Barbara Bryson, RN BS
Owner

I have lived most of my life in Klamath Falls, went to Riverside Elementary, Ponderosa Jr. High and graduated from Klamath Union.
I decided that I wanted to go into the Nursing Program at OIT. Just as I was graduating from OIT with my Bachelor degree in nursing, my mom (Betty) was stricken with cancer. With the help of hospice I was able to care for her in the privacy of our home until her passing.
I have worked at several facilities but always felt like there was more I could do in the memory of not only of my own mother but of others who wanted to die at home with dignity and be surrounded by their loved ones.
In October 2004, another nurse and I decided to start our own hospice. With the backing and blessing, of my dad, Ed Mason, we started working towards this dream.
In May of 2005 we became certified with Medicare and opened the doors of HIGH DESERT HOSPICE!
In April of 2006 my partner left to pursue other nursing opportunities. We then took on our third partner Lynda Bryson.
Over the last 6 years we have slowly grown with the support of our community. We will continue to grow and give back not only to our patients and their families, but to our future patients and community!

Ed Mason
Owner

Ed moved to Klamath Falls in 1964 after growing up in numerous places from the Bay area to Northern California. Ed raised his family working in construction and took Barbara to work with him.  It was nothing for Barbara to sit on a paving machine all day waiting for one of the truck drivers to bring her a pop.  He worked for Stukel Rock and Paving and started his own trucking business “Ed Mason and Daughters Trucking” in the mid 1970’s and was self employed until his “Semi” retirement in the late 1990’s.

Ed married Hanna in 1982.  Hanna worked as a surgical nurse at Merle West Medical Center till her retirement in 2000.  Ed and Hanna have traveled all over the United States to attend car races, Hustlin Owl Basketball games, visiting family and just relaxing in the sun in Arizona.  Ed and Hanna have 6 children combined and 10 grandchildren who they enjoy and stay actively involved with.

Ed was primary supporter of Barbara opening her business (with Hanna’s okay) and actually told Barbara, “You girls aren’t getting any younger and if your going to do it you better do it now”.  Five months later High Desert Hospice took their first patient and have been growing strong since.

Ed continues to be actively involved with the maintenance and advertising for High Desert Hospice and enjoys coming into office and giving the girls a hard time and offering them support.

Lynda Bryson
Owner

Thirty seven years ago Lynda and her husband, Ed, made a decision that they wanted to move to Klamath Falls to raise their 2 young sons.  Ed had just returned home from Vietnam and had told Lynda about his great memories of summer visits to this small town where his aunt and uncle lived.

 So in May 1971, they packed up their belongings in a U-Haul and with 2 little boys, one dog and one cat, moved to Klamath Falls.  A decision that they have never regretted! 

Ed went to work at Columbia Plywood and retired in April of 2006.  Lynda was a housewife for the first 2 years and then decided she wanted to go back to work. 

 In 1974, she helped open the K-mart store and became their Personnel Manager for the next 20 years.  In 1994, she decided that she would like to leave retail and try something different.  She then went to work at Merle West Medical Center (now known as Sky Lakes) Medical Center in their Human Resource Dept. 

In 2005, Barbara offered Lynda a position at High Desert Hospice and an opportunity to become an owner.

Lynda and Ed decided in 2008 to do some traveling in their 5^th wheel.  They have only made it as far as Red Bluff, Ca.  They decided they wanted to be close to home so they would be able to see their 2 grandchildren and still be involved with High Desert Hospice.

 Lynda’s email is : Lynda@hdhweb.com 

Jan Florez
Office Manager

Jan grew up in Klamath Falls and attended Pelican Elementary, Freemont Jr. High and graduated from KUHS.
Jan married her high school sweetheart, George Florez, after graduation. They have two daughters, Melina and Melissa, two sons Mando and Todo and 7 beautiful grandchildren. Their family celebrates the Mexican and Southern traditions of food and family and share the enjoyment of participation and watching all sports.
Jan came to High Desert Hospice after working at Sky Lakes Medical Center in K Falls and Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay. While working in the hospital setting Jan served on national committees and held state offices in the northwest regional area for patient access. Jan’s father-in-law was a recipient of High Desert Hospice services and was so impressed with the care and compassion he received that when the opportunity presented itself she joined the team.

Karen Little

Karen grew up here in the Klamath Basin.  She graduated from Chiloquin High, worked at Weyerhaeuser Company and for her brother’s custom haying business.  Her father’s accidental death precipitated a change in her directions. She went to college and received her BS in Dietetics and Institutional Management in 1983.  She went to seminary at Bangor Theological Seminary and received her M.Div. in 1986.  She was ordained Elder in 1988. 

Her family consists of two adopted children who are both in college now.

Karen was chaplain and bereavement Coordinator at Klamath Hospice from 2003 to 2006.  She has served as Chaplain, Bereavement Coordinator, and Volunteer Coordinator at High Desert Hospice since 2006.

Karen’s varied work experiences, extensive education, and adjusting to multiple settings has come in handy over the years.  Karen is content that much of what she has learned through life is exactly what is necessary for her to meet people where they are spiritually.  Karen has also found that it has helped her to educate volunteers, and be able to empathize with the families who have lost a loved one.

Teresa Pastorius
Administrator

Teresa has over 16 years of hospice administrative experience working in both non-profit and privately owned hospices. She currently serves at the Vice-Chair of the Oregon Hospice Association’s Provider’s Council. Having cared for her husband, with the help of hospice services, she knows how difficult it can be to care for someone at the end of life and how the burden is lifted with the assistance of the hospice team.

Teresa’s daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter live in Long Beach, California, where she spends her vacations.  Although she loves visiting her family, she doesn’t miss living in California and can’t wait to get home to her two German Shepherds and two cats.

Yolanda Suarez, DO
Medical Director

After spending a life time in Los Angeles and owning her own practice, Dr. Suarez moved to Klamath Falls Oregon in 2008 in order to enjoy the beauty and outdoor activities that the Pacific Northwest had to offer and hasn’t looked back. She is a partner at Klamath Medical Clinic and the medical director of High Desert Hospice. Her interests in medicine are vast but her passion is end of life care. She is a graduate of Western University of Health Sciences and USC Family Practice Residency Program. I enjoy reading, running, especially marathon running, climbing, soccer, traveling, writing and my family. I have completed two Half Ironman distance triathlons and I am training for my third. I have traveled to South America to explore the country while running in areas that few tourists have ever seen. I have run on the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu and camped among Inca Ruins. I have backpacked through the South African Drakenburg mountains, climbed a frozen volcano in Peru, hiked across England along the Coast to Coast Trail and climbed a lava-spewing volcano in Guatemala. I am passionate about my career and about life and strive for a quality of life that embraces it all.

Virginia Hughes

Virginia was born in Oklahoma but raised in the Los Angeles area. After Virginia graduated she went to work as a secretary for a construction company until the business moved to another state. Virginia married and had 4 beautiful daughters. Virginia and her family eventually moved to the Central Valley of California to raise their children. Virginia became familiar with hospice when her nephew became ill and was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer in the lungs. Hospice was recommended and it as a very amazing experience for her nephew and his family. Once again Virginia encountered cancer and this time it was her very own daughter who became ill with Leukemia at the age of 13. Through intense chemotherapy her daughter is now a survivor of cancer. It was a learning experience for Virginia to know that there is a great need for caring, compassionate, loving and kind people. At this time in her life Virginia realized that this had become her calling. She then became a Certified Nurse’s Assistant and a Certified Phlebotomist. Virginia wanted to be one of those people that could make a difference in someone’s life. Virginia’s mother-in-law became ill also with cancer and she was able to spend time taking care of her until she passed. Virginia’s mother is a Hospice patient and is caring for her through her end of life care.  Virginia once saw a statement that she feels is very true, “You do not choose your passion, your passion chooses you”.

Steve Eddy, RN, FNP

I am a Family Nurse Practitioner, certified through the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses.  I have been a registered nurse for 20 years and a Family Nurse Practitioner for 16 years.  I have worked in a variety of in-patient and community settings.  I have worked for High Desert Hospice since 2005.  I am proud to continue being part of the team delivering care to patients and their families during the last part of their lives.

Bob Mabou

Bob has lived in the Klamath Falls community for over 25 years and has been involved in numerous community activities and volunteer programs over the past 13 years. His work with High Desert Hospice has provided a unique opportunity to work with a team of professionals that are dedicated to providing comfort, dignity and respect for those at the end of their life. It is Bob’s goal to advocate for and assist in meeting the needs of the terminally ill and their caregivers, and to offer support and understanding to those who have experienced the death of a loved one.

Dick Noonan

Dick Noonan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been in the field of social work since 1972.  He moved to Klamath Falls in 2007 from Maine with his wife, Kathleen, who also is a patient/family volunteer for High Desert Hospice.  In addition to working at High Desert Hospice, Dick has a private practice here in town.

Cindy Archuleta-Moran, RN

Debbie Burnett LMT

Debbie has been a licensed massage therapist since 2001. She began her career at Sky Lakes Medical Center working with patients as well as with staff. While working with critical and terminally ill patients, she realized the need for massage therapy in their care. Massage therapy is an excellent tool in assisting patients with pain control, comfort care and relaxation. Debbie not only uses her massage skills with High Desert Hospice patients but has her own private business as well. Debbie possesses the ability to connect well with her patients at High Desert Hospice.

Denise Roskos, RN

Denise has been a registered nurse for 16 years.  Her preferred area of practice has been geriatric nursing.  "I have a special place in my heart for our older folks."

Denise has worked with High Desert Hospice for 5 years and feels that she is allowed to be the kind of nurse she always wanted to be.  "We are allowed to spend enough time with our patients so that we can meet emotional needs, become a part of our patient's families and truly connect during a very confusing and life changing experience.

My newest role and my proudest is that I have assumed the role of “Granny” in my family.  My granny passed this year and I became a grandmother this year.  I absolutely adore my granddaughter and am proud to be called grandma, nana or my favorite is granny.  Just ask me and I will produce many pictures of her and the only thing that would make it better is if they lived in town and I could spoil her every day. 

Louise Lesher

Louise came to Oregon from Southern California in 1972. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and has enjoyed a lifelong career in Social Work.  She is an active volunteer in our community and a proud soccer  Mom. After the tragic death of her son in 1993 she has studied and devoted herself to meeting the needs of the bereaved.
Community Involvement:
The Compassionate Friends
The Mourning After Bereavement Support Group
Early Childhood Partnership
Youth Development Network
Canterbury Hand Bell Choir
Oregon Child Development Coalition
Klamath Kinetic Sculpture  Challenge
The Friends of the Skate Park
First United Methodist Church
Klamath Blues Society

“I am so happy to be working with the High Desert Hospice family. It is an amazing experience to be welcomed into peoples lives at such an intimate time to offer spiritual support in a manner best suited for them and their loved ones.”

Lana Gentry

I was born in Oregon and spent my younger years in Montana and Idaho.  I came back to Oregon in the early 80’s.  I have been blessed with 4 daughters and my son.  I recently got married to a Klamath Native.  I am also native.  We enjoy riding our horses, going to pow-wows and having family time. 

I have been in healthcare for about 16 years.  I started in Geriatrics and worked my way around the hospital.  I’ve been working for hospice now for almost 5 years.  I love hospice for the fact that you are helping people and their families get through difficult times.

Kayla Hampson

I have lived in Klamath Falls all my life.  I graduated from Mazama High School in 2007.  I have a son who is almost 3 and I enjoy spending my free time with him and doing things with my family and friends.  I currently work two jobs, but I do plan on going back to school and would love to do something in the medical field.

 Back in 2006, High Desert Hospice took care of my Great Grandmother.  Just watching how much they care and how they are there to help your family through such a difficult time as losing a loved one, really made me start wanting to know more about hospice.  I have been with High Desert Hospice for over a year and I enjoy it very much.  I have learned a lot working here and it has been an awesome experience for me.

Daryl Cooper LCSW

Daryl comes to High Desert Hospice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, courtesy of the criminal justice system, after a twenty-seven year career as a parole officer.  Since 2004, he has worked as a social worker at Lakeview Hospice in Lakeview, Oregon, his hometown.  He has resided in the Klamath Basin since 1996.  He also owns and operates a private counseling practice in Klamath Falls since 2007.

He and his wife, Kelsea, enjoy recreational passions including cross country skiing, biking, strength training, and karaoke. They thoroughly enjoy attending concerts throughout the Northwest and Northern California. Kelsea has introduced him to golf and whippets, and they are soon to be the proud new parents of a new whippet puppy.

Daryl has an adult daughter who is a college student in Portland.

 “My opportunity in Hospice of Lakeview allowed me to understand how important Hospice is to the community and how important the community is to Hospice. In Lakeview, I experienced families of whom I have known my entire life.  This improved the quality of services for patients and their families. I look forward to bringing these same values to High Desert Hospice.”

Karla Cossette RN BSN

I moved to Klamath Falls from Bismarck, North Dakota, 21 years ago with my husband and our five children. I was born and raised in North Dakota and was the 2^nd oldest of 9 siblings. As a teenager, my first ‘real job’ after working on the family farm, was as a nurses’ aide in a long term care facility; I admired the aides and nurses and it was my intent to become an RN.  I loved nursing and I loved the residents. It was the first time I realized that death was a process and not something to fear. One of my sisters died of cancer in 1995 after a 4 year battle. Within 8 months of her death two friends in Klamath Falls also died of cancer and I saw the value of Hospice in their care and I greatly admired the Hospice nurses. I love my job at High Desert Hospice and am proud to be included in the ranks of Hospice Nurses.

Kathy Smith LPN

Kathy  joined High Desert Hospice in February, 2011. With 5 years hospice experience, Kathy is a real asset to our hospice team. Kathy is also a Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse. Here is a little more about Kathy in her own words:
I have lived in Klamath County for 16 years. I have 4 grown sons and 1 grown daughter and ten grandchildren.
I graduated from practical nursing school in 1980. I was a single mom with 2 small sons at that time and had no help so I always tell people who think they can’t go back to school that if I could do it so can they. I have experiences in most aspects of nursing to include ER, OB, and med-surg.
In my 40’s, I decided to return to school and graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology. Mental Health work is my second love with Hospice being my first.
I have been doing Hospice nursing for about 5 years. I feel that being invited into someone’s life at such a difficult time is an honor and privilege. Caring for Hospice patients is as personal and private as being present when someone is born.
It has been a joy to work with High Desert Hospice and I look forward to many years of doing what I love at the agency that has won my heart.
 

Moose Bryson

2008-2010

My name is Moose.  They named me Moose because I was a chunky baby and the biggest Chihuahua in the litter.  My job is to keep the morale up in the office and check that the FedEx drivers have dog biscuits when they deliver the supplies.

Always in our hearts

Pete

I am a 13 year old pure bred Labrador that over sees all operations at High Desert Hospice.  I also enjoy riding around with Teresa while she is running errands for our business.  What I like to do most is ride around with Barbara in the back of her pick up when she goes to see patients and I especially like it when she stops at a water hole and lets me swim and run around.  I am getting up there in age and am having a hard time getting in and out of the pick- up  so I spend the majority of my time in the office scratching on the door to get in and out and barking at the UPS and Fed Ex drivers.  I enjoy dog treats and anything that the staff will give me when Barbara isn’t around.  And don’t forget my naps though I hear that my snoring can be loud and distracts the office staff from doing their work.  My plan  is to continue to lend my support and comfort to the office and clinical staff.

Shadow