Stacy Jo Dunn

Stacy Jo Dunn, 48, died peacefully surrounded by family on December 24, 2018 at her home in Clackamas County after a courageous battle with breast cancer. There will be a private Celebration of Life for family and close friends.

She is survived by her mother and father; two children (Antony and Bryannah); sister and brother-in-law (Deanna and JaMarr); 2 nephews in Portland and 14 nieces and nephews out-of-state.

Stacy was born on January 31, 1970 in Berkeley, California to Syvutus and Jo Wesson. The family moved to Portland when she was 2 years old, and she attended schools in NE Portland, graduating from Jefferson High School in 1988. She married Eric Dunn on February 16, 1991 and they had two children, Antony and Bryannah.

Eric’s international basketball career allowed the family to travel to and live in diverse countries, including Taiwan, Switzerland, Jordan, Tunisia, and Australia. Stacy remained passionate about traveling, both locally and internationally.

She attended University of Oregon and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Warner Pacific in 1996, after which she taught in and then became Director of Holladayland Day School.

In 2003, she made a big career change and was hired as a Community Police Officer with the City of Portland Police Bureau. Stacy enjoyed the fast pace of the night shift in downtown for several years. Then she moved to the Service Coordination Team, where she collaborated with social service providers to support chronic offenders gaining access to drug treatment and housing. In 2013, she was promoted to the rank of Police Detective and found great personal satisfaction in the Vulnerable Adult and Elder Crimes Unit where she diligently worked to stop the abuse of highly vulnerable individuals and hold perpetrators accountable.

In the face of daunting barriers, Stacy was a tireless champion for increasing racial equity at the Police Bureau. Through development, participation and the implementation of multiple initiatives, projects and trainings Stacy worked to improve the bureau’s service to and interactions with marginalized peoples, both internally and externally.

She was active for many years in Irvington Covenant Church, teaching Sunday School, holding many offices, and probably her most important contribution: conducting honest discussions around race relations in the church, which eventually led to her leaving the church.

Stacy never did anything halfway and was very creative in finding solutions. In order to ensure she and her children had a debt-free means to pursue their goals, she lived in a tent for a year and a half to save money. (You can read more about that when her memoir is published.)

Stacy was a multi-talented woman. She was a skilled writer, in both poetry and prose, and a voracious reader. She had a great eye for fashion and dressed very stylishly (beginning in high school when she modeled). Her artistic talents spanned from detailed scrapbooking to creative and serene interior decorating.

She loved to open her beautiful home to those she loved and was seen as the “Hostess with the Mostest” by everyone who knew her. She hosted regular book clubs, game nights, Christmas Tree-trimming parties and get togethers for the sake of getting together. She appreciated sharing good food and was a frequent Yelp writer about restaurants where she dined.

Stacy’s capacity to accomplish her goals, her unbending integrity and her unconditional love for family and friends were some of her greatest strengths. Stacy’s love language was “Giving” and her gifts were her love of family and friends, her creativity, support, and encouragement. She will forever be missed.

If desired, donations may be made in Stacy’s memory to her favorite non-profit KairosPDX Learning Academy in Portland, Oregon. An elementary school created to specifically eliminate the persistent achievement gap for African American children.