Jason Wayde Dexter

Jason Wayde Dexter was born May 5th, 1972 in John Day, Oregon to Cheryl Schulz (Krantz) and Gary Dexter. Jason was raised in many different places, as the family frequently moved between Forest Service Sites across Oregon and even Wyoming. Jason always loved spending time at his Grandma Dorothy’s property in Prairie City, Oregon, with his dad and sisters Nikki and Melissa. He loved helping with the small farm chores and the garden. At a young age, Jason gained another dad in Gary Krantz. The majority of Jason’s free time through the years was spent with his parents Cheryl and Gary Krantz and brothers: Wes, Jeremy, and Little Gary. They spent countless days and weekends camping, boating, hunting, and fishing. He truly possessed a love for everything outdoors.

As a teenager, Jason ended up back in Baker City where he attended Baker High School. Before his senior year, Jason decided to join his parents Cheryl and Gary Krantz and Brother Wes, working on fish-processing boats off the coast of Alaska. Even though this adventure was miserable (for the most part), he loved the serenity of being on the open water. It was also his first introduction to sashimi, which gave him a life-long love for sushi to pass down to his kids.

Directly out of High School, Jason had three children together with Wendy Bates: Courtney Dexter (Dilworth), Deran Dexter, and Caden Dexter. They initially raised their kids in the Treasure Valley area, while attending school to secure their careers. Jason loved learning as much as he loved adventure. He attended numerous colleges over the years until graduating from BMCC with his nursing degree. Prior to becoming a registered nurse, Jason had worked as a well driller, cash store owner, blood transfusionist, and medical assistant. He had also recently tried his hand at pheasant farming with ring-neck pheasants. Those who knew him as “Nurse Jason” knew he had found his true calling when he became a registered nurse.

In 2006, Jason fell in love with his accountant, Jeanie Rea, and her two little girls, Sarah Rea and Elizabeth Rea (Spencer). After only being together for two months, Jason and Jeanie woke up the morning of January 7, 2007, and decided that day was the day to get married—because it would be an easy anniversary date to remember! They were married at the Methodist Church that very evening with all five children in tow, a few close family members, and the minister. The long-running joke was that even though they picked a date that was easy to remember, they rarely did—but Jason remembered this year and that meant a lot to Jeanie.

In 2008, Jason and Jeanie built a home big enough for their five children. Jason always had a passion for building and wanted to do it himself. He loved to figure out how to do things differently and better and his project list was never-ending. Jason was always excited to teach his family and friends all about the latest ideas he had researched--and he wasn’t known to leave out any details.

Jason often talked about how amazing all five of his children turned out to be. He would say it’s not because of their jobs or what they have but that they all grew up to be such kind-hearted, responsible, beautiful, and loving people in spite of his ceaseless throat chops, ear-flacks, and belly boppers! He absolutely loved being a Grandpa. He adored his granddaughter Callie Rea Brown, Grandsons Guy Cason Dexter, and Rayjen Jed Dilworth. He was excited to welcome another Dilworth grandson next month. He loved to cuddle them and put a smile on their faces. He always said he couldn’t wait for them to be old enough to take fishing.

Jason lost his life on February 13, 2023, in a motor vehicle accident due to very slick roads. That night after dinner in town with Jeanie, they were driving separately back home in a snowstorm; him following her. He spotted a cooler someone had lost on the road and turned around to pick it up. Anyone that knew Jason well, will tell you he was never able to resist a good find!  In this excitement, to save the cooler he must have forgotten to put his seatbelt back on. Jason was traveling with his labrador “Boose” who was found near the crash site the next day- scared and confused but with non-critical injuries.

Jason is preceded in death by his beloved Grandma Dorothy Hansen; Father Gary Dexter, Nephew Tristan Dexter-Fox, and first wife, Wendy.

Jason was survived by his wife Jeanie Dexter; His parents: Cheryl and Gary Krantz; His brothers: Wes Dexter, Jeremy Coley, and ‘Lil’ Gary Krantz; His sisters: Nikki Borello and Melissa Foster; His children: Courtney Dilworth, Deran Dexter, Sarah Rea, Caden Dexter, and Elizabeth Spencer; His grandchildren: Callie Rea Brown, Guy Cason Dexter, Rayjen Jed Dilworth, and numerous nieces and nephews; as well as his beloved pets: Boose, Coal, Eclipse, Titten, and Whiskers.

A gathering of "sadness" will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, beginning at 2:00 PM at Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR.  Family and friends are invited to come share stories and memories with one another.

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