10/20/2026
Wallace Donovan Muzzy, 85, affectionately known as Wally, of Richland, Washington, formerly of John Day, Oregon, passed away on September 26, 2026, at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, Washington.
A funeral service celebrating Wally’s life will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. PDT at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 944 East Main Street, John Day, Oregon 97845. A public interment will immediately follow at Canyon City Cemetery in Canyon City, Oregon.
A kind, generous, and cheerful man, Wally touched many lives throughout his years. He was born on October 5, 1940, in Prairie City, Oregon, to Wallace Dean Muzzy and Sylvia Ann Graven. He married Darlene DeSouza on June 17, 1962, in John Day, Oregon. Wally and Darlene lived in John Day until 2016, when they moved to Richland, Washington, where Wally spent his final years with Darlene by his side.
Wally had many talents and interests. He attended Grant Union High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University and graduated from OSU’s School of Pharmacy in 1963. In 1967, he purchased John Day Pharmacy from Dick Martin and operated the pharmacy in his hometown for over 50 years. Wally was a registered pharmacist in good standing in Oregon and California throughout his career. He retired in 2017.
Wally was a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved serving others. As a youth, he was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout. He was a member of the Elks for 65 years. Wally was also a Jaycee member and received the organization’s Outstanding Young Man award in 1972. He was a Mason, a member of the Lions Club, and served as a John Day city councilor.
Wally loved to hunt, trap shoot, and bowl, especially when he was younger. He and Darlene were big fans of swing dancing and shared 64 years of marriage. Wally raised cattle and grew hay for a time. He enjoyed fishing and shooting guns for most of his life. He collected stamps and coins and enjoyed playing board games and cards. He watched the Blazers and the Mariners, read all kinds of books, especially Westerns by Louis L’Amour, and attended rock concerts. He owned businesses, bought and sold land, and liked watching his stock performance.
Most of all, Wally loved his family with all his heart and spent as much time with them as possible, joining them in whatever interested them. Wally’s greatest accomplishment was the many lives he touched with his kindness, generosity, and cheerfulness.
Wally is survived by his loving wife, Darlene Muzzy; his son, Roderick (Tacy) Muzzy; and his daughter, Pam (Steve) Thatcher. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Sylvia Crowell; his stepfather, Verner Crowell; his father, Wallace Dean Muzzy; and his sister, Marlis Day.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mount Vernon High School Memorial Scholarship through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, Oregon 97845.
