Albert Durwood Hensley Jr.

November 27, 1971 – November 21, 2025

Albert Durwood Hensley, Jr., 53, of King City, OR passed away from Glioblastoma brain cancer on the evening of November 21st, 2025, while being held closely and comforted by his beloved Hillari, his dog Wizzy.

Born on November 27th, 1971, in Lynwood, CA.  He was the second child and only son of Charlene Krauss and Albert Hensley, Sr. He was the annoying but entertaining younger brother to his sister Kelly.

After his parents split in 1975 Albert and his sister moved to Beaverton, OR with his mom Charlene to live closer to his grandmother. They spent their days in their small apartment singing along to Donny Osmond or the Grease soundtrack. Albert had a vast knowledge and love for movies which started in his younger years as he would race across TV Highway every weekend to catch all the movies playing at the Aloha Theater.

When Albert joined Beaver Acres Elementary, he met his best friend Justin Shephard where they spent the days playing various games or avoiding taking the school bus.  As Albert entered high school he met his good friends Josh, Joel and Matt and he found his calling with the drama department appearing in various plays. His love for movies naturally led him to USC (University of Southern California) for college where he studied and graduated in communications and minor in film production.

After graduating from USC, Albert moved back to Beaverton to look for work.  Since his mom had passed away from cancer during college, he wanted to be closer to his sister to help her with his nieces and nephew.  He was the 2nd Dad and cool Uncle nicknamed “Icky Al” by his nieces who mispronounced uncle when they were little.  He often watched over them and took them places, having dance parties in his car listening to music.  He coached basketball and helped guide them even as they grew into adults and parents themselves, always there for advice or to reminisce about family stories.

Albert started his professional career working with Will Vinton Studios on the M & M and the California Raisins commercials. He then transitioned to work in sports production working for his favorite local team the Portland Trailblazers as an Editor/Producer where he met his beloved Hillari during a TrailBlazers Community Builders Thanksgiving event delivering Meals on Wheels.  His storied career took him from Portland to Denver to work with Fox Sports Rocky Mountain where he also helped to launch the Altitude Sports Network in Denver.  Looking to move closer to home Albert and Hillari moved back to Seattle where he worked for the Seattle Sonics until they sold the team. After the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City, Albert and Hillari moved back to his hometown and Albert returned to the Portland Trailblazers as an Editor and Producer. He left the Blazers in 2013 and started his own business as a Voice Actor and was voicing commercials, and videos from home until his death; having voiced the Opening Video to Game 1 of the World Series in 2023 just prior to his diagnosis. Another highlight for Albert’s voice career was being the in-game announcer for MT Hood Community College for their Volleyball, Basketball and Softball teams for the last four years.

As Albert started working from home this allowed more flexible time to spend enjoying hobbies and activities like golf, tennis and pickleball.  Albert loved playing tennis for the last ten years and became close with his tennis partner Ellen. As pickleball started to catch on he became an avid pickleballer playing at local parks and churches like Rolling Hills and more recently at Rise Church. Through pickleball he made close friends who helped support him after his diagnosis and through his battle under their nickname “Team Albert”. He became an avid golfer as the Oregon weather would allow and would often play with his niece Debrah and his friend Justin whenever they were in town.

Albert was preceded in death by his mother Charlene Krauss and his grandparents Dorothy & Fritz Krauss and Anne & Lloyd Hensley.  Albert is survived by his beloved partner for 23 years, Hillari Bauer and her family, his father Albert Henlsey, Sr, and his sister Kelly Ellis. His niece Debrah Fisher and her husband Micheal Fisher and their children Haile Tacker, Emily Tacker and Koda Fisher. His niece Christina Reynolds and her husband Steve Reynolds and their sons Aiden, Julian and Isaiah. His Nephew Timothy (TJ) James Rivers and his children Cheyann and Vincent.

The Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm on December 5, 2025, at Rise Church, 10445 SW Canterbury Ln, Tigard, OR 97224. Family and Friends can also pay their respects at the family home after the service.

Primary Memorial Donations for local research and treatments may be given to the Providence Foundation St Vincent for Neuro -Oncology; or you may also donate to the Glioblastoma Foundation, Glioblastoma Research Foundation. The family of Albert Hensley Jr want to thank the Providence St Vincent Neuro Oncology team of Dr. Seth Oliveria, Dr. Amber Ruiz and Lauren Poppe, NP and Verda Dew for their compassionate care and constant support over the last couple years.  And a special thank you to his friend Debbie Sanchez who is also a nurse who helped to guide Albert the last two years but especially for the last two months.

A special thank you to friends Pamala and Cindy who were with us on his last night and thank you to the rest of our friend group Johnny, Stacey and Wilhelm, Krystal and Chris who supported us in various ways through the last two years, who were always on-call and always there whatever we needed.