EUGENE, Ore. — Elyse Starkey Polston, age 30, died Thursday morning July 9, 2020.

She was born in Norman, Okla. on August 10, 1989 and lived there until 2006, when the family moved to Eugene, Ore. Elyse graduated from Winston Churchill High School and attended classes at Lane Community College, after which worked as a caregiver in customer service and as a freelance writer, artist and graphic designer.

Elyse was a unique, gifted and loving person whose short life was lived on her own terms. She passed away at McKenzie Willamette Hospital, in Springfield Ore. with her parents and sister by her side. 

Elyse is survived by her parents, Jim and Lisa (Miller) Polston, sister, Shelby Anne Polston all from Eugene, Ore.;  grandparents Phil and Connie Brown and uncle Thomas Miller of Clinton, Ill., and aunt Susan Macon, of Deland Fla.

Elyse was preceded in death by grandparents William Warner Miller, Frank and Starkey Polston and great-grandparents Warner and Helen Miller, Tom and Ruth Owens and Ruth and Cecil Brown.

Services were held on July 27, 2020, over the internet to reach her many friends and family.

Memorial contributions can be sent to Oregon State Parks Foundation at https://www.orparksforever.org/