Jan Oliver

     Janet “Jan” Oliver, a longtime Halfway resident, died Thursday, March 12, 2026 at her home. At her request there will be no service.

     Jan was born May 4, 1947 in Boise, Idaho, to Margaret and George Himes. She spent her early years in the Boise area but always said she loved the year she spent living with her grandparents on their dairy farm in Meridian, Idaho. She walked a mile down the country road with her cousins to the one-room school house.

     Her mother then moved them to California and later to Oxbow,Oregon, working as an Idaho Power secretary. Jan attended Pine Valley High School and in 1963 married Bob Hank. They had two sons, Tim and Bill Hank. They later divorced. After getting her GED,

     Jan worked as the Halfway Elementary School secretary from about 1973 to 1978. Jan then moved to Boise, Idaho with her sons in pursuit of a degree in elementary education from Boise State University. Moving back to Halfway in 1981, she married Denny Oliver, combining families, raising four teenagers.

     Jan and Denny loved the outdoors. They spent summers clearing trails for the Forest Service, horseback riding and packing into all areas from the Elkhorns and Wallowa’s to the Snake River country. Jan loved to fish and hunt, but her passion was snowmobiling in the winter and spending time at the Cornucopia cabin. She was a longtime member of the Panhandle Snowmobile Club and served as grooming secretary for many years.

     With pride, Jan finally realized her dream of becoming an elementary teacher, graduating from Eastern Oregon State College in 1987. She taught at both Richland and Halfway Elementary schools. Jan and Denny taught school and worked side by side, raising cattle on their ranch for many years.

     Jan loved to garden, enjoyed sharing her produce with others and selling vegetables to Halfway Market. Jan was a Pine Valley Cemetery board member for 10 years, serving from 2009 to 2019. Jan also enjoyed being a volunteer and board member at Jacobs Dream.

     Jan is survived by her sons, Tim (Kris) Hank, Bill (Karen) Hank, step-children, Shannon (Joe) Oliver Kennedy, Matt (Annette) Oliver; grandchildren, Jamie (Jordan) Finfrock, Timothy (Emma)  Hank, Tabor (Maci) Hank and Charlotte Hank and three great-grandchildren.

     Jan was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Denny Oliver; brothers-in-law, Charlie and Bill Oliver, sister and brother- in-law, Kris and Bob Masterson.

     Memorial contributions can be made to Pine Valley Cemetery or Jacob’s Dream through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com