Denise Schoonover

Denise Elsie Schoonover, a beloved mother, daughter, and wife, passed away peacefully in Salem, Oregon on October 4, 2023. Born on October 27, 1954, in Hitchin, England to Maureen Margaret Bryan and the late Logan Lee “Barney” Barnwell, Denise was a woman of quiet strength.

Denise was granted automatic citizenship because her father was a member of the United States military, at age two her family moved from England to Arlington, Virginia after her father was transferred back to the states. They then moved to Oregon in 1957. She first attended Sacred Heart Convent. Later, she went to high school at McNary in Keizer, Oregon. She married her husband Michael on February 4, 1978 and they were blessed with two daughters, Ashlee and Lindsey. Denise chose to dedicate her life to her family as a homemaker. She was a constant presence in her daughters' lives, often volunteering in their classrooms.

Denise had a passion for the simple pleasures in life. She loved trips to the casino and buffet with her husband and mother, particularly enjoying the Dean Martin slot machine at Spirit Mountain. A lover of animals, she had a special fondness for cats and her own faithful companion, Suki.

Despite her quiet and shy nature, Denise was not averse to embracing new technologies. She learned how to text on a smartphone and delighted in sharing the day's weather frog updates with her children.

Denise was a dedicated fan of the Portland Trail Blazers, never missing a game and harboring a particular admiration for Damian Lillard. Her love for basketball was a trait she shared with her late father, who used to listen to games on the radio. Denise also enjoyed watching Dancing with the Stars, ice skating, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and Dateline. She fondly remembered watching Dark Shadows with her daughters when they were younger.

Being from England, Denise had a lifelong interest in the British Royal Family. She followed their lives and activities with keen interest, often sharing tidbits of royal news with her family. She loved chocolate, especially the English Cadbury Flakes were her favorite. Her uncle Michael would share that when they were little, she would hide the chocolate so she didn’t have to share with him. Denise was also an Elton John fan. These connections to her homeland was a cherished part of her identity.

Denise was a woman of depth and substance, her life marked by quiet resilience, unwavering love for her family, and a zest for life's simple pleasures. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. She was preceded in death by her father, Logan Barnwell and husband, Michael Schoonover. She is survived by her daughters, Lindsey Schoonover; Ashlee Schoonover; mother, Maureen Barnwell; grandchildren, Cyrus Zane Ciampi, Zoey Eliana Ciampi and Logan Michael Ciampi.