Vena Lucille Dunbar passed away on the morning of Nov. 3, 2023, after a long fight with cancer.

Vena was born on Nov. 24, 1962, in Bend, to Darrell and Ethel Ferns. She was the youngest of four children and grew up in La Pine. 

She spent her childhood playing in the trees, and loved ice skating and exploring central Oregon with her family. After high school, she attended college at Central Oregon Community College, where she met the love of her life, Andy Dunbar. The two quickly fell in love and got married on Nov. 27, 1982. 

They moved to Harney County and worked on the family ranch in Princeton. Vena and Andy soon welcomed three sons, Joshua, Kyle, and Tucker. She loved her young family and spent her days helping with the ranch, and raising her boys. Vena, Andy, and the boys soon found their lifelong love for black powder shooting and rendezvous reenactments. They were longtime members of Steens Mountainman club and traveled all over the northwest going to shoots. Vena was a terrific shot, and competed at the nation level with her flint lock rifle, taking many awards.  

Once her boys were old enough, Vena became an EMT, and specialized in wilderness medicine and ice rescue. She worked for the Harney County EMS department for many years serving the County in the EMS department. She loved helping people and cared deeply for the County. 

After her time with the EMS dept, Vena continued to work with Andy on the family ranch. She welcomed nine grandchildren, and loved playing with them and spoiling them. Vena also loved her garden and flower beds, and spent her free time either in the gardens, or fishing at her cabin at Yellowjacket. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Darrel and Ethel; her son, Tucker; and grandson, Wade Dunbar. Vena is survived by her Husband of 41 years, Andy; her sons, Joshua and wife, Felicia of Monroe Wash., and Kyle and wife, Reginia of Burns; and numerous grandchildren. Vena was a beloved wife, mother, sister, and grandmother. She will be deeply missed.