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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 2020)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 29, 2020 -- THREE Obituaries Harry Eugene Noble Harry Eugene Noble western resort at Waimano- was born on June lo, Oahu. He had to 7, 1930 in Klamath take some bucking Falls, OR to parents, stock and good help, Willard and Helen Billy Liskey, from C. (Vorce) Noble. the mainland, to be He died January 15 able to put on some at his home in Herm- good rodeos for the Harry Eugene iston at the age of Noble Gibson family. He 89 years. Harry was taught riding and raised in the Langell rough stock lessons Valley on a ranch and rode to many students. Buddy a horse to school through Gibson, Helen and the crew the second grade. Then his took folks out on popular folks transported him to trail rides at the resort. He Bonanza to school, where moved his family back to he later graduated. Klamath Falls in 1961 to be Harry lettered in bas- closer to family. ketball, football and box- Harry went to work for ing. While in high school Francis D. Brown Logging he worked for the Garner Co., loading logs, building Lundy Ranch and contract- roads and running their ed hay hauling in the sum- crane rental service while mer. Harry rode every kind continuing to rodeo. of horse, cow and bull that In the spring of 1967, he could get to buck on the he moved the family to ranches. After graduating, Helen’s home area to run he went to work for Camp- a ranch for Joe Tatone bell and Gerber Ranches in in Boardman. In the fall Bly, OR until he joined the of 1968 he went to work Navy in 1950. After boot for Philippi Ranches and camp he was stationed on a moved to Hermiston on Sea Plane Tender in the Pa- their pasture ranch. He and cific for two years, running the girls also helped on the the crane that hoisted the Boardman and Arlington planes to the ship deck to be ranches for many years. repaired. He then requested working cattle, training a tour of duty in Hawaii for horses, tractor work and his last two years. While moving irrigation. stationed in Hawaii, he He said the girls were played polo, shod the hors- as good help as he could ask es and helped organize the for and was proud of them first rodeo held there. and their accomplishments. After being discharged They bought 33 acres just from the Navy in 1954, he below the ranch to build an pursued the rodeo lifestyle, arena and kept rodeoing and among others, competing running their HJN Noble in the Pendleton Round- arena. Up where he met his bride After 11 years he quit to be and love of his life, the ranch and got into the Helen Maxine Steagall at union to build up some the Happy Canyon Dance. retirement and drove for He won the NW Bucking CBTC in Pasco, WA. They Championship, and liked to put a truck terminal on his say, he won the buckle, girl place so Harry and other and all. They were married drivers dispatched from November 14, 1954 in her there for five years, before home town of Irrigon. They the company sold. settled on the Noble Ranch He then went into con- in the Langell Valley, where struction running heavy he rode colts, raised cattle equipment. This took him and traveled to rodeos. to Cascade Locks, OR, While on the ranch, they Lake Chelan, WA, Florida, had two daughters, Jody Virginia, Colorado, back and Jerita. to Central Point, Corvallis They moved to Klam- and Boardman, OR, before ath Falls in 1959 and then retiring from the union. to Hawaii in 1960 where He continued to work part he managed Saddle City, a time for Madison’s, running equipment and building roads as well as taking care of a herd of cattle for a few years. Finally retiring from everything and selling all the bucking horses early in 2004, they turned the arena facilities and pasture over to the Belyeas. His rodeo accomplish- ments in his 45 years of competition included win- ning many championships in Hawaii, the last North- west Bucking Champion- ship in 1954 that was held at the Pendleton Round- Up, several RCA Saddle Bronc Championships, and NRA Year End Saddle Bronc Championship for 1969, 1970 and 1971. He worked as a pick-up man for Christiansen Brothers and Howells Rodeo Stock Contractors for many years as well as judging a lot of rodeos. He put on rough stock schools and worked with BMCC, Eastern Ore- gon and Walla Walla Col- lege rough stock teams for many years in his arena. He was a Gold Card member of the PRCA and NPRA rodeo associations. Harry was a family man and always took his family with him to rodeos, etc. His family said he was honest, a hard worker, and a good provider. Harry had a big heart and was ready to share and help anyone in any way he could. He loved the arena and helping young kids get a good start if they wanted to learn to ride or rope. The arena was used for rodeos from pee-wee, junior, high school, college and benefits. There were timed event series jackpots, barrel races, buck outs and 4-H for over 30 years. He had a talent for training good working horses to do anything and got his girls mounted on good barrel racing horses at an early age. Harry knew good hors- es and was an honest horse trader. He was a lifetime member of the Pendleton Round-Up Hall of Fame and VFW. He was a mem- ber of the Elks for over 40 years, Friends of Rodeo and Christian Cowboys. He was raised in the Lorella Shirley Arlene Zielinski Shirley Arlene Zielins- she was constantly planning ki was born July 28, 1932 her next “adventure.” She in The Dalles, OR was truly a life-long to Ernest and Mabel learner and travel was Peck. She passed her means of study. away on January 18 She visited Mother at the age of 87 with Teresa’s orphanage in her family at her Calcutta, walked on side. She attended the Camino in Spain elementary school Shirley Arlene and saw the wilde- in Boardman and Zielinski beests of the Seren- secondary school geti. She journeyed at St. Joseph’s Academy to six continents; Australia in Pendleton, where she was the one missed. embraced the gift of Ca- She was a foodie that tholicism which became a greeted everyone with, major part of her life. She “What’s the best thing worked as the city clerk you’ve had to eat?” Her for Boardman for 31 years home was the central point and was instrumental in the for all family gatherings. relocation of the town to its “Thanksgiving in July” was current site. often celebrated for those She was a fixture at who couldn’t make it home Riverside High School in November. sporting events for over 50 She is survived by years. Once her own chil- her children, Toni Lamp- dren graduated, she contin- kin (Mike), Ron Zielinski ued to be a cheerleader for (Denise), Jerry Zielinski nieces and nephews as she (Renee) and Julie Lessard rallied them on from her (Gordon). It was said that wheelchair. she greatly loved her grand- Following retirement, children, Heather, Chelsea, Ryan, and Brent and her many nieces and nephews, some of whom still live in Boardman where the Peck family continues to have a presence since 1927. Recitation of the Holy Rosary was held January 24 at Our Lady of Gua- dalupe Catholic Church, Boardman. A Celebration of a Life Well Lived was held January 25 with Mass being said at our Lady of Guadalupe Church. A short graveside service was held at the Riverview Cemetery with a reception afterwards at the Port of Morrow Riv- erfront Center. Contributions in Shir- ley’s memory may be made to St. Jude’s Hospital for Children at st.jude.org. Please share memories with the family at www. burnsmortuaryhermiston. com. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements. Full Gospel Church in the Langell Valley in Oregon. Harry enjoyed sports, especially watch- ing his girls, grandkids, great-grandkids and neph- ew, Rocky Steagall as well as the kids he helped in the rodeos and their activities. He also enjoyed herding cattle, fishing, hunting and playing a little golf with family. Harry played the guitar, sang old cowboy songs and gospel hymns and enjoyed the jam sessions with family and friends. Assisted living folks loved his music. He also was quite a dancer. He loved to beat any- one who would play cards or pool with him. Harry looked forward to visiting friends and reminiscing with good humor. Later in life the telephone became his friend for communicat- ing. He was blessed with a lot of family, extended family and friends that helped him so much after his horse accident that led to his leg amputation in 2011, to get “Back in the Saddle Again” which he did for a while. When his back pain got bad enough, he couldn’t walk much, his 4-wheeler became his legs. Harry was preceded in death by his mother, Hel- en Noble (Vorce); father, Bill Noble; brothers-in- law, Dave Mamalis and Bill Steagall; son-in-law, Pat Lafferty; sister-in-law, Linda McRae and brother, Duane Noble. He is survived by his wife Helen for 65 years; daughters, Jody Lafferty and Jerita Belyea and hus- band Dave; grandchildren, Kayla Clifton Skultety, Shane Clifton, Jesse Be- lyea and wife Missy; great-grandchildren, Ken- sie Skultety, Sean Skultety, Willow Belyea and Stet- son Belyea; sister, Pauline Mamalis; 100-year-old aunt, Velma Evans; broth- er-in-law, Bob McRae; sis- ter-in-law, Carole Steagall; nephews and nieces, Rocky and Michelle Steagall, Walt Steagall, Jeannie Greiss, Kristina McRae Tarvin, Karla Noble McKay, Ken and Billy Noble, Buddy Gibson, many great-niec- es and nephews, cousins, extended family and very dear friends. A graveside service with military honors will be held on Saturday, Feb- ruary 1 at 1 p.m. at Desert Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Irrigon. A celebration of life service will follow at Stokes Landing Senior Center, 195 Opal Pl., Irri- gon, OR 97844. Those who wish may make contributions in Harry’s memory to help with expenses and his great-grandchildren’s edu- cation c/o Burns Mortuary of Hermiston at P.O. Box 289, Hermiston, Oregon 97838. Please share memories of Harry with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston. com. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements. Neal Penland Neal Penland was born sonality and was at KEX Dec. 18, 1942 in Bend, OR Radio when he retired. and passed away on Neal was diag- January 19 at his nosed with cancer in home in Woodburn, 1998. He survived OR. He was the son his treatment and it of Bob and Gretchen returned in January Penland, who once 2020. owned the Heppner Neal Penland He is survived Gazette. Neal lived by his wife of 41 in Heppner until he was years, Linda, and his three about 20 years old. daughters, Danielle, Julie Neal was in the news and Terri, plus his four media in Portland, OR for grandchildren and two all of his adult life. He was great-grandchildren. a journalist and on-air per- Colleen Ployhar Longtime Heppner res- Roseburg; four grandchil- ident, Colleen Ployhar, dren, Jerid Ployhar and his 88, a current resident of wife Nikki of La Grande, Hermiston, died peacefully Darrin Ployhar and his in the early morning hours wife Tyha of Patterson, CA, Allison Ployhar of January 23 at Ava- of Collierville, TN, mere Assisted Living Elliott Ployhar and Center. A memori- his wife Kelley of al service is being Atlanta, GA and one planned for a later great-grandchild, date in Heppner. She Colleen Ployhar Sage Ployhar of Pat- was born January 4, terson. She is also 1932, in Heppner, the daughter of the late survived by many loving Vernon and Vivian Prock. nieces, nephews and ex- Colleen attended Hep- tended family and friends. In addition to her par- pner schools and graduated from Heppner High School ents, she was preceded in in the class of 1950. In death by a daughter, Joan 1951, she married Jack Ployhar; brothers, Wayne Ployhar of Heppner with Prock and Jimmy Prock and whom she celebrated 68 ½ sisters, Janice Cutsforth and Barbara Hale. years of marriage. Colleen’s family wish- She enjoyed spending time with family, cook- es to acknowledge the kind ing, baking, traveling the and caring staff of Avamere country in their RV and Assisted Living and Hos- being an avid admirer of pice of Hermiston for the our president, Donald J. compassion shown toward Trump. Colleen will best be their wife and mother. Memorial contribu- remembered by her loving family and friends for her tions may be made to the humility and devotion to Heppner Elks Lodge #358 Foundation, PO Box 494, motherhood. Survivors include her Heppner, Oregon 97836 Sweeney Mortuary of husband Jack Ployhar of Hermiston; sons, Bob Ploy- Heppner is in care of ar- har and his wife Cheryl rangements. You may sign of Hermiston, Jim Ploy- the online condolence book har and his wife Jean of at sweeneymortuary.com. Scholarship applica- tions being accepted Umatilla County Cattlemen’s Association Memorial Scholarship ap- plications are now being accepted. Applicants must be a Morrow or Umatilla County high school gradu- ate and will enroll as a full- time college sophomore or above for the fall term/se- mester in an agriculture re- lated undergraduate study. To apply online, com- plete the state’s Office of Student Access and Com- pletion (OSAC) scholar- ship application. The des- ignation for the scholarship is 275-Umatilla County Cattlemen’s Association. Applications must be com- pleted by March 1. ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. 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