TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 15, 2023
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Obituaries
She could also barrel race (Karl) Smith of Board-
with the best of them and man, Phillip Michael (Kay)
loved a fast horse. She was Proctor of Heppner, Mary
quite the cowgirl and won Ann (Barry) Munkers of
U.S.P.S. 240-420
many buckles and awards Lexington, and Theresa
throughout the years.
Proctor-Reece of Board-
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
Nita
was
well
known
man. She is also survived
SEARCH OLD COPIES OF THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES ON-LINE:
for
her
kindness,
ability
to
by 10 grandchildren, 13
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/
bake, her generosity to her great-grandchildren, and
Published weekly by Sykes Publishing and entered as periodical matter at the Post
neighbors, her passion for one great-great-grandchild.
Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Periodical postage paid
animals (especially dogs
She was preceded in
at Heppner, Oregon. Office at 188 W. Willow Street. Telephone (541) 676-9228. Fax
(541) 676-9211. E-mail: editor@rapidserve.net or david@rapidserve.net. Web site:
and horses), and her work death by her husband, Le-
www.heppner.net. Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times,
ethic. She was one of a kind roy “Rocky” Proctor; her
P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $31 in Morrow County; $25
and loved her life on the son, Clarence Leroy Proc-
senior rate (in Morrow County only; 65 years or older); $37 elsewhere; $31 student
subscriptions.
farm with both her children tor; her twin sister, Mar-
Chris Sykes ...............................................................................................Publisher
and many grandchildren.
garet Bunten Pieper; her
Andrea Di Salvo ............................................................................................ Editor
Nita was a member son-in-law, Lester Steven
Cindi Doherty.........................................................................................Advertising
of Our Lady of Angels Reece; a granddaughter,
All News and Advertising Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m.
Catholic Church, a lifetime Rebecca Smith; her father,
For Advertising: advertising deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Cost for a display ad is $5.25 per
column inch. Cost for classified ad is 50¢ per word. Cost for Card of Thanks is $10 up to
member of the Umatilla Vier Frank Hale; and moth-
100 words. Cost for a classified display ad is $6.05 per column inch.
Sage Riders, past chaperone er, Mary Ella Hirl Hale.
For Public/Legal Notices: public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Dates for publi-
for the Morrow County
Anyone wishing to
cation must be specified. Affidavits must be requested at the time of submission. Affidavits
require three weeks to process after last date of publication (a sooner return date must be
Rodeo Court, and a mem- make memorial contribu-
specified if required).
ber of both the American tions may make them to
For Obituaries: Obituaries are published in the Heppner GT at no charge and are edited to
Quarter Horse Association Fanconi Anemia Research
meet news guidelines. Families wishing to include information not included in the guidelines
or who wish to have the obituary written in a certain way must purchase advertising space
and the Northwest Old Foundation, 360 E 10th
for the obituary.
Timers Rodeo Association. Ave Suite 201, Eugene, OR
For Letters to the Editor: Letters to the Editor MUST be signed by the author. The Heppner
Nita was also one of the 97401, www.fanconi.org.
GT will not publish unsigned letters. All letters MUST include the author’s address and phone
number for use by the GT office. The GT reserves the right to edit letters. The GT is not
founding members of the
Please share memories
responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will
Hermiston Area Barrel Rac- of Juanita with her family
be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10.
ing Association (HABRA), at burnsmortuaryhermiston.
later known as the Greater com
Columbia Barrel Racing
Burns Mortuary of
Association (GCBRA).
Hermiston is in charge of
roy “Rocky” Proctor. The
Nita is survived by arrangements.
couple was married March her four children, Patricia
6, 1950.
Nita and Rocky made
Juanita Mary Hale their first home in Umatilla
Proctor passed peaceful- at the Shady Rest Trailer
l y o n Park and soon thereafter
M a r c h moved their trailer to their
1 0 , newly-leased service sta-
2 0 2 3 , tion, The Flying A. At The
at Good Flying A, Rocky worked
S h e p - as a mechanic while Nita
h e r d pumped gas and operated
Medical the station.
Center
Then in 1952, Nita and
in Hermiston at the age Rocky’s first child, Clar-
of 93. A graveside service ence Leroy was born. At
will be held on March 16 that time, the young couple
at 1 p.m. at the Irrigon decided to make a move
Cemetery, followed by a from their home at the sta-
celebration of life at the tion to a newer one outside
senior center.
of Umatilla on Hwy. 730.
Juanita, better known
Later in 1953, they add-
as Nita, was born an iden- ed a daughter, Patricia Ann,
tical twin on May 22, 1929, and gave up the lease on the Zoning plans for the former Army chemical depot, now
owned by the Columbia Development Authority.
in Heppner to Vier and Flying A to take on a new -Contributed
Mary (Hirl) Hale.
adventure with the purchase By Andrea Di Salvo
fast timeline,” said Smith,
Nita spent her early of the Phillips 66 station.
As
of
Friday,
March
“because we still need to do
years on a 3,500-acre ranch
After a few years, they 3, the former U.S. Army some survey work. We need
outside of Heppner in Mc- added a third child, Phillip
Donald Canyon, where she Michael, and that was when Umatilla Chemical Depot is to do some partition work.
lived with her twin sister, the couple made their move now under the ownership of We need to work with our
Margaret; her mother, Mary to an 80-acre farm outside the Columbia Development planners.”
While the official doc-
Hale; her Uncle Charlie of Irrigon. At their new Authority.
The CDA is made up uments have been signed
Hirl; and her Irish grand- home, the Proctors took on
parents, Phil and Mary new challenges of milking of representatives from and the deed is now in CDA
Hirl. On the ranch, the cows, raising chickens, and five entities involved in hands, a ceremonial signing
family raised sheep, a few later beef cattle to sell for the transfer—Morrow and is yet to be held at the Pen-
cows, pigs, and grew a profit, while adding a fourth Umatilla counties, the ports tagon on March 20.
huge garden that provided child, Mary Ann, in 1958. of Umatilla and Morrow,
As part of the deed
an abundance of food for During those years, Rocky and the Confederated Tribes update, Smith also reported
canning. They also grew worked road construction of the Umatilla Indian Res- that the Oregon Military
and harvested wheat with until he eventually ended up ervation (CTUIR).
Dept. had agreed to allow
horse-drawn combines, of at the Umatilla Army De-
At a Feb. 28 meeting, CDA access to the proper-
which Nita and her sister pot, while Nita continued to CDA Director Greg Smith ty through the front gate.
helped gather. Growing up work at the farm. Nita loved told the board he would sign However, he said they made
in the canyon provided for a challenge and knew how the closing documents Feb. it clear that there would
a wonderful life.
to make ends meet, so this 29 and anticipated that the need to be a separate en-
Nita’s first seven years was the perfect fit for their transfer of the deed would trance to the property ready
of education were attending growing family.
be complete by March 3.
and open by the time any
a one room schoolhouse in
Finally in 1960, their
CDA
Assistant
Debbie
industry starts developing
McDonald Canyon. She youngest child, Theresa
Pedro
last
week
confirmed
on the site.
later moved to Heppner, Ann, was born. During that
that
was
the
date
the
deed
“They’re being very
where she graduated with year, the Proctors made
was
transferred.
good
neighbors with us,
the class of 1947. During their final move to a home
Smith
said
the
CDA
allowing
us to continue
those summers in Heppner, just down the road. The
both Nita and her sister new home provided 80 will partition 4,019 acres access, but understand-
worked at the local laundro- more acres where they lived of depot property to CTU- ably they are not looking
mat downtown beside their until their retirement years, IR within 180 days of the for industry to be tromp-
transfer of land from the ing through their training
mom, Mary.
raising cattle and ranching
grounds,” said Smith.
After graduation, Nita along with many hours Army to CDA.
“That’s going to be a
and her extended family spent roping and riding in
sold the ranch in the canyon the “Barking Dog Rodeo
and moved to Hermiston Arena” with family and
where they opened and ran friends. Nita had a pas-
a small restaurant, “The sion for team roping and
Bluebirds.” It was there at was well known for her
the Bluebirds where Nita double hock swing where
met the love of her life, Le- she tied on hard and fast.
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
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to the Communities we Serve!
541.567.6461
80364 N HWY 395
Hermiston, OR 97838
toyotaofhermiston.com
Ione Community Church
470 E Main Street,
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Church School & Adult Study at 10:00 am
Worship at 11:00 AM
Obituaries
Juanita Mary
Hale Proctor
Army depot now in
the hands of counties,
tribes
Lunch
& Dinner
Menu
Specials 3/16-3/22
Thursday- Chicken noodle soup and a jalapeño
popper grilled cheese with bacon for $9.
Friday- Grilled chicken breast sandwich and potato
salad for $9.
Saturday- soup is vegetable beef.
Monday- Tater tot casserole and fruit for $9.
Tuesday- Sw corn chowder, salad, and breadsticks
for $9.
Tuesday night 6-9pm $2 hard shell tacos
Wednesday- Meat loaf, green beans, and mashed
potatoes with brown gravy for $9.
“You will seek Me and find Me, when
you search for Me with all you heart.”
-Jeremiah 29:13
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