Dede Montgomery is a 6th generation Oregonian, published author and Certified Industrial Hygienist (ret) and Safety and Health Professional. She is a thoughtful and introspective author whose work blends personal narrative, historical reflection, and social awareness. Dede often writes with a deep connection to place, particularly the Pacific Northwest. Her storytelling is rooted in a sense of identity, family legacy, and the broader human experience.She lives with her spouse just a bit outside Portland where she explores the banks and ripples of the Willamette River.
Author
Dede explores the jumbled path of forgiveness, reconciliation, courage and gratitude in her memoir, My Music Man (Bedazzled Ink Publishing, 2017). Dede was a 2019 Oregon State Capitol Foundation Speaker Series presenter, sharing My Music Man stories on Oregon’s February 14 Birthday. Her novel Beyond the Ripples was released in 2019. Then, Now, and In-Between: Place, Memories, and Loss in Oregon is non-fiction “blog to book” (2020). Humanity’s Grace (Bedazzled Ink, 2022) is a linked short story collection or “novel in stories.” Her memoir, From First Breath to Last: A Story About Love, Womanhood and Aging was released by Bedazzled Ink in March 2024. Dede released her first dual timeline work of historical fiction, A Map of Her Own, on October 14, 2025. Dede frequently blogs as a way to make sense of the thoughts circling her brain.
OSH Professional
Dede, MS, CIH (ret), has 40 years of professional work experience. She is passionate about integrating well-being into work and making work safer and better for everyone. Dede is mostly retired but still occasionally gives talks related to safety, health and well-being. During her career she held positions as: Regional Industrial Hygienist and Safety Manager for EPA Region 10; Training and Industrial Hygiene Consultant for Marine & Environmental Testing; Practice Lead – Education, Training and Partnerships at OHSU; Outreach Co-Director for the Oregon Healthy Workforce Center, OHSU, and our Good Health and Well Being Program Manager for Legacy Health. Learn more on her LinkedIn profile. Dede also occasionally blogs about environmental health and industrial hygiene. Find it within this category on this site.
Follow Dede on Instagram and Facebook or LinkedIn. Email Dede at dede@dedemontgomery.com
Dede's Books and blog 
Wow. Can’t wait to hear more of your adventures! But what’s an industrial hygienist?
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Thank you Maura, you always make me laugh! But for the benefit of other people who AREN’T in our profession, let’s see. No, we don’t clean teeth and generally speaking we don’t clean toilets outside of our own homes. How about we let AIHA define it for us?!
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It was great meeting your today at Champoeg/Founders Day. Hope our paths across again soon.
Chris Meinicke, member of Sons and Daughters of Oregon Pioneers.
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It was great hearing you speak at Write To Publish last week. Thanks so much for your beautiful books and I look forward to future run-ins with you.
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Thank you and I so enjoyed meeting with you and learning about your writing! Please keep me posted on your work and I hope you enjoy the books.
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I’m not sure how I ended up onto your blog – your writing is fluid- #calmwaters
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Thank you! Pleased you found it.
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Pleased to make your acquaintance. We both have an interest in Oregon history, and it will be fun to explore your blog and see what topics you have covered that I haven’t yet. Also, I’m a writer and I have four brothers too – ha! I was born in Klamath Falls, but lived in 10 states before I came back to Oregon in 2007, so I’m not really a native Oregonian, but I embrace every place I live, and now I’m embracing the beaver state.
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