TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 7, 2025
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
U.S.P.S. 240-420
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
SEARCH OLD COPIES OF THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES ON-LINE:
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/
Published weekly by Sykes Publishing and entered as periodical matter at the Post
Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Periodical postage paid
at Heppner, Oregon. Office at 177 N Main St. Telephone (541) 676-9228. E-mail:
editor@rapidserve.net or sykeschris@hotmail.com Web site: www.heppner.net. Post-
master send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner,
Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: In Morrow County $36/year. Outside Morrow County
$41/year. In County Senior Rate (65 years or older) $31/year. 9 month Student student
subscriptions $36/year.
Chris Sykes ...............................................................................................Publisher
Andrea DiSalvo ............................................................................................. Editor
Cindi Doherty.........................................................................................Advertising
All News and Advertising Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m.
For Advertising: advertising deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Cost for a display ad is $5.65 per
column inch. Cost for classified ad is 55¢ per word. Cost for Card of Thanks is $16 up to 100
words. Cost for a classified display ad is $6.15 per column inch.
For Public/Legal Notices: public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Dates for publi-
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
specified if required).
For Obituaries: Obituaries are published in the Heppner GT at no charge and are edited to
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
for the obituary.
For Letters to the Editor: Letters to the Editor MUST be signed by the author. The Heppner
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
responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be
placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $16
Obituaries
Patricia
Florence
Prock
Patricia Florence Prock
(Albert), age 89, passed
away peacefully surround-
ed by family on April 24,
2025, at Willow Creek Ter-
race in Heppner, OR. A me-
morial service will be held
at the Heppner Masonic
Cemetery on May 16 at 11
a.m. A luncheon will follow
at the Heppner Elks lodge.
Pat, or Patty, was a de-
voted wife to the late Jimmy
Prock for over 57 years.
They had four children,
Tricia, Mike, Jon and Tami.
She was born on Sep-
tember 12, 1935, in Minot,
ND to Edgar and Ila Albert.
She joined her sister Gayle,
and they were later joined
by sister Ferne.
She spent her early
years moving around as
the family followed her
father’s job. She spent time
in Chiloquin, Klamath
Junction, Klamath Falls,
Heppner, Metzger and La
Grande, then finally settling
in Hardman and Heppner,
where she graduated high
school in 1953. Moving and
changing schools taught Pat
how to make friends and
learn to adapt to change.
She met the love of her
life the summer of 1951
at the Rhea Creek Grange
dance. Jim gave her an
engagement ring on her
birthday in 1953. They were
married on August 7, 1954,
in Heppner, where they
settled and raised their four
children.
Patty babysat friends’
children until hers were old
enough to be in school. She
began working for M&R
Floor Covering as a book-
keeper. She then worked
at Pioneer Memorial Hos-
pital, later working at the
Pioneer Memorial Clinic.
She retired from Morrow
County Mental Health after
working there eight years.
Her hobbies included
quilting, reading, and shar-
ing time with family and
friends. Her family will al-
ways cherish the quilts she
made. She particularly en-
joyed her Monday quilting
friends. The conversation
and sisterhood she had with
Marge, Eva, Pat and Gwen
was something she always
cherished. Pat was an avid
reader and writer. She kept
many journals and wrote a
book, A Collection of Life
Stories.
Patty moved to Willow
Creek Terrace in January of
this year. She reestablished
old friendships and enjoyed
her time there. Mealtime
and activities provided
opportunities for sharing
stories and laughs with
Bev, Virginia and Rita. The
staff provided a loving and
caring home to her during
these final months.
Her passion was her
family. She devoted herself
to her children. Pat taught
them to be independent
and kind to others. These
lessons were passed on to
her four grandsons, and
seven great-grandchildren
who affectionately called
here “GG.”
She was proceeded in
death by her parents, her
husband of 57 years, her
sister Gayle Feller, and her
sons Jon and Mike.
She is survived by her
sister Ferne Healy (Mike);
children Tricia Gunderson
(David) and Tami Calvert
(Gary); grandchildren
Brent Gunderson (Kim-
mie), Derek Gunderson
(Meghan), Jake Calvert
(Lynn), Matt Calvert (Kait-
lin) and Bri Silva (Rafael);
and great-grandchildren
Whitley Gunderson, Easton
Gunderson, Sage Calvert,
Cora Calvert, Lane Calvert,
Addison Calvert, Reed
Calvert, Sophia Silva and
John Silva. She is also sur-
vived by many nieces and
nephews.
In lieu of flowers, do-
nations may be made to
the Willow Creek Terrace,
400 Frank Gilliam Drive in
Heppner, OR.
Sweeney Payton Mor-
tuary has been entrust-
ed with the arrangements.
Please leave your condo-
lence messages for the fam-
ily at sweeneypaytonmortu-
ary.com.
Norman
Wayne ‘Buck’
Handbury
Norman Wayne “Buck”
Handbury, 88, of Heppner,
OR passed away on Mon-
day, April 21, 2025. At
Buck’s request, there will
be no local services. Per his
wishes, his cremains will
be interred during a private
cemetery at Willamette Na-
tional Cemetery in Happy
Valley, OR.
Buck was born on De-
cember 6, 1936, in Myrtle
Point, OR to Homer and
Olvina Handbury but lived
all his childhood in Lakev-
iew, OR. In 1959, he was
drafted into the Army. After
Obituaries
the first two basic trainings,
he was shipped off to Ger-
many, where he worked in
a food warehouse. He spent
any free time he had travel-
ing and exploring.
In March of 1964 he
married Judy Orgain. They
eloped and were married in
Reno, NV. They enjoyed 61
years of marriage. In Octo-
ber of 1973, their son Dean
was born. In 1974 they
moved to Heppner. Buck
went to work for Pettyjohn
Farm and Builders Supply.
He went on to work at the
Kinzua Mill, where he re-
tired in December of 1998.
Those remaining to
remember him are his wife
Judy, son Dean, brothers
Dave and Don, sister Alice,
sisters-in-law Charline and
Marcella, several nieces
and nephews, and great
nieces and nephews, all
of who loved their Uncle
Buck.
Preceding him in death
were his parents Homer
and Olvina; three brothers
Glenn, Allen and Tom; and
sister Ileen St. Clair.
Donations in Buck’s
memory can be made to the
Shriners Children Hospital
(3101 SW Sam Jackson
Park Rd., Portland, OR
97239.
Sweeney Payton Mor-
tuary has been entrust-
ed with the arrangements.
Please leave your condo-
lence messages for the fam-
ily at sweeneypaytonmortu-
ary.com.
BMCC winter term
honor roll
Pendleton—Blue
Mountain Community Col-
lege has announced that
winter term 2024-25 honor
roll recognition went to the
following full-time students
from Morrow County:
President’s List (3.75
- 4.0 GPA): Brianne Bish-
op, Emily Cain, Erendira
Cortes, Hailey Cunning-
ham, Isela Echols, Liber-
ty Ensley, Erica Guzman,
Miranda Landeros, Julisa
Lomas, Savannah Medrano
Pruitt, Carol Salas, Mayra
Wightman/
Vice President’s List
(3.5 to 3.74): Cindy Agripi-
no, Braden Atkins, Ana
Calvillo, Arely Cambero,
Tony Jimenez, Chelsea
Newdiger, Brisa Salas,
Aylin Sanchez Arellano,
Sariah Thomas.
Ione School District recognized
in #OregonStrong campaign
-Continued from PAGE ONE
for real life, through Future
Farmers of America, shop,
and economics.”
Chelsea Geer, teacher
and ASB Advisor, shared
that the Ione School Dis-
trict offers other valuable
career-preparation oppor-
tunities, including extern-
ships with local businesses
such as the bank, the local
café, and through SPURS.
SPURS is a school men-
torship program that was
designed to support stu-
dents going through diffi-
cult times.
“The most inspiring
thing my school does is the
Backpack Program, which
supports families in need,”
she said.
Each week, students
pack boxes containing food
and household items for lo-
cal families. This initiative,
in partnership with the Ione
School Clinic, connects
community members with
essential resources and of-
fers students a chance to
give back.
“For us, school is not
just a place to go. Here, we
are together as a group,”
said one.
Following the session,
some students recorded
content to contribute to the
#OregonStrong campaign.
By the end, students and
staff left with a deeper sense
of pride in their school and
community.
Dryland crop tour next week
The Morrow County
Dryland Crop Tour will
take place on Thursday,
May 15. All are welcome
to attend.
The afternoon tour be-
gins at 2 p.m. with a look
at a field of camelina. The
camelina field is located on
the east side of Bombing
Range Road and can be
accessed by turning onto
the field road just north of
mile marker 18.
The tour includes ad-
ditional field stops (cover
crop and winter wheat vari-
ety experiments) at various
locations in the North Lex
area.
This year’s crop tour is
being hosted by Starvation
Farms, the Morrow County
Extension Office, and the
Columbia Basin Agricultur-
al Research Center.
Contact Larry Lutch-
er at 541-969-0580 with
questions.
Elks to Host Youth
Night May 15
Upcoming Events
Past youth night participants. -Contributed photo
Youth night raffle prizes.
-Contributed photo
The Heppner Elks
Lodge #358 is rolling out
the red carpet for local
youth and their families
with a free community cele-
bration on Wednesday, May
15. The annual Youth Night
event, part of the Elks’
youth activities program-
ming, will take place at the
lodge, with doors opening
at 5 p.m. and dinner served
at 6 p.m.
Open to all kids 17 and
under, as well as parents,
grandparents and guests,
the event is completely free
and does not require Elks
membership to attend.
Heppner Youth Base-
ball has canceled games
scheduled for that evening
so players and their fami-
lies can attend. Organizers
are especially encouraging
grandparents to join in the
evening of celebration.
A spaghetti dinner
will be served, followed
by prize raffles that in-
clude summer-themed gear
like fishing poles, sports
equipment, camp chairs,
swimming accessories, gift
cards, AirPods, and even
toys for the youngest guests
aged four and under.
Thanks to generous
Elks members and a $500
donation in memory of
50-plus-year member Jerry
Martin, the general raffle is
free for all attendees.
“Every kid will walk
away with a prize,” said
Corey Sweeney, Heppner
Elks member and BPOE
Oregon State Youth Activ-
ities Chairman.
There will also be a gun
raffle featuring a Johnson
Pump 12-gauge camo tur-
key shotgun and a semi-au-
tomatic .22 rifle, with tick-
ets priced at just $1 each.
Youth Night has been
held off and on since 2010
and typically draws around
70 attendees, with growing
participation from nearby
communities like Board-
man and Irrigon.
The event is part of a
broader effort by the Elks
to support youth through
programs such as the Hoop
Shoot, fishing derbies, and
Easter egg hunts.
The event is something
of a pilot program for the
state, as Elks lodges across
Oregon hope to use similar
events to engage families
and foster long-term com-
munity involvement.
“This is about support-
ing the kids and building
community,” said Sweeney.
“We want families to begin
their own legacy in the
Heppner Elks.”
No RSVP is required.
Just show up ready for food,
fun, and prizes.
Print &
Mailing Services
*Design *Print
*Mail
Sykes Publishing
541-676-9228
Ladies Night May 8th - Bill and Robin
Canaday will be preparing a choice of Beef or
Chicken Shish Kabobs, Pasta salad or
Mix Salad and Dessert
Youth Night May 15th - 6:00 pm - Open to
all youth, gun raffle, general raffle, Spaghetti
dinner
Lodge Hours:
Wed 4pm to close with dinner at 6pm
Thurs 4pm to close (Lodge at 8pm)
Fri & Sat 4pm to close with dinner from
5pm to 8pm off the menu
Members and their Guests
217 North Main St.,
Heppner, OR
Phone 676-9158 Floral 676-9426
murraysdrug.com
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm • Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 9am-2pm
Pharmacy- Mon-Fri 9am-6pm