Renee Louise Peck

Renee Louise Wallace Peck
December 11, 1963 - July 6, 2014
INDEPENDENCE - Renee will be remembered for her determination, her faith, her love of family and friends, and her funny quips. She gave of herself and was concerned about others.
She was born in Astoria to Dennis and Janet Wallace. The family, including younger brother Derek, lived in Knappa, Oregon, relocated to Lakeview for four years, and then settled in Madras where she graduated from high school in 1982. During high school she played clarinet in the band, acted in plays and musicals, and won 2nd place in state tennis doubles finals.
A highlight was hosting a foreign exchange student from Turkey for a school year. Renee and Sule were like sisters, and Renee and her brother spent a summer the following year with her in Turkey. Sule visited the U.S. 30 years later for a great reunion.
Renee attended Western Oregon College (now WOU) the fall of 1982. She married David in December and moved to Whidbey Island, WA, returning to Western the next fall while her husband served on an aircraft carrier. Both eventually obtained Bachelor degrees; Renee in 1987. Their son, Keri, was born in 1991.
She was a child care worker for the Salem YMCA and for the Benedictine Child Care Center in Mt. Angel.
A vehicle accident in 1993 left her with a traumatic brain injury and a new life of rehabilitation and confinement to a power wheel chair. After a year and a half in hospitals and nursing center, she and her parents made a home together in Silverton where she was able to co-parent her son. Local residents recall seeing her working out at a fitness gym with the help of her devoted dad and caregivers, exercising in the rehabilitation pool at Salem Hospital Regional Rehabilitation Center with her mom, volunteering in her son's classrooms with her mom, and visiting nearby preschools with her caregivers. She attended school events with her son, as well as plays, concerts, movies, festivals, fairs, and church.
She had a special bond with many of her caregivers, therapists, and doctors. She was most proud of her certificate for completing a year-long bible reading course. She absolutely loved participating in her church women's group lessons.
The inspiration she gave others was expressed by the late Winnie Bolton in "Our Town Life," July, 2009. Winnie had a brief stay at Providence Benedictine Nursing Center and wrote: "Through all this, God showered me with the presence of a lovely angel who visited me room on her mechanized wheel chair with gifts of freshly cut flowers from the PBNC garden."
Renee told Winnie her story and so the article continues:
"When she entered my room, I knew none of this. Since Renee has speech impairment, she types her communications on a mini-computer so she can be understood. Her first printed words to me were you make me cry and laugh with your articles. Thank you and keep writing.'
"This stranger in such a difficult situation thanking me humbled me beyond measure but I felt good about bringing pleasure and comfort to this precious woman. It was she who gave me a gift instead of the other way around.
"Life is beautiful when an angel enters your room."
Renee dreamed of running her own childcare and, before the accident, she was becoming involved in the Homer Development Days. She had plans for other community involvement also.
Everything PURPLE had her name on it. She collected bear figurines and loved anything with a butterfly motif. She shopped the Independence Saturday market for more costume jewelry and she wore gobs of it. She enjoyed games such as Yahtzee and bingo, reading, TV shows - especially Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, as well as Blazer and Beaver basketball games. Her biggest joy was visiting with children and holding babies.
Renee was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Silverton, and attended Faith Lutheran Church, Monmouth, after her move to foster care in Independence in 2010.
Her beloved dad died this April. She is survived by her son, Keri Peck, Salem; her mother, Jan Wallace, Silverton; brother Derek Wallace, Las Vegas; two uncles; Joe Wallace, Long Creek and Jerry Jensen, Paisley, and three aunts: Evelyn Barber, Creswell, Jewel Wallace, Canby, and Dorothy Vazquez, Molalla, as well as several cousins.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, August 3 at 4:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church located at 303 N. Church, Silverton, with supper following.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to a project with checks to Immanuel Lutheran Church and "Visitation room at Marion Co, DHS" on the memo line, or a donation to Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon, P.O. Box 549, Molalla 97038 would be appreciated by the family.
Farnstrom Mortuary is caring for the family. Memories and condolences at FarnstromMortuary.com.