Joey Ann Running

Joey Ann Running

After a diagnosis of an aggressive cancer, glioblastoma, Joey Ann Running of Brownsville, Ore., died at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Corvallis, Ore., on October 4, 2025. Her husband Mark Running, their children Colton and Tegan, and Joey's bonus daughters, Sydney and Rory Running were with her as she passed.

A list of Joey's academic and career achievements could fill many pages – that she held a Master of Science in Education and a Master of Arts in Economics Education, taught high school for 32 years, and was the National Business Educator of the Year in 2024 is a glimpse. Her students benefitted from her ever-increasing expertise, her energy for their well-being, and also from her love and watchful eye, which could mean anything from making waffles in her classroom to canceling her own planned vacation to attend the graduation of a student whom she had mentored through a rough go who requested Joey witness her walk across the stage to receive her diploma. Young people who passed through her classes were exposed to such a wider view of how finances could impact their lives as she empowered them to observe, think, plan.

Though Joey was a gifted teacher who worked diligently at her craft and spoke often of her own aspirations to be a lifelong learner, the biggest part of her heart was devoted to being a MOM. She set her teaching career goals aside and taught only half-time while her kids were growing up so she could work full-time-and-a-half at her favorite vocation. She packed lunches, was a presence in the kids' classrooms, delivered snacks and cinnamon rolls to all kinds of events, dove fully into building and then supporting kids' soccer teams including organizing on-field meals for home games. She and Mark paid close attention to Colton and Tegan's academic trajectory, yet even as she coached them, each year she also donated the complete set of books for all levels of Oregon Battle of the Books to the Brownsville library, where she served on the board for many years, insuring all the kids in her community had access to the resources. She welcomed her kids' friends and had time, smiles, and meals for them right through the kids' college years, hosting a gathering of twenty-somethings at the ranch just weeks before her passing.

Joey marked family holidays and milestones with thoughtful details and remembrances that made the day feel special. Decorations, declarations, treats. After the passing of an incredibly beloved family member, she planned and drew the wider family together for a heartfelt memorial of paper boats and messages and flowers floated down the Columbia River, helping to lift us all.

Joey's Love Language was baking – and she was fluent in it. She baked bins of cookies to share everywhere, and held her title as a birthday cake queen despite all four kids having their birthdays within a three-week window. She never showed up empty-handed to a function, and she always had something special on hand to include the gluten-free or dairy-free folks. Her first year at Family Camp, with about 35 of us in attendance, she established her reputation by making themed cookies for each state represented by a family member. There was much teasing – and appreciation – about the quantity of food that came out of the back of the Running camper, and all looked forward to Baked Potato Bar served out of her grandma's electric roaster pan.

Joey was a vibrant and pivotal member of a wide, extended family, and, as we try to process this loss, the words "welcoming, thoughtful, kind, dedicated, energetic" come up again and again. Her mom, stepdad, sister, niece, nephew, sisters-and-brothers-in-law, and a few dozen cousins spread over three generations join Mark and kids in grateful celebration of her time with us.

A Remembrance of Life to be announced.