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; 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/@unit…

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