Ileta Hicks

Julia Ileta (White) Hicks was born April 4, 1930, in Weiser, Idaho to Ruth and Oscar White. She was the oldest of 3 girls, having 2 sisters – Lola Ororke & Marilyn Randall. They lived in Weiser until she was 7 years old. From Weiser, they moved to Austin, where her dad was a Timber Faller. Ileta and her sisters went to grade school in Austin, and then when they entered high school, they took a bus to Prairie City School, where she graduated from high school.

After graduation, Ileta worked in a Thai Restaurant in John Day, where she met a handsome guy from Missouri. Noble worked at the sawmill in John Day and came in to eat dinner at the restaurant almost every night to visit with the pretty waitress. Five months later, on September 2, 1952, they were married in Vale, Oregon. After the mill shut down, they worked together in a fruit & vegetable factory in Ontario, Oregon. After that season, they moved to Missouri, where they lived for a year. They had their first child, Joyce, in Clinton, Iowa. When the sawmill opened back up, they decided to return to John Day, where they had their two sons, Larry and Dean.

Ileta and Noble raised their family in Prairie City. When her children started school, Ileta went to work at a veneer plant in Mount Vernon and later worked at the sawmill. She worked in the lumber industry for more than 20 years. Noble worked the night shifts and Ileta worked the day shift.

Ileta loved doing things with her family. The things she lived for the most were watching her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids playing sports, getting firewood, fishing, hunting, and camping.

After Noble’s passing in 2015, Ileta remained in their home for a short period before moving in with Dean and his wife out of Canyon City, Oregon. When her health declined rapidly, and Valley View became her last home, she was happy there, being reunited with many old friends, playing bingo, doing ceramics, and still being able to attend an occasional Little League game or family meal with Joyce and Dean. Ileta passed on December 9th and has reunited with Noble.

A Graveside Service will be held Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 1:00 PM PST at Prairie City Cemetery. A Reception will be held after the service at the Prairie City Senior Center, 204 N McHaley St, Prairie City, Oregon 97869.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Carrie Young Memorial in Julia’s honor through Driskill Memorial Chapel 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, Oregon 97845.