Obituary of Kirby B McPherson

With sadness we share the loss of devoted husband, father, uncle, and grandfather Kirby B. McPherson of Clackamas, Oregon on June 1, 2022. Kirby was born April 14, 1950, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to Reta (June) Prewitt and William (Bill) McPherson. At age 8, the family moved to Pendleton. Kirby graduated from Pendleton High School before attending Blue Mountain Community College and Oregon State University. Kirby was proud of his mother’s career as a Registered Nurse (RN) and father’s military service and work in law enforcement. As a youth, Kirby grew up with a deep appreciation of public service and community. As a youth, he was active in Boy Scouts, Glee Club and DeMolay (Masons), among other organizations. He proudly served 9 years including as a staff sergeant in the Oregon National Guard. Through an early marriage to Jeanne (McAuslan) Kopp, he became a proud father to Ryan McPherson. In 1978 Kirby met his true companion, Sherri Davidson. They married in September 1980 and moved to Portland the following year. In 1987, they joyously welcomed son Nicholas McPherson. In addition to work as a property manager and tradesman, Kirby devoted himself to his boys’ activities in swim team, Little League, soccer, basketball, music, and Boy Scouts. Kirby was extremely proud and supportive of Sherri’s career with the Oregon Society of CPAs, especially its Educational Foundation’s focus to provide scholarship opportunities for deserving students. A lifelong outdoorsman, Kirby taught his sons to love nature, especially the Columbia Gorge, Oregon Coast, and Eastern Oregon. Kirby also enjoyed exploring Seattle’s Pike Place Market and watching seaplanes land on Lake Union. He and Sherri enjoyed travel and had memorable trips to California, Nantucket, Cape Cod, Boston, Maine, New York, Florida, Texas, British Columbia, and Hawaii, plus an 800-mile tour of New England for their 25th wedding anniversary. Kirby loved BBQing and was known as a creative cook. He was also known for providing humor and laughter during many family photo sessions, evidence of which is preserved in albums. Kirby had a talent for working on improvement projects at home and for family and friends. He enjoyed gardening and was known for his prolific crop of Walla Walla Sweets. He was deeply proud of his family. He was a loyal and beloved friend. Kirby is survived by a tight-knit family who will miss him dearly: wife Sherri; sons Ryan and Nicholas McPherson; mother-in-law Deanna France; brother Randall McPherson (Julie); in-laws Daniel Davidson (Susan), James Davidson (Irene), Cindy Swafford (Marquez), and Hime France; grandson Elijah McPherson; nephews and nieces: Tyler McPherson (Tammy), Ryan McKee (Maggie), Sean McKee (Misty), Ashley Davidson, John Rountree, Jan Stephens, Michael White; great nieces and great nephew: Zayliana McPherson, Jasmyn Hatfield, and Akira McKee. A celebration of life is upcoming at Sunnyside Little Chapel of the Chimes. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The McPherson Family & Friends Scholarship through The OSCPA Educational Foundation at www.orcpa.org/ed-foundation/contribute, or mailed to Oregon Society of CPAs, Attn: McPherson Scholarship, PO Box 4555, Beaverton, OR, 97076-4555.