Tena Krin Hoke

Tena Krin Hoke
beloved, genuine, generous, humble
26 October 1959 – 11 August 2025
Tena Krin Hoke is remembered for many things. Her kindness reached beyond those
who knew her personally, touching many near and far. Always inquisitive, rarely judging,
she approached both close friend and acquaintance with the hope to better understand
them by seeing their humanity. A vast and voracious reader, she knew the right word for
almost every situation, a trait rightly coveted by many.
Born to George English Hoke and Clementena Betsey (Mickelson) Hoke, Tena grew up
the eldest of three in Bellevue, WA. A quiet child, she chose to observe rather than
interject, a trait which she carried into adulthood. After graduating from Sammamish
High School, she studied at the University of Puget Sound and Big Bend Community
College before transferring and completing her computer science degree at Washington
State University in Pullman.
She and Jim met while at Washington State University and married in 1983. Tena
worked for various technological firms in Portland, Oregon, including owning and
running EASE Software for many years. Prior to retiring she held the role of chief
financial officer for scrapbooking company Technique Tuesday.
However, the work she held dear to her heart happened outside the conventional office.
Tena was deeply involved in human rights organizations such as Amnesty International.
Her work was rooted in her community of fellow volunteers, where she would sit down
to write letters on behalf of people whose right to a voice had been suppressed or taken
away entirely. Tena could also be found tabling, giving her perfected elevator pitch
explaining Amnesty International's mission and goals to any interested passerby.
The beach held a special place for Tena, who enjoyed it in all its forms. Whether a
weekend out at her and Jim's condo in Netarts, or a week-long trip to Hawaii with
friends Nell and Richard, no beach was a bad beach, and no weather was bad beach
weather. Her positive attitude and appreciation for something many are quite particular
about is an example to all.
While she and Jim had no children or grandchildren of their own, Tena's impact on her
nieces and nephews, various exchange students from Asia, and children of friends is
significant. Nancy's and Duncan's children received stories written about "my mom/dad
when she/he was growing up" every Christmas as a way to preserve family history and
connect generations. This continued once they reached college, but the tables turned.
Tena would request and compile answers from the nieces and nephews about their
studies and university experiences. Every semester presented an opportunity to reflect,
chronicle, and share with family, a testament to her support for education and
connection both across and between generations. After the nieces and nephews
graduated from their studies, she and Jim became "dry" grandparents to the children of
their close friends Candy and Akshay. Tena cherished her role as grandma to Neal and
Niam, and her absence is felt acutely.
Tena chose to depart this world on August 11, 2025. Gone too soon, Tena is
remembered by: her husband Jim Binkley; her sister Nancy (Kirk) Devine; her nieces and
nephews Cameron (Tamara) and Harrison Devine, Andrew, Monika, and Emily Hoke,
and Lex Robertson; her "dry" children Candy and Akshay and grandchildren Neal and
Niam; and her many extended family members, friends, and beyond. She is preceded in
death by both her parents and her brother, Duncan Hoke.
Donations in Tena's honor may be made to Hogar Infantil Orphanage in Chiapas
Mexico (https://www.hogarinfantil.org/), Amnesty International
(https://www.amnestyusa.org/) or SMART Reading (https://smartreading.org/). A
celebration of life service will take place at Unity Spiritual Center of Portland on Sunday,
November 9, at 3:00 PM. A reception with light refreshments will follow. The service will
also be live streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/@unitychurchportland/streams