Jett Craddock Blackburn died March 12 at Ashley Manor Assisted Living Facility in Burns.

Jett — sometimes referred to by family and friends as Craddock or “Muck” — was born June 15, 1932, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Jett Blackburn and Easter Dae Craddock Blackburn.

Jett and his wife, Dorothy, were married for 50 years. Together they had a son, Curt. Dorothy brought four children to the family: Deb, Rick, Randy and Dina. Jett was previously married to Rosie Garatea and had three children by that marriage: Rex, Kim and Jan.

Jett will be remembered for his love of family, his many friends, hard work, willingness to take business risks, love for his Harney County community and his ever-present sense of humor.

Jett was devoted to his family, especially his eight children. He recognized each for their unique qualities, but treated each equally. Despite the demands of his work, he valued above all his time in the hay fields mentoring his sons, attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sports and school activities, deer and bird hunting with family, the family’s annual Memorial Day weekend fishing trip and all family get-togethers.

Jett was raised on a ranch homesteaded by his parents in Silvies Valley. As a child, he rode his horse, Flicka, to school and drove a horse-drawn hay rake. Jett acquired a strong work ethic and practical view on life from his early years on the ranch. Never idle, as a young man he operated a Caterpillar tractor skidding logs and building roads, drove a fuel truck, worked at the Burns Garage and served in the National Guard.

In the early 1960s, Jett joined and later acquired the real estate brokerage firm founded by his parents, Jett Blackburn Real Estate. Jett took great pride when his son, Curt, joined and also later took over the firm as its third-generation owner.

Jett sold ranches and real estate for nearly 50 years, working most of those years with his trusted assistant, Ruby Tiller, who still works for the firm. Jett loved the “art of the deal” and interacting with people from varied walks of life. Many of his clients became his lifelong friends.

Jett satified his abundant curiosity and appetite for risk by initiating various businesses during the course of his life. In addition to real estate, he sold insurance and mobile homes. He developed farmland, grew alfalfa and grain, started Jett Farms (his custom haying business), designed haying equipment, owned and operated a video store and a convenience store, and developed, built and ran the Narrows RV Park.

Not every project was a success, though. One of his favorite unsuccessful projects was the “dew machine.” He decided that because he was having so much trouble baling hay because of a lack of dew, he would build a machine that would add moisture into hay with a steam cleaner. He had read about a college in Australia that was working on developing a dew machine, so he flew down to Los Angeles to meet with a representative. Well, $20,000 later, Jett decided Mother Nature does know best and he abandoned the project. Jett loved telling the story and getting a laugh about his “dew dew” machine.

Jett valued and was involved in his community. He was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Harney County ESD Board. He was Mason, a Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner. In 1959, he was the Harney County Chamber of Commerce Junior Man of the Year, and in 2002, the chamber’s Businessman of the Year. Jett received the Wetland Project Award from the Oregon State Land Board in 2004 for his work in wetland development at Sodhouse Farms near the Malheur Bird Refuge, a farm and conservation project he co-owned.

Jett’s sometimes devilish, sometimes salty, but ever-present sense of humor was legendary. He found fun in even the most routine, everyday events. His friends and family were drawn to him for his extraordinarily good nature. Jett had a favorite quote from a western movie he wanted to be remembered by: “He wasn’t all bad and he wasn’t all good … but he was ALL man!”

Jett is survived by his wife, Dorothy; children, Deb Tipton (Gary) of Eugene, Rick Vandervort (Plemmie) of San Diego, Rex Blackburn (Barb) of Boise, Idaho, Kim Blackburn (Gary Betts) of Boise, Idaho, Randy Vandervort (Tracy) of Phoenix, Dina Beverly (Brent) of Burns and Curt Blackburn (Kaeko) of Burns; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jett and Easter Blackburn; sister, Mildred; and daughter, Jan.

Memorial donations in Jett Blackburn’s name may be made to the Shriner’s Children Hospital in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720.

Wilma Elsie Brown died March 12.

She was born to William E. and Louise Williams Brown on June 11, 1916, in Ontario.

Wilma grew up on a farm near Ontario, where her father grew wheat, barley and alfalfa. She attended Valley View Grade School and Ontario High School, graduating in 1934.

She had one brother, Arthur, and two younger sisters, Bethel and Elna. They enjoyed wonderful growing-up years on the farm with a large extended family surrounding them.

Due to the lengthy illness of her father, Wilma was not able to attend college as planned. She enrolled in a correspondence course while working for the Malheur County Library and obtained her degree in library science. She spent her career working for and then managing the Malheur County Library until her retirement in 1984.

Wilma was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ontario her entire life. She served as church clerk for many years and taught Sunday school to 4- and 5-year-olds for almost 50 years.

Wilma had a fruitful life, enjoying her family, following her career choice and serving the Lord. She loved books and music, especially classical. She was a good storyteller, and enjoyed telling Bible stories to her Sunday school students, historical stories to women’s and senior groups and reading stories to her many nieces and nephews.

After her father’s death in 1939, Wilma lived with her mother, Louise, caring for her in her declining years until her death in 2001. Wilma then moved from Ontario to Burns in 2002, where she lived with her sister and brother-in-law, Bethel and Larry Asmussen.

Due to declining health, she moved to The Aspens Living Center in 2011, where she lived until her death.

Wilma is survived by her brother, Arthur Brown of Milwaukie; sisters, Bethel Asmussen of Burns and Elna Peach of Keizer; and numerous nieces and nephews of several generations.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Louise Brown.

A funeral service will be held at Faith Baptist Church of Burns on Saturday, March 23, at 1:30 p.m.

Contributions in her memory can be made to Harney County Home Health in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720.

Visit: www.lafolletteschapel.com  to sign the online guestbook and leave condolences to the family.

Virginia Belle Coble died March 14.

She was born Virginnia Belle Osborn on June 3, 1922, to Andrew Osborn and Virginia Mae VanHoy in Crane.

Virginia lived almost all of her life in Harney County. She was a rancher and a cattlewoman from Riley along with her first husband, Jess Gibson, where they raised their three daughters. Jess and Virginia divorced in 1959, and Virginia continued to ranch and drive the high school bus for more than 27 years. Some of her favorite pastimes were sewing and bowling.

She met Jay Coble at a New Year’s Eve party in 1984. Virginia and Jay married on May 26, 1984. They had 21 great years together, taking many trips and visiting their children and grandchildren, until Jay died in 2005.

Virginia went to live at The Aspens in 2007, where she made even more friends and enjoyed many visits from all of her family. While at The Aspens, she served as Pioneer Day Queen in 2008. In 2010, she was moved to Ashley Manor, where she resided until her death.

Virginia is survived by her daughters, Edna Brown and husband Ron, Beth Jennings and husband Terry and Barbara Turrell and husband Phil; grandchildren, Linda Brown, Janet Yee and husband Dennis, Danny Brown and wife Karen, Shelley Garcia and husband Danny, Sherri Lynn Prather, Nicki Reed and husband Tom, Donna Martinez and husband Bennie, Robin Stendel and partner Brian, Tom Walters and wife Michelle, Bill Walters and wife Joyce, Shelley Tingy, James Roland and wife Deanne, Todd Roland and wife Connie, Brent Chester and wife Shannon and Rita Miller and husband Ralph; 25 great-grandchildren; eight-great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jay Coble; sister, Mary Munsey; daughter, Evelyn M. Hinton; step-daughter, Judy Chester; step-son, Ron Coble; and grandson, Scott Smith.

Her funeral will be held at LaFollette’s Chapel Wednesday, March 20, at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like all donations or rememberances to be made in Virginia Coble’s name to the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720.

Interment will be in the Burns Cemetery.

Dora “Jean” King Wenzel died on Feb. 28.

Jean was born in Burns on April 23, 1923, to Benjamin Franklin King and Mary Catharine McLeod King.

She graduated from Burns Union High School in May 1941.

Jean worked at A.O. Wahlers U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Sacred Heart General Hospital in Eugene, Harney County Hospital in Burns, California Pacific Utilities and Burns Water Department in Burns, University of Oregon Registrars Department in Eugene, DMV in Salem, Adair Air Force Base in Albany, and Kingsley Field Air Force Base in Klamath Falls and retired from the Veteran’s Hospital Personnel Department in Roseburg. Jean loved her work.

For more than 50 years, Jean taught Sunday school at various Baptist and Christian churches. She was very dedicated to the Twin Rivers Baptist Church in Springfield. Jean was very active in the AWANA’s program and taught the younger children in Sunday school. Jean also participated in the programs at the county fair. Jean told many Bible stories over her 50-plus years as a teacher. Jean was a very devoted Christian woman.

Jean is survived by her children and their spouses, Carol and Kenneth Dickenson of Springfield; Marjorie and Martin Smith-Hughes of Tampa Bay, Fla., Kathy and Terry Teeter of Salem and Norman Wenzel of Portland; sisters, Frankie Fedor of Winston and Rose Robirts of Hines; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Glen, Miles and Percy King; and her son, Daniel “Danny” Wenzel.

The family requests no flowers. Donations can be made to the following in Jean’s name: AWANA’s program at Twin Rivers Baptist Church, 1660 Mohawk Blvd, Springfield, OR 97477; or Hospice, 677 E 12th Ave, Suite N200 Eugene, OR 97401.

A memorial service was held March 14 at Twin Rivers Baptist Church in Springfield.

Janice Louise Spurgeon, 69, died March 8 after a long battle with congestive heart failure.

Janice enjoyed being outside, hunting, fishing, riding her four-wheeler, saying she was “born to ride” and, of course, going to yard sales in the summer and sitting on her front porch enjoying the afternoon in her rocking chair.

She is survived by her children, Faron Graves and wife Maryann, Johnny Graves and wife LeighAnn, and Lisa Foster and husband Robb; grandchildren, Jeff Graves, Cambie Graves, and Bryant Santsaver and wife Katie; brothers, Doug and wife Karen, Gailord and wife Joy, and Leo Shepherd; nephew, Donnie Westfall and wife Peggy; niece, Tina Bossuot and husband Dave; great-niece, Tiffany Robarge and Tiana Louise; and JR.

Janice was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie Spurgeon; father; mother; and many siblings.

A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, April 13, at 1 p.m. at her home.

Ronald Carl Looney, 67, died Feb. 17 at his home, surrounded by his family. He was diagnosed with cancer in July 2012.

Ron was born in Caldwell, Idaho, on Sept. 5, 1945, to Walter Carl Looney and Bonita Isabelle Goebel Looney.

They lived in the Dixie area for a while then moved to Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, where Ron started school. He then moved with his parents to Prairie City and attended school there. While he was in high school he joined the Prairie City Fire Department. During the summer, they spent time at the Crane Prairie Guard Station. Ron grew up around lookouts and guard stations.

They moved to Burns in 1964, where they made their home. Ron was a reserve police officer for many years, and was also a member of the Hines Fire Department, from 1982 to 1984.

Ron could do anything he set his mind to do. He made juniper wood furniture. He was a lover of the outdoors; hunting and fishing were among his favorite pastimes.

Ron was married to Linda Petersen in 1968, and they started their family in Burns. They had four children, three boys and a girl. They were divorced in 2001 after 33 years, but remained friends. Ron then married Corky Briggs on Aug. 7, 2010, in Hines, where they resided until his death.

Ron’s son Phil tells this about his dad:  “When I think back over my life, my dad was both my father and my friend.

My memories go back very early. Wherever dad went, I was with him, which was usually great hunting and fishing memories. Unlike today, we spent more time outdoors as a family than we did hanging out at home. Dad would take me to work with him from time to time, whether it was logging or working in the mill. He started contracting out to do hand piling, thinning, cat piling, cutting poles, etc. So we were always together and working together. I truly believe that is why our family bond is so strong. I learned things from him that no amount of college could teach.

Good work ethics, integrity, teamwork and love and respect for the outdoors. He taught us how to hunt, fish, trap and see the beauty around us. Dad and Mom coached our ball teams and were supportive and active in all the things we did.

“Dad did so many things during his lifetime that I am not sure I could list them all. But the ones I remember are: hunter, fisherman, trapper, logger, mill worker, military, firefighter, law enforcement officer, fence builder, cook, leatherworker, gem cutter, knife builder, ceramic business, wood cutter, seamstress, juniper wood furniture, poker player, taxidermist, backyard mechanic, landscaper and gardener, to name a few. He would learn these things, master them, and then move on to something new. It used to frustrate me that he would do amazing work and make a name for himself, and then stop, instead of taking it to the next level and making a serious business out of them.

But, one thing Dad always told me was, ‘Do what you like to do or don’t do it at all.’ I see now that when he would do those things he was interested in doing, he would master them and move on to something else because they would lose their challenge and fun.

“Dad lived by his belief that family comes first and love what you do.

“I have no bad memories of my dad, he was strict but fair. He was firm but loving. He was a guidance counselor but let us spread our own wings in life. He taught me that the true riches in life have nothing to do with money.”

Ron is survived by his wife, Corky; daughters, Kelli Beers and husband Robert of Hines and  Christina Pratt Meyers and husband Scott of Washington; sons,  Philip Looney of Burns, Robert Looney of Hines and Randy Looney of Ceres, Calif.; foster son, Robert Knieriem and wife Shara of Orting, Wash.; stepchildren, James and Sara Briggs of Sweet Home, Jeremy Briggs of Hines and Matthew and Kasey Briggs of Hines; 19 grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; sister, Rosalie Duff and husband Joe; brother, Rick Looney and wife Esther; numerous nieces and nephews; three aunts; and one uncle.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Bonita Looney; both sets of grandparents; nieces, Carla Jo Duff and Stephanie Dauphinais; and cousins, Delbert, Tena and Darryl.

Funeral services were held at the Nazarene Church in Hines on Feb. 22.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ronald Looney’s memory may be made to LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720, or to his daughter Kelli Beers, P.O. Box 1466, Hines, OR 97738 to help defray funeral expenses.

Frank N. Blagen Jr., 93, died on Feb. 11 with his family by his side.

He was born Dec. 23, 1919, in Hoquiam, Wash., the third of three children born to Frank and Helen Blagen.

Frank married Dolores Ring in January 1938 and they had six children.

In 1924, when he was 5, Frank’s family moved from Hoquiam to Calpine, Calif., where his father managed a lumber mill. Growing up during the years at Calpine, and later in his family’s White Pine Mill in West Point, Calif., Frank learned the lumber business under his father’s guidance. Not surprisingly, most of Frank’s own working career was in building, owning and managing lumber mills in Northern California or Oregon. Early in his career, he also worked in construction while living in San Rafael, Calif., and with the U.S. Army on Ie Shima during World War I.

Frank and his wife, Delores, along with son Frank III moved to Hines in 1967. Frank managed the Edward Hines Lumber Co. until 1980, living in the manager’s home at the top of Pettibone Hill. Frank built a hangar on a small landing strip on the edge of Hines. From there he flew his plane on many business and personal trips. Frank always said that his years as general manager of the Edward Hines Lumber Co. were, by far, the most satisfying of all the years during which he was employed.

In the 1980s and ’90s, he continued his lumber-related career as a partner in Redwood Coast Trucking Company. During this time, he and Delores moved into the home they built in Willow Creek, Calif., where they lived together until 2003, when Delores died.

In September 1987, after partially retiring, Frank went to Europe with a tour group for six weeks. The following year, he went to the Orient with another tour group for a month. Frank thoroughly enjoyed both trips and kept a daily journal for each one. In 2004, Frank and his daughter Judy traveled to the Galapagos islands and Machu Picchu.

Besides travel, Frank had many interests including building furniture, flying his airplane, building sailboats and gardening. He was always learning and was an avid reader. He especially enjoyed sports and working on his computer. As those close to him knew, he was very generous and had a wonderful sense of humor.

Over the years, Frank served on local and county school boards and served as director of the junior chamber of commerce, the chamber of commerce and the Ingomar Club.

Frank is survived by his children, Anthony M. Blagen of Oakland, Phyllis A. Stockel of Willow Creek, Calif., Dolores D. Schneider of Garden Valley, Calif., Judy L. Bankert of Citrus Heights, Calif., Virginia L. Bender of Rocklin, Calif., and Frank N. Blagen III of White City; nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Howard Blagen, and sister, Marilyn McIntosh.

This spring, the family will gather in Eureka, Calif., for a special time of remembrance.