even as adults, she would travel across the world to visit them wherever their professional lives took them and their families. Kathy worked as an educational aide and travel agent when her kids were older. Her greatest quality was the care and thoughtfulness she gave to others in the most unassuming ways. She loved to paint rocks and place them in parks and gardens for others to enjoy. She was a talented artist who created beautiful artwork. She loved animals and especially her dogs, one of which she trained as a therapy dog. She could be found feeding horses at the local park or feeding squirrels in her backyard in Oregon. Kathy was also an avid gardener and had beautiful flowers and plants wherever she lived. In her retirement she took up pickleball, which kept her active and engaged and she played right up until her diagnosis. She loved to dance and stayed up to date with the latest music and singers. She lived life with no regrets.

If you would like to honor Kathy, please make a donation to Hospice of the Valley or paint a rock for others to enjoy.

Gerald Chasko

On Oct. 31, 2025, Jerry Chasko slipped the surly bonds of earth and took his final flight, to continue what he loved about his career in the U.S. Navy—soaring in the skies above. Jerry often said that what he loved most about the navy was that it let him fly.

While a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy, he met his first and only love, and wife of 63 years, Jeanne. Together they had four exceptional children, Laura, Beth (John), Karen (Phil), and John (Andrea), who have given them nine grandchildren and four great–grandchildren. They lived in 12 different states and moved 23 times during their marriage, the last being to their current home in Fort Collins, Colo.

Jerry was born on Jan. 21, 1939, in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from St. Francis High School, La Canada, Calif., the U.S. Naval Academy, and the Naval Postgraduate School. In June 1962, Jerry received his Naval Aviator’s Wings. His first operational assignment was with Attack Squadron VA-155, flying the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. He deployed to the South China Sea on USS Coral Sea where he completed 100 combat missions during a record-setting 333 day cruise. His military awards include 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 8 Air Medals, 2 Navy Achievement Medals with Combat V, and the Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He also received the Army Commander’s Award from the Commandant of DSMC.

In 1981 Jerry retired from the navy and became an instructor at the Defense Systems Management College, Ft. Belvoir, VA. He later became the Regional Director of the Northern Region at Hanscom AFB, MA, then the Western Regional Director, Los Angeles AFB, CA. In 1995 Jerry retired as a GM 15.

Jerry and Jeanne moved to PebbleCreek in 1998 where Jerry began to hone his artistic skills, becoming a chef extraordinaire, creating Hopi silver jewelry, colored pencil art, and stone sculpture in marble and alabaster. Ballroom dance and bocce were other loves. Always restless to find ways to use his creative ability, he oversaw the remodeling of their golf course home in PebbleCreek.

In May of this year, Jerry and Jeanne decided to choose the easy life and moved to senior living in Fort Collins, Colo. Jerry passed from complications following surgery.

Private services were held in Colorado on Nov. 8, 2025.

Randolph Narrin Plymell

Randy Plymell was born in Deadwood, S.D., on Oct. 24, 1947.

He had three older siblings. His family moved to Las Vegas in 1956, where he finished high school. He was inducted into the Western High School Hall of Fame for football. He also ran track and wrestled. He attended UNR and obtained his degree in zoology. His love in college was skiing, and he chaired Winter Carnival during his senior year.

Randy met the love of his life, Barbara Ashworth, in eighth grade. They finally married 10 years later. They spent the first two years of their marriage at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he proudly served in the Army at Madigan General Hospital where their daughter, Sheri, was born. They returned to Las Vegas where Randy served in the Guard and Reserves while obtaining his teaching credentials, also working in insurance and financial planning. Their second child, Darrin, was born in 1977.

Randy and family had an opportunity to enter the ski business in Reno in 1988, so they moved to Reno and were co-owners in Aspen-Alpine Sports. Both Randy and Barbara continued working as teachers with the Washoe County School District while working at the ski shop. Randy loved sports and fostered enthusiasm in his children finding time to be involved in their activities.

Randy had two other loves—his grandchildren and his dogs. He loved playing with them and showing them off whenever possible, again instilling the love of learning, a sense of adventure, and sports into their lives, turning them into accomplished skiers and golfers.

In 2007 Randy and Barbara purchased a winter home in PebbleCreek in Arizona. They felt that this was one of their best decisions ever made because of the wonderful friendships acquired that involved socializing, traveling, and golf.

Randy passed away peacefully in his home with his family and dog close by. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. We thank our families and friends for their love and support as he courageously battled cancer before passing on Oct. 28, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his children, Sheri (Joe) and Darrin; and his grandchildren, Jake and Ella Barainca, and Milo Ashworth Dolan Plymell.