Stephanie Anne Mcdougal

McDougal, 74, took her final
bow on Aug. 29, 2016, in Portland.
She arrived on this Earth
destined to play the cello, and
made her original debut on
Oct. 28, 1941, as the first of four daughters born to
Richard Winston and Anne Casler Eubanks in Walla
Walla. She was named for her maternal grandfather,
Stephen Casler. Her parents felt that Stephanie was
too much of a burden for their new, tiny baby, so she
was forever known thereafter as “Stevie.”
At the age of three or four, she was able to identify
the cello upon hearing a recording of Pablo Casals
playing Saint-Saens’ “Le Cygne” (The Swan), and
knew then that she, too, would pursue that instrument
as her life’s work--which she did.
Stevie attended Sharpstein Elementary, Garrison
Junior High School, and graduated from Walla Walla
High School in 1959. She was proud of the fact
that she was part of the first 9th grade class that
attended the new Garrison, and helped choose the
school colors and the Troopers mascot name. Growing
up, Stevie played in her school orchestras and
in the Walla Walla Symphony, the oldest continuous
U.S. orchestra west of the Mississippi.
Stevie received her bachelor of fine arts in music
performance from Stephens College (Columbia, Mo.)
in 1962. Stevie’s favorite cello professor at Stephens,
Eula Simmons, described Stevie’s playing in a letter
to her parents this way: “She is the most gifted student
that I have had the pleasure of knowing in more
than ten years at Stephens College. Besides a natural
feeling for musical phrasing, Stevie has a lovely
sound on her instrument which has charmed all of
us.” For graduation, Stevie’s parents purchased a
Thomas Dodd cello that was made in 1790 in England,
which she played for the rest of her life. She
went on to pursue advanced studies at the Indiana
University School of Music (Bloomington, Ind.) and
to study with Janos Starker.
In 1965, Stevie moved to Portland, where she auditioned
for the Portland Symphony, which was then
a part-time position. This orchestra became the Oregon
Symphony and Stevie worked at various times
over the years as a union representative for her fellow
musicians. At some point, the Oregon Symphony
was able to provide a full-time living to its members.
Stevie played her cello in the Oregon Symphony for
38 years. In addition, she played in the West Coast
Chamber Orchestra, and in retirement, she was delighted
to play for the Newport (Oregon) Symphony.
During her years in Oregon, Stevie taught dozens, if
not hundreds, of cello students, both in her homes in
Portland and Gleneden Beach, and at the Community
Music Center in Portland for more than 30 years.
Stevie was married in 1967 to Ernest McDougal.
They divorced in 1981. She was never without a dog
and always adopted them from the Oregon Humane
Society. Her last dog, Clio, was found abandoned on
Highway 101. Stevie loved to travel (especially by
cruise ship), was a voracious reader, and of course,
was devoted to her music. She was a member of St.
Paul’s Episcopal Church (Walla Walla), Trinity Episcopal
Church (Portland), and St. James Santiago
Episcopal Church (Lincoln City), where she and her
dear friend, violinist Kathy Follett, started a children’s
orchestra, and where she played her cello every
Sunday.
Stevie is survived by her three sisters, Christopher
Eubanks of Honolulu, Meg Eubanks of Tacoma, and
Kathryn Eubanks Zahl (Jerry) of Walla Walla. She
also leaves two mutually loved nephews, Evan Bird
(a fellow professional musician in Nashville, Tenn.),
and Andrew Zahl (Walla Walla). She is also survived
by a large group of friends and colleagues in both
Portland and Gleneden Beach, whom she adored.
Her infectious laugh will be missed by all who loved
her.
The family held a private graveside service at Mountain
View Cemetery in Walla Walla on Saturday,
Sept. 10. A memorial celebration of life service will
take place at St. James Santiago Episcopal Church,
Lincoln City, on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, at 2 p.m. In
lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made
to the Community Music Center or the Dove Lewis
Emergency Animal Hospital, both in Portland; or
to St. James Santiago Episcopal Church in Lincoln
City, or to the donor’s charity of choice through Herring
Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla
Walla WA 99362.
Courtesy