Fred Pelroy was born on Aug. 11, 1956 in Camp Pendleton to Calvin and Alice Pelroy. His father was stationed there in the Army. In later years his sisters, Coralie, Grayce and January joined the family.

In 1964, the family bought land at Lawen and moved there. Fred, Coralie and Grayce went to Lawen School. The school had to be expanded because of increased enrollment. Fred often told people that at one point he was attending the oldest and newest school in Oregon.

Fred graduated from Crane Union High School in 1974. In Dec. of 1975 he married his high school sweetheart, Linda Yekel. 

Fred and Linda both attended Eastern Oregon State College and while there, Heather Renee was born in 1981; she added great joy to their life. His love for art parachuted into so many areas including pottery, glassblowing, German Folk Dance Club, Choir and many Theatre productions. 

In 1983, they graduated from EOU together. Fred graduated with a degree in Fine Arts as well as an Art and Language degree while Linda graduated with her teaching degree. Following graduation, the family packed up and moved to Arock, Ore. where Linda accepted a teaching position at W.W. Jones Elementary School.

Fred set up a ceramic studio there and took care of Heather while Linda taught school. While living in Arock, two more amazing daughters, Katrina Rose in 1986 and Rachael Lillian in 1990, were added to the family. These three beautiful, energetic girls kept Fred busy along with his pottery, playing volleyball in town and selling pottery and crafts at the Big Loop Rodeo.

In 1991, Speed Perkins asked Fred and Linda to interview for a teaching job at “OO” School. Linda got the job and they moved that spring. They were at “OO” for seven years. Fred continued his pottery and became a 4-H leader. Linda taught her own children there as well as many others.

In 1998 they moved to Burns as Linda taught at Slater Elementary School. They lived in Burns for three years before moving to Crane. They lived in Crane for 14 years. While Fred continued to do his pottery he and Linda commuted to Burns where he worked at Kirkland, a school for troubled boys and Linda continued teaching. 

All three of their daughters graduated from Crane Union High School just as their parents had. In 2015 they moved back to Burns. Several years later Fred was transferred to Hines Middle School as a para-professional where he finished out his career before retiring in 2019. He was fond of the after school program held at the Tu-Wa-Kii Nobi Kids House. 

In July of 2015 one of Fred’s most recognized dream and accomplishment was as Co-Founder of Gallery 15, an Oregon Cooperative in Burns. This art gallery was established for artisans from Eastern Oregon to showcase their talent as well as a place where anyone can come to appreciate their work. Fred continued working with his pottery during retirement as well as growing amazing vegetables in The Community Garden to sell at the farmers market. Fred and Linda enjoyed their evening Corgis walks which were highlighted by visiting with friends and neighbors along the way. 

Fred is survived by his wife, Linda Pelroy; their daughters, Heather Pelroy of Redmond, Katrina Pelroy of Star, Idaho/Wickenburg, Ariz., and Rachael Pelroy of Albany, Ore.; his grandchildren, Alexander, Jiraiya and Zacharia Herman from Redmond, and Nevaeh Herman of Newberg,; his sisters,  Grayce Lopez of Heber, Calif., and January Trombetta of Cottonwood, Idaho; as well as his stepfather, Dennis Kendall, of Lewiston, Idaho; and finally, several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephew, in-laws, cousins and extended relatives from the Pelroy, McClendon and Yekel families.