December 30, 1969 - July 1, 2018

On July 1, 2018 Heaven welcomed their special angel, Jennifer McCargar, following a nine-year courageous battle with cancer. Jen was born December 30, 1969 at Mercy Medical Center, Roseburg, Oregon to her parents Barney and Billie Rose McCargar of Drain, Ore.

Jen was a competitive gymnast with the Glass Menagerie Gymnastic School, Medford, Ore., and competed on both local and state levels. Her spunky attitude and determination to live outside the box led her and her brother Joe to introduce Punk Rock to Southern Oregon by booking shows and designing flyers for visiting bands. Jen quickly became known as the little sister to bands such as NOFX and Black Flag, as well as numerous bands across the U.S. and Oregon.

A graduate of South Medford High School, her extreme artistic talent led her to Pacific College of Art and Design in Medford where she studied graphic art. Following graduation from art college, Jen resided in Eugene, Ore. for a short time where she practiced her graphic art by continuing to design flyers, cassette and album covers, and booking shows in Eugene. She was soon hired by U.S. West of Portland, Ore. as the youngest artist ever hired by them. Never one to disappoint, she received numerous awards including the coveted Dolphin Award for her excellence in artistic talents all while still doing graphic design for bands and booking shows in Portland. Following the closure of U.S. West/Dex Jen developed and operated her own graphic design business called Devil’s Tool Box and had bragging rights to clients such as Sharon Osbourne and her daughter, Kelly Osbourne.

On May 14, 2005 Jen was married to Jason Charles of Portland, Ore. They honeymooned in Ireland and England, and later traveled to Italy. Settling into their Portland home, Jen became an avid gardener, a hobby she shared with her mother Billie. She quickly became the go-to person in the neighborhood for gardening advice and plant starts! It was not unusual for cars to stop on the street to take photos of the amazing color pallets of flowers in her yard.

Survivors include her husband, Jason Charles of Portland, Ore.; his parents, J and Elinor Charles; brother-in-law, Nathan Charles; niece, Audrey Charles of Santa Monica, California; her mother, Billie Rose McCargar of Winston, Ore.; brother, Joseph McCargar and nephew, Avery McCargar of Portland, Ore.; aunts, Judith Hronchich of Centralia, Washington, Carolyn Brown of Winston, Ore., and Linda McCargar of Douglas, Arkansas; uncle, Dean Lee McCargar of Portland, Ore.; and numerous beloved cousins. Welcoming her to Heaven’s gate were her father, Barney McCargar; paternal grandparents, Bill and Margaret McCargar; and maternal grandparents Eugene and Elsie Heritage.

Jen’s passing leaves our hearts broken and empty but remembering her beautiful smile, many talents, determination, and the ability to smile during adversity, leaves us with happiness forever. To quote Jen “It’ll be okay and it’ll be alright!” Her light and love touched so many.

At her request, no formal service will be held but a celebration of her life will be held at 3 p.m. August 18, 2018 at Slingshot Lounge at 5532 SE Center Street, Portland, Ore. Another celebration will be held in Southern Ore. at a date yet to be decided. There will also be a gathering in the Bohemia Mountains outside of Cottage Grove, Ore. sometime next Spring.