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.
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