Gregory Wayne Halley, 69, of Richland, died July 10, 2008, at his home, surrounded by his family.
Greg’s battle with melanoma cancer over the last 1 year was fierce, but finally took its toll.
There was a celebration of Greg’s life Sunday at the New Bridge Grange. Gordon Bond of the Richland Christian Church officiated.
Greg was born on April 6, 1939, at Bend to Ronald Lloyd and Grace Margret Jones Halley. When he was 4, the family returned to Richland where his parents were from originally.
Spending his youth in Eagle Valley, Greg loved hunting, camping, trapping, 4-H and enjoying all the social activities of the New Bridge Grange until his graduation from Eagle Valley High School.
Greg continued his education, graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo., with a Bachelor of Science degree, Class of 1963. He was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a pilot at various duty stations within the United States and two tours of duty in Vietnam.
Greg resigned his commission as a captain in 1969 with honors, receiving various medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Entering the civilian workforce, Greg used his pilot skills to obtain employment with several companies, first working as a rainmaker. He seeded clouds for Weather Science at Norman, Okla.
Randall Sharpe Construction, which was looking for a pilot with engineering skills, hired Greg in the next step of his civilian career. After his time with Randall, construction and industrial engineering jobs were his main focus.
From 1973, Greg’s career took him to Morrison-Knudsen out of Boise. Greg traveled North America from Alaska to Mexico, working various projects until 1992.
He then settled back to the ranch life in Richland for several years. Greg enjoyed his time back in Eagle Valley.
In 1994, construction-engineering jobs took him to California and New Mexico with FlatIron Construction. Greg finished his career in 2000, building freeways in the fast-growing Southwest for FlatIron. He then retired and returned to Richland to the things he enjoyed the most.
He enjoyed many days with his animals and helping his younger brother’s business with day rides in the mountains, which he loved.
Survivors include his wife, June; sons, Dirk Preston of Gardnerville, Nev., Bret Howard and his wife, Marion “Mimi,” of Phoenix, Ariz., and Shane Christopher and his wife, Lee Anne of Puyallup, Wash.; grandchildren, Andrew Austin of Phoenix, Jacob Ronald of Phoenix, and Joshua Shane of Puyallup; brother, Mark Preston Halley, and his wife, Gail, of Bend; an uncle, Richard Halley of Portland; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and Dancer (Greg’s horse) and Sarah (his beloved donkey).
He was preceded in death by his parents; and older brother, Ron Halley Jr.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice or the Eagle Valley Ambulance EMTs through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 16, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor