Joseph "J.C." Oliver Obituary (1950 - 2017)

Joseph "J.C." Cayton Oliver III, 67, of Seneca, Oregon passed away September 21, 2017, at his home in Seneca, Oregon. A graveside service was held Thursday, September 28, 2017 at 2:00 PM at the Canyon City Cemetery in Canyon City, Oregon. On April 18, 1950 J.C. was born to Joseph "Joe" and Arlene (Gay) Oliver in John Day, Oregon. After graduating from Grant Union High School, J.C. went on to attend Yakima Community College. He later became the fourth generation to operate his family's century ranch in Grant County, Oregon. On May 6, 1972 J.C. was married to Kathryn "Tinka" Nicholson at the John Day United Methodist Church in John Day, Oregon and together they raised two children; Kati and Alec. J.C. was very active in the Grant County community, serving on many boards and committees such as; Grant County Farm Service Agency Board for 10 years, Grant Soil and Water Conservation District Board for over 21 years, Grant County Extension Service Advisory Council, President of the Grant County Stockgrowers, President of Grant County Family Heritage Foundation, Co Chair with George Magee on the Public Lands Committee, Co Chair and Chairman of Animal Health/Brand and Theft Committee, Chairman of the 30 mile Lawsuit on water quality for the Oregon Cattleman, District Vice President for the District Grant/Harney/Malheur, he served on the Oregon District of Oregon Department of Forestry Budget Committee, he served on the Grant County Wildlife Committee and was a member of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board. J.C. was a member of the Oregon Cattleman and National Cattleman's Associations as well as the John Day Elks Lodge BPOE #1824 since 1971. J.C. was the recipient of the Oregon Ag Fest Ag Stars Award for an Individual in 1995 from the Salem Chamber of commerce (J.C. was the first individual east of the Cascades to win this award), recipient of the Voice of the Industry for the Oregon Cattlemen, recipient of the Stockgrower of the Year Award with his wife Tinka and has his photo published in the Gold and Cattle Country book. He is remembered as a loving father and husband to his two children and wife, helping from behind the scenes without expecting any recognition and interjecting his opinion only after it had been well thought over. J.C. was also known for saying "You've got to take care of what you have. You can't abuse it" and "You treat it right and it will treat you right". J.C. is preceded in death by his father Joseph Oliver and mother Arlene Oliver. J.C. is survived by his wife Kathryn "Tinka" Oliver of Seneca, Oregon; daughter Kati Martin of Bear River, Wyoming; son Alec Oliver of Seneca, Oregon; sister Gay Kuykendall and brother in-law Gary Kuykendall of Canby, Oregon and sister Kay Oliver of Bend, Oregon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grant County Family Heritage Foundation through Driskill Memorial Chapel at 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. Grant County Family Heritage FoundationJohn Day OR 97845