Caley Boone, 51, Gold Hill, Ore.

Caley Ann Bridget Boone, 51, of Gold Hill, Ore., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, after a courageous battle against cancer.

Caley was born on March 2, 1971 in Cherokee, to Dr. Paul and Patricia Boone, of Paullina. She grew up in Paullina, Hartley and Rock Rapids, where she graduated from Central Lyon High School in 1989.

Beginning with family camping trips when she was younger, Caley loved the outdoors and always pursued new adventures. She graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz. with a degree in Biology, Fish and Wildlife Management. In addition to her education and research at NAU, Caley spent several years in Alaska working on fishing vessels in the Bering Sea as a fish observer. She also worked as a research technician at the Northeast Minnesota Wolf Project in Ely, Minn., and later as a fish researcher in Klamath Falls, Ore.

Brilliant and curious, Caley could have pursued a professional career in anything but her passion for caring for animals became her calling. Caley began work at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah in 2013, and completed her certificate in training and counseling from The Academy for Dog Training in 2018. At Best Friends, Caley poured her heart into caring for dogs that had been rescued and she particularly loved to work with shy, quiet dogs who needed extra care and training. She personally demonstrated her commitment to animal rescue by adopting her own dogs from Best Friends.

In her free time, Caley loved to read, especially anything by John Steinbeck, go for walks with her dogs, challenge herself with a project for her home, be creative, and spend time with friends. She was always the first to volunteer when a friend needed help, stood up for those who couldn't find their voice, and loved to welcome others into her home for a home-cooked meal.

Caley relocated to southern Oregon in 2019 to pursue a new opportunity for assisting rescued animals. In 2021, Caley was diagnosed with melanoma cancer and like every obstacle she ever faced, she put all of her strength, fight and bravery into battling the disease.

Caley is survived by her three amazing dogs: Chouli, Obie and Camper; her brother, Scott Boone and wife Linda, of Peoria, Ariz.; and her sister, Megan Boone, of Fort Collins, Colo.

In lieu of sending flowers, Caley's family asks for friends to please plant wildflowers in her memory or donate to a local animal rescue organization in your area. A virtual Celebration of Life for Caley will be held on Monday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. MST. If you would like to attend the virtual celebration, please RSVP to [email protected] to receive the link.