Carol D Dion Obituary
Carol Debra Dion passed away peacefully on July 18, 2025 at her home in Portland, Oregon. Carol was born on September 23, 1954 in Miles City, Montana to David and Martha McCloy. She grew up in Glendive, Montana with her parents and three brothers, Dan, Jim, and Jon. She was surrounded by a boisterous and close family of a grandmother and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family remembered trips to Fort Peck and spending time in Makoshika State Park.
She graduated from Montana State University with a degree in psychology. She married John Dion in 1977. They were married for 47 years and Carol referred to him as the love of her life. After spending time in Colorado, they ultimately moved to Corvallis, Oregon where she completed her Masters in Business Administration at Oregon State University.
Carol and John had two children, Heather and John-Paul (Debbie). Carol worked at Corvallis Disposal and was active in the community, including being a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Corvallis, serving on the Boards of several non-profit organizations, and hosting exchange students.
Carol and John moved to Portland, Oregon in 2009. She retired as the Area Manager from Republic Services and enjoyed an active retirement, including sewing, hiking, kayaking, birding, and biking. Carol and John enjoyed traveling internationally and in their Airstream trailer. They were members of the Airstream Club of Oregon, including hosting rallies and Carol served as President in 2022. She had the most joy spending time with her family and was a devoted grandmother to her four grandchildren.
Carol welcomed people with warmth and kindness. She loved learning people's stories, and no one stayed a stranger for very long. She saw people in the best light and had a way of elevating those around her to be their best selves.
Carol was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. She had another round with the disease in 2011 and was ultimately diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in 2020. She was, in the words of many who knew her, "a fighter" who didn't let health complications get in her way.
Carol is survived by her husband John; children Heather and John-Paul (Debbie); grandchildren Clare McPherson, Sam McPherson, Maddy Dion, and Fred Dion; siblings, Jim (Ruth Lutz) McCloy, Jon (Kathy) McCloy; sisters-in-law Linda McCloy, Terri (Randall Kohltfarber) Dion, and Pat (David Amick) Dion and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Dan McCloy, and her brother-in-law Gene Dion.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to one of the causes that Carol cared about. These include your local food bank (Carol was a donor to Marion-Polk Food Share), Planned Parenthood of the Columbia Willamette, your local public broadcasting station (Carol was a member of Oregon Public Broadcasting), your local CASA program (Carol was a donor to CASA of Central Oregon), or the Pink Lemonade Project to support women living with breast cancer.
