Thursday, April 8, 2021
RECORDS
East Oregonian
A5
OBITUARIES
Walter Harrison Hamm
William David Hardie Jr.
Joy Nell Salter
Pendleton
June 19, 1953 — March 30, 2021
The Dalles
December 20, 1921 — March 26, 2021
Athena
October 23, 1932 — April 3, 2021
Walter Harrison Hamm Tanner Walczyk, Sean
passed away Tuesday, Simons, Mallory Thorn-
March 30, 2021, at his home burg, Brodie Bass, Hayden
surrounded by his family Hamm, Mackenzie Baird
and friends. Walt was born and Arya Hamm, and a
June 19, 1953, to
g r e a t- g r a n d f a -
Jane and William
ther to Malikia
Hamm.
Simons.
Walt worked
Wa l t s p e n t
and retired from
his time hunting
the training center
and fishing with
i n Pe n d l e t o n ,
his family and
Oregon, where he
friends. He was
met many lifelong
known for tell-
ing endless jokes
friends.
He is survived
and singing songs
by his sisters Sara
Hamm
around the camp-
William and Barb
fire.
Brown, and brother Joe
Walt was a very genuine
Hamm. Walt was a great person with a huge heart. He
uncle to his nieces and neph- never came across someone
ews.
he didn’t like.
Walt was married for 35
Bu r ns Mor t u a r y of
years to Nancy and they Pendleton is in charge of
have two children, Heather the arrangements. Sign the
Thornburg and Guy Hamm. online guestbook at www.
He was a grandfather to burnsmortuary.com.
It was said at
They continued to
the passing of Bill
live at the ranch
Hardie’s grand-
until late 1980
mother in 1918 that
when they built a
“She had fought
home in Condon
the good fight;
and moved to
town.
she had finished
Bill, wanting
her course; she
had kept the faith;
to serve in public
she is at rest.”
office, was elected
as a Gilliam
The same can be
said of her grand-
County commis-
son, William
sioner in 1974, and
in December 1983
David Hardie Jr.,
was appointed
born December
Gilliam County
20, 1921, at the
Hardie
judge. Af ter
ranch his Scot-
tish grandfather
successfully serv-
homesteaded in 1883 at the ing in county government
head of Trailfork in southern for 12 years, he resigned
Gilliam County. Bill died as judge in 1987 when the
Friday, March 26, 2021, at ranch came back into his
the Oregon Veterans Home possession and he resumed
in The Dalles at the age of an active role in its operation
99.
until 2010.
He was the son of
In 1985, Bill became
William D. “Will” Hardie involved with the 101st
and Georgia Smith Hardie, Airborne Division Associ-
whose parents were life-long ation and traveled to Europe
natives of the area. Bill’s on several occasions to
childhood and young adult attend reunions with Army
life in the wilds of Trail- buddies and war-time
fork included many pets, friends. Bill and Anne
including deer, rattlesnakes enjoyed other world-wide
and dogs. He attended traveling as well.
Bill’s jovial spirit and
the Badger school east of
Mayville for the first five keen sense of humor were
years of his schooling, and well known and appreci-
finished grade school at the ated by those with whom he
Trailfork School. He grad- served on a variety of boards
uated from Condon High and commissions through-
School in 1939. Bill worked out the community and
on area farms and at Kinzua region. He was a member
Pine Mills until attending of the 101st Airborne Divi-
junior college at Modesto, sion Association, the Port-
California.
land Parachute Club, Oregon
In 1942, he enlisted in the Wheat League, Oregon
U.S. Army; graduated from Cattlemen’s Association,
parachute school in Geor- a 67-year charter member
gia in 1944; then overseas, of Condon Elks Lodge No.
joined the 377th Parachute 1869, Mt. Moriah Masonic
Field Artillery, “A” Battery, Lodge No. 95, The Shriners,
502nd Parachute Combat and was a long-time board
Team, 101st Airborne Divi- member of the Condon
sion, serving in the World School District and the
War II Allied invasions Education Service District.
He was preceded in
of Holland at Bastogne
and through Germany and death by his parents, his
Austria, earning the rank of wife Donna and wife Anne,
first lieutenant, along with his daughter Nancy, and his
accolades and admiration brother Earl.
for his service.
He is survived by his
Following his honorable daughter Suzan ne and
discharge from the Army, Robbie Hyde, daughter
he married Donna Klint of Georgia and Jim VanWin-
Hilmar, California, in 1946, kle, and son John Hardie;
and they returned to Condon grandchildren Jessica and
and worked on his parents’ Patrick Ginn, Scot and
ranches in Lost Valley and Tasha VanWinkle, and
Trailfork. In 1947, with his Brad Hardie; and seven
uncle and aunt, John and great-grandchildren.
Irene Hardie, they went to
A graveside service with
the Philippines where they military honors will be held
operated a dairy for the next 11 a.m. Monday, April 12, at
two years before returning the Condon Cemetery.
to the family ranch.
Memorial contributions,
Bill and Donna raised for those who wish, may be
four children on the Trailfork made to the Gilliam County
ranch where they farmed for Historical Society, P.O. Box
the next three decades, grad- 377, Condon, OR 97823;
ually adding to the long-time Oregon Veterans Home, 700
family holdings acreages Veterans Drive, The Dalles,
previously owned by the OR 97058; or Summit
Barker, Russell, Maddock Springs Village, P.O. Box
and other families. Donna 687, Condon, OR 97823.
died in 1973 from complica-
Sweeney Mortuary of
tions of a stroke.
Condon is in care of arrange-
Bill continued the farm- ments. You may sign the
ing and cattle production online condolence book at
operation and in late 1974 www.sweeneymortuar y.
married Anne D’Agostine. com.
Joy Nell Salter died on another deeply. As they went
April 3, 2021, at the age of on into retirement the couple
88 at the local care facility in filled their time going to the
Athena, Oregon.
many athletics and extracur-
Joy was born to Frank and ricular activities that their
Minnie Begley in
g randchild ren
Kiowa, Oklahoma,
were involved in.
on October 23,
It didn’t matter if it
was a roping, rodeo,
1932. She gradu-
ated from Kiowa
basketball games,
public schools, then
dance recitals,
married her high
school plays, music
concerts, golf, or
school sweetheart,
Bill Ward, in 1950.
track meets. She
They moved to
never missed an
Prineville, Oregon,
event and was also
where they had two
Salter
very proud of all of
sons, Frank and Jim.
her family’s accom-
They remained in Prineville plishments.
until 1961 when the family
Joy is preceded in death
moved to Athena, Oregon, by her spouse Gaylord Salter,
where Joy would live and call mother Minnie and father
Frank, brothers Frank Jr. and
home for the rest of her life.
In Athena Joy raised her Willie, and sister Neva. She is
two sons and watched both survived in death by son Frank
of them graduate and go on to Ward (Caroline) and grand-
college, which she was so very daughters Lacy Holechek and
proud of. She also babysat and Whitney (Jon) Thompson; son
cared for many of the local Jim Ward and granddaugh-
children while her kids were in ters Lindsey Stern and Ashley
school and for years after her (Wes) Wells, and great-grand-
own children were grown and children Josey and Colt Wells.
gone. She loved each child as
Due to Joy’s passion for
if they were her very own and athletics, the family has
enjoyed having kids around.
requested in lieu of flowers
After her divorce from or gifts to send any mone-
Bill she held many odd jobs, tary donations to the Athe-
from bookkeeping at the local na-Weston Booster Club in
feedlot to driving grain trucks memory of Joy.
She is being laid to rest
during harvest, but the job she
was most proud of was her with her mother in Prineville,
career as a paraeducator at Oregon, at a private cere-
Athena public schools, doing mony with immediate family.
what she loved most, which A celebration of life will be
was caring for children.
announced at a later date for
It was through this job that those wishing to attend.
she met her soulmate, Gaylord
Family would like to extend
Salter. The two would later extreme gratitude to Tammara
become married in 1993 and Pittman and her staff at The
even though they found each Athena House for the great
other later in life they abso- and loving care they gave Joy
lutely adored and loved one the last few years.
James Edward Hubbard
Pendleton
Aug. 4, 1950 — April 4, 2021
Pendleton
March 22, 1938 — March 29, 2021
Kathleen Ann Comstock, 70, of Pendleton, died Sunday,
April 4, 2021, at Wallowa Lake. She was born Aug. 4, 1950, in
Pendleton. Arrangements are with Pendleton Pioneer Chapel,
Folsom-Bishop. Online condolences may be sent to www.
pioneerchapel.com.
Frederick M. ‘Rick’ Sellers
Hermiston
November 20, 1952 — March 31, 2021
Frederick M. “Rick” Sell- tradition.
ers of Hermiston, Oregon,
Family, friends, and
passed away unexpectedly colleagues all agree that
at the age of 68 on Wednes- Rick was a wonderful
day, March 31, 2021.
person who was always there
Rick was born
to help. He will be
on November 20,
greatly missed by
1952, in Spokane,
all.
Wa s h i n g t o n ,
He is survived
by his wife, Diane
to Freder ick
Sellers; his son
“Fred” and Betty
Tr av is Selle r s
Burd Sellers. He
(Stephanie); his
attended Herm-
iston schools and
daughter McKen-
zie Houk (Tom);
graduated from
his stepson Brian
Hermiston High
Sellers
Faro (Samantha);
School in 1971.
After high school,
and his stepdaugh-
Rick attended Blue Moun- ters Monica Michel (Luis)
tain Community College for and Morgan Shehata (Mike).
two years.
He has 12 grandchildren and
A summer job with nine great-grandchildren.
Union Pacific during that He is also survived by his
time evolved into a 42-year- sister, Jacqui Sellers (Dan).
long career proudly working
Rick was preceded in
for Union Pacific. Rick was death by his parents.
If you wish to make a
united in marriage to Diane
Campbell on December 9, donation in Rick’s memory,
1989, in Hermiston, Oregon. donations would be grate-
Upon retirement from fully accepted for the Tyler
Union Pacific, Rick took a Campbell Memorial Schol-
security officer’s job with arship Fund. They may be
Amazon, where he was sent in c/o Burns Mortuary,
currently working.
P.O. Box 289, Hermiston,
Rick loved sports and, OR 97838.
in particular, he loved base-
Due to COVID, a private
ball. He played in a men’s celebration of life service
league in Hermiston for following state guidelines
many years, and after that will be held.
Please share memories
delighted in watching his
son Travis play, and most of Rick with his family at
recently watching his grand- burnsmortuaryhermiston.
son continue the baseball com.
Georgia Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Martin
Pendleton
January 2, 1921 — March 31, 2021
Georgia Elizabeth “Betty” Hospital and the railroad. I
Martin, age 100, passed away went on several bicycle trips,
peacefully Wednesday, with six others from the
March 31, 2021, in Pendleton, AYH. We went to Canada
Oregon, with family nearby. in 1948, toured the Oregon
She was born to
coast in 1949, and
George and Pearl
Hawaii in 1950.
Challis on January
Upon ret u r n-
2, 1921, in Herm-
ing from Hawaii,
iston, Oregon, the
I met George
oldest of seven
Martin and we
children. Betty
were married in
grew up during
January 1951. In
1976, for our 25th
the Depression
anniversary, we
and learned to be
traveled to South
thrifty. She had a
Martin
Af r ica for 21
life-long passion
days. We traveled
for living and
eating healthy. She was a to Alaska in 1983, and also
great cook and loved to bake. traveled to Calgary, Canada,
Her hobbies included garden- and saw the big Circus
ing flowers and vegetables, parade in Wisconsin.”
canning, and watching birds,
Bett y was preceded
especially in spring time. She in death by her lifelong
also loved to read and had a companion and husband
huge collection of cookbooks. George Henry Martin, son
She enjoyed her family, Charles, five siblings, and
siblings, family reunions, two grandsons. Survivors
travel, and serving in the include daughters Marie
community. She collected Carroll (Robert), Sulton,
signatures to bring the first Washington, and Katherine
ambulance service to Pend- Palmer, Pendleton, Oregon,
leton. She served as Campfire eight grandchildren, 13 great
girls leader in Pilot Rock, and grandchildren, one great-
in Pendleton Side Saddlers, great granddaughter, brother
White Eagle Grange, Pend- Clarence Challis, and many
leton Senior Center, and in nieces and nephews.
the 2000s in the Pilot Rock
Donations may be made
Lion’s Club.
to Pendleton or Pilot Rock
Her last employment was Lions Club. Betty cherished
Kerns Furniture Factory in the gift of sight.
Pilot Rock.
Graveside service will be
In the words of our loving held Friday, April 9, 2021, at
mother in 1990: “I grew up 3 p.m. at Olney Cemetery,
in Hermiston and Stanfield Pendleton, Oregon.
area, graduated from Pend-
Burns Mortuary of Pend-
leton, and we raised our chil- leton is charge of arrange-
dren on a farm in Pilot Rock. ments. Sign the online
I worked in Pendleton during guestbook at www.burns-
World War II at the Air Force mortuary.com.
James Edward Hubbard, ing the level of Maintenance
of Pendleton, Oregon, passed Man 3. He retired in the late
away March 29, 2021, one 1990s.
week after his 83rd birthday.
James was a faithful
He was bravely doing every- member of the Church of
thing he could to
Jesus Christ of
beat his cancer. He
Latter-day Saints,
was surrounded by
where he held
family and knew
various callings.
he was loved when
He had a passion
he slipped away.
for his family,
James was born
quilting, geneal-
ogy and hunting.
March 22, 1938, to
Chester and Alice
At some point in
Hubbard. He was a
each of his chil-
late life baby. His
dren’s lives he had
brothers were 21
Hubbard
taken them on a
and 16 years older
hunt, whether it be
than him.
with a gun or bow and arrow.
James married Margaret He was also able to pass his
(Peggy) Roberts on August passion for hunting to many
24, 1957. They have six chil- of his grandkids.
dren together.
He was preceded in death
James grew up in Nolin, by his parents Chester and
Oregon, just west of Reith, Alice, brothers Art and
on the Umatilla River. He Modie, and his grandson Jeff.
He is survived by his wife,
graduated from Pendleton
High School in 1956 and six children, 16 grandchil-
continued his education at dren and five great-grand-
OIT in Klamath Falls.
children.
He was a mechanic. He
Bu r ns Mor t uar y of
worked at numerous jobs Pendleton is in charge of
until he found his place his arrangements. Sign the
with Oregon Department online guestbook at www.
of Transportation, achiev- burnsmortuary.com.
Vernita Ethel Chapman Herburger
Pendleton
March 14, 1946 — March 22, 2021
Vernita Ethel Chapman
Herburger passed away on
Monday, March 22, 2021.
She was born March 14,
1946, in Pendleton, Oregon, the
daughter of Wayne and Eathel
(Hogeland) Chapman. She
grew up and attended school
in Pilot Rock, Oregon.
After graduating from Pilot
Rock High School she attended
Blue Mountain Community
College and then beauty school
to become a hairdresser, but her
passion was in animals.
She mar ried Chuck
Herburger in Pendleton in
1969. Together they had two
sons, Mark Herburger and
Lennis Herburger.
Vernita’s love for animals
motivated her to be surrounded
by cows, goats, sheep, dogs
and horses. She boarded and
trained horses for over 50
years. She taught riding lessons
and spent countless hours on
horseback rounding up cattle or
riding in the Eagle Cap Wilder-
ness.
She is preceded in death
by her parents, Wayne and
Eathel Chapman, her infant
brother John Walter Chapman,
and uncles Jim and Lennis
Hogeland.
Vernita is survived by her
husband, Chuck Herburger;
her sons Mark (Michelle) of
Pendleton, Oregon, and Lennis
(Andrea) of Mt. Vernon, Wash-
ington; her sister Waynette
Ralls of Vancouver, Wash-
ington; two grandchildren,
Ryan Herburger and Scott
Herburger, both of Pendle-
ton; niece Rayanne DeBose
(daughters Kendall and Taylor);
and nephew Mike Ralls (wife
Suzie and children Casey and
Tripp).
At Vernita’s request, no
services will be held.
Share online condolences
with the family at www.
pioneerchapel.com.
DEATH NOTICES
Kathleen Ann Comstock
James Dean ‘Jim’ Simpson
Hermiston
May 10, 1935 — Nov. 19, 2020
Pastor James Dean “Jim” Simpson, 85, of Hermiston, died
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, at his home. He was born May 10,
1935, in Los Angeles, California. A celebration of life service
will be held Saturday, April 17 at 3 p.m. at the Hermiston First
Christian Church. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care
of arrangements. Share memories with the family at www.
burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Rev. Eugene Charles ‘Gene’ Van Beveren
Pendleton
April 20, 1935 — April 3, 2021
Rev. Eugene Charles “Gene” Van Beveren, 85, of Pendle-
ton, died Saturday, April 3, 2021, at his home. He was born
April 20, 1935, in Hood River. Services are pending with
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston. Share memories with the
family at www.burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Christine Louise Wilkins
Pendleton
April 23, 1969 — April 6, 2021
Christine Louise Wilkins, 51, of Pendleton, died Tuesday,
April 6, 2021, in Walla Walla, Washington. She was born
April 23, 1969. Arrangements are with Pendleton Pioneer
Chapel, Folsom-Bishop. Online condolences may be sent to
www.pioneerchapel.com.