The INDEPENDENT, January 6, 2011
Page 21
Obituary
CORRECTION
Rodney Bigsby’s name was
incorrect in the last issue. The In-
dependent apologizes for this er-
ror.
RODNEY DAVID BIGSBY
Rodney David Bigsby, 47,
Buxton, died December 1, 2010.
A funeral service was held De-
cember 4 at the Buxton Assem-
bly of God Church.
Mr. Bigsby was born May 4,
1963, in Hillsboro, to David and
Judith Ann (Cutright) Bigsby. He
was raised in Timer and graduat-
ed from Banks High School in
1981.
In 1990, he married Marlene
Leek. They made their home in
Timber before moving to Buxton
in 2001. He worked for Ragsdale
& Son Logging for over 20 years,
then for Gwin & Son Logging un-
til his health forced his retirement
this past year.
He was a avid hunter and
liked the outdoors. He enjoyed
old country music, cowboy
movies, doing home repairs and
gardening.
He was preceded in death by
his mother.
Survivors include his wife;
three sons, Marcus of Timber,
Mitchell, and Dylan, both of Bux-
ton; one daughter, Malinda Mer-
cado of Buxton; his grandmoth-
er, Alfreda Cutright of Banks; his
father of Timber; five siblings,
Kimberly Woodard, Christy
Schmidt, Dawn St. Germaine,
Logan Bigsby, and Hayli Bigsby;
and five grandchildren.
Remembrances are suggest-
ed to the American Cancer Soci-
ety.
Duyck & VanDeHey Funeral
Home was in charge of arrange-
ments.
GEORGE STEVEN “STEVE”
BLAKELY
George Steven “Steve” Blake-
ly, 50, Forest Grove, died De-
cember 9, 2010. Services are
pending.
Mr. Blakely was born July 17,
1960, in Roseburg, to George
and Fanny Marie (Leake) Blake-
ly. He was raised in Roseburg.
He moved to Banks in 1987. He
worked as Maintenance Supervi-
sor for the Banks School District
for 17 years, retiring in 2006.
In 1989, he married Janice.
They made their home in Banks.
He was a volunteer firefighter
for the Banks Fire Department.
He enjoyed the outdoors, includ-
ing a yearly camping and fishing
trip to Lamola Lake. He was in-
terested in American Indian cul-
ture and history.
He was preceded in death by
two brothers, Dickie Blakely and
Rick Boyer.
Survivors include his wife; his
parents of Roseburg; three sib-
lings, Paul Boyer of Indiana,
Fred Boyer of Roseburg, and
Anna Stefanich of Winston; and
one aunt.
Duyck & VanDeHey Funeral
Home was in charge of arrange-
ments.
ROBERTA ALICE DYER
Roberta “Bobby” Alice Dyer,
85, Crooked River Ranch, died
November 19, 2010. At her re-
quest, there will be no services.
Mrs. Dyer was born April 12,
1925, in Vernonia, to Robert and
Alice (Enyart) Sword.
In 1946, she married Paul
Dyer. They moved to Bend in
1951 and to Crooked River
Ranch in 1989.
She was an artist and musi-
cian who enjoyed fishing, hunt-
ing, cribbage, gardening, golf,
horseshoes, rock hounding, ex-
ploring the desert. She earned
the title of golf club champion.
She was preceded in death
by a sister, Carol; and two
daughters, Karen and Barbara.
Survivors include her hus-
band; two sons, Rodney and
Robert; four daughters, Paula
Lowery, Janis Martin, Teresa
Rundell, and Jaimie Johnston; a
brother, A. F. (Bill) Sword of Ver-
nonia; 15 grandchildren; 18
great-grandchildren; nieces and
nephews.
MARGARET CLARACY
HARTZELL
Margaret Claracy Hartzel, 85,
La Grande, died December 21,
2010. A funeral service was held
December 28 at Loveland Fu-
neral Chapel. Interment was at
Deschutes Memorial Gardens in
Bend.
Mrs. Hartzell was born July
24, 1925, in Gresham, to Herbert
and Alvina (Hagen) Sturdevant.
The family moved to Vernonia
when she was young. She grad-
uated from Vernonia High
School.
In 1945, she married Edgar
Hartzell. They made their home
in Vernonia, before moving to
Bend for 25 years and then to
Union, where she lived for 20
years. She worked at Perry’s
Sports Camp as a cook in the
1970s and also spent time
pumping gas at her father’s gas
station.
She enjoyed working in her
yard, collected rooster and
chicken items and attending
sports events. She was a fan of
the Oregon Ducks and the Min-
nesota Vikings.
She was preceded in death
by her husband; and a grandson.
Survivors include two sons,
Herb Hartzell of Sunburst, Mon-
tana, and Raymond Hartzell of
Bend; two daughters, Kathleen
Brotherton of Union, and Nancy
Baker of Bend; a brother, Ralph
Sturdevant of Vernonia; 14
grandchildren; 13 great-grand-
children; one cousin; nieces and
nephews.
Loveland Funeral Chapel in
La Grande was in charge of
arrangements.
JAMES T. “JIMMY” HAYES
James T. “Jimmy” Hayes, 54,
formerly of Vernonia, died De-
cember 19, 2010, of injuries re-
ceived in an automobile acci-
dent. Mr. Hayes was living in
Plaquemine, Louisiana, at the
time. A celebration of life service
will be held on Saturday, January
8, at 1:00 p.m., at the Nehalem
Bay United Methodist Church,
36050 10th St., Nehalem., fol-
lowed by a potluck reception.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral
Home of Vernonia is in charge of
arrangements and will release a
complete obituary when it is
available.
NATHAN FORREST HOERAUF
Nathan Forrest Hoerauf, 49,
Vernonia, died December 8,
2010. A funeral mass was held
December 15, at St. Francis of
Assisi Catholic Church in Roy.
Burial took place at the St. Fran-
cis Catholic Cemetery.
Mr. Hoerauf was born Novem-
ber 4, 1961, in San Diego, Cali-
fornia, to Nathan Davis and
Loretta “Sue” (Ater) Hoerauf. He
was raised in San Diego until the
family moved to Eugene when
he was 10 years old. He graduat-
ed from Churchill High School in
1974, then attended Lane Col-
lege, O.S.U. and later WOSC.
In 1984, he married Linda
Vandehey. They made their
home in the valley until moving
to Vernonia. He was a Portland
Police officer, and was a
Sergeant when he was medical-
ly retired in 2000.
He enjoyed ranching, raising
Angus beef. He liked to built and
fly remote control planes, ride
motorcycles, scuba dive, hunt
and listen to music. He read his-
tory and was an avid Ford man.
He was preceded in death by
his father, Nathan Davis.
Survivors include his wife;
three children, Tim and Kari,
both of Vernonia, and Thomas of
San Clemente, Calif.; his mother
and father, Sue and Duane Ho-
erauf of Eugene; three siblings,
Ned, Nan Mortenson, and
Noreen Hoerauf; two step-sib-
lings, Paul and Toni; one grand-
son; nieces and nephews.
Duyck & VanDeHey Funeral
Home was in charge of arrange-
ments.
PETER K. PLUMMER
Peter K. Plummer, 67,
Salmon, Idaho, died November
29, 2010.
Mr. Plummer was born March
31, 1943, in Forest Grove, to
Ward W. and Bobbie Basset
Plummer. He was raised in Ver-
nonia, graduating from Vernonia
High School in 1961. He served
in the U. S. Navy.
He worked at a number of
“dude” ranches in the west, then
worked in Florida before return-
ing to Vernonia to log with his
stepfather. He later had his own
contract logging business. In
2006, he moved to Salmon and
worked for Salmon River White-
water Rafting and was his step-
father’s caregiver. His health
forced him into semi-retirement
in 2008.
He was preceded in death by
his father; his mother, Bobbie
Basset Plummer Hays; and his
stepfather, Frank Hays.
Survivors include a son, An-
drew of California; stepchildren,
Gina Heller and Kelly Sparks; a
sister, Penny Smejkal of Vernon-
ia; a stepbrother, Jerry Hays of
La Grande; a stepsister, Sharon
Hays May of Salmon, Id.; nieces
and nephews.
Salmon River Funeral Chapel
was in charge of arrangements.
"A Trusted Name in Funeral Service"
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt
Funeral Home
Dan Raney
Third Generation
Family Owned & Operated
Jeffrey & Kathryn Hoyt,
Gregory & Rachel Hoyt,
Ross Mathews, Jane Schneider,
Dan Raney, Stephanie Kachmarek,
Peni Flores.
Attendant: Ray Pelster
2308 Pacific Av. Frst Grv....357-2161
741 Madison Av. Vern.........429-6611
E-mail: Fuitenrosehoyt@aol.com
To sign the online guest book or send
a condolence to the family, go to:
www.fuitenrosehoyt.com