Margie Harris

Marjorie Ellen Harris, died on Friday, January 14, 2022 surrounded by her children and Ira at her home in Richland, Washington.  A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday May 28, 2022 - 2:00 p.m..of Memorial Day Weekend 2022, at the Presbyterian Church in Halfway, Oregon.        

Margie was born on December 24, 1926 to Charles and Ellen Gulick at the Gulick Ranch on Pine Town Lane in Halfway, Oregon

One of Margie’s fondest memories was riding horseback behind “Grampy” Gulick, who would often say, “hang on Sissy, and away we go!”

She rode horseback to Pine Town School, a one-room schoolhouse not far from the ranch, and kept her horse at Grandpa Koopman’s house across the road from the school during the day.  Frequently, she and her sisters Opal and Barbie would all ride the one horse to school.  When she got into high school, she would meet her cousin, Norm Koopman on her bicycle and they biked together to high school in Halfway.

An accomplished horsewoman, she spent countless hours practicing with Bessie, “Auntie Bea” Greener, mastering her reining skills.  In 1940 at the age of 13, she and her horse, Duke, competed against several much older girls at the annual reining competition in Baker City, where she won a Hamley saddle.  On that day, she was especially proud of beating a girl, aged 18, who had declared to all that she was going to win.

In the winter of 1949, there was a terrible snowstorm that dumped feet of snow in Pine Valley.  Margie and Darwin at that time were living in Jim Town with newborn son, Randy; Darwin was out of town buying cattle.  Margie’s parents, Charles and Ellen, grew concerned that Margie and Randy were stranded, so had their hired men hitch the team to the sleigh and bring them safe home to the ranch.  Margie and Randy spent quite a lot of time at the home place when Darwin was out of town.

She was married August 10, 1946 to R. Darwin Harris:  although the day itself may not have started well, with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees and three flat tires later, Marjorie and Darwin eloped to Pasco, Washington and were happily married for 46 years.

In 1960, Margie and Darwin set out to complete their family by adopting a little girl.  After all was said and done, they found themselves the proud parents of not one, but two little blonde haired, blue-eyed girls, ages 2 and 1, Dana and Marcie.

They moved to Ontario, Oregon in 1965, where Darwin began his insurance business, then again to La Grande, Oregon in 1970 where Darwin’s business flourished.

In 1977, with the kids out of the house, Darwin realized that Margie would need an outlet for her excess energies, so bought her Margie’s Sweet Shoppe.  Margie grew the business and was a successful business owner for several years.

After Darwin passed away in 1992, Margie spent many hours perched on a stool, “looking like the Queen of England” with partner, Rick Gately at La Grande Gold and Silver.

Margie and Darwin were always fun to be around and had many fond memories of times spent with Barbie and Jim Bob DeMastus at insurance conventions.

In 2011, Margie moved back to Halfway, where she and sister-in-law, Grace Gulick, were known to terrorize the town while having pie and coffee at Wild Bill’s and Stockman’s.  Margie spent quite a lot of time in the company of sister and brother-in-law, Opal and George Matile and brother Stan Gulick and Becky Davis.  They were all very good to her and loved her so much.

The sisters Margie, Barbie and Opal, were honored as Grand Marshals of the Baker County Fair and Rodeo Parade, wearing beaded vests on loan from Hamley’s – a very proud day for all.

Margie spent her remaining eight years at Guardian Angels Homes in the Tri-Cities, regaling her caregivers with happy stories of her time as a child growing up in Pine Valley, speaking fondly of her horses and her hope to ride once again in the Baker County Fair and Rodeo Parade.

Preceded in death by: husband, R. Darwin Harris and brother Charles “Buzz” Gulick

Margie is survived by son Randy Harris and fiancée Ira Ames; daughter Dana Rynearson and husband Bob; daughter Marcie Uptegrove and husband Mike, and grandchildren Jessica, Tiffany, Kimberly and Adam, plus eight precious great-grandchildren, as well as brother Stan Gulick and Becky Davis, sister Opal Matile and husband George, and sister Barbara DeMastus and husband Jim Bob.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Margie, the family suggests the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com