Walking On - Harold Ray Hiebert

Harold Ray Hiebert

Dec. 16, 1948 – Aug. 27, 2015

Tribal Elder Harold Ray Hiebert, 66, walked on from this world in peace and comfort, while his wife Linda held his hand and kissed him. He was surrounded by family leading up to his passing.

Harold was born at 5 p.m. Dec. 16, 1948, at Bartell Hospital in Dallas, Ore., to Richard Martin and Vivian McCoy. He weighed just 5 pounds, 4 ounces and was 13 inches long. At birth, he was given the name Douglas McCoy. He was adopted by Henry Harold and Frieda Hiebert when he was just 10 days old, and they renamed him after his adoptive father.

Harold was raised in Idanha, Ore., where his father had a logging business. Harold graduated from Detroit High School, where he enjoyed participating in sports. After school, he started his trucking career with his father. He went on to serve in the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War. Harold married Sharon Johnson and together they raised three children: Glen, Angela and Mary. They also lost a baby girl at five months.

Harold married Linda Lou Gibson and they celebrated their anniversary on Aug. 18. He gained three stepdaughters and nine grandchildren when he married Linda.

Harold made a career of trucking and worked many different trucking jobs: hauled logs, chips, glass, food, plants and new cars. He hauled mobile homes and modular buildings with his wife Linda as his pilot car. He worked many years with his brother Donald scrapping and torch-cutting down buildings no longer in use. Harold drove all the mainland states and Canada. His last job was hauling U.S. mail from Salem to the coast.

Harold loved the Detroit Marina, eating (especially the free Monday night dinners at Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde), traveling and flying, helicopters being a big interest to him. Some of his family’s favorite memories are Harold’s laugh and “Harold humor,” diet Dr. Pepper or Mountain Dew always in two-liter bottles, the party barge and wave runners, the ocean, being spoiled when he could, Christmases, his help with two weddings and dressing the girls, playing rowdy and riding in his truck. He was especially fond of eagles, and since his passing Linda has had several encounters with the majestic birds, at times tipping their wings at her in a loving gesture from Harold in his place beyond this world.

Harold bought a motorhome, pickup and boat as part of his bucket list. He took one short trip in the motorhome and never got the boat in the water, but having them was close enough. He went on a train ride and rode in a helicopter down into Mt. Rainier, all the way inside to the bottom where ash and steam were coming out.

Family was very important to Harold and they all got to tell him goodbye. Glen took him out in an electric wheelchair on the 26^th and Harold went “fast,” driving it himself out in the sunshine. His daughter Mary came from Missouri for six weeks to take care of him toward the end of his life.

The celebration of Harold’s life will take place at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at Weddle Funeral Chapel, 1777 N. Third Ave., Stayton. A funeral service will be held at noon Monday, Sept. 14, at the Grand Ronde Tribal Cemetery with a meal service at the Elders Activity Center to follow.

Harold was preceded in death by his birth parents, Richard Martin and Vivian McCoy Martin; adoptive parents, Henry Harold and Frieda Jean Hiebert; sister, Wanda; brothers, David and Myron; a baby daughter; mother-in-law, Shirley B. Bilbrow; Sharon’s parents, Louise and Bill Mohr; and brother-in-law, William Johnson.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; son, Glen (Michelle); daughters, Angela and Mary (Brad); stepdaughters, Judy (Tom), Jenn (Rich) and Jackie; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; siblings, Twyla, Scott, Tim, Jim, Gerald and Donald (Sandy); sister-in-law, Penny Nash Hiebert; and numerous nieces and nephews and their children.