Helen Marie (Buher) Asher

Helen [Buher] Asher (Neys)

1932 – 2018

Helen Asher, 85 years old, lost her long-fought battle with cancer on July 10, 2018. She was born Helen Marie Buher in Seattle, Wash., on December 20, 1932, the seventh of eight children to parents Burton and Anna [Babik] Buher. She grew up in the Seattle/Bremerton area in Washington and graduated from Kent-Meridian Senior High School, Kent, Wash.

At 19 years old she met the love of her life, Joseph L. Neys (Joe), and was married Oct. 25, 1952 in Issaquah, Wash., moving to Condon, Ore., where Joe resided.  They later moved to Moro, Ore. for a short time and back to Condon in 1957. The year 1954 brought their first child, Joe Jr. Their family continued to grow over the next 10 years with the addition of Margaret, Kathy, David, Mary, John and Mike.

Helen was active in a number of volunteer positions including leading 4-H cooking, sewing, knitting and food preservation clubs during a 20-year period. She chaperoned 4-H members to 4-H Summer School in Corvallis, acted as superintendent for Home Economics for the Gilliam County Fair, participated in the St. John Altar Society and was a member of the Condon Chamber of Commerce and the Parent Teachers Association (PTA).  She was named Woman of the Year in 1980, receiving the Gilliam County Distinguished Service Award.

Helen had a varied work experience that included clerical work for the Seattle Police Department prior to her marriage and a variety of positions in Condon, including babysitting many of the local children, working at the dress shop, Jackson’s gift shop, cooking at the Elks Lodge and working as the Gilliam County Fair Board secretary. In addition, the Neys family purchased and operated the Liberty Theatre on weekends from 1970 through 1985. 

Her beloved husband, Joe, passed away in 1980 after 28 years of marriage. After Joe’s death, Helen started a local dry cleaning business and became the part-time librarian for the Gilliam County Library.

Helen was then privileged to find a second great love with longtime family friend, Clarence Edwin (Ed) Asher, and was married in Condon on March 15, 1986. Helen moved to Ed’s home in Fossil, Ore. She held part-time positions as secretary/manager of the Wheeler County Fair and librarian for the Fossil Public Library. Helen and Ed had great adventures together, traveling in their motor home and finding time to fish. After 20 years of marriage, Ed unexpectedly passed away in a fishing accident in 2006, leaving a large hole in Helen’s heart. Helen moved back to Condon in 2008.

Helen had many hobbies, including gardening, sewing, quilting, knitting, reading, canning, baking, camping and fishing. She developed macular degeneration later in life and with her diminished eyesight many of her hobbies had to be let go. Instead, she listened to music, books on tape, kept up on current events and was actively involved with her children, stepchildren, grandchildren and great grandchildren’s lives.

She is survived by her younger sister, Patricia (Jack) Crosby of Bremerton, Wash. Helen’s beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her six children: Joseph (Becky) Neys of St. Paul, Ore., Margaret (Norm) Cox and Mary (Mark) Mitchell both of Arlington, Ore., Kathleen (Randy) Hove of Canby, Ore., David (Andrea) Neys of Astoria, Ore., and John (Lucinda) Neys of Condon; five stepchildren: Carol (Charlie) Campbell of Madras, Ore., Alice Asher of Aloha, Ore., Mark Wolff of Crooked River Ranch, Ore., Scott Wolff of Hillsboro, Ore., and Jamie Asher of Prineville, Ore.

Helen’s legacy is also in her beloved 21 grandchildren: Cari (Doug) Naugle, Bryan Neys, Emily Neys, Lyndee (Nick) Barrett, Aaron (Yara) Cox, Tim Hove, Chris Hove, Jason Neys, Kim Neys, Jarad (Krystal) Mitchell, Morgan (Tony) Bolin, Michael (Jaymee) Neys, Teresa (Tony) Martin, Melissa (Jeremiah) Robertson, Jeremy Campbell, Kimberly Moore, Erin (John) Canova, Tyler Saint Romain, Jordan Asher, Kolby Asher, Dillan Wolff, and 17 great grandchildren. Helen will be greatly missed by all.

Helen was predeceased by her parents, Burton and Anna Buher, and siblings and spouses: Martin, Elizabeth (Larry) Webb, David (Dorothy) Buher, Donald (Juanita) Buher, Dorothy (Eugene) O’Brien, and Harold (Jean) Buher; husbands: Joseph L Neys, Sr. and Clarence Edwin Asher; and son, Michael R. Neys.

The service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 27, 2018, at St. John Catholic Church in Condon. The rosary will precede the service at 10:30 a.m.

Remembrances can be made to the South Gilliam County Ambulance Service, Condon, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at lls.org, or the PAN Foundation at panfoundation.org.

Please sign the online condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com. 

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