Norman Lee Place

Norman L. Place was born on June 7, 1932, in Long Lane, Missouri. He was the son of William and Enola Bell Place. He died on Dec. 1, 2015, at St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton. 
When Norman was 5 years old the family moved to Emporia, Kansas, and later to Wichita, Kansas. At the age of 14, the family headed west to Yakima, Washington, working in the fruit orchards for the summer. Later the family moved to Pendleton, Ore. His parents worked at Harris Pine Mills for many years. 
Norm attended school at Harris Jr. Academy in Pendleton and Upper Columbia Academy in Spangle, Washington. 
In 1952 he joined the U.S. Navy. After boot camp he was stationed at NATTU in El Centro, Calif., for two years. He then went aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany CV-34 for two years. Home port was Alameda, Calif. The ship made two cruises to the far east, stopping at a number of countries including Hawaii-Midway, Formosa, Japan and the Philippines. After his four years of service he was honorably discharged. 
He later met and fell in love with Janice Olson. They were married for several years, but later divorced. 
Norm loved to hunt and fish. He made one trip to Alaska to fish and also fished the Oregon and Washington coasts several times. He also loved to hunt wild mushrooms, and to camp at Jubilee Lake and Wallowa Lake. He always had a big vegetable garden he shared with friends. 
Norm worked for the Pendleton School District for 32 years, most of that at Lincoln School. He was well known for his fancy cutting of the shrubs, which he loved to design at the school. 
After he retired, he did a lot of hiking. After the eruption of Mt. St. Helens he climbed the mountain twice and hiked the trails around Spirit Lake and took pictures. He also hiked the Wallowa Mountains on an overnight camping trip. 
After a heart attack he had to slow his activity, so he got interested in watching the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners. On nice warm days he loved to take his classic 1967 Ford Mustang on rides. He always put it in the Pendleton Round-Up Dress-Up Parade. 
He was preceded in death by both parents. He is survived by friend Penny Chamberlin, his little dog Rowdy, and some of his best hunting and fishing buddies, Bill Reiman, Thadd Nelson and Gus Weinkie. 
A celebration of life will be held Thursday, Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. at the Pendleton Eagles Lodge. 
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston was in care of arrangements. 

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