Novella Hammack, 80, a long-time Prineville resident, died March 1 at Pioneer Memorial Hospital.

Novella was born in Hines March 23, 1931, to Arthur and Helen (Jones) Van Alstine.

She attended and graduated from Burns High School with the class of 1949.

She met her future husband, Willard Hammack, at the Burns bowling alley. They were married in the Lutheran Church in Hines Oct. 29, 1950. They had three daughters. Novella later went to Portland Oregon Vocational, training as a secretary.

Novella worked for Harney County Extension Service in Burns. Later, in 1967, she moved to Prineville and became co-proprietor of the Tastee-Treat. After selling that business in 1972, she worked for several years at the First Interstate Bank (aka Wells Fargo) as vault teller.

Novella enjoyed the outdoors and especially fishing trips to the Owyhee River. She was especially fond of birds and had many bird feeders and bird houses around the yard at which she could watch them congregate. Novella enjoyed sewing and tole painting. She enjoyed watching the sports channel and playing cards with her family, especially pinochle and cribbage.

As a long-time member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church, she was active as the church secretary for several years and with the Ladies Aid & Circle groups. She volunteered and baked homemade goodies for bake sales to support the church needs and charities.

She was a loving caregiver and looked after her aging father for several years prior to his death. She could regularly be seen at the Crook County Senior Center lunching with him.

Novella is survived by her husband, Willard; brother, Arthur Van Alstine of Oregon City; daughters, Patricia Jones (Claire) of Huntsville, Ala., Jenifer St. Mars of Vancouver, Wash., and Sharen Nelson of Prineville; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Prineville on Wednesday, March 7, at 11 a.m. Pastor Barbara Punch will officiate.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers in her behalf may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association — Central Oregon Chapter, 1135 SW Highland Ave., Redmond, OR 97756.

Arrangements are in the care of Prineville Funeral Home.

Visit: www.PrinevilleFuneral Home.com to share memories or express condolences by signing the online guest book.

Thelma Barnes Otley, 86, died Feb. 23 at Harney District Hospital.

She was born on April 1, 1925, in Burns to Charlie and Fannie Holloway Barnes.

She was the third of six children and was raised on the family ranch near Frenchglen. She attended grade school in Frenchglen and would walk with her siblings 1 1/4 miles to school about every day. She attended high school in Crane, staying in the dormitory and not being able to come home very often because of the long distance and lack of transportation except for holidays.

After high school, Otley worked at the Edward Hines Mill as a switchboard operator before marrying her friend and partner Darrell “Red” Otley. They lived in Happy Valley all their married life until November 2011, when they sold their Steens Mt. Ranch and moved to Hines. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary Dec. 21, 2011, at their new home in Hines that they purchased after the sale of the ranch.

She cherished her life on the ranch working hard to maintain that lifestyle. Otley was a dedicated, hard-working ranch wife and mother, raising her three children. She spent many years cooking large meals in the summer for the hay crew while raising a garden and nurturing her yard that she loved and reluctantly shared with the local deer. Otley also had a great love for “Red’s” paintings and was one of his biggest fans, encouraging him for many years.

Otley was the Diamond School clerk for over 30 years, was a member of the Sunrise Garden Club and volunteered much of her time to the Diamond Community by donating and sharing some of her favorite pies, salads and rolls for different community functions.

The past 16 months Otley lived in The Aspens in Hines but loved her new home in Hines and would go there as she could. She loved her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much.

Otley is survived by her husband, Red Otley; her three children, Janyce and husband Dan Courtney of Drewsey, Ross of Diamond and Rod and Debra of Burns; brother, Don “Jiggs” Barnes and wife Lucille of Burns; sisters, Fern Cagle of Hines, Jennie Otley of Princeton and Donna and husband Loren Jordan of Pilot Rock; grandchildren, Debbie and Kirk Mylander, Rena Sitz, Jeff and Jennifer Sitz, Shane and Crystal Otley, Sterling and Kim Otley, Morgan and Connie Otley, Lisa and Brenda Otley. Jamie and Mitch Siegner and family and Chad and Katie Courtney; 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Fannie Barnes; sister, Jo Urizar; and son-in-law, James Sitz, Jr.

Contributions in Thelma Otley’s memory can be made to the Harney County Cattle Women Scholarship Fund or Water For Life in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488; Burns, Oregon 97720. Go to  www.lafollettes
chapel.com to sign the guestbook and send your condolences to the family.

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 2 at 11 a.m. at the Burns Elks Lodge.

Judy Ellen Morris was born March 14, 1951, in John Day to Donald Priest and Shirley (Adams) Priest.

During her childhood Morris lived in Mt. Vernon and John Day.

After finishing seventh grade there, her next three years were spent in Burns, then she moved back to the John Day and Seneca area.

There she met and married the love of her life, Donny Morris.

After a logging accident that left her husband disabled, Morris moved to La Grande, where she graduated from business school and started her career in medical records, which led her and her husband to Cottenwood, Ariz., for many years.

After her husband died and she became ill, she moved back to La Grande to be close to her sisters, LaVon Johnson and Darla Thomas, who became close companions and great caregivers, along with one niece, Tony Sue.

Morris is survived by her sisters, LaVon Johnson and Darla Thomas of La Grande and Becci Freeman of Wasilla, Alaska; a brother, Jody Priest of Stevenson, Wash.; and many nieces and nephews.

Morris was preceded in death by a nephew, Joe Helton; her husband, Donny; and her parents.

Memorial services will be held at the Canyon City Cemetery at a later date.

Contributions in her memory can be made to McDonald House or St. Jude’s.

Gary Parrish, 72, of Springfield died Feb. 3 from complications of diabetes.

Parrish was born May 26, 1939, in McCall, Idaho, to Pete Parrish and Martha “Bobby” Dillard.

He graduated from Burns Union High School and earned a degree in business and technology from Oregon State University. He also had a graduate degree from American Institute of Banking, and he was a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School in Seattle, Wash.

Parrish worked at three different banks in Springfield for over 30 years, and in 1974 founded and was president of Peoples Bank. He was past president of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Country Club, Lane County 30 Starters, Springfield Kiwanis Club and Middlefield Golf Course Men’s Club. He served as fund-raising chairman for the McKenzie Willamette Hospital, the Metropolitan Waste Water District, Boy Scouts of America, United Way, Salvation Army and several other community projects. He was chosen as Springfield’s Junior First Citizen, its First Citizen, one of Oregon’s Ten Outstanding Young Men and one of the nation’s outstanding young men.

He was an avid outdoorsman as a golfer, hunter and fisherman.

Parrish is survived by two sons, Sean and Blake Parrish; a granddaughter, Paulina; and a brother, Jim and his family.

A Celebration of Life was held Feb. 11 at Poole-Larsen Funeral Home.

Contributions may be made to The Middlefield Village Golf Course Jr. Golf Program, 91 Village Dr., Cottage Grove, OR 97424.

Florence Alice Duncan of Hines died after a brief bout with cancer Jan. 29.

She was born April 14, 1924, in Rich Hill, Mo., to Charlie Franklin Yeates and Alice Mae Yeates. The family moved in the 1930s to Marsing, Idaho.

Duncan met and married George Baalson and had five children. Duncan and Baalson were later divorced, and she met and married Tom Dunagan, who died of cancer. She later met and married Wayne Duncan. Duncan and her husband moved to Hines in 1997. Wayne Duncan brought to the family three daughters.

During her life, Duncan held many jobs that included working at the Simplot plant in Caldwell, Maising Hardware Store and the Sandbar Restaurant. She was a justice of the peace for several years and volunteered for many election boards. She and her husband George ran a Thriftway Market in Marsing for many years.

The last 15 years, Duncan lived in Hines with her husband, Wayne. She especially loved the drives they took and times spent observing wildlife that is abundant in the area.

Duncan is survived by her husband, Wayne, her five children; Douglas Baalson of Boise, Idaho; Pat Landa of Caldwell, Idaho; Cheryl Holmes of Caldwell, Idaho; Jody Stringer of Parma, Idaho and Greg Baalson of Caldwell, Idaho; three step-children; Debra Ann Florance of Portland; Lynne Straughan of Prineville and Connie Budke of Kentucky; 18 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; one sister and two brothers.
Florence was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and two sisters.

Contributions in Florence Duncan’s memory can be made to the Harney County Hospice in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, PO Box 488; Burns, Oregon 97720. LaFollette’s Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements. Go to
www.lafolletteschapel.com to sign and send your condolences to the family.

A memorial celebration is planned for April 14 at LaFollette’s Chapel in Burns.

With family near, Robi Lee Fleming, 55, of Lakeside died Jan. 14 in Coos Bay after a 10-year battle with inflammatory breast cancer.

Fleming was born May 13, 1956, on Mother’s Day.

Fleming’s family moved to Tillamook County in 1965. She graduated from Tillamook Catholic High School in 1974.

During her life journey, she lived in various places around the United States, including Michigan, Illinois, Washington and Arkansas, before coming home to settle in Lakeside. She loved the green forests and the desert area as well. She was a hard worker and worked at Tillamook Care Center, Williamsburg Bank, Tillamook Country Smoker and, lastly, at the University of Arkansas.

Fleming never met a stranger and was loved by all her family as well as her friends through her work, home in the trailer hood (her joke), medical care and the Lakeside Senior Center. Some of Fleming’s interests were four-wheeling, card playing, garage sales, geocaching, camping, barbecues, and most of all her precious friends, family and kitties (Maggie, Muffin, Baby Kitty and Charlotte).

She recently celebrated her favorite holiday, Christmas, with her family and friends.

Fleming is survived by her parents, Dick and Luella Torrey of Lakeside; children, Rick Darr of Bay City, Dean Darr of Orlando, Fla., Debi Weiss of Nortin, Mass., and Natilie Ladewig of Chicago, Ill.; siblings, Bob Varner of Lebanon, Patsy Lane of Tillamook, Rick Forrest of Netarts, Shirley Waldow of Lakeside, Terry Varner of Tillamook, Tim Varner of Prineville, Cindy Olds of Lodi, Calif., and Juli McKean of Carson City, Nev.; aunt Susie Kleiven of Lakeside; uncle, Bill Nipper of North Bend; grandmother, Bettie Inabnit of North Bend; her life partner, Mike Torrey of Burns; and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Ray and Jim Varner; and sister, Betty Baughman.

Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite animal shelter or the American Cancer Society, 31 W. Sixth St., Medford, OR 97501.

Cremation rites were held for Fleming at Ocean View Crematory in Coos Bay. A memorial gathering is planned around the time of Fleming’s birthday at Golden and Silver Falls in Coos County.

Arrangements are under the direction of North Bend Chapel, 541-756-0440.

Florence Alice Duncan, 87, of Hines died at her home Sunday, Jan. 29.

A memorial service will be held in the spring on April 14.

LaFollette’s Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Betty Jean Brown, 88, died Saturday, Jan. 14, at Willow Creek Assisted Living Facility in Heppner.

Brown was born on May 9, 1923, in Burns to Austin and Mary Goodman.

Following graduation from Burns High School, Brown entered the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1943 where she served in Washington, D.C., and the Pacific Theatre during World War II. Upon returning from service Brown reunited with World War II P.O.W. Paul Brown and they married on Feb. 4, 1946.

They settled on the Brown Family Farm near Heppner where they raised their two sons. As well as being an accomplished artist, Brown was an active member of her community, participating in political, social and charitable organizations throughout her entire life.

Brown was preceded in death by her husband, Paul.

She is survived by a brother, Auttie Goodman of Pahrump, Nev.; sons, U.S. Army COL Chris Brown (retired) and wife Kathy of Pendleton, and Island County Sheriff Mark Brown and spouse Kathi of Oak Harbor, Wash.; and grandchildren, Christian Brown of Salem, U.S. Army Sgt. Kyle Brown currently serving in Afghanistan, and U.S. Navy Lt. Robert Danielson of San Diego, Calif.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Jan. 20, at 10 a.m. at the Heppner Masonic Cemetery with a reception to follow at the Heppner All Saints Episcopal Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Willow Creek Assisted Living Facility, 400 Frank Gilliam Drive, Heppner, OR 97836

Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner is in charge of arrangements.

Melvin T. Allen, 91, died Jan. 7. He was born Dec. 23, 1920, in Cloud Chief, Okla.

When Allen was about 5 years old, his family moved to Cottage Grove. He was one of 10 children.

In later years he went to work for Bohemia Lumber Company in Cottage Grove and then became truck boss for Elkside Lumber Company in Lakeside. He worked for them until 1985, when he retired.

Allen moved to Burns in the early 1990s. He lived on Newton Road for more than 20 years. He raised cattle and horses and loved the desert.

Allen loved playing country music and teaching his grandson Howie Roozeboom a song or two.

He is survived by his sister, Willow Hoops of Cottage Grove; daughters, Laura Allen of Crescent and Bobbi Roozeboom and husband Jim of Hines; granddaughters Jamma Allen of Tigard, Dawn Yutze and husband Lyle of Rawlings, Wyo., and Paula Sheen and husband Aaron of Hines; grandsons Howie Roozeboom and wife Christina, and John Roozeboom and friend Paulina Chinnery; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sons Arleigh Allen and John Allen, his parents and many siblings.

Herbert Gayle Davis, 62, of Princeton died Dec. 28 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland.

Davis, the first of five children, was born Jan. 25, 1949, in Ontario, where his brother and sister Joe and Louise were also born. Later, his father, Herb, sold the dairy in Vale and moved to Homedale, Idaho, where his brother Tom was born.

The family then picked up and moved to Princeton, where Davis’ youngest sister, Barbie, was born.

Davis grew up on the farm helping out wherever was needed and being a mentor to his little siblings. At the age of 14, he worked out on other ranches in the summer months, starting with the Spurlock Ranch then on to Gerard Perkins over in the Double O country. He started a permanent job for Western Union working all over Oregon, California, Idaho and Washington taking down old power lines.

While working in Albany, Davis met the love of his life, Valorie Currieri, and in August 1967 they were married.

Herb was then drafted into the army. He was recognized for his ability in pole climbing and was promoted to SP4. He instructed other men in how to climb poles and install communication lines. Davis was transferred to Germany, where he and Val resided until 1970.

Davis went to work for Harney Electric Co-op as a lineman in Orvada, Nev. While working there, he and his wife became the parents to two sons, Herbert Michael and John Benjamin, and were involved in a community church.

Davis’ dream was to farm. In 1977, he and his wife moved back to Princeton and joined the partnership with the family. Herb Davis and Sons purchased more property and developed the land and built a bigger cow/calf operation.

In the spring of 1997, Davis was bucked off his horse at a branding, breaking his back. With Davis’ dad also recovering from an aneurism the partners decided to put the place up for sale.

When the ranch sold in March 1998, Davis was ready to slow down. He and his wife bought property and installed one pivot and built a shop. All the neighbors benefitted from his knowledge of farming, electrical work, and mechanics. They could go to Davis, and he would help them. During this time he enjoyed helping his son Herbie start his farming career and teaching his grandsons to run the equipment.

Davis began a new adventure in 2008. Jim Gilmour bought the property next to Davis and the two of them joined together in the raising of mint. Davis was excited about bringing this new crop to Harney County, and it was very successful.

Davis was very active in the community. He served on the Harney County Farm Bureau from 1986-1990. At the time of his death, he was president of the Harney Electric Board and the Crane Cemetery Board. He also served on the Greater Oregon Federal Credit Union board.

Davis was preceded in death by his parents, Herb and Jennette Davis, nephew Jesse Davis and brother-in-law Gary Colvin.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Valorie Davis; sons, Herb and wife AnnaRuth and John and wife Helen; grandchildren Dustin, Hayden, Shae Lynn and Sierra Davis; sisters Louise Colvin of Portland and Barbie and Tim Carr of Fergus Falls, Minn.; brothers Joe and Sharon Davis of Hines and Tom and Julie Davis of Princeton; stepmother Bernice Davis of Meridian, Idaho; stepbrothers Larry and Arlee Coppinger of Boise, Idaho, and Norman and Debbie Coppinger of Davis, Calif.; stepsister Glenda and Rick Schultz of Twin Falls, Idaho; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Contributions in Davis’ membory may be made to the Crane Cemetery Fund in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, Box 488, Burns, OR 97720, or www.lafolletteschapel.com