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Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 12,2014 -NINE
MAHONEY GRAND MARSHALS
-Continuedfrom PAGE ONE
William Patrick “ W.P.”
M ahoney, alo n g w ith
brother Tom and investor
J.I. M onks, decided to
move their fam ilies out
west and set up a bank
in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
W.P helped open the First
State Bank and managed
it until the partnership
with Monks was dissolved
and he and Tom decided
to move further west to
W.P Mahoney
Oregon. W.P. and wife
Harriet moved to Heppner
from Bonners Ferry, Idaho,
on March 17, 1917, with
their children, Doris (Ball),
Kathleen (Mather), Patricia
(Beaver) and Phillip. They
left their two older children,
Kenneth and Vera, in Idaho
to finish school. Kenneth
died shortly after the family
left for Oregon. Aside from
being part owner and the
first manager of the First
National Bank of Oregon
in Heppner until his death
in 1936, W.P. alw ay s
had several large bands
of sheep and spent many
hours tending them on
forest service allotments on
Martin Prairie, Bear Creek
and Swale Creek.
P h i l l i p W illia m
Mahoney, better known
as P.W. or Phil, was only
five years old when he
came to Heppner with his
parents, W.P. and Harriet.
He re c e iv e d bo th his
elementary and high school
education in Heppner. When
he was 16, Phil went to the
University of Washington
and obtained his law degree
in 1927. Phil married Hazel
Hyatt o f Pendleton, OR
on Feb. 14, 1936 and had
three children, Richard
Patrick, who died shortly
after birth, Robert Phillip,
and a daughter, Shannon.
When Phil returned to
Heppner he was involved in
many high-profile criminal
cases as District Attorney
for Morrow County and,
later, the City Attorney; he
bought the law practice of
Cal Sweek and practiced
law in Morrow County until
his death in 1972. Phil also
often practiced law on the
streets of Heppner and at
the comer table at the Elks
Club at no charge.
Phil was involved in
many business ventures
to b o lster the H eppner
economy, among which
was the Heppner Lumber
Company he and Orville
Smith started; they later
sold it to Kinzua Corp.
“I can still remember
P hil M ahoney say in g ,
‘I m ade my m oney in
Heppner and I am going to
spend it in Heppner doing
whatever I can to make our
town better,” said Howard
Bryant.
P h il w as a ls o
instrumental in the creation
of Penland Lake, as well as
serving in many civic roles
throughout his life.
M any p eo p le also
rem em ber P h il’s w ife,
Hazel Mahoney, a hard
w orking, petite woman
with a commanding voice
who also was very active
in the community. She was
a 4-H leader and worked
at the fair for many years.
She was very active in All
Saints Episcopal Church
where she served on the
vestry and the altar guild.
During all of her life, she
was an avid supporter of
youth sports and loved to
watch her children and
grandchildren compete in
biology and sociology
with a minor in business
from Pacific University,
where he went on a football
scholarship and played on
their winning team for three
years.
Bob always loved the
ranch life. Phil told Bob if
he really wanted to ranch,
when he graduated from
college, he would help him
get started. True to Phil’s
word, Bob’s parents bought
a small 2,700-acre ranch
on Clarks Canyon from
Amanda Duvall. When Bob
returned from college, he
worked on the HM Ranch
for a small salary. In 1962,
Bob and his sister. Shannon,
bought the Spring Hollow
Ranch. Fom that time, HM
Ranch has continued to
grow.
B ob m et S h a ro n
“ Sherree” Wager, a girl
fro m P alm S p r in g s ,
CA.while at Pacific. They
married on June 1, 1963,
at All Saints Episcopal
Church in Heppner. They
have three children, Tara,
Trisha, and Michael, and
seven grandchildren.
Bob, following in his
fa th e r ’s fo o tste p s, has
always been active in his
community. He is a past
■rm
Phil and Hazel Mahoney. -Contributedphoto
their two children, Torunn
and Boden. Greer works
at Brighton & Jones as
a financial consultant.
S h a n n o n and H a rla n
continue to be partners in
the HM Ranch and visit
Heppner as often as they
can. They are actively
involved in all o f their
grandchildren’s activities
and sporting events.
Exalted Ruler of Heppner
Elks and a lifetime member.
He was a member of the
Morrow County School
Board for ô-'A years and
was the Oregon National
Director for High School.
Rodeo for 14 years, and also
the National President of
the H.S. Rodeo Association.
He is a member of Oregon
Cattleman’s Association,
Wheat
Growers
A ssociation, All Saints
Episcopal Church, and is
past president and current
b oard m em b er o f the
Morrow County Rodeo for
many years.
Sherree Mahoney has
worked on the HM Ranch
since she married Bob. She
was the bookkeeper and
office assistant, she baled
hay, rode for and doctored
cattle, babied calves in
her kitchen, cooked for
the harvest crew in the
summers and cooked for
all the men who have
worked on the ranch for
are owners and partners at
Entro Inc., a mechanical
and structural engineering
and consulting firm. Shawn
and his wife Kristin, who
is also employed by Entro
Inc, have three children,
N ate and tw in sisters,
S a m a n th a (S a m ) and
Elizabeth (Lizzy). Greer
lives in Maple Valley, WA
with his wife Jana and
Skipping back to Phil’s
generation, his sisters ended
up m oving all over the
map. Vera never married
and moved to California.
Patricia Mahoney married
Cecil Espy, who was a
Prisoner Of War and later
killed in the Baton Death
March. She later married
Clayton Beaver and they
had one son. Bill. Pat
lives in Palm Springs, CA.
Kathleen Mahoney married
D. Mather and they had one
daughter, Mary Jo. Phil’s
older sister, Doris Mahoney,
married, Archie Ball, and
they had 7 children Bobby,
who died as a young child.
Laurel, H arriet, Eileen,
Beth. Nancy and Archie.
They continued to reside
in Heppner and Archie was
part owner and foreman
for W.P. Mahoney Ranch
and ran the sheep operation
until the Great Depression.
Archie and Doris ran the
Ruggs Store for many years
and in 1962 Archie went to
work for Bob Mahoney on
HM Ranch until he retired.
Some o f D oris and
A rchie’s children, Phil’s
nieces and nephews, stayed
in Morrow County to raise
their families, and others
moved away. Laurel Ball
m a rried LaV erne Van
M arter II, who was an
Insurance Agent in Heppner
for many years. They had
three children. La Verne III,
that they try to practice
these acts “every day!”
The topic did, however,
stimulate stories o f such
kindnesses by strangers
and how much they were
appreciated, as well as
stories of small kindnesses
that used to be common in
our society but seem no
longer to be.
Maybe kindness is not
a trait inherent in a card
game, but it might trigger
som e sy m p a th y from
other players for a player
who faces a particularly
difficult hand to play. Those
o cca sio n a lly o ccu r on
Wednesdays at the pinochle
and bridge games at the
Terrace.
Al v i n a P a d b e rg
e s p e c ia lly e n jo y s the
opportunity to play pinochle
with three friends, and Liz
Bueller has been pleased to
have three other players join
her for bridge. For a few
weeks, Marjorie Gorham
also joined the bridge game,
while she was on a respite
visit at the Terrace, but she
has now returned to her
home town.
A planned visit by the
OF Time Fiddlers had to be
postponed in February, but
on March 8, the entertainers
showed up and the foot
stompin’ and hand clappin’
was on. Residents always
enjoy the Fiddlers’ music,
and this performance might
have included some tunes
that w ill be heard this
Saturday evening during
the Wee Bit O ’ Ireland
celebration.
This Thursday will find
the Terrace residents and
staff hosting a public open-
house welcome for Dr. Dan
Hambleton, who has just
moved to Heppner from
Alaska.
Everyone is invited to
this 1:30 p.m. social event,
after which some residents
may choose to travel to the
St. Patrick's parish hall for
Fr. C ondon’s new stage
production that will mark
the beginning of Heppner’s
St. Pat’s weekend events.
S ince M arch 15 is
N ational Q uilters Day,
m orning d ialo g u e w ill
surely bring m em ories
of quilts made and quilts
received over the years.
This day will precede the
starting day of the kitchen
renovation work, which
everyone hopes will be
just a minor inconvenience
fo llo w e d by a m a jo r
improvement.
The 16th also begins
National Chocolate Week,
which will probably feature
so m eth in g d elic io u sly
chocolate each day. One
su g g ested co n co ctio n ,
chocolate cream pie, would
give staff member Sam
Fisher another opportunity
to demonstrate her mastery
o f the art o f p ie-crust
making.
Sam has proven her
finesse recently on Cherry
Pie Day, Banana Cream Pie
Day, and with a previous
chocolate cream pie. Her
fame probably has her
targeted for another creation
on the 29,h, National Lemon
Chiffon Pie Day.
The a re a 's w eather
seems to have “turned the
corner” ju st in time for
the weekend activities and
surely indicates that spring
truly is near.
P lants are pushing
through the ground of the
raised flow erbeds, and
W.P and Harriet Mahoney’s children, Vera, Ken, Doris,
Kathleen and Phil. -Contributedphoto
all of their activities and
events.
Bob Mahoney was bom
in Pendleton on November
10, 1941 and received his
elementary and high school
education in Heppner. There
are many stories about the
antics he was part of with
his friends during his school
years.
As much as he likes
fun, he is equally a hard
w orker and started at a
very early age. Bob worked
in the summers on area
ranches from the time he
was nine years old. When
he was older, he worked
at the H eppner Lumber
Company which had mills
in Spray, Heppner and at
B lake’s. Bob pulled the
green ch ain and la te r
was prom oted to “pond
monkey.” Bob played all
sports in high school, but
excelled in football even
though he was small in
stature until college.
He holds degrees in
over 50 years. She has done
everything imaginable and
unimaginable that one can
do on a ranch. She also
worked for Phil in his law
office, w orked as clerk
and bailiff for circuit and
district court, and at JC
Penny’s, Krolls Dept. Store,
Murray’s Drug Store and,
in later years, worked part
time for the Kuhn & Spicer
law office. She has been
active in her community
and continues to serve on
many committees.
B ob’s son, Michael,
continues the ranching
tradition and works for
the HM Ranch. Mike and
his wife, Nicole, who is
the Chief Financial Officer
for Morrow County Health
District, have two children,
Jaiden and Blane. They love
working and living on the
HM Ranch and growing up
in Heppner. Tara Mahoney
Clark lives in Pendleton and
owns TM Counseling and
Consulting. Her husband
Greg works at the state
prison as a counselor and
mediator. He also referees
many basketball games
in Umatilla and Morrow
counties. Tara has two
children, Devin and Alexis
Doutre. Trisha Mahoney
W irth lives in A uburn
with her husband Damon.
They have three children,
Michael Wesley, Spencer
and Savannah. Damon is
a practicing physician and
Trisha is a very busy stay-
at-home mother.
Shannon M ahoney,
Phil and H a z e l’s only
daughter, graduated from
Heppner High in 1963 and
Oregon State University
in 1968, with a degree
in home economics. She
married Harlan Smith in
1968 and they have two
sons, Shawn and Greer,
and five grandchildren.
They live in Hillsboro, OR
where Harlan and Shawn
Bob Mahoney at 14 months
old with one of the family’ s
sheep. -Contributedphoto
A View from the Hill
By Doris Brosnan
V a le n tin e s g a lo re
were part of a Valentine’s
Day event at the Willow
Creek Terrace, along with
20 p resch o o l stu d en ts
who came for the party.
Everyone enjoyed visiting
and refresh m en ts, and
everyone helped everyone
else plant some nasturtium
s e e d s in b r ig h t red
containers. Reports in from
the children confirm that
their plants are growing,
as are the residents’ plants,
so everyone w ill have
reminders of this enjoyable
afternoon together.
The week o f Feb. 16
held daily rem inders o f
how important “random
acts of kindness” can be,
but residents generally
agreed that they don’t need
a nationally designated
week for encouraging acts
of kindness. Most reported
WEDDING TABLES
Adam Paul Doherty &
Molly Sue Turrell
Reception- A pril 2 6 , 2 0 1 4
Kasie Dawn Peterson &
Brandon Lee Haynes
A pril IQ, 2 0 1 4
M llM 'j D j UIA- c
217 Nortti Main S t , Heppner • Phone 678-9158 • ptsral 676-9426
Serving Morrow, Wheeler & Gilliam counties Since 1959
* Marie and Paul. Eileen Ball
married Roger Steiger and
had two children, Doug and
Derinda. Beth Ball married
Cy Flack and had three
daughters, Donna, Rene’
and Doreen. Beth now lives
with her husband Clarence
Hughes in Stanfield, OR.
Nancy Ball married Herb
Ekstrom of lone and had
four children. Herb, Cindy
(Greenup), Jan (Gridley)
and John. H arriet Ball
m arried G ene Hall and
lived in Heppner their entire
life. They had two sons,
David and John. They had a
small ranch on Rhea Creek
and eventually w orked
for Bob Mahoney on the
HM Ranch for 25 years.
Archie and his wife Diana
(Fulleton) have lived, raised
their family and worked
in Heppner most of their
lives and continue to in
their retirement. They had
two children Duane and
Andrea. Duane and his
w ife, Stefanie (Payne),
have three children, Jake,
Carter, and Ali and reside
in Cashmere, WA. Andrea
now lives in Lexington,
OR with her husband, Andy
Fletcher, and they have two
sons, Casey and Cody, who
attend Heppner Elementary
School.
The Mahoney Family
is humbled and honored to
be recognized as the Grand
Marshals of the St. Patrick’s
Day Parade for 2014.
The M a h o n e y s wi s h
everyone a rainbow
Sunlight after showers
Miles and miles o f Irish
smiles
Golden happy hours
Shamrocks at your doorway
Luck and laughter too,
And a host o f friends that
never ends
Each day your whole life
through.
thoughts are turning to the
garden plot, which Jerry
B aker w ill soon begin
preparing for this year’s
planting.
M aybe the w arm er
weather and the beginning
day of spring will heighten
th e f r is k in e s s so m e
residents may feel on the
22nd, the Act as Young As
You Feel Day. M aybe,
on the 28th, Beer Brewers
Day, some residents will
have good stories to share,
stories of their own brewing
ex p erien ces or related
events?
A nd m ay b e som e
residents are eager for the
last day of the month, the
official opening day of
baseball season.
O ne re sid e n t m ust
surely be eager for March
29 to c o m e . Ma r g e
Burgess will then blow
out the candles of her 96"'
birthday, or simply enjoy a
special birthday meal with
family and neighbors. Her
neighbors will appreciate
this special day for Marge,
as many view birthdays as
the best reason to celebrate
at the Terrace.
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