Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 11, 2020 -- THREE
Obituaries
Robert H. (Bert)
Snyder
Eugene Anthony
“Gene” Doherty
Robert Harry (Bert) dog was a Springer Spaniel
E u g e n e A n t h o n y Gene also liked to go on
Snyde r d i e d M onday, named Sugar. In the last 10 “Gene” Doherty passed “road trips” with many of
years you never saw away Sunday, January 12 his lifelong friends to sport-
March 2 as the re-
Bert without his bor- in Hermiston. A memorial ing events and assorted
sult of a motor ve-
der collie companion, service will be held Friday, rowdy establishments.
hicle accident. A
Biscuit. Their journey March 13 at 11 a.m. at St.
Some of his family’s
memorial service
together continues Patrick Catholic Church in favorite memories with
will be held on Fri-
even in heaven.
day, March 20 at 4
Heppner. Concluding ser- their dad were attending
Bert never met vice with military honors the Heppner St. Patrick’s
p.m. at the Condon
a stranger. He was will follow at the Heppner Day festival and Morrow
Elks Lodge with Robert H.
a potluck meal to (Bert) Snyder extremely loyal to his Masonic Cemetery. Follow- County Rodeo each year.
family and friends. He ing the graveside service, The small Doherty house on
follow.
Bert was born April 9, was always ready to help a light meal will be served Water Street swelled to 20+
1967 in The Dalles, OR, anyone in need. Bert was in the St. Patrick Catholic people during those events,
and Gene loved being at
to Larry and Susan Sny- a member of the Condon Church Parish Hall.
der. He spent his younger Elks Lodge #1869, serving
Gene was born May 8, the center of it all. “He will
years on the Snyder Ranch as an officer and on several 1932 in Heppner, the fourth be dearly missed by all his
southwest of Condon with lodge committees, includ- son of William Thomas family and friends,” the
his older sister Thirza, older ing Trustee.
“Bill” Doherty and Rose family stated.
Bert is survived by Doherty. Gene and his
Gene was preceded
brother Joe, and younger
brother Chuck. He attend- his wife, Lori; daughter, brothers Pat, Ross and Tom in death by his parents,
ed Condon schools for all Kasandra Kennedy (Na- grew up on the family farm Bill and Rose Doherty
12 years, graduating from than) and granddaughter, north of Ione, which Gene and brothers, Pat Doherty
Condon High School in Olivia, of Lexington; sons farmed until a few years and Ross Doherty. He is
survived by his brother,
1985. In September of that Skylar and Jeris of Condon; ago.
year, he enrolled in the Wy- daughter Kendra Snyder
Gene attended school Tom Doherty, Payette, ID;
oming Technical Institute (Kyle Richie) of Bonney in Ione and then served sons, Ron (Sherry) Doherty,
Diesel Mechanic program. Lake, WA; his parents Larry in the Korean Conflict. Spokane, WA and Steve
On June 24, 2000, he mar- & Susan Snyder of Condon, He worked at the Kinzua (Kim) Mitchell, Merid-
ried the love of his life, Lori sister Thirza Kilgore (Pat) Mill in Heppner for many ian, ID. He was blessed
Cecil, of Heppner. Bert’s of Boardman, brother Joe years. Gene was a member with grandchildren, Matt
love for Lori was only sur- (Kim) of Condon, brother of the Elks Lodge #358 of (Megan) Doherty, Megan
passed by his love of taking Chuck of Salem as well Heppner and the American Doherty, Andrea (Rian)
Contonio, Brandon (Kaila)
her on adventures. Lori and as 15 nieces and nephews. Legion Post #95.
Bert raised four kids togeth- He was preceded in death
He was a strong sup- Engfer, Kristy Mitchell,
er, Kasandra, Skylar, Jeris by his grandparents, Harry porter of Ione and Heppner Scott Mitchell and Brittany
and Kendra. Bert’s love for and Mary Myers, Condon, sports and children in gen- Mitchell; and great-grand-
his children was endless. Charles & Lyda Snyder, eral and was always an easy children, Tucker, Piper,
His example of hard work, Klamath Falls and Bill & mark for kids trying to raise Jayden, Olivia, Hazel,
compassion and love will Thirza DeCew, Beaverton. money. Gene touched and Damien, Jackie and Adrian.
Memorial contributions helped so many people in
Memorial contributions
live on through them.
Bert had many jobs may be made to Condon his life; they couldn’t all be may be made to the Hep-
throughout his life, not Scholarship Foundation, mentioned here. Seeing his pner Booster Club, PO Box
only touching the people he PO Box 384, Condon, OR children, grand-children, 917, Heppner, OR 97836.
Sweeney Mortuary is in
worked with, but the land 97823.
and great-grandchildren,
Arrangements are un- nieces and nephews would care of arrangements. The
he worked. Bert joined a
partnership with his parents der the care of Sweeney always bring a smile to his online condolence book is
in the Snyder Ranch oper- Mortuary of Condon. The face and he loved visits available at www.sweeney-
ations. He was currently online condolence book is from just about anybody. mortuary.com.
employed by the Oregon available at www.sweeney-
State Highway Department. mortuary.com.
Bert loved anything
with wheels, going so far
as to volunteer to pick rocks
in the fields as a young
Reverend Gerald W. Condon – Reverend Gerald W. Condon, 92, of Heppner
boy in order to be able to died Saturday, March 7 at Pioneer Memorial Hospital. He was born Sept. 8, 1927 at
drive a vehicle. Starting at Dublin, Ireland. A Vigil Mass with Rosary will be held Thursday, March 19 at 7 p.m.
age six, he was involved at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Heppner. A Mass of Christian burial will be Friday,
in all aspects of the ranch, March 20 at 12 noon, also at St. Patrick Catholic Church, with burial service to follow at
including the cattle and Heppner Masonic Cemetery. Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner is in care of arrangements.
branding, driving tractors,
combine and any type of
Colleen Ployhar – Colleen Ployhar, 88, longtime Heppner resident, died January
truck. He loved to hunt and 23 at Avamere Assisted Living Center in Hermiston. A graveside memorial service will
camp. He was an animal be held Saturday, March 21 at 11 a.m. at the Heppner Masonic Cemetery. Sweeney
lover. As a boy, his favorite Mortuary of Heppner is in care of arrangements.
Death and Funeral Notices
Wind Challenge
canceled
In what should have
been its seventh year, the
Gorge Technology Alliance
(GTA) announced that the
2020 Wind Challenge has
been canceled in relation
to the novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) situation.
The event brings over 200
middle- and high-school
students and dozens of
volunteers from across six
counties together for a one-
day competition to build
the best wind turbine. This
event had been planned for
March 14 at Fort Dalles
Readiness Center.
“We did not take can-
cellation of this event light-
ly,” said GTA Executive
Director Jessica Metta.
“While Wind Challenge
has been a beloved staple
for STEM education in
the gorge for many years,
the safety of the students
and volunteers is our top
priority. We have been
monitoring the COVID-19
concerns very carefully and
felt it was best to cancel this
year’s event based on our
most up-to-date assessment
and in consideration of
general public health and
safety.”
The planning team be-
hind Wind Challenge will
reconvene in a few months
to consider rescheduling
the event for fall 2020.
All previously registered
student teams, volunteers
and the community will
be informed if the event is
rescheduled.
For more information
about Wind Challenge,
visit windchallenge.org or
contact Jessica Metta at
541-296-2266, jessica@
crgta.org.
Deanna Nadine Peck – Deanna Nadine Peck, 42,
formerly of Heppner, died Friday, February 10 at Port-
land, OR. A memorial service will be held Saturday,
March 21 at 2 p.m. at the Rebekah Lodge in Lexington.
She was born October 15, 1977 in Heppner, Oregon. A
full obituary will follow in next week’s edition of the
Heppner Gazette-Times. Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner
is in care of arrangements.
Shannon L. Boor – Shannon L. Boor, 46, Heppner,
died Sunday, March 8 at her home. She was born Febru-
ary 21, 1974 at Girard, KS. A memorial service will be
held, Saturday, March 21 at 5 p.m. at the Heppner High
School Gymnasium. A reception will follow at the Mor-
row County Fairgrounds Building. Sweeney Mortuary of
Heppner is in care of arrangements.
Guest Editorial
Capitol Investment
By Jim Doherty, Morrow
County Commissioner
It was four o’clock in
the morning east coast time,
one o’clock here at home. I
had not yet adjusted to the
jet lag but they were going
to start letting commission-
ers into the conference hall
at 7:30 and I was bound and
determined to get as close
to the stage as I might. Our
president, President Trump,
was scheduled to address
the 2500 commissioners,
judges and supervisors as-
sembled from around the
country. It worked, I briskly
stepped to the front of the
line and within an hour
some 1000 lined up behind
me. He would speak in a
mere eight hours.
No bus or train this
time, I was leading the
Oregon contingent as their
president so I swallowed
my earthbound preference
and boarded the big jet
plane. NACo, the National
Association of Counties,
was having its annual leg-
islative conference. I had
intended to go in 2019
however the weather of last
February nixed those plans.
There were summits
on health, transportation,
public lands, agriculture
and rural affairs, money
matters and justice reform,
all before lunch on day one.
All of the various commit-
tee meetings and sponsored
breaks were to varying
degrees consumed by dis-
cussions of the Corona
virus. On day two the com-
missioner representatives
from King County WA and
Umatilla County to our
east caught a “red eye,”
home. It was interesting
to try to strike the right
balance. As the local pub-
lic health authority there
was little doubt that this is
our foremost concern. Not
an hour passes that I don’t
reassess our approach. The
Morrow County Healthcare
team is working tirelessly.
Commissioner Murdock of
Umatilla County relayed
that their patient is recov-
ering. Thank God.
There were counties
that didn’t send a repre-
sentative back to DC for
fear of returning with the
dreaded virus. The danger
in throwing up the castle
walls and discontinuing
necessary interactive work
has to be paralysis of their
citizens. At the same time
preparation, precaution and
prevention are paramount.
I visited with my sis-
ter, who is a nurse on the
frontline of the fight, and
asked her what her plans
were. She said she intends
to “get up,
show up, go
to work.” I
called her to
visit about
the virus
but she pre-
ferred to in- Jim Doherty
quire about
anything
and everything else I was
working on. She said it
lent a certain degree of
comfort to know that we,
the commissioners, were
working on a plethora of
other things, as “this too
shall pass.”
Day three brought vis-
its to the congressmen and
women on Capitol Hill. I sat
down with Greg Walden,
Peter DeFazio, Ron Wyden,
Jeff Merkley, Kurt Schrad-
er and Congresswoman
Bonamici. I was joined
by a fair cross-section of
Oregon elected officials,
from eastern, western and
metro Oregon. We set aside
our big R’s, big D’s and
big egos and leaned on our
senators and representatives
do what is best for Oregon.
I promised Jerry McEl-
ligott, Kyle Robinson and
my fellow commissioners
that I would meet with the
Department of Defense
and discuss the entirely in-
correct and abysmal stance
that the Navy has taken in
response to our repeated
suggestions that they could
treat Morrow County with
some degree of respect giv-
en the cost we have allotted
to the Bombing Range.
Look for a re-dress of the
Navy’s letter bemoaning
the use of livestock to en-
hance the conditions on the
range. I will sit down with
Kyle, OSU and others on
my return.
I visited with the De-
partment of Energy and
Congressman Walden about
the radiation exposure that
we have been unknowingly
subjected to. They prom-
ised to leave “no stone
unturned” in their effort
to understand how this oc-
curred, the consequences
and future assurances that it
never occurs again. There is
a lot to “unpack” as I return
home. I need to meet with
the federal forest permit
grazers, Kimberly Lindsay
of Community Counseling
and those constituents af-
fected by the possibilities
in Washington.
By 7:30 I was asleep on
my feet. Sure I was first in
line but at a cost. Just prior
to the security folks letting
us through the doors, John
Losh a staff member of
NACo happened by. He
stopped and quizzically
asked me why, for heav-
en’s sake, was I standing
in line? It turns out that all
the state presidents were
afforded passes to a roped
off section, feet from the
podium. Rest assured I was
the first one into that sec-
tion. Those brave souls who
joined me in the wee hours
of the morning found great
mirth in the predicament,
they also gave your Mor-
row County commissioner
some “street cred.” There
can only be one first in line.
Forgive me, I need a nap.
CORRECTION!
OLD TIMERS’ NIGHT
THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES
PUBLISHED THE WRONG DATE
FOR THE ELKS OLD TIMERS’
DINNER. IT WAS ON MARCH
5TH. OUR SINCERE APOLOGIES
FOR ANY CONFUSION.