Finding information about someone who has passed away shouldn't feel like a chore. Honestly, when you're looking for Davenport's Chapel of the Good Shepherd obituaries, you're usually in a headspace where you just want things to be simple. You want to know when the service is, where to send the flowers, or maybe just read a few kind words about a person who meant something to the Klamath Falls community.
It’s personal.
Davenport’s Chapel of the Good Shepherd has been a fixture in Klamath Falls, Oregon, for decades. Specifically, it was started back in 1978 by Bill and Jean Davenport. They originally set up shop on South 6th Street before moving to the current spot on Memorial Drive.
If you are looking for a specific obituary right now, the most direct route is usually their official website. They use a standard platform—the kind where you see a photo, a timeline of the person's life, and a "Tribute Wall" where people leave digital candles and messages.
Where to Look for These Obituaries
You’ve basically got three main spots to check.
- The Official Website: Head to davenportschapelgoodshepherd.com. There is a dedicated "Obituaries" tab right at the top. This is the gold standard because the family often updates it in real-time.
- The Herald and News: Local papers still carry a lot of weight in Klamath County. Many families choose to publish a longer, more formal version here.
- Legacy.com: This site often pulls data from funeral homes across the country. If you can’t find a name on the main chapel site for some reason, it might show up here or on "We Remember."
Kinda strange how we track these things now, isn't it? One minute someone is a fixture at the grocery store or the local Grange, and the next, their life is summarized in five paragraphs on a screen.
Navigating Recent Services in Klamath Falls
Lately, there has been a lot of activity. Within the last few months—late 2025 and moving into early 2026—the chapel has handled several high-profile local services. You might see names like Lauralie Barrett, who recently passed at the age of 100, or John Kern Lilly. These aren't just names; they are the literal history of the Klamath Basin.
💡 You might also like: Why the Blue Jordan 13 Retro Still Dominates the Streets
Families often choose Davenport’s because it feels less like a corporate "death care" facility and more like a local business. Because it is.
Bill Davenport actually worked at O’Hair’s Funeral Chapel back in the early 70s before branching out on his own. That kind of deep-rooted local history matters when you’re picking a place to handle a loved one's final arrangements. People in town know the family. They know the staff.
Why the Obits Sometimes Look Different
Have you ever noticed how some obituaries are three sentences long while others are basically a short novella?
That's usually a mix of cost and family preference. At Davenport’s, they offer everything from direct cremation—which is quite affordable at around $1,095—to full traditional burials that can run over $6,000. Sometimes, a "just the facts" obituary is part of a simpler package, while the detailed life stories are written by family members who want every hobby and grandchild mentioned.
Davenport's Chapel of the Good Shepherd obituaries often reflect the rugged, outdoor lifestyle of the region. You'll see mentions of hunting trips in the Cascades, years spent working for the timber industry, or long histories with the Klamath Tribes.
In fact, the chapel has a very strong relationship with the local Native community. It’s common to see testimonials from families thanking the staff for allowing traditional songs and ceremonies during the cremation process or viewing. That's the kind of nuance you don't always get with the big national chains.
📖 Related: Sleeping With Your Neighbor: Why It Is More Complicated Than You Think
Dealing With the Logistics
If you're the one actually writing the obituary or coordinating with the chapel at 2680 Memorial Drive, here is the reality: it's overwhelming.
The staff there, including the directors, are generally known for being "compassionate," but they are also running a business. They’ll help you with the Social Security benefits paperwork and the Veterans' burial flags, but the actual "story" of the person usually falls on the family.
- Fact Check: Always verify the dates. It sounds obvious, but grief makes your brain foggy.
- The Photo: Use a high-resolution one. Digital obituary sites can make low-quality phone photos look really grainy.
- Donations: If the person hated flowers, make sure to list the specific charity (like Klamath Hospice) early in the text.
The Community Connection
Klamath Falls is a small enough place that when you see a name in the Davenport's Chapel of the Good Shepherd obituaries section, you probably know someone who knows them.
It’s about more than just a notification of death. It’s a community record.
Sometimes, the chapel will host a "Celebration of Life" months after the actual passing, especially if the person died in the winter and the family wants a spring service. You’ll find those updates on the website too. If you’re looking for someone like Anne Marie Woods or Robert Eugene Bales, you might find that their services were held at local churches—like Refuge City Church—rather than in the chapel itself.
Davenport’s often acts as the coordinator even if the service happens elsewhere.
👉 See also: At Home French Manicure: Why Yours Looks Cheap and How to Fix It
Actionable Steps for Finding or Placing an Obituary
If you need to find a specific person or are currently in the process of making arrangements, here is exactly what you should do:
Check the "Recent" vs. "Past" archives. The website separates these. If the service was more than a month ago, you might have to use the search bar.
Call them directly at 541-883-3458. If you are a relative trying to correct a typo in an online obituary, don't wait. These sites are indexed by search engines quickly, and you want the info to be right.
Look for the "Grief Support" emails. If you're struggling after reading a loved one's obituary, the chapel actually has a service where they send daily support messages for a year. You just sign up with your email on their site. It’s free and actually pretty helpful for some people.
Prepare your info before the meeting. If you're writing the obit, have the "vital statistics" ready: parents' names (including mother's maiden name), education, work history, and a list of survivors. It makes the process at the Memorial Drive office much faster.
The bottom line is that Davenport's Chapel of the Good Shepherd obituaries serve as a bridge. They connect the private pain of a family to the public memory of the Klamath Falls community. Whether you're just checking the time for a funeral or trying to piece together a family tree, those records are a vital part of local history.
Make sure to bookmark their main obituary page if you are following a specific family, as updates regarding memorial locations or "potluck receptions" (very common in this area!) often get added a few days after the initial post.