Leston Earl “Les” Halley, 71, of Pendleton died Jan. 23, 2003, of natural causes.
There will be a military graveside service for him at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway.
Friends are invited to join the family for a reception afterward at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall.
Les was born on March 17, 1931, at Carson to Earl and Mildred Irwin Halley. After graduating from Pine Valley Union High School at Halfway in 1949, he attended Vanport College at Portland. While there he excelled in athletics, playing football and baseball.
Proudly, Les served his country with the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Korean conflict from 1952 to 1954. Later, he became a member of the Halfway VFW, Post No. 7847.
Les had a 30-year career with Morrison-Knudsen Corp. of Boise. His pioneering heritage naturally brought him to such projects as the Brownlee and Hells Canyon dams and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. For many years, he also worked at Morrison-Knudsen’s Boise headquarters. Retiring in 1989, he lived at Pendleton until his death.
Les loved athletics. Rodeo brought out his competitive spirit. Competing for many years, riding the bulls was his favorite event. He also was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish wherever his travels took him.
Sharing his enthusiasm and talents, he coached Little League baseball and softball. In his later years, his interests turned to golf, trapshooting, horses, and horse racing. He was a proud owner of a thoroughbred colt.
Les cherished family and adored his granddaughters and many nieces and nephews.
All children were precious in his eyes. His ready smile and sharp wit will be missed by every one of his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Joy, of Pendleton; sister, Clarice Davis of Riverside, Calif.; sons and daughter-in-law, Raymond J. and Catherine of Valdez, Alaska, James H. Halley of Pendleton, and Walter Halley of Nampa, Idaho; granddaughters, Chelsea A. and Rachel V. Halley of Valdez, Alaska.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, William Starke and Jerry Starke.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Halfway VFW, No. 7847, through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834 .
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, May 23, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor